Why It Really Has NOTHING To Do with "Equal Rights"

A number of people - even those who claim to be Christians - say that they support the legalization of homosexual marriage because they simply want to protect "equal rights" for all.  However, these same persons are decidedly quiet about espousing the "equal rights" of others, showing their professed noble intent to be nothing more than mere hypocrisy.

If such persons are so concerned about "equal rights", then why are they not fighting for the rights of felons to work anywhere they choose?  Felons can be automatically disqualified from employment opportunities due to these previous convictions.  Various state laws also limit where they can be hired, such as excluding them from the health care or education industries, preventing them from obtaining professional licenses, or from being hired in public employment.  Why are these persons supporting homosexual marriage not up in arms about such employment discrimination?  Why are they not concerned about these person's "equal rights"?

What about the "equal rights" of sex offenders?  A number of states & local governments restrict where sex offenders can live and require them to be tracked via registration with local authorities.  Shouldn't sex offenders have the right to stay, work, and go wherever they choose, even areas which are in close proximity to children?  Why is it okay to practice residential discrimination against these persons and limit them in these ways?  Isn't that a violation of the sex offenders' civil rights?

Why are children not allowed to work whenever and wherever they choose?   Federal law - and various state laws - bar children from entering the workforce until they have reached a certain age and even prevent them from working in certain environments deemed too "hazardous".  Is this not an example of age discrimination?  Why aren't these same persons supporting homosexual marriage not waging a war against these unequal practices?

What those in support of the homosexual agenda have done here is the same as what has been done with the issue of abortion.  They have redefined their argument by hiding it under the cloak of civil rights.  This accomplishes two things.  One, it removes focus from the perversions being espoused so as to sanitize it for public consumption.  Two, it provides a broad brush by which you can paint anyone who stands against your position as a bigoted oppressor.  Interestingly enough, many who support the "equal rights" of homosexuals to marry couldn't care less about the "right" to life of in utero babies being slaughtered in the womb; "equal rights" indeed.

Understand that when people tell you they support homosexuality due to a position of "equal rights", they are either lying or greatly misinformed.  The truth of the matter is that - even in civil laws - all do not share rights equally, and never will.  The basis of law determines what rights a person has, and those who commit infractions against the law - or who are deemed to be in need of additional protections by the law - can have these rights curtailed.  Not only is the restriction of rights a commonly accepted practice, such is often deemed a moral necessity for the public good.  Even now discussions are underway to restrict the "right" to bear arms amongst criminals and those who are mentally impaired.  So you see, the banner of "equal rights" in relation to homosexuality is really a misnomer; it is an intentional red herring used to silence the opposition...but I will not be silenced.   

God Himself established & defined the covenant of marriage in the beginning when He created man and woman (Genesis 2:22-24).  His law specifically declares any other type of sexual union outside of this definition to be an abomination (Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:26-27).

I am against the legalization of homosexual marriage, not because I fear or hate homosexuals, but because I desire to honor the law of God.  As such, I am not a supporter of sin nor of those who seek to validate sin (Isaiah 5:20).  This is why I do not fight for the "rights" of criminals not to be incarcerated, nor the "rights" of felons to work wherever they please, nor the "rights" of sex offenders to live near/with children, nor the "rights" of children to work at the age of 7.   I understand the principle that it can be not only fair, but just for an individual's rights to be limited based upon their violation of the law or vulnerability without the law.  And no matter how much they may squawk about "equal rights", supporters of homosexual marriage understand these principles as well.

I expect the world to champion the ways of the world; they are after all led by the same god (II Corinthians 4:3-4).  I even expect them to play name games as they attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes about the actual issues at hand.  However, there is no such thing as a Christian who supports gay marriage, for the supreme law for those in Christ Jesus is the law of God.  Those professing Christians who do support gay marriage have forsaken Jesus Christ in deference to being a friend of the world (James 4:4).

A Christian can stand firm in not supporting homosexuality because that very lifestyle is against the law of God, making such persons ineligible to participate in the "right" of marriage.  Such a decree is fair.  It is just.  It is righteous.  While the laws of man may be capricious or evil, we know that the laws of God are always good, for He is good (Mark 10:18).  Even the decree itself outlawing homosexuality is for our good, so that we can be reconciled to God, coming to know Him and His love.

