DeaconBob3
Member
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2005
- Messages
- 167
Dear Friends:
I had a conversation this morning that has left me with a concern. One that makes me uneasy and ill at ease about how we as Christians deal with issues in the world, when the world view or world laws are not biblical.
Both here in the states and abroad laws are being passed that say that same sex marriages are ok, that same sex relations are an alternate, yet acceptable, lifestyle choice.
How are we as Christians to respond to fellow Christians and non-Christians or unbelievers about a subject that is filled with both emotionalism and controversy? What should be the approach we take and what is the basis for that approach.
The question as it was put to me was how can someone who believes that a behavior is ok, based on society's law be expected to know that they are doing wrong? Especially someone that is an unbeliever?
Now this is a really good question because it causes us to consider something that we may just be beginning to deal with ourselves, yet our children will deal with the results (fruits) of our legal system's sowing of confusion for a long time to come. It is because of that realization that I sat down to consider both the answer and the reason for the question itself. This is what I am going to attempt to answer and share with you today. I am going to begin with God's Law in the 10 commandments because with unbelievers, the Law is the taskmaster that Jesus used to bring the Samaritan woman at the well to salvation knowledge. (see John 4:7-40)
Whether a person is a believer or a non-believer, they know of the 10 commandments. From "Thou shalt not Kill" all know that it is a sin to take a life or even to wish in our hearts that someone would die. Certainly, by the same reasoning and from "Thou shalt not commit adultery" all know that sexual sin in any of its many forms is a sin and wrong in the eyes of a just God. So where is the problem?
When men in their feeble attempts to pass laws that promote the general good and protect the rights of the disadvantaged in our societies, create a law or laws that are in agreement with God's laws these men and their societies are on stable, solid ground and they bring blessing upon the society because they plant good influence (sow righteousness) into the society and the society receives (reaps) good results (fruit). However, when a law or laws are passed which are at odds with the Law of God, such laws are at the least a bad influence (bad witness and bad sowing) on the members of society as a whole, for the laws say that something wrong in God's eyes is an ok or otherwise acceptable behavior. As Christians we know that by God's Law of sowing and reaping that this creates in that society a situation where its members will receive (reap) bad results (fruit) because they protect a bad practice (bad sowing of approval of sin). Nothing good can come from such laws no matter how well intended or how loving the motives for them may have been. God's Word tells us that "God will not be mocked." Man has no authority to change the truth of God's laws and there are many Biblical examples of the ruin that has come upon men and societies where God's laws have been ignored. The only salvation from the wrath that these men and societies received from God was by repentance and a return to conforming to the Laws of God. Even with repentance, there was still punishment for the sin itself.
Now we who live in this time, 1996-2006, have seen the growing tolerance to homosexuality and the laws that tell us that we must respect the rights of those who "practice this alternative lifestyle." We have seen that there are laws that call preaching against this "alternate life style" a hate crime punishable by Federal Law. Ministers in today's churches who preach against homosexuality do so at the risk of their own imprisonment. We see our children taught that homosexuality is an "acceptable alternate lifestyle" in our school. I ask you, acceptable to whom? By 2026-36, what will the results (fruits) of these un-Godly laws be? While we may not know the answers to that question today, we know what the answer has been for other societies in other times. So we must not become fatalistic or accepting of the mistake. We must rather exert any and every influence we have on our law makers to see that such laws, though well intentioned, can only result in great harm and great judgment upon our society.
We need also look closely at our tolerance of sexual sin in general as a society. If we do we will see the slippery slope that we have already slid down a long way. Our abortion laws are yet another good example of this same problem and a series of bad laws enacted to modify society's attitude. (but that is another whole subject).
Ps 11:2-3
2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do ?
KJV
The foundation is the Word of God. The wicked want it destroyed, removed, nullified made of no affect. We must fight for it, stand up for it, witness for it and yes if necessary die for it. (We know that this will happen during the tribulation time - dying for it)
Ps 11:5-6
5 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
KJV
God's warning is clear, His past behavior toward unrighteousness we know well. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Do we really believe that we can escape the wrath of a righteous God? How long will God withhold His wrath from the rebellious nations? No one can know.
Can we turn God from His wrath?
2 Chron 7:14
14 If my people , which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
KJV
However, for a caution, read the rest of this chapter on through the 23rd verse to hear God's warning should His people ignore their duty to honor Him, to repent and turn from their wicked ways and to pray.
The answer to the original question, "how can someone who believes that a behavior is ok, based on society's law be expected to know that they are doing wrong? Especially someone that is an unbeliever?," is now altogether simple and straight forward.
The Bible clearly tells us that all men know there is one true God, creator of all things. Because we know He exists and that His laws are righteous, when we refuse to accept His existence or His Laws we are without excuse when we die.
Rom 1:20-25
20 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
KJV
So it is that we are to repent, seek God, accept Christ to salvation or if we choose foolishly to deny understanding and accept the judgment of a righteous God. Sin is sin is sin, no matter what the laws of man may say. God's Laws are righteous and fair.
God grades on the Cross of Christ not on the curve of compromise or accommodation.
So pray for our confused brethren, lead them to Christ, but let them choose who they will serve.
Just know that in God's righteousness there is no wrath nor condemnation and for those of us in Christ there is blessed assurance of salvation.
