I believe that Jesus did not come to condemn anyone, but to redeem and free any particular form of bondage in which people find themselves. I would echo the Biblical message of compassion, forgiveness and redemption for individuals, but believe that, as a Christian, I must stand firm in moral opposition to anything that legitimizes sin and instructs children and youth in behavior that is unbiblical and harmful. However, let me say that, I also stand firm against any form of evil; including prejudice, bigotry, and violence.
My message here is to try to effectively communicate a message of liberation from sin, all sins, including sexual sins, and to convey support and understanding for those facing the reality of the power of sin to hold them in it's grip. Homosexual tendencies are just one of many disorders that Christ offers to heal. Redemption for all who have sinned is the process by which sin's power is broken, and the individual is freed to know and experience true identity as discovered in Christ, His Word and His Church.
When I was a kid I experienced a few broken bones. One broken arm comes to mind when I think about the process of healing. That day my father faithfully drove me to the hospital to get it fixed and because of the kind of break I had, before any healing could take place, some major correction must be made! My father firmly held my upper arm and the doctor grabbed my wrist and they both PULLED!!! The result was good, but the pain was NOT! The broken bone was set, a cast was applied and the miracle of healing could begin. Those two men were committed to my health and growth, NOT my comfort. If they had not intervened, I would have been handicapped for life.
I believe God is committed to our health and growth too, not our comfort. Just because it would feel better not to have to talk about sexual sins, doesn't mean we shouldn't. God's Word is full of very blunt statements which we should hear, absorb and allow to make us healthy and whole. It is my hope that this blog may help to equip you to carry out this healing partnership with the Great Physician, Jesus Christ.
Read the following Scriptures and ask the Spirit of God to grant you His wisdom:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 12:2; Galatians 5:16-25; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 15:1-2; Galatians 6:1-2; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27.
Thank God that He is available to transform the life of all persons, including you and me!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
What is Sin anyway?
I thought I should share this amazing quote with you, just so you can ponder it with me as we proceed with this blogging.
The question that is often posed about same-sex-attractions is, "Is it a sin?"
The answer to that is so well defined by what Bill Johnson wrote:
IS THIS A SIN?
"It's easy to latch onto a rating system or some set of rules that will make it clear what we will and won't do as a Christian. But no rating system can replace a heart that wants to please God. If we're to honor God with our choices, we must be willing to carefully scrutinize and evaluate how what we do attests to our love for and obedience to God. We must be willing to wrestle with our standards and often refuse to engage in behaviors that others think is permissible, if not God's permissive will.
When he was in college, the famous evangelist John Wesley wrote a letter to his mother asking her to give him a clear description of sin. Sounds like he wanted a list of do's and don'ts. But Mrs. Wesley didn't give John what he wanted. She gave him something much better.
In response, she wrote:
"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may seem to be in itself. It doesn't matter how others feel about it; or how popular it is, or how seemingly innocent it appears. If it hardens your heart toward God, if it obscures your awareness of the ugliness of sin and the holiness of God, if it takes the edge off your spiritual hunger, then it's sin."(Taken from "Not Even a Hint: Guarding your heart against lust," by Joshua Harris, Multnomah, 2003).
Amazing wisdom shared from mother to son. What do you think about it?
Honestly, I am so humbled by it, it makes me want to get real still and listen to the Spirit of God as He gently, yet truthfully, searches over my soul. It's kind of like going to the skin doctor to see if there are any irregular freckles. You hope the doctor doesn't find any, but if he does you let him cut them right out of your hide! And you are really glad he saved you from the horrors ahead if it was left un-checked and grew into cancer and killed you.
Sorry for the word picture, but sometimes that's what it takes for me to grasp a deep concept.
The question that is often posed about same-sex-attractions is, "Is it a sin?"
The answer to that is so well defined by what Bill Johnson wrote:
IS THIS A SIN?
"It's easy to latch onto a rating system or some set of rules that will make it clear what we will and won't do as a Christian. But no rating system can replace a heart that wants to please God. If we're to honor God with our choices, we must be willing to carefully scrutinize and evaluate how what we do attests to our love for and obedience to God. We must be willing to wrestle with our standards and often refuse to engage in behaviors that others think is permissible, if not God's permissive will.
When he was in college, the famous evangelist John Wesley wrote a letter to his mother asking her to give him a clear description of sin. Sounds like he wanted a list of do's and don'ts. But Mrs. Wesley didn't give John what he wanted. She gave him something much better.
