Hello, everyone. This post is to share a document I created on http://www.sway.com. Sway is Microsoft’s newest platform for storytelling and content sharing. It does not replace PowerPoint, but rather provides another option for sharing content. Try it for yourself!
https://sway.com/s/RfGW1-8dbAQnuZbV/embed
Thank you,
Christopher Jarrell
You may be thinking, “Oh great. Another anti-gay rant by another Christian blogger. How original.” Please hear me out.
Our country is at a great moral crossroads concerning the SCOTUS decision on same-sex marriage. Understandably, the question about the morality of homosexual behavior has been made the focal point in the dialogue. Is it morally correct to engage in homosexual behavior or not? Well–it depends… and it doesn’t. Here’s what I mean.
For many Christians, there are many moral absolutes. They accept them as Truth, and that they are True regardless if a person’s belief or non-belief. For most non-Christians, there are no/few moral absolutes, and assigning a moral value to a person’s sexual preference is ridiculous. So, for those readers who fall into the non-Christian group–we’re done here. From your perspective, the question is answered, and this debate is silly. You can do what you want to now, and support the cause you feel is best. It’s okay…and it’s not.
So, for the Christians out there, we can have the debate; and we need to, because the community of people who identify as Christians is divided on the subject. Paul asked “Is Christ divided?” in 1 Cor 1:13. It’s a rhetorical question–of course He isn’t. Two people cannot follow the same Master and go opposite directions. Jesus asked another question in Luke 6:46: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Great question, Lord. Why? The answer lies in the fact that many desire the emotional comfort of “being a Christian” without the hard work and sacrifice of really being a Christian. And part of that means taking the content of the Bible seriously and applying it consistently in the natural sense to one’s life. Hard stuff.
However, I can say “follow the Bible” all day long and it still doesn’t help move the debate along. The problem is that many Christians (and others) claim the Bible does not forbid homosexual behavior. These same people often claim that the sexual morality proscribed in the New Testament was for a different time, and that since homosexual behavior is widely accepted, that our application of that morality should change. But–was First Century A.D. mainstream culture very different than in 2015?
It wasn’t. Homosexual behavior was common among the Greeks, Romans and many other cultures. It’s depicted in their art and literature, and was socially acceptable even for powerful men in high standing. Repeatedly, the New Testament writers and Apostles discussed sexual morality. In these cases, the message of Jesus, Peter and Paul was not one that conformed to the prevailing culture, but was counter-culture. If there ever was a time to moderate Christianity’s stances on sexual morality to for the sake of inclusivity, it would have been 2,000 years ago!
So, what does the New Testament actually teach? First, it teaches that a thing called “sexual immorality” does exist: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality…” (1 Thess. 4:3). This tells me that some sexual behaviors are against God’s will. Such as homosexuality.
…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. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:26-28 ESV
If the above mentioned behaviors do not fall into the category of “sexual immorality” then what does? Rape? Incest? Pedophilia? Bestiality? What happens when these become mainstream? Should Christians accept them, too?
Look, if you want to support the cause of homosexual behavior–fine. Do it from the non-Christian camp. Please don’t confuse people by claiming to be a Jesus-follower AND follow mainstream sexual morality. They aren’t compatible. As a follow-up from the passage above:
“Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:32 ESV
Before you jump to the conclusion about the “deserve to die” line, I’m not promoting violence. As indicated by verse 18, “God’s wrath will be revealed from Heaven,” not carried out by humans. Also, there are plenty of sins that incur this wrath, so I’m not singling this one issue out. I bring up this passage to make my point clear: If you are a Christian, you are forbidden from engaging in homosexual behavior, and forbidden from giving approval of those who do. So please either remove the rainbow colors from your profile picture, or remove your “Christian” label.
Our very own author, Craig Hayes, has just done a spot in another fine publication, the Norman Transcript! Please check out his fine work by clicking the link above. I’m not sure why he didn’t post it himself (being modest, I guess!). Feel welcome to read, Like, Share and discuss on Facebook.
God Bless!
In Acts 16:19-34, we read of a time when Paul and Silas were cast into prison in Philippi. After a beating from the Roman magistrate, they were thrown into the inner prison. That night, an unexpected sound came from their cell:
Acts 16:25 KJV: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
A song! Not a song of grief or despair, but of joy and thanksgiving to God. Notice who heard them: the other prisoners. In the darkest hour of the night, a musical expression of joy came from two unfettered hearts. We read of the impact this had on the jailer and his family (they obeyed Christ’s Gospel), but we also read that the other prisoners didn’t escape when given a chance to. Perhaps they were more intrigued by the message and power of these two men–men who had freedom even while in captivity–than what lay beyond the prison gate.
I think it gave them hope. When we find ourselves in a type of prison (circumstance of feeling trapped, illness, loss, or cage of our own making), let our attitude be one of true joy and thanksgiving to God, rather than complaint and despair. After all, our response might help reach other prisoners nearby who are straining to hear even a single note of hope.
