I've made it known very clearly in my blog that I believe the Bible and that it is the Word of God. Therefore, if the Bible states something, then I believe it and to me there is no controversy. Some things aren't as clear as others, but this one leaves no question in my mind when I read these verses. It is as clear as black and white. I'm not the one who said it -- I'm just a Bible believer and if God says it through his word, then that settles it, no questions asked. I am not even going to type out the verses - but please look them up yourself and leave a comment with your thoughts. I doubt if anyone will leave comments because of the nature of this subject. But I would really like to know your thoughts. You can do it anonymously if you don't want your name in there. The focus verses are Romans 1:26-28, but please read verses 18-32 to get the full meaning.
There is always hope in Christ. I am certainly not pointing my finger at anyone for their sin, I just wanted to bring to light something in the Bible that is not talked about very often in this world. We are all sinners and maybe we haven't committed that sin, but we each have our own faults and failures which makes us no better than people who've committed the sins mentioned in the Romans verses. But one of my favorite verses of hope for every kind of sinner is in 1 Corinthians 6 where it names all kinds of sins and says that these kinds of people cannot inherit the kingdom of God, but then leaves us with the hope that comes only through Jesus. Here are the verses -- I love it!
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderes nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
Thankful Thursday
4 days ago
7 comments:
Hi Kathy
You're right Kathy... it is hard to leave a comment today... but I'll take the chance and pray that it is received with the love that it is intended.
I think it is important for us to read the whole book of Romans in context. The discussion doesn't end in Chapter 1. Paul has set up the Romans to see where others have fallen... and then in Chapter 2, he calls them on the carpet for their judgment and sins.
Sin is sin. We are all sinners. We all need God's grace. Some of us refuse the grace... so God calls the rest of us to love and prayer. If those who are in sin remain there... what a bitter end. But for those of us who remain silent and unmoved by the lost, woe to us!
Romans 2:1-4 (The Message)
1-2 Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn't so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you've done.
3-4You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.
Sheri, thank you for your comment. I truly did want to know what others thought about this. And as I said in the post, I am not trying to point out anyone for this sin because we all have fallen short and we are all sinners. I totally agree with you that sin is sin, no matter what the sin is. I am just so thankful for His grace and that we can be washed, sanctified and justified through Christ.
I believe the Bible, too.
I love that there is hope. That in Christ we are no longer those things we once were.
I also believe that a person can be homosexual and a Christian. The same way a person can be a drunk and a Christian. Or a liar and a Christian. A porn viewer and a Christian.
These verses about God giving one over to their depravity, I believe is about those people who have rejected God and will not ever change their minds. God knows who will seek Him and who won't. I think sometimes He just says, "Have it your way, then." Not that they are outside of His love, they just have made their choice. God never gives up on people - they give up on Him.
Hi Kathy! I too would like to comment on your post. I've always told my children that if you a finger at someone else - you have 3 pointing back at you! God does not set degrees of sin - sin is sin is sin!!! We as humans want to justify ourselves by saying that we're not as bad as another because we don't have a certain sin in our life, but we all have sin. The only one who has the right to judge and condemn, instead chose to love and give His lifeblood to cover my sins! Thank you, Jesus!!!
I'll comment, too, hopefully without offending...
I like verses 28-32 better. Verses 26-28 seem really anti-gay, and I know Christians have a major issue with homosexuality, but to me, the teachings of God should make you a better person, a more Christ-like person, and not a person who excludes, accuses or judges others.
If we're all sinners, we should focus on ourselves and how we might be better people rather than just trying to be better than the next guy.
By the way, so you don't have to type them all out, go here. You can copy and paste to your heart's content. :D
I really do appreciate each comment that was left on this subject. And don't worry, I wasn't offended by any one of them.
Now, I would like to tell my main reason for this post. The main point I wanted to get across from these verses is that according to the Bible, this behavior is a sin just like certain other behaviors are sins. The world, TV, the media, all try to tell us that this is only a different lifestyle and that there is nothing wrong with it. But the Bible says to me that yes there is something wrong with it in God's eyes. I am not saying it is worse than any other sin, but only that it is a sin. Television is glorifying it, and even pushing it on us and I just wanted to get these verses out there so people can see what the Bible has to say about it.
You said it. Love your blog, love the way you put it....
Basically Paul is just taking us all down to that level, showing how none of us can measure up on our own. It's what makes the Christian faith SO different than any other beleif system. We as Christians cannot do ANYTHING to achieve the gift freely given. The rest of our Christian life is just a grateful expression of that gift, not something we do to earn our points!
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