In response, she wrote:
"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may seem to be in itself. It doesn't matter how others feel about it; or how popular it is, or how seemingly innocent it appears. If it hardens your heart toward God, if it obscures your awareness of the ugliness of sin and the holiness of God, if it takes the edge off your spiritual hunger, then it's sin."(Taken from "Not Even a Hint: Guarding your heart against lust," by Joshua Harris, Multnomah, 2003).
Amazing wisdom shared from mother to son. What do you think about it?
Honestly, I am so humbled by it, it makes me want to get real still and listen to the Spirit of God as He gently, yet truthfully, searches over my soul. It's kind of like going to the skin doctor to see if there are any irregular freckles. You hope the doctor doesn't find any, but if he does you let him cut them right out of your hide! And you are really glad he saved you from the horrors ahead if it was left un-checked and grew into cancer and killed you.
Sorry for the word picture, but sometimes that's what it takes for me to grasp a deep concept.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Confusion in the Church
Thirty years ago, the pro-gay viewpoint was embraced only in a few isolated congregations. Since then, however, many denominations have changed their traditional viewpoint on the subject of homosexuality. In a table discussion recently at my church, we were challenged to pray for one another because each of us is facing a culture which is increasingly pro-gay. So, I thought I would begin blogging about this in an attempt to provide a Biblical response.
There have been several trends over the past 100 years which made today's debate over homosexuality inevitable. During the twentieth century, a growing number of churches began to drift away from the traditional view of the Word of God. The Bible's ideas were increasingly seen as dated and no longer applicable to our time and culture.
An individuals personal experiences rose to a higher place of authority than the Scriptures. What modern science said, or what my own experiences told me, became the most important criteria on which to evaluate moral issues.
Laying a foundation: In today's debate within the church, arguments about homosexuality usually center around a few isolated biblical verses. Often overlooked is the foundational teaching on human sexuality, as presented in the first chapter of Genesis: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Gen. 1:27). Immediately after their creation, God commanded Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and increase in number" by means of sexual procreation (v. 28).
The Word of God reveals that any alteration of this pattern is a distortion of God's original plan. When sex occurs between men and women without a lifelong comitment (fornacation or adultery), or between two men or two women (homosexual "marriage"), or one man and multiple "wives" (polygamy), these acts are outside of God's perfect plan (His will).
It takes Faith:Anyone who is willing to base their life on Faith in God, not on feelings, knows that our faith will be tested; temptations, trials, and tribulations will come.It all comes down to WHO you will trust. Hebrews 11 tells us; "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear".
I look at it this way, if God made it, it's His. He owns it. Since He owns it, He gets to make the rules. If I am willing to accept His authority as my God, I am willing to let His word be the guide for my life. I know that my feelings, one way or another, could really get me confused. After all, sometimes I feel a certain way because I didn't get enough sleep, or have had too much caffine, or got cut off in traffic,...you get the drift. So, which do you choose to live by...If it feels good, do it...or...Do you think God has a right to make rules about our lives?
I'll be on this topic for a while I think...you might want to read about the "born that way" theory in this article
There have been several trends over the past 100 years which made today's debate over homosexuality inevitable. During the twentieth century, a growing number of churches began to drift away from the traditional view of the Word of God. The Bible's ideas were increasingly seen as dated and no longer applicable to our time and culture.
An individuals personal experiences rose to a higher place of authority than the Scriptures. What modern science said, or what my own experiences told me, became the most important criteria on which to evaluate moral issues.
Laying a foundation: In today's debate within the church, arguments about homosexuality usually center around a few isolated biblical verses. Often overlooked is the foundational teaching on human sexuality, as presented in the first chapter of Genesis: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Gen. 1:27). Immediately after their creation, God commanded Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and increase in number" by means of sexual procreation (v. 28).
The Word of God reveals that any alteration of this pattern is a distortion of God's original plan. When sex occurs between men and women without a lifelong comitment (fornacation or adultery), or between two men or two women (homosexual "marriage"), or one man and multiple "wives" (polygamy), these acts are outside of God's perfect plan (His will).
It takes Faith:Anyone who is willing to base their life on Faith in God, not on feelings, knows that our faith will be tested; temptations, trials, and tribulations will come.It all comes down to WHO you will trust. Hebrews 11 tells us; "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear".
I look at it this way, if God made it, it's His. He owns it. Since He owns it, He gets to make the rules. If I am willing to accept His authority as my God, I am willing to let His word be the guide for my life. I know that my feelings, one way or another, could really get me confused. After all, sometimes I feel a certain way because I didn't get enough sleep, or have had too much caffine, or got cut off in traffic,...you get the drift. So, which do you choose to live by...If it feels good, do it...or...Do you think God has a right to make rules about our lives?