Now, I am not politically motivated.  I am not holding up picket signs, attending marches, or advocating that people become political activists.  I am merely stating the truth of the situation at hand.  It is written that the whole world will be given over to the mind of the beast prior to Jesus' return, and such is the mind of a sodomite (whether homosexual or heterosexual).   This is in fact the only reason anyone supports homosexuality: they share in the same nature as the sodomite.  Instead of being born again and having the spirit of their minds renewed to reflect the mind of Christ (Romans 15:6; Ephesians 4:23; I Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5), they not only commit such acts of sodomy themselves, but they take pleasure in those who do (Romans 1:32).

My reason for posting this is to help you keep your eyes on the truth and not be swayed by worldly wisdom & carnal platitudes appealing for you to partake in some pseudo form of world tolerance or peace.  As a Christian, we are to stand for the Lord and His righteousness alone...that is if we are truly His.

Beleavers

"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same
is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy
receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself,
but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or
persecution ariseth because of the word,
by and by he is offended. " Matthew 13:20-21

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46

You cannot be a believer in Christ Jesus unless the word of God is the standard of truth in your life.  If there is any wavering about this in your mind, then you have given the enemy a huge advantage to snuff out your spiritual life.  The word of God is the actual sustenance our spirits need in order to grow and mature in the faith (Hebrews 5:12).

Many professing Christians are actually not believers at all.  Rather, they are beleavers.  I call them beleavers because they 'be leaving' the Lord at the drop of a hat.  They have not committed to give their life to Jesus.  They are not willing to stand with Him against that which is evil.  They use Jesus like window dressing to pretty up the outward appearance of their lives, but leave the doctrine of Christ and deny Him at the slightest sign of pressure or conflict.

beleave:  to cause or allow to remain behind, to leave something behind; to abandon

A lot of time is wasted talking to and trying to reason with beleavers.  They spend most of their time disputing the word of God and explaining why it does not mean what it says...and then they'll get mad at you when you point them to the Scriptures.

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Titus 1:16

Someone recently contacted me, disturbed because a number of what they had considered strong Christians seem to be gravitating closer to the world and farther away from God.  To hold on to a religious facade, these persons are taking refuge in false doctrines such as Once Saved Always Saved or Universalism which says God's love will save everybody in the end.  They will believe anything in order to continue pretending that their sin has no bearing on their eternal relationship with God.

Although this person sought reassurance, all I could say is, "It is written."  God warns us in His word that a great falling away will occur prior to His return.  This is the time to see it.  If our hearts are not wholly set on the truths of God - if there is any part of us that still longs to do things our own way - then we may very well be in danger of falling into apostasy.  When the rubber meets the road and it is truly time to chose whom we will serve, the beleaver is going to run for the hills for they have no anchor or root in their souls.

The issue is not that beleavers don't understand what God says.  The problem is that there's still sin in the camp.  They are willfully continuing in sin in some area of their lives and they do not want to give it up.  They don't want to repent (which means to turn away from sin).  Don't be shaken up as you see this begin to happen around you.  Just make sure that you are keeping your body under subjection so as not to become a castaway yourself (I Corinthians 9:27).

You may very well find that those most receptive to the Gospel these days are not the professing beleavers, but those who have been outside of the religious domain.  This is just as it was in Jesus' days.  The religious sinners saw no need for repentance, but those who were broken and humble before the Lord came to Him in droves.   

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 1:8

The only issue between man and God is sin. It is not that we don't know God loves us.  It is not that we need tangible proof God exists.  It is not that we pride ourselves on being a 'freethinker'.  There is only one reason that people do not give their lives to the Lord, and that is they love the darkness of lies more than they love the light of truth (John 3:19). 

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law." Matthew 10:34-35

God wants to know; who is on His side?  Will faith be found on the earth when He returns?  Don't get distracted by the falling away, but make your own eye single so that your whole body will be filled with light.  Let the Holy Spirit lead you to those whose hearts He has prepared to receive the truth.  Jesus is using the sword of His word, the sword of Truth, to divide between the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares, the believers and the beleavers.  On which side will you be found?

Truth vs. Unity

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34

This was posted on the blog before, but some things bear repeating.

