There is a lot of hate talk against the Homosexual.
Granted the bible does say that the homosexual will not inherit the Kingdom of God…
But let’s look at the main verse this is in.
1 Cor 6: 9 10. 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 slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (NIV)
Notice that yes, homosexuals are in the list… so are the sexually immoral...idolaters, male prostitutes… but also notice thieves, the greedy, drunkards and slanderers or swindlers will not inherit the Kingdom of God also.
Funny to me that there are those so full of hate to those who believe the homosexual is their neighbor, that these people actually slander me for believing the words of Jesus? Ironic, huh.
So let me emphasize that point… slanderers and homosexuals will be together in the Lake of Fire… and that is very, very sad.
Many people use the story of Sodom and Gomorrah as the proof text of God hating Gays… in fact though homosexuals do play a part in the story that is not the reason God destroyed those cities.
In Genesis 13 we read that Sodom was a lush valley with much water. It was great for agriculture or feeding livestock. Lot looked over that valley and saw it as a good place, yet the people there were evil… Lot could only see that toward the east was the land he would claim himself
God to Abram to look in all the directions. God gave Abram a huge vision… partly including the land of Sodom as promised by God.
Chapter 14 of Genesisi speaks of the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. They were attacked and made subject to greater kings. This lasted for 12 years and on the 13th they rebelled against Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim. They all met at the Valley of Sidim… and the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah lost the battle and the other kings plundered and took all the bounty for themselves… and Lot was taken also.
One of the captives escaped and reported all that happened to Abram the Hebrew… who called out 318 train warriors and pursued the other kings as far as Hobah outside of Damascus. Abram did what the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah could not and recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
After Abram’s victory the other kings met him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). … of which included the king of Sodom. Melchizedek king of Salem blessed the event with bread and wine… as he was the High Priest of God.
And he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Even the king of Sodom was thankful and told Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."
Abram replied, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, `I made Abram rich.'
I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me--to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share."
Genesisi18 is the story of the three men… or rather two Angels and the Lord visiting Abram… now Abraham. They tell of how Sodom has become very evil… Abraham asks if the righteous will be destroyed with the wicked… and asks if there be 50 righteous would the Lord still destroy… Abraham knowing Lot was living there stops at 5… and goes with the three… to Sodom to retrieve Lot and his family.
Now this is were most claim it is because of homosexuality that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah… yet, if you remember God used Abraham to destroy the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah’s enemies and retrieve their people and their goods… yet we read they have become even MORE evil…I will add and ungrateful as they sat with the High Priest thanking God… yet then turn their back to Him…
That was the most evil part of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.. to have God bring salvation to their people… and these very people instead of being thankful and turning to the God of their salvation… turn to wickedness and evil… of which in part was homosexuality… but that was not the only reason as so many teach.
I would go into the rest of the story as most people know it… you can read it in Genesis 18 and 19.
So God destroyed both cities by fire and brimstone… reminiscent of the Lake of Fire that comes at the end of the ages.
Later in Deuteronomy 29, Sodom is talked about again… we read in verse 25 why God destroyed Sodom: Sodom would be the standard of wickedness to all generations. God would judge Israel and refer to this judgment as liken unto Sodom and Gomorrah.
And the answer will be: "It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt.
God judged Sodom and Gomorrah for forsaking God. Remember the King of Sodom was at the celebration of bread and wine... they sat with the High Priest of God... Melchizedek king of Salem. This King/High Priest is thought by some to be Jesus Himself... yet at the very least he is representative of Jesus in the OT. A shadow of what was to come and now is in Christ Jesus.
Let's further this thought in the NT…
Matthew 10: 14-15 “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth; it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.”
It is going to be worse for those who reject the message of the Kingdom… than for Sodom and Gomorrah.
Why was Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? So that they would stand in judgment against those who reject the love and grace and mercy of God…
Romans 9: 29. It is just as Isaiah said previously: "Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah."
This does not mean that we would be homosexual and judged… but that if we do nto heed to the Call of Christ Jesus… we will be judge by God for not turning to Him and instead reject His great salvation.
This is a story greater than “God hates homosexuals”. It is a warning to all to turn to God when he has given you His Great salvation… it is a warning to all of us!
Blessings,
iggy
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THE DAMAGE OF "THE CLOSET"
In the wake of all of the recent sex scandals in the past couple of years, months, weeks and days in Washington and now the leader of the evangelicals that have been monopolizing the news because they have involving high profile individuals such as politicians, clergy etc. For this reason I believe it is high time that the phenomenon of “the closet” needs to be addressed and understood. I believe it will provide the necessary context from which to view some of these scandals. The closet, meaning where people hide their sexual orientation, whether one is a man or woman but particularly I am speaking of men at this time because I believe men use the closet even more often than woman because of societies more narrow view and expectations of what behaviors are considered acceptable and “normal” for men. Woman can be tomboys much easier than men can be sissies. Of course not all gay men are effeminate by a long shot but that is a stereotypical image of gay men and therefore many men attempt to cover up any behaviors they may have and believe may bring unwanted suspicion onto them. Therefore men, whether they be gay or straight, will practice stereotypical masculine behaviors to thwart any suspicion out of fear and/or necessity. This is especially true if they feel pressure to do so to protect their careers, career advancement, fear of social denunciation or for a variety of other reasons whether they have difficulties reconciling their religious views with their natural inner feelings and same sex attractions. These are however the most common reasons for men to join the astounding numbers of other men that are also hiding in the closet.
