| In the mid 90's, a Presbyterian minister named Steve | | | | agenda.Tolerance at all costs? Romans 6:23 says, |
| Brown conducted an interview with the lesbian Pastor | | | | "...the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is |
| from the largest Gay Church in America. Steve had | | | | eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." William |
| already laid the ground rules for their dialogue regarding | | | | Barclay paraphrases the verse in this way, "If we got |
| the expected, conservative, fundamentalist stance on | | | | the pay we had earned it would be death; but out of |
| homosexuality. Essentially, he agreed not to state the | | | | His grace God has given us life." The word "wages" |
| obvious and refused to "go there." Instead, Steve | | | | (opsonia) in the original Greek language means, |
| displayed one of the most loving, concerned examples | | | | "provision money," or supplies paid to an army. The |
| of a Christian that I've ever seen as he interviewed | | | | soldiers earned their wages and were paid in daily |
| this woman. In so doing, I heard her say, softly and | | | | provisions of food. Sin pays wages in full, without any |
| sincerely, that gay people sin just as any other | | | | deductions.Another Greek word we should learn is |
| Christians sin. She explained that when a person | | | | metanoia, or "Repent." It literally means "to change |
| becomes convicted of their sins, godly sorrow leads to | | | | one's mind."It's not too late. But just as the "straight" |
| repentence from those sins. She admitted that, as a | | | | Christian world is loaded with sins of its own, we must |
| Christian homosexual herself, she simply has not been | | | | remain cognizant of the fact that there are people out |
| convicted...condemned, yes, by other believers...but not | | | | there who love the Lord despite being gay. We, too, |
| convicted by the Holy Spirit. Steve replied, "You realize | | | | may be in need of repentance, i.e., changing our minds, |
| you sound somewhat like a heretic in the gay | | | | too. All Christians must teach new disciples, as well as |
| community by saying these things...." She nodded, "Well, | | | | our own children, to embrace all people, but notALL |
| it's the truth."The presentation was so touching, so | | | | their beliefs. We can listen and learn from everyone |
| inspirational, that the station later re-ran the program by | | | | without necessarily agreeing with them. We can |
| popular demand. Brown had remained aware | | | | courageously but humbly speak the truth, even if it |
| throughout the interview that although the apostle | | | | makes us the object of scorn. Jesus said all men |
| Peter told us, "Always be prepared to give an answer | | | | would hate us because of Him. Make certain that, if |
| to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the | | | | anyone hates you, it's ONLy because of Jesus and |
| hope that you have," he also said, "But do this with | | | | NOt because you hate them, too.Legal Gay Marriage |
| gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).Was this woman | | | | around the World:Belgium: Legalized gay marriage in |
| speaking for all homosexuals everywhere? Doubtful. | | | | 2002.Britain: Plans to introduce legislation soon |
| No more than yours truly speaks for everyone | | | | authorizing civil unions giving gay couples legal |
| presently reading this article. The point is, just as this | | | | recognition with most of the rights enjoyed by married |
| lesbian minister alluded, how many of us are knowlingly, | | | | partners.Canada: Legalized gay marriage July |
| secretly, doing that which is sinful, yet we persist? We | | | | 2005.Denmark: The first country to legalize same-sex |
| may even pray fervently, quietly, that God would help | | | | unions in 1989, later giving couples adoption rights. Other |
| us. I've been there. Especially in matters of forgiveness, | | | | Nordic countries followed in 1990s.France: Allows civil |
| knowing what was required of me but wanting to | | | | unions since 2000.Germany: Introduced civil unions in |
| have a few moments alone in which to hate | | | | 2001.The Netherlands: Became the first country to |
| somebody's guts.Is homosexuality a sin? According to | | | | legalize gay marriages outright in 2001.Portugal: Lesbian |
| Scripture, I believe it's very clear that it is. As I read | | | | and gay couples who live together acquire the same |
| Genesis 19:4-5; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; I | | | | rights as heterosexuals in common-law |
| Corinthians 6:9-10; I Timothy 1:9-10, it seems clear. Lest | | | | marriages.Spain: Gay marriages made legal, June |
| we forget, homosexuality is no worse a sin than | | | | 2005.South Africa: Recognized gay rights in its |
| over-eating, hatred, gossip, doubt, unbelief, rage, | | | | constitution after apartheid ended in 1994. Activists are |
| rebellion and theft. My own sins are no worse and, as | | | | preparing litigation to have the common law definition |
| result of the Cross of Christ, are forgiven and | | | | of marriage extended to include same-sex |
| forgotten forever. Because His mercy is new every | | | | couples.Switzerland: Its largest city, Zurich, started |
| morning, we literally have no past every day! That's | | | | recognizing registered gay couples in July 2005. |
| great news! The best news is that this forgiveness | | | | Geneva also recognizes same-sex couples, although |
| and mercy is available to ALL. Now THAT is the | | | | grants them fewer rights.In the United States, |
| loving, hope-filled message that Christians should be | | | | Massachusetts is the only state that allows gay |
| sharing with those trapped in gay lifestyles. Not to | | | | marriages; Vermont and Connecticut have approved |
| mention those trapped in adultery, substance abuse, | | | | same-sex civil unions. California is feeling the |
| unforgiveness or any other sin. Rather than pointing the | | | | pressure.In Jim Nelson Black's book "When Nations |
| unfeeling finger of accusation, we must ask ourselves | | | | Die," as he describes the fall of all the world's great |
| if we qualify for throwing out that first stone.Do we | | | | empires, he writes, "Sexual promiscuity led to the |
| care? I was preaching one Sunday years ago and | | | | downfall of these nations...." Although he also mentions |
