Until very recently, practically nobody in the Christian community questioned the traditional understanding of homosexuality. The culture at large treated homosexuality negatively. Homosexual activity was against the law. A person with homosexual feelings was considered mentally ill.
Things have changed radically over the last few years. Society has shifted from outlawing homosexuality to tolerating it, to even celebrating it. Now, to suggest that homosexuality is immoral is to invite accusations of being intolerant, hateful, and homophobic.
So, how are Christians to approach this topic? Do we take our cues from the society, or do we follow God's Word? How are we even to understand the Bible, since our society is so different from that of the biblical writers?
The good news is that while some portions of the Bible are difficult to understand, the majority of it is pretty clear cut and simple. The challenge is for us to understand and accept what God has said, rather than try to make the Bible agree with what I already think. Too often, we use the Bible to prove our opinions rather that allow the Bible to form our opinions.
A video on YouTube has been circulating in which a young man, Matthew Vines, challenges the traditional understanding of the biblical stance on homosexuality. The danger of this video is that he appears to make a biblical case for acceptance of committed homosexual relationships and ultimately homosexual marriage. I say "appears to make a biblical case" in that he says that he believes the Bible and wants to follow it, however, he actually misuses the biblical passages. The video is a little over an hour long and can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQjNJUSraY
For those who are looking for an excuse to believe what he says, this could be seen as a legitimate biblical explanation. The video has been posted on Facebook by some with positive comments recommending it as a way to be accepting rather than judgmental. Matthew has since put the material in a book that was recently released called God and the Gay Christian. He has also started a ministry to train people to challenge the traditional biblical understanding.
A team of five biblical scholars have put together a response to Matthew Vines' book in the form of a free e-book. You can download it here.
I raise this not because I default to tradition. Generally, if it is tradition, I am automatically suspicious. My goal is not to be traditional, but biblical. Matthew's argument is sincere, but biblically wrong. He has approached the scripture with a conclusion that he wants to make and tries to make the Bible say something that it doesn't.
My goal is not to be hateful to homosexuals. It is to point people to Christ.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Monday, November 21, 2011
Back to the Blog Mines
I have not been posting anything for quite some time. It's not that I didn't have anything to share, it is just something that I don't do well. I find it easy to talk to anybody about anything, but putting it in writing is not easy. I quess school didn't learn me to write good. (For all you teachers, I'm just kidding.)
I'll try to post some thoughts and issues regularly.
I have been excited to get involved in the Crown Financial Ministries over the last few months. www.crown.org We used their material in the small groups for eight weeks and I did a companion sermon series on finances. I think it was a good basis coverage of God's perspectives on money. Beth and I are in a 10-week home study with a few other couples in the Crown Life Group Biblical Financial Study. It is much more in-depth. It is also much more practical in actually helping us to get a good working financial plan for our family.
We will do some additional training with the couples in this study and hopefully have a pool of leaders for additional groups in January. I wish we would have gone through this study 30 years ago when we were newlyweds.
I'll try to post some thoughts and issues regularly.
I have been excited to get involved in the Crown Financial Ministries over the last few months. www.crown.org We used their material in the small groups for eight weeks and I did a companion sermon series on finances. I think it was a good basis coverage of God's perspectives on money. Beth and I are in a 10-week home study with a few other couples in the Crown Life Group Biblical Financial Study. It is much more in-depth. It is also much more practical in actually helping us to get a good working financial plan for our family.
We will do some additional training with the couples in this study and hopefully have a pool of leaders for additional groups in January. I wish we would have gone through this study 30 years ago when we were newlyweds.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Finishing the book of Acts
If you have been following the daily reading plan, then you are finishing the book of Acts today.
Congratulations.
If you have been with it since the begining last summer, then you have read the Gospel of John, the book of Romans, and the book of Acts.
I burned out on the daily blogs in January.
I hope you kept up with the daily reading though.
If not, pick it up where you left off.
Congratulations.
If you have been with it since the begining last summer, then you have read the Gospel of John, the book of Romans, and the book of Acts.
I burned out on the daily blogs in January.
I hope you kept up with the daily reading though.
If not, pick it up where you left off.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Sunday Acts 13:4-12
Barnabas and Saul travel to Cyprus.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 13:4-12
Barnabas and Saul began their missionary journey having been sent by the church at Antioch under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. They first went to Cyprus which was the homeland of Barnabas.
