Posted on 06/17/2014 3:06:35 PM PDT by WXRGina
During an interview with The Independent last year, country western star Carrie Underwood, a professing Christian, got the medias full attention when she decided to come out in support of gay marriage. As a married person myself, she chirped, I dont know what its like to be told I cant marry somebody I love, and want to marry. I cant imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love. Underwood also noted that she attends a gay-friendly church.
Four years ago another popular Christian singer, Jennifer Knapp, came out as a lesbian. In an interview Knapp stated that she wasnt interested in becoming another spokesperson for the gay agenda because she wasnt equipped for that. Im in no way capable of leading a charge for some kind of activist movement, she bluntly told Christianity Today in 2010, adding, Im not capable of getting into the theological argument as to whether or not we should or shouldnt allow homosexuals within our church. (Source) Four years later we learn that Jennifer has boned up on theology 101 and now feels shes capable of arguing her view on what the Bible teaches on homosexuality. Purchase her soon to be released book where she tells the story of her troubled life and youll discover Jennifers liberal theology. And, not surprisingly, on her book publishers website we learn that she has become an advocate for LGBT issues in the church.
The gay agenda has weaseled its way into all aspects of society, including religious institutions, corporations, politics, the media, education, the arts, the entertainment industry and so on. As a result, theres a great divide in this country. Even though the Bible clearly opposes homosexuality, a growing number of professing Christians have no problem with it. Far be it from a Christian to hurt someones feelings or to be thought of as gasp homophobic. Anyone who dares oppose sodomy is said to be intolerant, even bigoted. Well, the fact of the matter is that society has been indoctrinated to believe that homosexuality is normal and natural despite the fact that the scriptures teach just the opposite. Not only is sodomy deemed unnatural, the Apostle Paul uses the term unseemly:
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that 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. (Rom 1:26-27)
With all the health risks involved in homosexual behavior why are Christians expected to be tolerant instead of outraged?
The vast majority of highly respected, published, biblical scholars agree that Scripture clearly teaches that homosexuality is sin. Therefore practicing same-sex sex is unacceptable to God to Jesus to the Holy Spirit in other words, to the holy Trinity.
Pastor Larry Tomczak said of so-called Christian entertainers who seem more concerned about their careers than with what the Bible teaches, To say we genuinely care about our fellow man, yet not speak the truth in love is cowardice.
Amy Grant and Dan Haseltine are the most recent Christian entertainers to take a stance on gay marriage. Theyre for it. Thus, Amy and Dan are cowards.
Amy Grant is a singer-songwriter, musician, author and actor. This accomplished woman also has dozens of Dove awards, six Grammys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Dan is the lead singer of popular Christian singing group Jars of Clay and tweeter extraordinaire.
Recently Grant agreed to do an interview with the gay press. According to Chris Azzopardi:
During her first gay press interview, and for an entire hour, the Grammy winner reflected with her usual sincerity and thoughtfulness on her loyal gay fan base, how she reconciles Christianity and homosexuality, her compassion for gay marriage
Azzopardi was curious to know if she was invited to perform at the wedding of one of her gay fans and couldnt do it because of a conflict in her schedule. She replied:
I was invited. I was honored to be invited. (Source)
Honored? Why would Amy, who proclaims her love for Jesus, feel that its an honor to be invited to sing Christian music at a gay marriage ceremony?
The answer is obvious. She has rejected Sola Scriptura in favor of following her feelings. As I already pointed out, homosexuality is diametrically opposed to Scripture.
Equally concerning is Grants 2010 interview with the worlds largest Catholic network, Catholic Online. Has she not heard of the Protestant Reformation? By doing the interview she as much as endorsed a religious system that has led billions of people down a path that ends at the Gates of Hell.
Reformer Martin Luther made it clear what Protestants must believe about the Roman Catholic Church:
What kind of a church is the popes church? asked Martin Luther. It is an uncertain, vacillating and tottering church. Indeed, it is a deceitful, lying church, doubting and unbelieving, without Gods Word. For the pope with his wrong keys teaches his church to doubt and to be uncertain.
If it is a vacillating church, then it is not the church of faith, for the latter is founded upon a rock, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it (Matthew.16:18). If it is not the church of faith, then it is not the Christian church, but it must be an unchristian, anti-Christian, and faithless church which destroys and ruins the real, holy, Christian church.3 (H/T Ken Silva)
It doesnt require a degree in theology to know that the Roman Catholic Church has for centuries been spreading a false gospel, a gospel that does not save and intends to keep men blinded from the truth. (2 Corinthians 4:4). That Ms. Grantor any other professing Christianwould agree to sit down with a representative of a false religious system shows how little discernment she has. Sadly, it appears that she is not concerned that her fans understand authentic Christian doctrine that will help them mature and grow in their faith. Amy must know that,
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 16:25)
Likewise:
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)
Dan Haseltine is not a household name. But many believers are familiar with the popular Christian band Jars of Clay. In April Dan tweeted his support for gay marriage and claimed that Scripture has nothing to say on morality. When Christians objected to his unbiblical stance, he tweeted this stunning rebuke:
I dont particularly care about Scriptures stance on what is wrong I care more about how it says we should treat people.
On biblical morality he tweeted:
Because most people read and interpret scripture wrong. I dont think scripture clearly states much about morality.
