21 Oct Kids & Politics – Part 3
Many years ago, after I had just gotten saved, a friend of mine from the distant past gave me a call. When I was a kid I used to swim competitively and a young man that was on my swim team called me. He was now at Auburn University and I was attending the University of Tennessee. He had given his life to Jesus many years ago and had heard that I had accepted Christ also.
He was on his way to Ohio and wanted to stop by and spend some time with me. When this friend of mine arrived, he was cleaning up in my restroom and I was sitting on my couch when the Lord spoke to me. It was not in an audible voice, but it almost sounded like it. It was very clear and distinct. The Lord told me that my friend had been struggling with homosexuality and he was about to share that information with me. The Lord went on to challenge me, “If this young man was about to tell you he was struggling with heterosexual sin, would you have any trouble ministering to him?” “No,” I replied.
Since I had not given my life to Jesus until I was 20, I had been involved in lots of heterosexual sin. However, homosexual sin was one thing that I didn’t understand. As a matter of fact, I had bullied quite a few homosexuals before I gave my life to Jesus. So God had to prepare me and my heart prior to my friend confiding in me.
Sure enough, within 45 minutes, my friend came and told me exactly what God had shared with me. Now I was ready to minister to him and by the time he had left my apartment, he was completely free from the sin he was struggling with for years! While I truly believe the scripture shows us that God hates homosexuality, I truly believe He loves the homosexual and wants to set them free!
Over the last couple of weeks we began to talk to you about “Kids & Politics”. Both of those subjects can raise the blood pressure of most people. If you want to get someone mad, simply discuss their kids or their politics in a disparaging way! The good news is that we will be talking about neither!
In this series, we are simply discussing current events in the light of timeless biblical truths. Over the last number of decades, the homosexual agenda has been endeavoring to erode away at the fabric of the biblical institute of marriage, and we began to share with you:
5 Outstanding Objectives to Current Event Opinions
1. Jesus clearly defined marriage (Matt. 19:1-9, Gen. 2:21-24).
We shared with you the primary definition of marriage from Genesis to Revelation:
- God separated feminine out of masculine
- They were given a desire to be one again
- They publicly left their parents
- They are permanently united in heterosexual marriage
- Sealed by sex
- From Genesis to Revelation, there is no other God-approved union
In essence, we condensed this down to two primary points:
- What sex is to be…between a man and a woman
- When sex is to be…between a married man and woman
We also shared with you a very special power point from Matthew 19:1-9:
Jesus Christ clearly defined what marriage was and is, and therefore it was not necessary to go through a litany of what marriage wasn’t or isn’t.
2. The Bible clearly defines homosexuality as sin:
- Genesis 19
- Lev. 18:22
- Ezek. 16:49-50
- Rom. 1:18-37
- I Cor. 6:9
- I Tim. 1:9-10
- II Tim. 3:3 8. II Peter 2:6-8
- Jude v.7
This week, let’s continue our series…
3. We must have the proper balance of mercy and truth (Prov. 3:1-2, John 1:16-17)
“And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). Here the Bible tells us that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Properly balancing mercy (or grace) and truth is imperative in your Christian life. If you don’t, it could pull you into a major ditch.
Do you realize that your body has a large amount of salt in it? Salt is comprised of sodium and chloride. Sodium all by itself can kill you. Chloride all by itself can kill you. But put sodium and chloride together, and our bodies can’t live without it. Such is the power of mercy and truth.
If your Christianity is based solely on mercy, you will travel down the slippery slope of relativism. If your Christianity is based solely on truth, you will travel down the rough edge of legalism. If you combine both, you will travel down the same beautiful road Jesus traveled down. Let me show you this road.
The Bible tells us in John 8:4-11, “They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not, So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last; and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.”
What a wonderful picture of our Lord combining mercy and truth. This woman was caught in the very act of adultery, yet Jesus said, “Woman, where are your accusers…neither do I condemn you.” Mercy! But then Jesus didn’t just wink at her and say, “Girls will be girls!” He said, “Go and sin no more.” Truth!
He provided her an atmosphere of love, safety and acceptance…mercy. From that atmosphere He challenged her to higher heights. You could have more! You could live at a higher level! Truth!
I watch too many celebrities and politicians misuse and take scripture out of context, and create mercy devoid of truth. Scripture such as “Judge not and you shall not be judged” and “Do unto others and you would have them do unto you” are misused to support the latest sinful “cause-celeb”.
Properly Balancing Mercy & Truth Principle:
- Sin is not about preference, but practice
- Sin is not about condition, but conduct
We all have propensities. I have a propensity towards pretty women. However for 24 years I have chosen to focus my propensity towards one woman and one woman only…my pretty wife! For 22 years I have chosen to be loyal to her in thought, word and deed! We all have propensities, but never underestimate the grace and truth of God to choose and change!
“But Pastor, what does it matter…live and let live!” “I’ll stay on my side of the boat and you stay on your side of the boat.” The problem with redefining marriage is that we are all in the same boat and you just drilled a hole in our boat! Your side of the boat may go down first, but eventually the entire boat sinks!
Next week, we’ll continue our series!