Notice how they approach spreading the gospel. They have been called to take the gospel to the Gentiles. However, they first go to the Jewish synagogues. Also, they begin their effort in Barnabas’ place of origin. The principle here is to start with those people who are the most open to the gospel. Barnabas has friends and relatives in Cyprus. He has contacts. He knows people. It is natural to take the gospel to those people with whom we already have a relationship. The Jews already know who God is. They understand the scripture. They are more likely to understand and receive the gospel than the Gentiles. While Barnabas and Saul begin with the Jews, they then move to the Gentiles.
Another strategy that they use is to reach people of influence. They take the gospel to the governor. An obstacle in the way is the sorcerer. Saul shows the superiority of the power of God and the governor came to faith in Christ.
A transition occurs in the narrative at this point. Luke starts calling Saul by the name Paul. This is his Greek name. From now on, the mission is to take the gospel to the Greek culture. Also, there is a shift in leadership. Up to this point, Luke has always listed Barnabas first. From now on, he lists Paul first. It seems that Paul takes over as leader. To Barnabas’ credit, he seems to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit rather than get his feelings hurt.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 13:4-12
Barnabas and Saul began their missionary journey having been sent by the church at Antioch under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. They first went to Cyprus which was the homeland of Barnabas.
Notice how they approach spreading the gospel. They have been called to take the gospel to the Gentiles. However, they first go to the Jewish synagogues. Also, they begin their effort in Barnabas’ place of origin. The principle here is to start with those people who are the most open to the gospel. Barnabas has friends and relatives in Cyprus. He has contacts. He knows people. It is natural to take the gospel to those people with whom we already have a relationship. The Jews already know who God is. They understand the scripture. They are more likely to understand and receive the gospel than the Gentiles. While Barnabas and Saul begin with the Jews, they then move to the Gentiles.
Another strategy that they use is to reach people of influence. They take the gospel to the governor. An obstacle in the way is the sorcerer. Saul shows the superiority of the power of God and the governor came to faith in Christ.
A transition occurs in the narrative at this point. Luke starts calling Saul by the name Paul. This is his Greek name. From now on, the mission is to take the gospel to the Greek culture. Also, there is a shift in leadership. Up to this point, Luke has always listed Barnabas first. From now on, he lists Paul first. It seems that Paul takes over as leader. To Barnabas’ credit, he seems to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit rather than get his feelings hurt.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Saturday Acts 13:1-3
Barnabas and Saul are called to missions.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 13:1-3
Luke begins his account of the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Gentiles had already accepted the gospel, but here is the first instance of a church intentionally sending people out to spread the gospel to the Gentiles of the world.
Barnabas and Saul had spent a considerable amount of time already in Antioch teaching the people about Christ. But there were other leaders as well. Luke mentions five leaders here. He calls them teachers and prophets. He probably does not mean two groups of people, but that these leaders were teachers who were also prophets. Maybe a better way to describe them would be prophetic teachers. They were inspired by God in their teaching.
There is some debate about the use of “they” in verses 2 and 3. Is Luke referring to only the leaders or to the whole church in Antioch? I think the best argument is that verse 2 is referring to the leaders while verse 3 is the whole church. The prophetic teachers were fasting and ministering to the Lord. The Holy Spirit revealed His mission for Barnabas and Saul to the leaders. The leaders told the whole church of their revelation and the whole church then fasted, prayed, and sent the two on their mission.
Some things to note: The Holy Spirit revealed His will when they were fasting. This implies that they were expectant about hearing from God. We should expect to hear from God. He does not hide.
The church was willing to lose important leaders for the larger mission. We have to release people for ministry even if it seems to hurt our areas of ministry.
The leaders led and the people followed their lead.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 13:1-3
Luke begins his account of the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Gentiles had already accepted the gospel, but here is the first instance of a church intentionally sending people out to spread the gospel to the Gentiles of the world.
Barnabas and Saul had spent a considerable amount of time already in Antioch teaching the people about Christ. But there were other leaders as well. Luke mentions five leaders here. He calls them teachers and prophets. He probably does not mean two groups of people, but that these leaders were teachers who were also prophets. Maybe a better way to describe them would be prophetic teachers. They were inspired by God in their teaching.
There is some debate about the use of “they” in verses 2 and 3. Is Luke referring to only the leaders or to the whole church in Antioch? I think the best argument is that verse 2 is referring to the leaders while verse 3 is the whole church. The prophetic teachers were fasting and ministering to the Lord. The Holy Spirit revealed His mission for Barnabas and Saul to the leaders. The leaders told the whole church of their revelation and the whole church then fasted, prayed, and sent the two on their mission.
