I was watching a TV drama the other day and on
this episode the President character was addressing a conservative Talk-Show
host. He addressed her stand on Homosexuals and when she attempted to quote
Lev. 18:22 and 20:13 the president began quoting other verses in the Old
Testament laws such as on a Father killing a disobedient son (Deu. 21:18-21)
and others. Then he asked her how he should go about enforcing these laws. This
discourse (which made the conservative look stupid) got me to thinking.
Either we must take the whole or none of the Bible as Scripture and inspired of
God. But no Christian that is a true follower of Christ would condone taking a
homosexual outback and stone them or even lynch. A Muslim would but not a
Christian. Then I was reminded of my study of the book of Hebrews (in the New
Testament). The start of the book speaks of the things that the early prophets spoke
were good, but now the words of Jesus were better. We are taught that the O.T.
contains the shadows of the N.T. What does this mean, you may say? The things
in the O.T. are there to show the work of Christ in the N.T... The laws in the
O.T. were designed to keep the Hebrews in a clean environment away from idol
worshipers and their unclean practices in their cultures. For in this group of
people God the Father was bringing the Son into the world for all. God worked
to keep the line going until the time to reveal His Son, Jesus.
The fulfillment of Christ put aside the Old Testament laws for something
greater and lasting. God no longer demands that man kill man for breaking laws.
Now, do we accept the homosexual lifestyle as OK? No, the New Testament shows
how God still rejects the sin of homosexuality but does not demand death.
Instead He turns the person over to the natural results of sin. Mister or
Missus Christian, homosexuals are not the only ones who get turned over to this
if they will not repent of the sin that brought a loving Savior to the Cross.
So how are we as Christians supposed to view the current issue of Same-Sex-Marriage?
First we must understand that marriage as ordained by God as to be between a
man and a woman. God has instituted this sacrament as a picture of the
relationship between Jesus, the groom, and the Church, as the Bride. To pervert
this institution of marriage is to pervert God’s plan for human kind. We should
be able to see how the enemy of God, Satan, has been working to pervert the
definition of family for his purpose of hiding truth from God’s people. The
family unite, including adoption and foster care, is a Holy Picture of God’s
harmony, care and love for His people. If followed, no one would be lonely, no
one would be deserted, and no one would be betrayed.
What are we to do with the issue of homosexuals and SSM? I believe that rights
should not be extended to someone just because of a sexual identity. We as a
Church should love the homosexual, but reject the lifestyle of such. I cannot
get over the feeling that all this is about making homosexuality respectable
and gaining benefits for partners in jobs. If this was really about people
being in love, why do they need a piece of paper to live in their love? Haven’t
heterosexuals been saying this for decades? Why do the homosexuals want to make
it Holy? Just like heterosexuals today, after living in a sexual relationship
without marriage, getting married will not make it Holy.
I could go on with more issues about homosexuality,
but will not. We as a Church must find a way to love the sinner, but hate the
sin. (Ouch, sorry for the tired cliche). We must learn to love as Christ
without the acceptance of any sin. We must understand, God is not a murder,
even in the Old Testament, SIN is the killer and Christ came to destroy the
effects of our sinful nature.
I did not reference many
scriptures because of length and that I would encourage you to explore for
yourselves these issues.
Secrets Of The Koran by Don Richardson