Psalm 42:8 KJV: Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
The devil got his foot in the door immediately. Eve disobeyed, Adam followed suit. Death is ushered in. Murder quickly ensued (Cain slew Abel). By Noah’s time God repented that he had even created man, so He destroyed the earth and man. But it wasn’t long after that men set out to reach the heavens with a tower so God had to confound their language. God reached out to His people again and acted to deliver them from slavery in Egypt. He performed miracles to save them. He sent manna to feed them. But they complained vociferously. Even while He showed Himself to Moses on the mountain and gave a law for His people, they were at the foot of the mountain crafting false gods. A law was given that they couldn’t keep completely.
The devil was relishing all of this, having his way with man.
Judges were introduced to benefit His people, but they were not good enough for them. They wanted a king. So they got what they (and the devil) wanted. God’s people forgot Him over and over, time and again. God tried reaching them. God punished them. All to no avail. Yet He wouldn’t give up on them. He had one prophet after another speak of a Messiah that would come. They waited. And waited.
And then Messiah came. Regardless, King Herod and all Jerusalem was troubled when they learned of His birth, so Herod tried killing him at the very outset. The devil himself got in Jesus’ face and tempted Him. The religious leaders of the day, Jews, tried to entrap Him and make Him look bad. They envied Him and sought to destroy Him. Rome feared Him and would just as soon He went away. Judas betrayed Him; Peter denied Him. He was mocked and lied about. Jesus was sentenced to death for nothing He had done wrong, and a convicted and noted robber was let go free to ensure that He was crucified. He was hung on a cross surrounded by common thieves.
The devil had everything going according to plan, right? Sin ruled. Surely God would send a flood to wipe man away again.
Oh, God sent a flood alright — He flooded us with Grace, through Jesus and His resurrection! …But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21 NIV
Last night, Laura and I were in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher; just talking about stuff, when our conversation turned to the things of God. Our discussion was about forgiveness and mercy, because we had just watched a television show where a bad man repented and was baptized at the end. Laura commented that it’s amazing how anyone who truly turns to God can receive His forgiveness for each and every sin in his or her life.
That made me reflect on how anyone can change and become a new person. Sometimes it’s tough for me for give others that second chance–especially after they have betrayed my trust, or if I’ve seen them revert back to old behaviors again. When the second chance becomes the third and fourth, it’s easy for me to become skeptical and hard-hearted toward that person. It makes me doubt their sincerity. The apostle Peter also struggled with forgiving others, and asked Jesus how to handle the oft-offending brother:
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV
Jesus used a euphemism here with Peter. The takeaway here is not that Jesus commands forgiveness up to 490 times per day (for who could even offend that much?), but that we should offer sincere forgiveness of trespasses against ourselves. And in case the disciples thought Jesus’ command unreasonable, He teaches them a parable to reinforce the point:
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew 18:23-35 NKJV
Jesus commands personal forgiveness to all who wrong us. Why? He offers personal forgiveness to all His servants. Just as in this parable, what right does the recipient of the king’s grace have to grab his fellow-servant by the throat and demand recompense? None. As a servant of the King, I am called to emulate His most important attribute–mercy. Therefore Jesus commands me to personally forgive those who sin against me (from the heart) if I wish to receive His mercy.
You may argue that everyone should pay their debts (they should), and that this arrangement isn’t fair for the one to whom a debt is owed (it’s not). The exact same is true between God and me. So, to the main point–that God doesn’t forgive me because of who I am. He forgives me because of who He is.
I learned something important about America today: we are a nation of cowards. I caught bits of news today as we all learned that the older brother of the Boston Marathon bombers died in a shootout with police, while his younger brother continued to evade arrest. The officials in Boston and the surrounding municipalities put a major U.S. city of approximately 2 million people on a lockdown because of one killer on the loose. One.
A scared 19-year-old kid who felt the entire weight of the United States law enforecement agencies bearing down on him hid in a boat. And 2 million Americans hid in their homes. Our fear-filled response to even small-scale attack (yes–this attack was small-scale) is that we allow other terrorists to witness validation that all they have to do is kill a half dozen of us, injure a few hundred, and the rest hunker and hide. With such a predictable effect, it’s no wonder that enemies of the American people persist in these same tactics, even when fighting overseas.
In difficult times, I tend to seek the words of Jesus Christ for guidence and answers to tough questions. How would Jesus have us respond to acts of terrorism?
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 NKJV
See it now? Our response to acts of terrorism is totally opposite of what Jesus commands. There are two commands for us here. First, Jesus commands us not to fear anyone who has the ability to kill our bodies, but have no power over our eternal being. Second, Jesus commands us to fear God; who, if He wishes, can kill the body, but can also condemn us to total, eternal destruction in Hell.
In America, we cower before those evil people who use violence against our lives and the threat of such violence to control and manipulate us. And it works. Every time. At the same time, we pro-actively demonstrate our hatred for God, and deny His power over our very lives and souls. He hate His Word, we hate His ways, we hate His followers.
In the coming days, our citizens and elected officials will join in a debate over the balance between personal freedom and public safety; between government control and national security. I pray that in making decisions about America’s response to future threats, that our leaders will stand tall before our enemies and bow low before God. Until then, I will be no coward. What will you decide?