Summary of the Sabbath and the Christian

"Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Galatians 3:19

We have spoken many times about the law and the Sabbath, breaking down the Scriptures to disprove many common errors such as:

• The fulfilling of the law in Christ only included the moral and ceremonial law and not the Ten Commandments
• Jesus said the law would be in place until Heaven and Earth passed away 
•  Sunday worship is the mark of the beast
• The law has no purpose today
• The purpose of Jesus' sacrifice was to get us to obey the Ten Commandments
•  The law is not fulfilled in Christ
• Christians are still under the law
• Without the old covenant law, Christians would be lawless
• The admonition to keep God's commandments in the New Testament is a reference to keeping the law.
• The Sabbath law has been in place and binding for man since the beginning in the Garden of Eden

So I post this, not to rehash those topics, but to share a video by Chris White.  It is a great resource for those looking for a succinct review of this topic, as it touches on all of the subjects above and more, including:

• What is the new covenant?
• What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit in sealing this covenant?
• What are the "commandments" of the New Testament?
• How are the additional Sabbaths different from the 7th day Sabbath?
• What is the purpose of the Sabbath?
• Wasn't the 7th day Sabbath an everlasting covenant?
• Why is believing that you must keep the 7th day Sabbath a dangerous snare?

Saints, Hold On!

I was reading this week how a swarm of locusts - of reportedly biblical proportions - has struck Egypt.  Immediately I thought of how God sent the plague of locusts against Egypt when He was commanding Pharaoh to let His people go.  It simply was one more confirmation for me about how we are in the last days.  God is in the process of culling His people from out of the world (via sanctification unto holiness) for His end time work.  The world has been used to forge the character of Jesus Christ within His people (Galatians 4:19), but in the end it will be thrown away like afterbirth as God prepares to usher in a new Heaven and a new Earth after Jesus' second coming.

Yet, this locust plague is different...and appropriately so.  This particular swarm has crossed over Egypt and spread into Israel itself.  The very ones whom God delivered from Egypt with the help of a plague of locusts are now being themselves hit with the same plague.  I say this is appropriate because Egypt - often symbolizing the world in Scripture - has invaded the church.  Much of what calls itself the church is carnal and so enthralled with the world that there is virtually no difference between the two.  There is no evidence of the new birth and the life of Christ within much of the churchworld because many professing Christians are feeding on the world instead of the word of God.  Their desires therefore mirror the desires of those in the world, although God has called us to "Be ye holy." (Leviticus 20:7; I Peter 1:15-16)

Yet, God says to His people ensnared in Babylon, "Come out of her my people that you don't become a partaker of her sins and a partaker of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4)    Yet what do we see?  Israel becoming a partaker of the plague sent against Egypt.  Friends, if you don't realize that time is winding down, then you need to pray to the Lord for eyes to see.  Prophecy is unfolding right before our eyes as the systems of this world come together with one mind to give their power to the beast (Revelation 17:13).  The only question of importance is, "Where do you stand?"  Don't be found too busy or distracted to prepare for His coming (Matthew 22:1-14). 

"Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?" Luke 12:56

When Israel was in Egypt, Pharaoh increased the pressure & stress on God's people in order to deter them and turn them back from wanting to go into the wilderness to worship their God (Exodus 5:1).  Likewise, Satan is increasing the pressures on the church in order to deter & distract them from pressing in to the Spirit of God so as to reap the Lord's promises.  Yet, as rough as it may be, as seemingly hopeless as your circumstances may appear, I tell you that God is bringing you out!  Hold on and press in to the Lord all the more.  In spite of Satan's schemes, the Lord Jesus Christ is mighty to deliver, only believe...and keep believing.  No matter the situation, hold on to the promises of the Lord and see His faithfulness unfold in your life.  How can you give up when victory is just around the bend?

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." Exodus 14:13

Remember the old paths and turn your whole hearts unto the Lord (Jeremiah 18:15).  Sometimes, even the "old school" music is better than the contemporary.  Songs that truly relay the Gospel message and can strengthen you in times of going through.  The Sensational Nightingales, The Gospel Keynotes, The Williams Brothers, The Angelic Gospel Singers, Dorothy Love Coates, Wynona Carr, The Jackson Southernaires, Bessie Griffin...but as the old folks might say, "Yal don't know nothin' about this here."  :-)

Hold on Saints!