Some things to note: The Holy Spirit revealed His will when they were fasting. This implies that they were expectant about hearing from God. We should expect to hear from God. He does not hide.
The church was willing to lose important leaders for the larger mission. We have to release people for ministry even if it seems to hurt our areas of ministry.
The leaders led and the people followed their lead.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Friday Acts 12:20-25
Herod Agrippa dies.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 12:20-25
Herod Agrippa killed James and intended to kill Peter, but an angel freed Peter from prison. Agrippa returned to Caesarea. The historian Josephus tells us that Agrippa organized games to be played in honor of the emperor Claudius. While watching the games, he spoke to the crowd who declared Agrippa to be a god. While on the platform, he was stricken with abdominal pains and died five days later.
Luke tells us in Acts that God stuck Agrippa as judgment.
Again, the gospel spread and the church grew.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 12:20-25
Herod Agrippa killed James and intended to kill Peter, but an angel freed Peter from prison. Agrippa returned to Caesarea. The historian Josephus tells us that Agrippa organized games to be played in honor of the emperor Claudius. While watching the games, he spoke to the crowd who declared Agrippa to be a god. While on the platform, he was stricken with abdominal pains and died five days later.
Luke tells us in Acts that God stuck Agrippa as judgment.
Again, the gospel spread and the church grew.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Thursday Acts 12:6-19
Peter is released from prison by an angel.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 12:6-19
Peter was scheduled for execution the following day. He was asleep between two guards with more guards at the door. An angel appeared and woke Peter. Luke says that the angel struck him on the side to wake him. My mental image is the angel kicking Peter lightly in the ribs and saying, “Get up.” Notice that the angel has to give Peter step-by-step directions: get up, get dressed, put your shoes on, put your coat on, follow me. Peter thought that it was a vision rather than reality.
It was not until they were outside and away from the prison that Peter realized that it was all real. He went to the home of Mary which seems to have been a gathering place for some of the Christians in Jerusalem. Many people believe that this home was the place of the last supper and the place where the events of Pentecost began. We do know that Mary was the mother of John Mark.
John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas. He went with Saul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Peter calls him his spiritual son in 1 Peter 5:13. John Mark wrote the gospel of Mark. Most scholars believe that he was the young man who ran from the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane (Mark 14:51-52).
There is some real irony in Peter’s arrival at Mary’s house. He knocked on the door and Rhoda got so excited that she forgot to let him in. She told everyone in the house that Peter was at the door. They didn’t believe her. Wait a minute! They had gathered together and fervently prayed for Peter. They had prayed for a few days. Now, God has answered their prayer and Peter is at the front door. But they don’t believe it.
We do the same thing. We pray, but often we don’t really believe that God will answer our prayer. When He does, we don’t recognize it. This is related to our lack of faith. We say we believe, but we live as if we really don’t.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 12:6-19
Peter was scheduled for execution the following day. He was asleep between two guards with more guards at the door. An angel appeared and woke Peter. Luke says that the angel struck him on the side to wake him. My mental image is the angel kicking Peter lightly in the ribs and saying, “Get up.” Notice that the angel has to give Peter step-by-step directions: get up, get dressed, put your shoes on, put your coat on, follow me. Peter thought that it was a vision rather than reality.
It was not until they were outside and away from the prison that Peter realized that it was all real. He went to the home of Mary which seems to have been a gathering place for some of the Christians in Jerusalem. Many people believe that this home was the place of the last supper and the place where the events of Pentecost began. We do know that Mary was the mother of John Mark.
John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas. He went with Saul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Peter calls him his spiritual son in 1 Peter 5:13. John Mark wrote the gospel of Mark. Most scholars believe that he was the young man who ran from the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane (Mark 14:51-52).
There is some real irony in Peter’s arrival at Mary’s house. He knocked on the door and Rhoda got so excited that she forgot to let him in. She told everyone in the house that Peter was at the door. They didn’t believe her. Wait a minute! They had gathered together and fervently prayed for Peter. They had prayed for a few days. Now, God has answered their prayer and Peter is at the front door. But they don’t believe it.
We do the same thing. We pray, but often we don’t really believe that God will answer our prayer. When He does, we don’t recognize it. This is related to our lack of faith. We say we believe, but we live as if we really don’t.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