The fear of being discovered can be enormous and absolutely terrifying. These men will often then do whatever they believe society expects from them. They will marry and have children out of desperation in an always unsuccessful attempt at suppressing these natural longings and hoping that they will eventually go away. These powerful feelings of attraction that we all know very well and have all experienced ourselves whether toward the same sex or the opposite sex, it’s all still the same. They may also marry and have homosexual secret liaisons with men and feel terrible guilt in doing so. They will do their very best to compartmentalize their lives the best that they can. However I believe and have found while researching my book that the longer one stays in the closet the more damage is done. It is generally very difficult to compartmentalize ones life for long without developing some emotional problems begin developing in varying degrees and manifesting in a variety of ways. Many closeted me develop coping mechanisms such as addictive behaviors of all sorts whether they are alcoholism, prescription or non prescription abuse. They may develop addictions to pornography sexual addiction or other self-destructive ways of acting out. Once again unfortunately the longer one stays in the closet there will also then be more victims because of their closeted lifestyle choice. The victims may be their wives and children, their friends, parents and siblings, all feeling like they have been betrayed and deceived if their true nature is discovered as it was for ex-governor of New Jersey, Mr. McGreevy, ex-congressmen Foley and now the president of the Evangelicals to name just a few of the staggering number of men that are doing the same. I feel very sad for the victims as well as I very much understand the humiliation, despair, and profound depression that soon follow once that door to the closet is flung open. For some, the shame is just too unbearable and suicide seems like the only alternative to ending their unbearable pain and shame.
Society needs to take some responsibility with this matter of the closet by being more accepting of alternative lifestyles. Without the closet, try and imagine how much less pain many people and families would have to endure. Not only the ones that feel that living in the closet is their only alternative, but for the victims that find themselves feeling betrayed and the breaking up of families that soon follows. We as a culture have some soul searching to do on this matter and not be so self-involved and self-righteous. There are a variety of ways of loving and living. We need to accept that which seems to be normal for some is not necessarily normal for all. With that said in no way excuses adult men from making wrong choices that victimize others such as the irresponsible behaviors demonstrated by the now ex-congressmen Foley. I'm not even going to go so far as to say his closeted behaviors are the reason for his conduct. I don't know. I don't know him. However, as I said the closet can cause deep and very troubling emotional problems that can eventually manifest in abhorrent behaviors. This may or may not be the cause of his behaviors. However one thing I do know is that he does know what's right and wrong and as he surely knew, his attractions to young teens, although may not be technically illegal, but is an inappropriate attraction and should have sought therapy before creating victims. However, because there is still so much shame yet in this day and age and our rather hypocritical puritanical society, cause many gays to not seek help concerning issues they may be struggling with from the appropriate professionals. I generally do not recommend clergy because it can cause further damage due to their religious agendas which can deepen one's shame and depression. This is a very complicated issue that society has to become more compassionate about or we will continue to shame gays enough that will continue to inhibit many from being true to themselves from the beginning or it may prevent them from seeking the appropriate help for any specific personal issues in which they may be struggling with.
One can read more about this issue and many other disturbing issues involving gay culture of today in my new book; "why gay men do what they do", an inside look at gay culture. Thank you, Aaron Jason Silver
www, aaronjasonsilver.com
Aaron,
You said a lot there... and i agree this is a very complex issue that involves social acceptance and cultural differences, stereotypes and most importantly PEOPLE WHO GOD SENT HIS SON TO DIE FOR.
I understand mostly you are promoting your new book and even that your new book may not be coming from a Biblical world view... yet even in that there can be insight for Christians to help and comfort those in real need...
This is not about sex... and that may seem funny... even in marriage between heterosexuals... it should be based on something more than "just sex"... to place all your emotions and identity in to one small aspect of ones life is out of whack... Yet that is that the world shows and teaches us... from the very beginning... it is to hide in shame what we really are.
Jesus has called us into the Light and out of shame... that is why I stand against a shame based faith...Most often Christians without realizing it fall into a Greek philosophical world view of “objective dualism”... basically just reducing things to “good” and “bad”. Though there is that aspect in Christianity… not denying that is good and evil… we are now called and equipped to think on a whole new quantum level… which is called the Mind of Christ… 2 Cor 14 – 21 states that because of what Christ Jesus has done in us… we not longer should regard ANYONE from a WORLDY point of view.
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In the Death of Jesus all men have been made equal… all men (and women) have been given the ability to be reconciled to God… and that is our mission as believers in Jesus… to be part of that reconciliation as Jesus Body here on earth. SO many scripture state not to judge BEFORE THE APPOINTED TIME… yet that is what so many do and this even to other beloved believers in Christ.
We need to look at ALL PEOPLE as Scripture teaches… to reach out to the Foleys and Haggards… to realize we can be either a part of the problem or part of the solution… and people’s lives and eternity depend on our decision… we hold the keys to Heaven… and decide who we will let in… it is sad t think we would not follow Jesus’ example and show love to those who most would be deemed the enemy…
Blessings,
iggy
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