We all put and keep things in our hearts that are very near and dear to us. When I was young, my Grandmother Pullen used to send me a letter every year for my birthday and enclose two dollar bills. The letter would always tell about working in their garden or Granddaddy’s big catch at the lake. When I read her letters I always imagined being at their lake house. My grandmother was an amazing cook – reading the letter I could almost smell and taste the fresh green beans and new potatoes from their garden, or the creamy, cheesy yellow squash she always made, or the fresh tomatoes, onions and okra that went into the best okra gumbo I’ve eaten in my life. I could clearly imagine getting up early in the morning to go out on the boat with Granddaddy to check the trot lines, and maybe pulling in a 25 or 30 pound channel catfish…and what that catfish tasted like when Grandmother fried it up alongside all of those wonderful, garden-fresh vegetables. I loved her letters because they reminded me of good times at my grandparents’ house. And I loved the fact that the two dollars would buy me two Hot Wheels cars. I was all about that!
But there was another reason I loved Grandmother’s letters. I loved them especially because she always finished every letter by writing “I love you oodles and oodles.” I can even remember so vividly the way she wrote the word “oodles” in her cursive handwriting…it was just one super-long string of loops! Like the oodles never had an end. I didn’t know anyone besides Grandmother who said “I love you” quite like that, which made it extra special to me.
Almost fifteen years ago now, when I learned that Grandmother’s cancer finally overtook her, I thought of the strong Christian woman she was and the wonderful wife and mother and grandmother she had been. I thought about how good she was to all people. And I also reflected on the pain that she endured as she fought her cancer. And I thought of her letters to me.
I can tell you this: the two dollar bills Grandmother sent me every year went quickly from the envelope to my pocket, and then just as quickly right out of my pocket for Hot Wheels, to be gone forever. But the memory of the “oodles and oodles of love” she had for me that she sent in every letter is hidden in my heart to be treasured forever and ever. I will never forget it.
In Ephesians 3:17, part of what Paul prayed for the Ephesians was “that Christ may dwell in your hearts…” God’s love shown to you and me in Christ and His sacrifice should be not just put in our hearts, not just hidden in our hearts – He should be buried deep in our hearts and treasured always!
Make Jesus near and dear to your heart and allow Him to dwell there forever and ever.
When we read the Bible, it’s easy to forget that these are historical accounts about real people. It’s easy to keep moving through the text, not considering that these people lived through the events recorded, had internal responses to what happened, and had to deal with the realities they created. Reading Scripture with this frame of mind helps us draw more out of the texts and better understand what’s going on. For example, I was reading a passage in the Gospel of John recently that made me stop and think:
John 12:1-2 NKJV: Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.
If we read back in John chapter 11, we find the account of Jesus raising His good friend Lazarus from the dead–an amazing miracle. In the very next chapter, Jesus goes to eat supper in Bethany where Lazarus lived. They both attend, and Lazarus ends up sitting at the same table with Jesus. Imagine for a moment what this meeting might have been like for Lazarus.
Lazarus had been four days dead in a tomb. By the will of God, Jesus called Lazarus back to the realm of the living, walking out again. Now, he sits at supper with the One who rescued him from the dead. What do you talk about? What sort of feelings might Lazarus have had toward Jesus? Gratitude? Awe? Love? How might their relationship have been different in light of what Jesus did for Lazarus?
Now consider this. In 1 Corinthians 11:28, we are commanded to examine ourselves when we partake of the communion of the Lord. We eat and drink with the Savior when we do, and we should remember what He did for us. Put yourself in the place of Lazarus. As we eat with Jesus, remember that He died on the cross to bring us back from the dead and give us spiritual life again. When we sit across the table, what do we say to Jesus? How do we feel toward Jesus? How should what He did change our relationship forever?
I challenge you to remember Lazarus this Lord’s Day when you commune with Christ.
In this passage, God foretells how His remnant of Judah that would escape the judgement coming upon their nation would undergo a two-part process to accomplish His will:
And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward. 32 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Isaiah 37:31-32 NKJV
In a clever parallel to the botanical kingdom, God stated that Judah’s remnant would first put down a strong root system to support the “plant,” then reach upward with stalk, leaf, bud and bloom to produce the fruit of righteousness. This is the rule with plants. No fruit until bloom, no bloom until bud, no bud until leaf, no leaf until stalk. And no stalk without root.
So where’s the application for us? Have you ever experienced (or are currently experiencing) a season of barren-ness in your service to God? So often we have a change in heart today, and want to eat the sweet fruits of righteousness by evening. Listen to Peter’s admonition:
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 2 Peter 1:2-9 NKJV
Our desire as Christians is to partake in God’s divine nature. Part of this is escaping from the trap of lust (evil desires). If we desire to bear fruit in God’s Kingdom, we must root downward into the behaviors and attitudes Peter lists. Just like the plant, it’s a step-by-step process. He promises us that if we graft these things into our life, they cause us to be fruitful. If we lack these things, we are suffering from spiritual short-sightedness and blindness, forgetting that we have been purged from sin to seek God instead. Let’s not forget. Let’s root downward so that we may bear fruit upward.
I Walk with The King 