Defining Moment

This morning's decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to legalize marriage by homosexuals throughout the country is a defining moment in the life of the Church of Jesus Christ. Those genuine Bible adhering followers of His cannot submit to this ruling. In general Romans 13:1-7 covers the responsibility of believers to be law abiding citizens of wherever they reside. However, there are exceptions to this rule. One is found in Acts 5. The Sanhedrin, which was a legal governing body in Israel, arrested the apostles and put them in prison. (verse 17)An angel frees and directs them to speak of "all the words of this life."(v. 19-20) They are rearrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. The high priest says, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name..." (v. 28) The apostles responded, "We must obey God rather than men." (v. 29)The corollary is that they suffered for their stand. ( "they beat them" v. 40)We should expect to suffer when we stand for the truth of the Word of God. There will be many ostensible believers and pastors who will compromise. We should expect this. But God will preserve a faithful remnant who are willing to stand and suffer for the truth. I am told that there are already over 44,000 pastors who have signed a pledge not to marry homosexuals. Christians are often accused of prejudice or even hatred of homosexuals. In forty-four years in the church interacting with many believers in many settings, I have never heard anyone use language one-tenth as strong as the Bible itself uses. In the Old covenant book of Leviticus, which true believers are no longer under, it is called an "abomination," (Lev. 18:22)and they should be put to death. ( 20:13 a penalty given to many other sins also). In company with other sinful people they will not inherit the Kingdom of God. ( 1 Corinthians 6:9) 1 Timothy 1:10 places homosexuals together with murderers, enslavers, and other lawless and disobedient people. Romans 1:26-27 reads, "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those who are contrary to nature, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error." We are told to love even our enemies. One of the most honest ways to love someone is to tell them the truth, that without surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and repentance of their sins, a person will go into eternal conscious punishment. ( Matthew 25:46, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, 2 Thess 1:5-9 Prepare to go underground as the church in China and other countries have had to do.