The following day Metro Weekly reported Haseltines response to the uproar:
Not meaning to stir things up BUT is there a non-speculative or non slippery slope reason why gays shouldnt marry? I dont hear one. He went on to write Im trying to make sense of the conservative argument. But it doesnt hold up to basic scrutiny. Feels akin to womens suffrage. I just dont see a negative effect to allowing gay marriage. No societal breakdown, no war on traditional marriage. ?? Anyone? (Source)
By not taking a strong stance against gay marriage Amy and Dan have surrendered to three enemies: the world, the flesh and the devil. And lets be clear. From their progressive vantage point, their brothers and sisters in Christ who oppose same-sex marriage (for biblical reasons) are homophobes, hate mongers and bigots.
But this is not only about Christian entertainers that have gone the way of progressive Christianity. It is equally about the so-called Bible-believing Christian who has chosen to ignore what Gods Word says on homosexuality; the one who puts his tail between his legs and cowers rather than to stand up for the Truth. Gods people are commanded to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3) And by the way, the discerning Christian knows perfectly well that same-sex sex is prohibited in Scripture. Moreover, a spiritual person (1 Cor. 2:15) will understand that every sin is ultimately a sin against God. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Ill end this with a lengthy quote from Walter Martin, apologist and founder of the Christian Research Institute. Over two decades ago Dr. Martin gave us fair warning:
I dont think it needs blackboard diagram; or any amount of sophisticated logical presentation a fortiori. I think you can be a fifth-grader and understand that if God says cursed is something He takes an extremely dim view of it. I think thats a rational approach. So the homosexual theologians who are attempting today to defend homosexuality on the basis of Biblical theology are in the same position as the Sadducees, to whom Jesus addressed this remark: You do err. Not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God.
Thats exactly where they are. They are trying to put Christianity and homosexuality in the same bed; and youre not gonna do it because Jesus Christ very forcibly condemned it. And you say, Where in the New Testament did Jesus ever mention homosexuality? Open your Bibles and find out; because contrary to what the gay church says, He not only spoke against itHe went out of His way to make it very clear [so] nobodyd misunderstand Him.
Of course, you do have to study your Greek New Testament to come up with it. Most homosexual theologians, so-called, that I have talked to dont even know the Greek alphabet, much less their Greek exegesis so they miss it completelybut its here in the passage and it should be looked at. Matthew, chapter 15, Christ is speaking, verse 19, For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, notice the differentiation, adulteries, fornications, plural, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile. The word homosexual is not there; what are you arguing about? Im arguing about the use of the word porneus, which was found written over the wall, and the doorway, and the arches, in excavations [by] archaeologists of Roman brothels. And the word porneus did not mean sex before marriage alone.
It meant homosexuality, bestiality, and all forms of degraded sex. And it became well known to everybody in the culture, if any of them ever did their homework, that porneus referred to anything goes. Jesus well knew the Roman brothels. He well knew the culture of His time; and when He said adulteries and fornicationspluralHe was making a direct reference to the practices of the Romans and the Greeks and the pagans of the time who prostituted themselves to all forms of evil.
He knew it; He condemned it. Its not just the matter of the word, its a matter of the culture; and Jesus certainly understood the culture of His timeif He didnt, nobody did. And therefore, when He used the word fornications, He obviously was making reference to all formsall forms, inclusive formsof that which was the deviation from the norm of Jewish law.
And the reason I can say that with such dogmatism is because He was a rabbi. And if a rabbi didnt know Jewish law on the subject of homosexuality, nobody on earth knew it. (Source
Additional Resources
HomosexualityOn Solid Rock Resources
Answering the Gay Christian PositionJoe Dallas
The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and HermeneuticsBy Robert Gagnon. Dr. Gagnon is Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Gagnon offers the most thorough analysis to date of the biblical texts relating to homosexuality.
Note this ... “here” is the problem ...
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
AND ... as a result of that problem ... God has JUDGED THEM ... and the “result of that judgement” is “THIS” ...
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
THEREFORE when you see homosexuals and their vile deeds ... you can say ... “There goes someone who HAS BEEN JUDGED BY GOD and they are displaying that judgement for the whole world to see what God has done to them!
In answer to the problem of those UNRIGHTEOUS and UNGODLY people and their SUPPRESSION of the truth of God - they have been turned into the VILEST PEOPLE on this earth - HOMOSEXUALS!
“That” is what God has done.
You are right. The brainwashing starts early, and it is pervasive. In the schools. All over the Media (TV, movies, etc). By the politicians.
What is worse is that you even have so-called "pastors" telling people that living in sin is 'ok' and loving -- like this 'Gay Friendly Church'... We were warned that there would be pastors coming into our ranks that were simply wolves in sheep clothing - but it is still terrible to see it happen.
Keep the Faith and warn the young that Satan wants them, but there is someone stronger in Heaven that will keep them safe and on the straight road if we trust Him.
Obama ,his wife and his yougest Daughter were with a Gay couple this weekend who were not married.Most Gays are not married and not interested in being married.Obama daughter did not go to church this weekend but she looks thin.
Most of these “Christian” entertainers are no different than Michael Jackson or Madonna. They are just using a different forum to fame and fortune.
This column has been pulled from BarbWire, but is also posted at Renew America: http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/mwest/140616
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.