It is coming. It is going to happen. Every minister, congregation, denomination, family, and person will have to declare. They will either support same sex marriage or not. And there will be repercussions either way.
Are you ready to be vilified… belittled… socially marginalized… physically attacked… lose your job… ostracized by family and friends… because you do not affirm (Notice I wrote “AFFIRM“) same sex marriage or the LGBT agenda? Those who do not sign on in support will experience negative consequences of varying degrees. This issue effects the family dynamic, work dynamic, evangelism, church, church membership, politics, and personal values. Most families have one or more members who are gay (There are several in my extended family), so this is a broad reaching matter you will already be having to deal with.
The issue for Christians ultimately boils down to this: Are you more concerned about pleasing men or God? Affirmation of anything other than one man and one woman for life is unpleasing to God.
Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 We speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
The problem is not the church accepting LGBT issues, it has been going down this road for a while. The present events are the fruit what became acceptable in the church for the last thirty years. Same sex marriage is NO DIFFERENT FROM: Premarital sex… adultery… greed… divorce & remarriage… drunkenness (And drug abuse)… an uncontrolled temper… lying… church fights/divisions, and of course I could go on (See Scripture below). Please… DO NOT elevate the LGBT issue above the others in the Scripture below!!
1 Cor 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you.
Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery (Greek is PHARMAKIA or “pharmacy” or as we say, drug use), enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The church brought on its self what it is being confronted with today by being accepting of what Paul listed in the above passages. The church does not need to rail against society but rather look within to see how far off the path they have been for a long time. When God’s people repent, sinners repent. The most unloving thing a church can do regarding this issue is NOT tell the truth… that same sex marriage and the LGBT agenda is sin.
Amen on all fronts, Bro Ron. You hit the nail on the head with this topic. Thank you
Whatever we do here on earth, when we pass away or God comes back, all sinners will be taken care of.
AMEN ! It is probably going to become more difficult to “stand firm”, but we must. Dear Lord, please give us the ability to do so with love, without showing hate.
Ron, You hit the nail on the head. As I preached on this very subject in 1994, the exact scripture in Gal. 5, I told the Church that the day will come that the homosexual movement along the political correct movement (being led by our then President Bill Clinton with his “don’t ask don’t tell” policy he signed as one of his first “repayment” laws to the homosexual community for supporting him) will one day will grow as a “human rights” issue to get what we see now passed into law & the Church will be forced to stand firm on the Word or crumble with the “world” on this act of abomination.
Evil never gets reversed in public opinion, it only grows worse. As Bill Gothard said many years ago, “what one generation allows in moderation, the next generation allows in excess”.
Dr. Jerry Falwell also said (in another way), “what one generation endorses, the next generation always embraces. And if we the Church don’t think God will judge this, then He will have to go back and apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” Awesome insight.
Keep up the good work my brother!