Bob
I had a conversation this morning that has left me with a concern. One that makes me uneasy and ill at ease about how we as Christians deal with issues in the world, when the world view or world laws are not biblical.
Both here in the states and abroad laws are being passed that say that same sex marriages are ok, that same sex relations are an alternate, yet acceptable, lifestyle choice.
How are we as Christians to respond to fellow Christians and non-Christians or unbelievers about a subject that is filled with both emotionalism and controversy? What should be the approach we take and what is the basis for that approach.
The question as it was put to me was how can someone who believes that a behavior is ok, based on society's law be expected to know that they are doing wrong? Especially someone that is an unbeliever?
Now this is a really good question because it causes us to consider something that we may just be beginning to deal with ourselves, yet our children will deal with the results (fruits) of our legal system's sowing of confusion for a long time to come. It is because of that realization that I sat down to consider both the answer and the reason for the question itself. This is what I am going to attempt to answer and share with you today. I am going to begin with God's Law in the 10 commandments because with unbelievers, the Law is the taskmaster that Jesus used to bring the Samaritan woman at the well to salvation knowledge. (see John 4:7-40)
Whether a person is a believer or a non-believer, they know of the 10 commandments. From "Thou shalt not Kill" all know that it is a sin to take a life or even to wish in our hearts that someone would die. Certainly, by the same reasoning and from "Thou shalt not commit adultery" all know that sexual sin in any of its many forms is a sin and wrong in the eyes of a just God. So where is the problem?
When men in their feeble attempts to pass laws that promote the general good and protect the rights of the disadvantaged in our societies, create a law or laws that are in agreement with God's laws these men and their societies are on stable, solid ground and they bring blessing upon the society because they plant good influence (sow righteousness) into the society and the society receives (reaps) good results (fruit). However, when a law or laws are passed which are at odds with the Law of God, such laws are at the least a bad influence (bad witness and bad sowing) on the members of society as a whole, for the laws say that something wrong in God's eyes is an ok or otherwise acceptable behavior. As Christians we know that by God's Law of sowing and reaping that this creates in that society a situation where its members will receive (reap) bad results (fruit) because they protect a bad practice (bad sowing of approval of sin). Nothing good can come from such laws no matter how well intended or how loving the motives for them may have been. God's Word tells us that "God will not be mocked." Man has no authority to change the truth of God's laws and there are many Biblical examples of the ruin that has come upon men and societies where God's laws have been ignored. The only salvation from the wrath that these men and societies received from God was by repentance and a return to conforming to the Laws of God. Even with repentance, there was still punishment for the sin itself.
Now we who live in this time, 1996-2006, have seen the growing tolerance to homosexuality and the laws that tell us that we must respect the rights of those who "practice this alternative lifestyle." We have seen that there are laws that call preaching against this "alternate life style" a hate crime punishable by Federal Law. Ministers in today's churches who preach against homosexuality do so at the risk of their own imprisonment. We see our children taught that homosexuality is an "acceptable alternate lifestyle" in our school. I ask you, acceptable to whom? By 2026-36, what will the results (fruits) of these un-Godly laws be? While we may not know the answers to that question today, we know what the answer has been for other societies in other times. So we must not become fatalistic or accepting of the mistake. We must rather exert any and every influence we have on our law makers to see that such laws, though well intentioned, can only result in great harm and great judgment upon our society.
We need also look closely at our tolerance of sexual sin in general as a society. If we do we will see the slippery slope that we have already slid down a long way. Our abortion laws are yet another good example of this same problem and a series of bad laws enacted to modify society's attitude. (but that is another whole subject).
Ps 11:2-3
2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do ?
KJV
The foundation is the Word of God. The wicked want it destroyed, removed, nullified made of no affect. We must fight for it, stand up for it, witness for it and yes if necessary die for it. (We know that this will happen during the tribulation time - dying for it)
Ps 11:5-6
5 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
KJV
God's warning is clear, His past behavior toward unrighteousness we know well. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Do we really believe that we can escape the wrath of a righteous God? How long will God withhold His wrath from the rebellious nations? No one can know.
Can we turn God from His wrath?
2 Chron 7:14
14 If my people , which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
KJV
However, for a caution, read the rest of this chapter on through the 23rd verse to hear God's warning should His people ignore their duty to honor Him, to repent and turn from their wicked ways and to pray.
The answer to the original question, "how can someone who believes that a behavior is ok, based on society's law be expected to know that they are doing wrong? Especially someone that is an unbeliever?," is now altogether simple and straight forward.
The Bible clearly tells us that all men know there is one true God, creator of all things. Because we know He exists and that His laws are righteous, when we refuse to accept His existence or His Laws we are without excuse when we die.
Rom 1:20-25
20 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
KJV
So it is that we are to repent, seek God, accept Christ to salvation or if we choose foolishly to deny understanding and accept the judgment of a righteous God. Sin is sin is sin, no matter what the laws of man may say. God's Laws are righteous and fair.
God grades on the Cross of Christ not on the curve of compromise or accommodation.
So pray for our confused brethren, lead them to Christ, but let them choose who they will serve.
Just know that in God's righteousness there is no wrath nor condemnation and for those of us in Christ there is blessed assurance of salvation.
Bob
