What Jesus Means to Me
Jesus means different things to different people. My view of Jesus, is taken from the parable of the Tenants. (Matt 21:33-44) God has sent his only beloved Son to invite us to be joint-heirs with him in the Kingdom of God. (side note, he was also rejected and put to death) In Jesus Sermon on the Mount (Matt chapter 5) we are told "Blessed are the peacemaker, for they shall be called sons of God". Followers of Jesus are told to "Love Your Enemies, for if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?" We are told to pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven". I can only imagine what it truly means to have an older brother who is a perfect role model to pattern my life after, that loves me enough, to give his life so that I can live with him as an adopted brother , being in subjection to our Father, the creator of the universe.
OBEDIENCE BEYOND COMPREHENSION
We sing a hymn (#580) Ten Thousand Angels by Ray Overholt. It uses Matthew 26:53 as it’s inspiration. Beginning in verse 47 we see Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas is about to betray Him to the chief priests and elders of the Jews.
Didn’t Jesus see this coming?
Could HE have escaped or eluded the soldiers?
Could He have gone in hiding?
YES is the answer to all those questions. Then the next question could be – why? Why would someone let himself be captured and led away to a certain torture and followed by a certain death?
The answer is this – Jesus was being obedient to the prophecies of the OT. Yes, Jesus knew what His destiny would be.
Hebrews 5:8 Though He were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things he suffered;
Let’s take a moment and look at the prophecies.
In Isaiah 46:9-10 and part of verse 11.
“Remember the former things of old: I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:…..I have spoken it, I will bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”
God is telling us there are prophecies for the future and they will come to pass. It may be 500 years, it may be 1,000 years but the prophecies will be fulfilled. Make no mistake about it.
We have the Old Testament and the New Testament. We can read the prophecies and the fulfillments. We know that it was not chance or luck that the prophecies were fulfilled. It was the through the providence of God. How could over 300 prophecies be written hundreds of years before and every one of them be fulfilled if it was not meant to be?
II Peter 1:21
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”.
Paul was being held in Rome after a long journey. He had called together the Jewish chiefs to explain and testify of the Kingdom of God. Paul taught them that the kingdom they had awaited was here. The Messiah was ruling though His kingdom was spiritual and not political. In Acts 28:23 Paul was attempting to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the law of Moses and out of the prophets.
Jesus spoke in Luke 24:25:
“…O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:…”
Continuing in verse 27: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he explained unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Moving to verse 44-47 of Luke 24:
“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45: Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46: And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day;
47: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
John 5 - Jesus has healed the lame man on the Sabbath and the Jews want his life for performing the healing on the Sabbath and because Jesus had declared himself the Son of God.
He explains in verse 39:
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
46: For had you believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”
Matthew 26:53 – Peter has just drawn his sword and cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest (v.51). Jesus says He could pray to God and have 12 legions of angels. Research into the numerical value of a legion shows the number to be between 54,000 and 62,400 angels. That is a lot of angels!! I think they could have protected Jesus from further trouble.
However, in v. 54 Jesus asks how then could the scriptures be fulfilled – it must be.
He knew what had to be done and He did it!! No questions, no delays. It had to be. There was no asking for a day off or a vacation, no question of retirement – He had prophecies to fulfill!! He was here to give all He had to give and when He reached empty then He gave Himself.
Why – He did not know me. I was not there.
Because He already loved me even though I was 1908 years from being born. He loves each person and anytime you have a doubt think of His last words – “Forgive them for they know not what they do”.
FORGIVE THEM – Jesus, are you serious? These people have been the cause of a lot of pain and suffering for You and now your death. Forgive them?
Is it possible – YES – it is. Jesus showed us a love that can be difficult to grasp. It is through this love that each of us has an opportunity to obtain eternal life with Jesus.
Hebrews 2:9 We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor: that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
These are thoughts that all Christians should think on. When we meet on the first day of the week and commemorate Jesus death and resurrection we should focus on the sacrifice made for each if us.
"Medley" Love Bird Without Feathers.. Bruce AustinAt our house we have a lovebird that is missing what makes a bird a bird and that is, feathers. Medley, which Sarah named her, was not always featherless, but once a brightly colored bird of yellow and green, until along the way some ailment caused her feathers to drop. Every last one of them. And so now, she is a bird who has no feathers. Now all of you can imagine a bird without feathers has some obvious disadvantages.
