There are two things I would like to address in
this paper; they are related in a way. One is the
definition of Marriage the other is how a believer
should deal with the world we live in.
Marriage
It seems to me that we need to make sure that we
have this straight, - what exactly constitutes a
marriage according to the Lord? It really is pretty
simple. Marriage is between a Man and a Woman. God
instituted marriage in the Garden of Eden, before
sin. Marriage was instituted before sin and was good
just like everything else God created. All we have
to do is read the Book of Genesis Chapter 2 verses
20-25
So the man gave names to all the livestock, the
birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the
LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep;
and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s
ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the
LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out
of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man
said,” This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my
flesh; she shall be called ‘woman, ‘for she was
taken out of man.”For this reason a man will leave
his father and mother and be united to his wife, and
they will become one flesh. The man and his wife
were both naked, and they felt no shame.
This relationship was to be a lifelong relationship.
God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), divorce should
never be an option in a marriage. A Marriage is
based on Love and commitment a commitment before God
and man. So to sum it up, marriage is between a man
and a woman, a commitment to each other based on
love before God and man.
I believe the homosexual (same sex) partners can be
committed to one another but that is not marriage
that, at best friendship. To say that same sex
partners can be married is simply going against what
the Bible says.
So how should we react to the homosexual movement
and especially gay marriage? How should we react as
followers of Jesus to the sinners of this world?
When something catastrophic happens or a manmade
disaster how should we react as followers of Jesus?
I think it starts by looking at the example of Jesus
in scripture. Most of the time we see Him eating and
fellowshipping with the sinners.
Mark 2:13-17
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large
crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he
walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at
the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told
him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus
was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax
collectors and sinners were eating with him and his
disciples, for there were many who followed him.
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw
him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they
asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax
collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said
to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor,
but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous,
but sinners.”
Jesus chose to fellowship with those who were
sinners. The woman at the well in John 4 is a great
example of the ministry of Jesus. First He goes to a
place where most Jews would not go, Samaria. He then
sits and waits for the woman to show up at the well.
She was alone; no one else would talk to her because
she was a sinner. Jesus accepted her right where she
was at and was able to talk to her. She listened
because she was accepted first. Jesus gave her worth
by speaking to her in a way she could understand; He
did not talk down to her He just Accepted and loved
her.
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I think this is what lacks in Christians in America. Our motto could
be “Judge first ask questions later”. We judge people instead of
loving them. We tell them that they are wrong and we are right and
they better get with it or they are going to hell. Personally if it
were me listening to that why would I want to believe in Jesus?
So let me ask those questions again
So how should we react to the homosexual movement and especially
gay marriage?
I believe we should work on simply loving the people and not judging
them. Accept them and tell them the truth. The truth is what they
need, they need to know the love of God, I think they already
understand judgment. Don’t get me wrong I am no fan of the
homosexual agenda. But I am here on this earth to follow Jesus and
be His ambassador, not to change someone’s agenda
How should we react as followers of Jesus to the sinners of this
world?
We should be like Jesus. Accept people where they are at love them
and tell them the truth.
When something catastrophic happens or a manmade disaster how
should we react as followers of Jesus?
I think we should be known for our compassion. The follower of
Christ should be the first one to lend a helping hand in times that
are overwhelming. Most people question what God is doing in these
kinds of times. They may ask ”Where is God in all of this?”. We need
to be ready to tell them that God is still there and that He cares for
them.
We must always remember that it is for God to judge, not us, we are
just to do whatever God tells us to do
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 NIV
[Pastor Steve Poirot—Lincoln Bible Church] |