I'll be on this topic for a while I think...you might want to read about the "born that way" theory in this article
Monday, September 13, 2010
Abraham - Father of our faith
God told Abraham to leave his country and move to an unknown land. Because Abram didn't know where he was going, he had to put faith in God to lead him one day at a time. How's your faith for today?
The words belief, faith, confidence and trust are often used interchangeably. True faith is built on the FACTS, not the feelings you may have.
Remember, it's not the amount of faith you have, but in whom you are placing your faith.
The words belief, faith, confidence and trust are often used interchangeably. True faith is built on the FACTS, not the feelings you may have.
Remember, it's not the amount of faith you have, but in whom you are placing your faith.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The one from beyond
Did you know that because Abraham lived a semi-nomadic life the locals called him a hebrew, which means a wanderer, the one from beyond? If you read chapter 6 in the Stranger book, you will see that the word righteousness is used in reference to God's perfection, that he is flawless, holy, pure, clean, totally without blemish or sin. As Aaron helped us to see on Sunday in church, we are not without blemish are we?
But like God did with Abraham, he has credited our accounts with righteousness. The word credited carries the thought of settling a monetary account through a payment. We like seeing money credited to our bank accounts don't we?
But what does the Bible mean when it says, "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Remember the Certificate of Death that every human has as a result of sin? You've got one too. Now, Abram believed God's promises, God placed a credit on his account. He gave Abram righteousness. I love this! Insert your name in this next part.God is saying," _Tom_, because you are trusting in me, I'm going to make an advance payment on your sin account. I'm going to place my perfection on your ledger. Now you need to understand my righteousness far exceeds your sinfulness. What I am giving you will more than offset all your sin. You can consider your sin-debt as paid. And because I am giving you my righteousness, it will not only take care of your sin-debt, but it will fully provide you with all the perfection needed to live with me in Heaven."
We know that eventually Abraham's body died, but Abraham did not experience the horrific penalty associated with the second death. He knew he would live with God in Heaven. Do you know that for certain? I hope so, it's the greatest news ever! God always tells the truth!
Remember, it is not the amount of faith you have, but in Whom you are placing your trust. Believe that the Lord is telling the truth and then act upon that belief.
That's what Abraham and Sarah did too!
But like God did with Abraham, he has credited our accounts with righteousness. The word credited carries the thought of settling a monetary account through a payment. We like seeing money credited to our bank accounts don't we?
But what does the Bible mean when it says, "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Remember the Certificate of Death that every human has as a result of sin? You've got one too. Now, Abram believed God's promises, God placed a credit on his account. He gave Abram righteousness. I love this! Insert your name in this next part.God is saying," _Tom_, because you are trusting in me, I'm going to make an advance payment on your sin account. I'm going to place my perfection on your ledger. Now you need to understand my righteousness far exceeds your sinfulness. What I am giving you will more than offset all your sin. You can consider your sin-debt as paid. And because I am giving you my righteousness, it will not only take care of your sin-debt, but it will fully provide you with all the perfection needed to live with me in Heaven."
We know that eventually Abraham's body died, but Abraham did not experience the horrific penalty associated with the second death. He knew he would live with God in Heaven. Do you know that for certain? I hope so, it's the greatest news ever! God always tells the truth!
Remember, it is not the amount of faith you have, but in Whom you are placing your trust. Believe that the Lord is telling the truth and then act upon that belief.
That's what Abraham and Sarah did too!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Babel
Babel is the first incident of an organized religion recorded in the Bible. Babel, or what became known as Babylon, is often used in Scripture as an example of man's religious efforts.
Did you know that? Did you also know that today is the first day of Ramadan? Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑdˤɑːn]) (also Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, Ramdan, Ramadaan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn until sunset.[1] Fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality and is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God (Arabic: الله, trans: Allah) and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards about ten days each year depending on the moon. Muslims believe Ramadan to be the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
The Stranger book tells us that a good definition of the word religion is this: Man's efforts to reach God. Man, by nature, tends to be very religious. He is constantly searching for or creating new ways to find God. But it's a hopeless pursuit! Mankind is LOST and cannot find his way back to God on his own. Man can neither get rid of his sin nor find adequate righteousness to make himself acceptable to the LORD.
That is why Christianity is not a religion. The Bible teaches that the only true way to God was provided by the LORD himself, when, in his mercy, he reached down to man and provided man with a way to escape the punishment for sin. It is God who rescues us. He's the Savior. The Bible makes it clear that it is the LORD who...
...devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.
2 Samuel 14:14
Did you know the word babel means confusion? this world seems very confused, doesn't it?
Did you know that? Did you also know that today is the first day of Ramadan? Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑdˤɑːn]) (also Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, Ramdan, Ramadaan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn until sunset.[1] Fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality and is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God (Arabic: الله, trans: Allah) and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards about ten days each year depending on the moon. Muslims believe Ramadan to be the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
The Stranger book tells us that a good definition of the word religion is this: Man's efforts to reach God. Man, by nature, tends to be very religious. He is constantly searching for or creating new ways to find God. But it's a hopeless pursuit! Mankind is LOST and cannot find his way back to God on his own. Man can neither get rid of his sin nor find adequate righteousness to make himself acceptable to the LORD.
That is why Christianity is not a religion. The Bible teaches that the only true way to God was provided by the LORD himself, when, in his mercy, he reached down to man and provided man with a way to escape the punishment for sin. It is God who rescues us. He's the Savior. The Bible makes it clear that it is the LORD who...
...devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.
2 Samuel 14:14
Did you know the word babel means confusion? this world seems very confused, doesn't it?
Monday, August 2, 2010
Chapter Five - Man's Problem
We learned that centuries ago in the Middle East, when one incurred a debt, an official certificate was drafted so that the parties involved would not forget the amount payable. Those who were unable to pay their debts were considered criminals under full penalty of the law. In the same way, the Bible teaches that on the moral ledger, our sin incurs a debt. There's a price to be paid. We are faced with...
Romans 8:2 ...the law of sin and death.
Ezekiel 18:20 ...That law says: The soul who sins shall die.
We have a two faceted dilemma, like opposite sides of the same coin.
*we have something we don't want - a sin problem
*we need something we don't have - perfection. We need a level of goodness that makes us acceptable in God's presence.
So we must find the answer to this two-fold question: How can we get rid of our sin? And how can we gain a righteousness that is equal to God's righteousness, so that we can be accepted in His presence?
God's situation:
Now we find a paradox. To be completely just, God must enforce our payment of the sin-debt - we must die.
But because God is loving, he has no desire to destroy us. Bot qualities of his character are equal. God is not more loving than he is just. So how can God maintain justice and still be loving?
The solution:
Two big words help to describe God's solution to the problem:
1. Substitution - a life for a life, the innocent died for the guilty
2. Atonement - meaning covering - the blood shed covered man's sin
Remember, God is the only solution for our sin problem. You cannot fix this. Only God can make the way of salvation through His promised deliverer.
The Bible states that the same pride that caused Satan to rebel is what will keep us from coming to God for help. The Lord can only help man escape the penalty of death when man humble himself and seeks God's help.
Using your Bible, find and read these verses:
Psalm 96:10; Psalm 98:9, Psalm 101:1; Isaiah 61:8; 1 Peter 5:5
I am so happy that Jesus gave His life for me AND that His blood covers over my sin so God doesn't see my sin, but sees Christ's righteousness instead!
Have a blessed week,
Pastor Tom
Romans 8:2 ...the law of sin and death.
Ezekiel 18:20 ...That law says: The soul who sins shall die.
We have a two faceted dilemma, like opposite sides of the same coin.
*we have something we don't want - a sin problem
*we need something we don't have - perfection. We need a level of goodness that makes us acceptable in God's presence.
So we must find the answer to this two-fold question: How can we get rid of our sin? And how can we gain a righteousness that is equal to God's righteousness, so that we can be accepted in His presence?
God's situation:
Now we find a paradox. To be completely just, God must enforce our payment of the sin-debt - we must die.
But because God is loving, he has no desire to destroy us. Bot qualities of his character are equal. God is not more loving than he is just. So how can God maintain justice and still be loving?
The solution:
Two big words help to describe God's solution to the problem:
1. Substitution - a life for a life, the innocent died for the guilty
2. Atonement - meaning covering - the blood shed covered man's sin
Remember, God is the only solution for our sin problem. You cannot fix this. Only God can make the way of salvation through His promised deliverer.
The Bible states that the same pride that caused Satan to rebel is what will keep us from coming to God for help. The Lord can only help man escape the penalty of death when man humble himself and seeks God's help.
Using your Bible, find and read these verses:
Psalm 96:10; Psalm 98:9, Psalm 101:1; Isaiah 61:8; 1 Peter 5:5
I am so happy that Jesus gave His life for me AND that His blood covers over my sin so God doesn't see my sin, but sees Christ's righteousness instead!
Have a blessed week,
Pastor Tom
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