Posted on 06/27/2015 6:24:49 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Jesus died so that heterosexual and homosexual sinners might be saved. Jesus created sexuality, and has a clear will for how it is to be experienced in holiness and joy.
His will is that a man might leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and that the two become one flesh (Mark 10:6–9). In this union, sexuality finds its God-appointed meaning, whether in personal-physical unification, symbolic representation, sensual jubilation, or fruitful procreation.
For those who have forsaken God’s path of sexual fulfillment, and walked into homosexual intercourse or heterosexual extramarital fornication or adultery, Jesus offers astonishing mercy.
Such were some of you. 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 6:11)
But today this salvation from sinful sexual acts was not embraced. Instead there was massive institutionalization of sin.
In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States of America has ruled that states cannot ban same-sex marriage.
The Bible is not silent about such decisions. Alongside its clearest explanation of the sin of homosexual intercourse (Romans 1:24–27) stands the indictment of the approval and institutionalization of it. Though people know intuitively that homosexual acts (along with gossip, slander, insolence, haughtiness, boasting, faithlessness, heartlessness, ruthlessness) are sin, “they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1:29–32). “I tell you even with tears, that many glory in their shame” (Philippians 3:18–19).
This is what the highest court in our land did today — knowing these deeds are wrong, “yet approving those who practice them.”
My sense is that we do not realize what a calamity is happening around us. The new thing — new for America, and new for history — is not homosexuality. That brokenness has been here since we were all broken in the fall of man. (And there is a great distinction between the orientation and the act — just like there is a great difference between my orientation to pride and the act of boasting.)
What’s new is not even the celebration and approval of homosexual sin. Homosexual behavior has been exploited, and reveled in, and celebrated in art, for millennia. What’s new is normalization and institutionalization. This is the new calamity.
My main reason for writing is not to mount a political counter-assault. I don’t think that is the calling of the church as such. My reason for writing is to help the church feel the sorrow of these days. And the magnitude of the assault on God and his image in man.
Christians, more clearly than others, can see the tidal wave of pain that is on the way. Sin carries in it its own misery: “Men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:27).
And on top of sin’s self-destructive power comes, eventually, the final wrath of God: “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:5–6).
Christians know what is coming, not only because we see it in the Bible, but because we have tasted the sorrowful fruit of our own sins. We do not escape the truth that we reap what we sow. Our marriages, our children, our churches, our institutions — they are all troubled because of our sins.
The difference is: We weep over our sins. We don’t celebrate them. We don’t institutionalize them. We turn to Jesus for forgiveness and help. We cry to Jesus, “who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
And in our best moments, we weep for the world, and for our own nation. In the days of Ezekiel, God put a mark of hope “on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:4).
This is what I am writing for. Not political action, but love for the name of God and compassion for the city of destruction.
“My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.” (Psalm 119:136)
The possible outcome now, as I see it is that the government will only recognize State performed marriages. The various religions will perform weddings in their own churches as suits their beliefs. But to be legally married you will have to go to a JP or government registrar. Many countries already have such rules. IOW most people will have to go through 2 marriage services and of course pay another government TAX.
My mother has been dead for almost 16 years. She used to say that she thought homosexuals just got into a nasty habit & got hooked to it. - Christ said that we weren’t going to have that relationship to struggle with in His new kingdom; that there will be neither marriage nor giving in marriage. Husband & I have been married almost 51 years. I’ll be glad to be able to see him in that Kingdom; but sex isn’t relevant, and less so with every passing year. - I am at the place where I’m about of the mind to let filthy people be filthy still (in peace). . but I won’t be accepting any invitations to any “gay” weddings - a subject which I’m sure just breaks their hearts. )s
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
God will not be mocked and no man can change the natural laws of God.
Interesting and ironic name you have there in view of the contents of your post...lol
I keep thinking of Philippians 3:18-19
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.”
These folks are glorying in their shame and their end is sure destruction.
Very well said.
This nation is suffering for its wickedness. The Lord’s people mourn and rejoice at the same time.
Good post. God has already declared what marriage is: the joining together of a man and a woman. No mere human can change it into something else.
That too. Thanks.
The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy.
Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly.
We can only chose one......
There is still hope America....II Chronicles 7:14.....
I heard John Piper speak last January. This was his message. True Christians can expect to have their property confiscated, imprisonment, amongst other things. This will separate the wheat from the chaff. We must desire Jesus above all things to withstand the wave that is coming.
excellent article by Piper. Thanks for posting!
Yeah. I’m named after my old dog, Twinkie, that died several years ago. Her story is sad. We’ll never have an animal put down again. She was 16 yrs. old & her hind legs just collapsed; her mind was as good as it was when she was a puppy & the idea of harnessing her to a cart would have been a punishment for her. Now, we have a mixed-breed who is 15 yrs. old; but if she goes down & doesn’t pass on naturally, husband will have to take her down in the river bottom where she played as a puppy & put a bullet in her brain. No more of the dubious kindness of the veterinarian for us. (They placed a muzzle over her mouth. I told her I loved her & they euthanized her. Husband buried her down in the river bottom where she used to love to rip & play!) Of course, I can understand they were worried she might bite them; but it was still horrible. - I found Twinkie when she was a dumped puppy who had been left at a garbage dump. I took her to a veterinarian & told them I didn’t know if she was a dog or not; but to just treat her and we’d pay for it. She had lost most of her hair & didn’t look like a dog.
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