For one, a bird without feathers cannot _? (that's right, fly!) Secondly, gravity to a bird without feathers is like the effect of kryptonite to superman, it brings him down. A high fall can be hazardous to a flightless little body. Thirdly, ground level is much more dangerous to a bird without feathers, since it has no ability to escape things that like to eat little birds. (of course we keep Medley indoors.) Fourth, a bird without feathers is not pretty or cute. Not even a lovebird would find Medley lovely. But she is loveable. Fifthly, I cannot answer my son's intro of "what's up" by responding "a bird without feathers". Lastly, a bird without feathers gets no where without the intervention of a human hand to hold on to. Now all that is somewhat lighthearted but the spiritual application is profoundly serious. Of course, the Christian does not have feathers, but spiritually speaking, we have qualities that make us what we are, and if we are without the plumage God gave us through His Spirit, we expose ourselves to dangers both seen and unseen and deprive ourselves of what the bible writers refer to as real joy. For instance, a bird without feathers would be equivalent to one having little or no faith. How could one possibly reach new heights or lift themselves up if trust in a resurrected Savior was just academic or never really put to the test. We will never get off the ground and fly towards growth and fulfillment without real faith at work. |
Again, temptations of the world, like gravity on the flightless bird, will pull the weak faith down. Paul described such as "weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." II Tim 3:6,7. Jesus compared the draw of temptations, to that of thorns which choke out all hopes of ever becoming airborne with fruit, in the parable of the sower. Mat 13 I noted the bird stuck on the ground is destined to a short existence because it does not have the means to escape it's enemies, and the Christian that does not avail themselves to prayer, steadfastness, and faithfulness, are easy prey for Satan, the world, and corrupt natures within, all of which are hungry to devour precious souls. I said obviously, a bird without feathers is not pretty but thanks be to God, who sees us differently than we see one another, does not count the missing feathers of our abilities, but gives us grace to use the ones we have by means of the cross ,on which Jesus died for our sakes. And when someone says to you "what's up", tell them, clouds, Jesus, and a home forever in heaven. I Thess 5: 1 7 Finally, while it is true that Medley the lovebird literally needs a hand to get her to her destination, we also are unequipped to reach ours without God's intervention. The wise man said "acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and he will make your paths straight", and Peter said to "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he might exalt you in due time". Those who we think are soaring eagles will tell you it is not of themselves to persevere, but it's the unseen hand of God that holds them up, supports them in the trials, protects them in the storms, and will ultimately carry both weak and the strong in Christ to the highest heaven. Birds were not meant to live on the ground and God's people were not meant to remain in the world. Trust in His truth, live for God our Father, and keep seeking the things above where Christ is. Lets make sure we fly home together. |
Things to Consider in Daily Christian Living
Time to Think by Jim Garrett
Does it occur to you that we take a lot for granted? I imagine it does. I know I do and I try not to. Then I feel guilty and pray for forgiveness then go right back to taking life for granted. I know that everything I have or will have is because of God's love for me, me the most unworthy of all.
There is a subject that particularly intrigues me - Masada, the Jewish fortress built by King Herod about 37-31 BCE. As most of us are aware this is the last holdout of the Jewish people after the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD. 960 Jewish people took their lives rather than be subjected to Roman rule. I will go into detail later. Their leader was Elazar ben Yair and this is his last speech to the Jewish people in Masada - “Since we long ago resolved never to be servants to the Romans, nor to any other than to God Himself, Who alone is the true and just Lord of mankind, the time is now come that obliges us to make that resolution true in practice...We were the very first that revolted, and we are the last to fight against them; and I cannot but esteem it as a favor that God has granted us, that it is still in our power to die bravely, and in a state of freedom.” Such dedication, such courage, such faith. Do we have that today? Probably not because we take our freedoms and privileges for granted. We live under a government that does not take God seriously. Joshua in 24:15 said, "as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Yes, Masada the 2nd most viewed place by tourists visiting Israel. It became home to people driven from their way of life, people who witnessed untold tragedy at the hands of the Roman soldiers, loved ones tortured and/or killed for what - being Jewish, the Temple desecrated and yet they went to a safe place to be able to worship God as they knew they should. |
Their forefathers had escaped Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, wandered for 40 years and now this. No place to call home but a fortress built by a traitor king. They were fortunate to have a well engineered water system, great warehouses for storage of food and what they thought was a haven that was safe from all attack.