| announced that I was considering placing a banner on | | | | that homosexuality was prevelant within each fallen |
| the street that said, "This Sunday is Gay Day!" A hush | | | | empire, so was immorality among those we would |
| came over the group. Some nervously laughed. Very | | | | refer to as being "straight." Abortion, infanticide and |
| telling. On the love-meter, I'm afraid we weren't where I | | | | strangulation of children were commonplace in these |
| thought we were as a group.Too often, as a whole, | | | | "advanced" cultures as unwanted children were seen |
| the Body of Christ seems more concerned with | | | | as a burden in an atmosphere of hedonism.The |
| outward appearances than we are with the bondages | | | | shedding of innocent blood really does bring a curse |
| an individual may be saddled with. We go through our | | | | upon the land. It wasn't just homosexuality that caused |
| spiritual check-lists: Was he baptized? Does he attend | | | | each empire's demise. It was the perverse hedonism |
| church? Is he regularly in Sunday School? We may | | | | of those who were straight and "normal," too.What |
| never know what another person is struggling with | | | | God requires of usDo we stop speaking the Truth? |
| deep inside - and we won't, as long as we continue in | | | | No, not when Jesus said, 'If you abide in My word, you |
| our prescribed methods of what we typicaly refer to | | | | are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, |
| as "ministry." Homosexuality, a life as an abused child, | | | | and the truth shall make you free'" (John 8:31,32). That |
| addiction to everything from porn to pot, thoughts of | | | | Truth is Jesus Himself for he declared, "I am the way, |
| suicide...any one we know may be wrestling with these | | | | the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father |
| issues. Too often, we settle for church attendance as | | | | except through Me,"(John 14:6). He was either a liar, a |
| our gauge of how well an individual is doing. We're so | | | | lunatic or He really was - and IS -Lord of all things.But |
| impressed by outward appearances, aren't we? In | | | | when we speak the truth, let us be sure that we are |
| contrast, God looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7).But I | | | | speaking the truth in love for, as the Bible says in |
| digress.Tolerance at all costs!Tolerance has become | | | | Ephesians 4:15, by doing so, we will "grow up into |
| the sole absolute of our society, the queen mother of | | | | Christ." Lord knows we could use some growing up. |
| all social values. Kids are hearing it preached every | | | | Do we love those who say they are gay? If you were |
| day in Secular Indoctrination Centers (excuse | | | | are gay, would you/do you love those Christians who |
| me...Public Schools) and in the media. Unbeknowst to | | | | are straight whose lifestyles are loaded with sin?One |
| most Christians, tolerance is a threat to our very | | | | final thought regarding the Tolerance vs. Love issue. |
| faith.Some might say that tolerance merely means to | | | | Josh McDowell says:"Tolerance says, "You must |
| recognize and respect all beliefs, practices, and so | | | | approve of what I do." Love responds, "I must do |
| forth regardless of whether we agree with them or | | | | something harder; I will love you, even when your |
| not. After all, we all have a right to our own opinion, | | | | behavior offends me."Tolerance says, "You must |
| right?Today, tolerance means to consider every | | | | agree with me." Love responds, "I must do something |
| individual's beliefs, values, lifestyle and claims about truth | | | | harder; I will tell you the truth, because I am convinced |
| as being equally valid. So, not only do we have equal | | | | 'the truth will set you free.' "Tolerance says, "You must |
| rights to our own beliefs - which we DO - but these | | | | allow me to have my way." Love responds, "I must do |
| days, all beliefs are being seen as equal. It's no longer | | | | something harder; I will plead with you to follow the |
| enough to merely respect another person's rights; | | | | right way, because I believe you are worth the |
| we're expected to endorse their beliefs, values and | | | | risk."Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive; love takes |
| lifestyles as well.That is, of course, unless those beliefs | | | | risks.Tolerance glorifies division; love seeks |
| are Christian in nature. Then it's open season.When | | | | unity.Tolerance costs nothing; love costs |
| one openly discusses the diety of Christ, His sinless | | | | everything.Jesus is proof of that.Need pastoral |
| lifestyle, His resurrection, how He is the ONLY way to | | | | counseling and prayer? Write or IM me at Every |
| salvation, people get up in arms. We hear such things | | | | blessing!Michael |
| as, "How dare you say that?" Wearing a T-Shirt that | | | | A servant of God |
| reads "Jesus is Lord" is to imply that no one else CAN | | | | t.e.a.m. ministries |
| be and it makes people mad. As Christian speaker | | | | A Message of Discipleship & Encouragement to the |
| Josh McDowell states, "The issue is no longer the truth | | | | Body of Christ |
| of the message, but the right to proclaim it. In the new | | | | P.O. Box 633 |
| cultural climate, any unpopular message can be labeled | | | | Stephenville, Texas 76401 |
| "intolerant" and therefore be repressed."Former | | | | |
| President Bill Clinton linked so-called "hate crimes" to | | | | BLOG: Michael has been broadcasting his eMail |
| intolerance when he was in office and said, "The No. 1 | | | | messages of Discipleship and encouragement to |
| security threat to [our nation] is the persistence of old, | | | | Christians of all denominations |
| even primitive hatreds.'' Since when does intolerance | | | | since 1999. These messages are literally reaching |
| equal hatred? It does in today's version of tolerance. | | | | millions each week and the messages are being |
| Where homosexuality is concerned, the Bible, | | | | re-posted on other Christian sites,used as Bible studies |
| fundamentalist, conservative Christians and Jesus | | | | for groups, and are being used by those in ministry as |
| Himself are taking quite a beating. Across the globe, | | | | a preaching guide. |
| more and more nations are embracing the gay | | | | |