When we look at the costs of "living in sin" we typically see the negative effects at face value and don't typically have a hard time explaining why God considers them sins and why much of the world's moral compass agrees with God's plan. A person who is given to substance abuse can produce a lifestyle that causes broken relationships, violence, bankruptcy, homelessness, sexual promiscuity, and law breaking.
A person living in sin by committing acts of adultery breeds dishonesty, deception, broken promises, broken families and even sexually transmitted diseases. A person who is given to a lifestyle of gluttony may eventually reap the consequences of obesity, health issues, death, an isolated social life and teaching loved ones their poor habits. A person who is completely engulfed by slander and gossip in their relationships will produce for themselves a lonely life with people who do not trust them, do not want to be with them, and who resent them. They will create dissension in their families, their workplace and in any friendships they may have. By looking at many of these sins, we clearly see why they are not part of God's plan and why they are good for us to keep. We know why we shouldn't steal, kill, become slaves to substances, and break laws. We understand why it's better for us to keep these lifestyles out of our lives. But what about a sinful lifestyle that is a little harder to get people on board with nowadays? A man who decides that he wants to love, commit to and enjoy companionship with another man seems to produce love, commitment, happiness, and equality. Why then, would it be something that would be considered wrong in God's eyes? I believe that is the problem with the world's view on homosexuality. They see the negative outcomes of so many of sins in the world but they just can't seem to justify why God wouldn't just be "okay with " two people of the same sex, who love each other, to be together. It does sound a bit confusing when you look at it with the worlds perspective. It's confusing because they don't see anything bad coming from it. It's confusing because they are looking at it it with the worldly lense of fleshly love. It's confusing because they are not actually concerning themselves with God's plan for their lives but on how God can fit into their life while still choosing something that God has laid out as against the plan. It's confusing because it feels right and it masquerades itself as light! Masquerading as light is one of Satan’s best tricks. It stands for all the right things except one: it's not part of God's plan. We may not understand why it's not part of His plan at first glance, but God still expects us to trust Him and His perfect will. Romans 12:2 : "Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect." He has His reasons for his laws and they are NOT burdensome. I John 5:3 says, "for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" . They may not be easy or make entire sense to the human mind but we must remember that His ways are not our ways! Isaiah 55:8-9 says: “'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,'declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" So why are many claiming to believe that God is mistaken with this law? That He just doesn't understand love and has a hateful spirit against homosexuals? The real question should be, why do we think we can question God? By looking at other parts in scripture, we begin to understand why homosexuality has never been part of the plan. And why God doesn't "change" His plan. I don't want to divulge too much on this because it is not my main point of this post but I will just say two things: Our first example of marriage in the Bible is between a man and a woman. God ordained their marriage and called them to multiply. He created them male and female body to be one and to be able to procreate life by being together. All throughout nature we see that as the only way to create life: a male and female. Not someone taking on a female "role" or a male "role" (I'm not talking about animals who do not have a gender and simply become one or the other for breeding purposes) or "identifying" as one (again, another topic for perhaps not even another day), but actually BEING female and male. We also see through out the New Testament Gods plan for marriage and how it represents the church. Jesus is the groom and the church is His bride. In the same way, the man is to take the role of Jesus and love his bride as Jesus loves the church. Wives are to be the church, serving their husbands. It wouldn't work with two churches or two Jesus'. That's simply not part of Gods entire beautiful plan. My point is not to turn this into a post on homosexuality in the Bible but more so to say why I understand how the world is so confused by it. I get why so many don't understand why God wouldn't allow it. I get that it really is disguised as something beautiful but only leads to destruction. I'm also beginning to see why it seems so hard to reach the LQBTQ community as they do not seem to think they need any saving because they don't think anything is "wrong" and, rather, are under the impression that we hate them. Nowhere in the Word of God are we called to hate. We are only called to love. We are also told not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The world's mind is not renewed, its conformed. What's bad is good and what's good is bad. By us conforming to the ideals of the world would be foolish, but by us resisting the ideals of the world, be prepared to be seen as hateful and rigid. But do not be discouraged. Rather, try to love and understand the predicament our world is in as they are being duped by the prince of lies. With this understanding, we can see why it is so hard for Christians and non Christians alike to understand the big deal with two people of the same sex loving each other. I would also like to take a moment to say that there are other laws in the Bible that are sometimes hard for us to understand. One you hear being questioned a lot is being unequally yoked with a non-believer. Another is wives submitting to and being beneath their husbands. Our approach on reaching understanding with these laws should be the same as it is with homosexuality. Questions to ask yourself when reaching a law you don't like or understand should be: What does God say about the world? How does God hold us to a different standard? Is God sovereign and greater than us? Is God for us? Are His laws burdensome? Is He holy and does He call us to be holy? Is our purpose to glorify ourselves or Him? There is so much more to life than our lives and our pleasures and our wants. Once we realize that we are not our own, we do not have to be our own god, we simply surrender ourselves to the One True God who will help us let go of control and to understand His Word.
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About Me:Hello! I'm Roxy. Enjoy reading my thoughts as I strive to understand God's character and truth and admonish it faithfully to His church. Please email at [email protected] with inquiries. Archives
September 2018
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