It's Just That Simple

Some have been wondering why there have not been many posts lately.  I have always stated that if the Lord is not giving me something to say, then I will say nothing.  When I post, it is because I am led to post.  When I don't, it is because God has not given me what to say. If I never post here again, that is truly fine with me. 

The following video was shared with me, and I felt it kind of summed up my thoughts in this area.  It is a short documentary about the ministry of a woman referred to as "The Preacher Lady of Riverdale, GA".   At one point in the video, the minister, Mary James, is speaking to a man in his car, asking him if he is saved.  He replies, "Nah, I ain't saved baby."  Now, I have to admit that this put me off.  Not that he called her baby, but that she didn't correct him.  How can you have a sober conversation with someone about the Lord when they are calling you "Baby"?

Folks, saving souls is serious business.  The things of God command respect & honor because He is holy.  If we do not understand this, then how can we expect anyone to take us - or God - seriously?  I honestly cannot picture the Apostles ignoring someone calling them, "Pimp" or "Dog" while they are trying to lead them to Christ.  Nonetheless, she asks the young man to repeat after her as she proceeds to recite a sinner's prayer, which he does.  Then she says, "It's just that simple.  Welcome to the family of God."

Friends, nothing could be farther from the truth. I don't care what words you recite, if you are not drawn by the Holy Spirit of God to have a heartfelt change through repentance from sin - and are walking in that truth daily -  then you are not saved.  You cannot come to faith in Jesus Christ apart from such brokenness (repentance).  Where in Scripture does it talk about "inviting Jesus into your heart"?  What does that even mean? 

I am not against street preaching.  We are commanded by Jesus to go into all the world and proclaim the good news; even from the highways to the byways, compelling people to come to Jesus.  However, if our works (preaching on the street, writing on a blog, giving a sermon in church, feeding the hungry, etc.) are not inspired by the Lord, then they are all dead works.  It is just that simple.  The evidence that a work is born of God is that it generates life in the hearer.

"...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."John 10:10b

Further, if God calls us for a work, then He will prepare us for it and it will be fruitful.  It will prosper to accomplish His purposes because God is performing the work through you.  I am not talking about worldly standards of success.  In fact, just look to Gideon's army as an example of how God prospers (Judges Chapter 7).  His ways are often counter to the ways of the world; He chooses what looks foolish to the world in order to confound the wisdom of the wise.  This way, it will be known that God alone - and not flesh - has performed it. My point is that you can have lots of activity, speak really loudly, possess lots of zeal, use lots of charisma, have lots of supporters...and still be promoting nothing but a dead work. 

Look around you on the streets today.  People are spiritually dead and they are continuously feeding on death by partaking of the things of the world.  Even in many churches, people sit bound while the minister yells, screams, tunes ups, and squalls...only to have them leave in the same condition (or worse) then when they came.  This is salvation??

People need the life of Jesus Christ to transform them, but who has that life within in order to share it with them?  If we are not literally imparting the power of the life of Christ to others, then what are we doing really?  And this pertains to everything that we do.  What are we really doing?  Are we just going through the motions of religion or are we truly being led and fed by the Spirit of God?  Do we even desire to be?

"For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you." II Corinthians 4:11-12

By the way, by no means do I intend to hold this woman up to ridicule.  She is doing more than many others who claim to believe.  However, possessing the life of Christ within is about more than activity and emotion.  You can be sincere in your efforts and still be sincerely wrong.   When you are looking at people bound by grief, addiction, idolatry, sickness, perversion...religion is just a woefully poor substitute.  It takes more than a sinner's prayer and a pep talk about love to convert a soul.  It takes the power of a Living God; a power which slams into our very being, confronts us with the truth, and brings us to naught when we finally see ourselves for who we really are before a holy God: a wretched soul in need of a Savior. This is the power that saves souls, and this is the power which needs to be at work in us if we are His witnesses.

"Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known." Psalm 106:8

UPDATE:  This article explains why the message being taught in the video is so misleading.

Those Who Wait Upon the Lord

A song from Esther Mui based upon Isaiah 40:25-31.

"To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. 

Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. 

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."