In 72 C.E. the Roman governor Flavius Silva resolved to suppress this outpost of resistance. He marched against Masada at the head of the Tenth Legion, its auxiliary troops, and thousands of Jewish war prisoners, total ten to fifteen thousand people. The troops prepared for a long siege; they established eight camps at the base of the Masada rock and surrounded it with a high wall, leaving no escape for rebels. Then the Romans started to build an assault ramp to the top; thousands of slaves, many of them Jewish, did that in nine months. After the ramp was complete, the Romans succeeded in moving the battering ram up and to direct it against the wall. They broke the stone wall, but the defenders managed to build a wall of earth and wood that was flexible and hard to break. Eventually the Romans managed to destroy it by fire, and decided to enter the fortress the next day. This was time for the decision - do we let the Romans storm the fortress and take us away in slavery, our women to be abused, our children sold or killed? The last speech says it all - NO! and straws were drawn and 10 warriors were chosen to put the remaining 950 to the sword. Then when this gruesome task was completed the 10 drew straws again and one was chosen to kill the remaining 9 and then himself. According to Josephus (Book 6, chapter 9) 2 women and 5 children survived to tell what happened that day. Today, we live as we choose. No fear of a battering ram at our door, no fear that we will have to take our loved one's lives. Now is the time to think - do we appreciate all we have been given? |
THANKSGIVING DAY by Homer Hailey (ca. 1970)
It is Thanksgiving Day as I sit at my typewriter thinking -- thinking of the many things for which to give thanks. I am thankful that for the seventy-nine years plus of life I have had a kind and merciful Father to govern and control my life and its destiny. The years have not always been smooth and even; there have been rough spots and periods of disciplining, and for these also I am thankful. These have molded and developed character; they have made me cognizant of the needs of others and of our kinship in sharing life's burdens as well as life's joys. I am thankful that when days were dark there was always "a song in the night," for faith and hope raised their voice in thanksgiving and trust -- there would be sunshine and joy on the morrow. Today both nationally and internationally the clouds hang low and are fraught with threatenings of disaster; but worry and fright grip only the hearts of unbelieving men and women, those that know not God. I look out my back door and see the towering mountains, born at the dawn of creation, timeless sentinels to the power and enduring majesty of their Creator. These have been witness through the thousands of years in which nations, races and individuals have come and gone -- fighting, worrying, loving and hating -- that the Lord of Heaven rules and all things will continue until His purpose is accomplished. For this I am thankful. I take a walk each day, and along my trail are giant Saguaro cacti, some estimated to be two hundred years old, or older, with their arms extended toward heaven as if praising their Creator and making petition for frail and faithless man. These can testify to the passing of frightened men and women, fleeing from the danger of fellow men, or worried where the next meal or drink of water will come from. Or it may have been an Indian hunter or warrior who paused in the narrow shadow of this towering giant for a moment's rest. Fear or fury may have filled the souls of these passerby, but the Saguaro with outstretched arms to heaven has survived all these. Now that those who passed have gone on, their bodies now slumbering in the dust, to what avail was their worry, fear, hate -- each possessing a problem that had to be urgently solved. All is quiet now, and somehow the urgent problems are forgotten and the world has continued to survive. I am thankful for the lesson. For soon I, too, will be gone, and to what avail has been any anxiety about problems and cares and emotions and bitter feelings (if any)? These agitations of soul and furies that burned in the breasts of men will be quiet and seem so foolish to those who follow after. The world will survive all of these, the mountains will still be here and the giant cacti will continue pointing to heaven, monuments to God's power and care. And for this I am thankful. In the midst of the world's turmoil and the personal concerns and uncertainties in the hearts of men, I am thankful that there is a remedy for all this; the gospel of Christ. It is a matter of getting people to listen and then give heed to the Father's call and offer. God has seen fit to lay the responsibility of announcing this message on the hearts of His children. For this I am thankful, for such responsibility has given me a feeling of fellowship with Him in the great work of redemption: He provided the means; and for some fifty-five years I have had the joy of telling it, pointing people to Him. For this I am thankful. When I add to these the joy of a happy home, reigned over by a loving and sharing Christian wife, children and grandchildren whose love and respect I possess, scores of beloved friends and myriads of brothers and sisters in Christ, I am most thankful. Then let me not forget the wonderful land in which I live, the comfortable home which my Father has provided, the daily food and clothing, good health, a beautiful world in which to behold the Father's handiwork and the glorious hope of heaven -- my thanksgiving knows no bounds. Truly, today and every day should be a day of thanksgiving and praise to Him who created and provides all. Let us give praise to His matchless name!
The Presence of the Lord
What makes each day seem beautiful,
though skies are filled with rain?
What makes our lives so full of peace,
though we oft are touched with pain?
What makes each day seem beautiful,
when the road ahead is long?
What makes our lives fo full of hope
when we seldom hear a song?
What makes each day seem beautiful,
though our hearts are filled with care?
What makes our lives so full of joy,
though there's sadness everywhere?
What makes each day seem beautiful
when we do not find reward,
What makes our lives so full of love?
It's the Presence of the Lord!
~Hope C. Oberhelman~
What makes each day seem beautiful,
though skies are filled with rain?
What makes our lives so full of peace,
though we oft are touched with pain?
What makes each day seem beautiful,
when the road ahead is long?
What makes our lives fo full of hope
when we seldom hear a song?
What makes each day seem beautiful,
though our hearts are filled with care?
What makes our lives so full of joy,
though there's sadness everywhere?
What makes each day seem beautiful
when we do not find reward,
What makes our lives so full of love?
It's the Presence of the Lord!
~Hope C. Oberhelman~
HUG YOUR KIDS
by Jim Garrett
So many of us rush through each day and the days turn into weeks, and then months, and then one day they are gone. Where did the time go? I meant to do this and I meant to do that. I wanted to take them there. I wanted to show how to do that. What do you mean they are gone? They are my babies. Aren’t they?
Never regret time spent with your kids.
Regret not spending more time.
It all starts at home. You can send them to school, but they need their parent’s support and help to be successful. The same thing applies with their Christian education. They can attend Bible class every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, but if we are not working with them, talking to them, setting the examples that a Christian adult should set, they are not always going to make it.
Many of the people in jails and prisons come from broken homes where they received no adult example of how to live properly. They did not receive the lessons in respect and love that a two-parent home can provide.
These are our children!! They didn’t pick us as parents.
We need to take time and build memories. Those are the things they will carry with them forever. There are times when you need to make a decision and what do you do – you stop and think, “what would Dad or Mom have done?” And you draw on that memory.
Let’s think about another parable – the story of the Prodigal Son. (Luke 5:11-32) When ever his life reached a low and he was lost in sin, he would draw on the memory of a good, loving home and that is what carried him through those dark times. He knew when his life got so miserable, that he could not go on, his father would welcome him home.
We need to be developing and nourishing those memories in our kids. NOW!
What memories will they have to take with them? Will their memories drive them further away? Or will their memory be of a good loving home and bring them back if they rebel against the Lord.
I am not a grandparent yet, but I imagine I will be some day. Those of you who are know that things change when you become a grandparent. A child once said, “ grandparents – the only parents that have time.”
One day we will want to hug them and spend time with them.
Erma Bombeck wrote an article titled “There Wasn’t Time”.
"When I was young Momma was going to read me a story and I was going to turn the pages and pretend I could read, But she had to wax the bathroom floor and there wasn’t time.
When I was young Daddy was going to come to school and watch me in a play,
But he was having the car tuned and there wasn’t time.
When I was older Dad and I were going to go fishing one week end – just the two of us, we were going to pitch a tent, and fry fish with the heads on them.
But at the last minute he had to fertilize the garden and, well you know, there wasn’t time.
When I was older, the whole family was going to pose together for a picture, but my brother had ball practice and my sister had her hair up and Dad was watching the Browns on TV and Mom had to mop the kitchen and there wasn’t time.
So when I grew up and left home to be married I was going to sit down with my Mom and Dad and tell them I love them and that I would miss them. But Hank, our best man was honking the horn – so there wasn’t time."
There was a song from the 70s titled “The Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin. You will recall it was about a boy whose dad never had time for him through his developing years and then when the boy was grown and had a family the dad wanted to see him, but then the boy didn’t have time for him.
What goes around comes around.
TO MY CHILD –
Just for this morning -
· I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.
· I am going to step over the laundry, And pick you up and take you to the park and play.
· I will leave the dishes in the sink, And let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours
together.
Just for this afternoon -
· I will unplug the phone and keep the computer off, And sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.
· I won’t worry about what you are going to be when you grow up,
Or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.
· I will let you help me bake cookies, And I won’t stand over you and try to fix them.
· I will take us to McDonalds and buy us both Happy Meals and you can have both toys.
Just for this evening -
· I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.
· I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.
· I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count the stars.
· I will snuggle beside you for hours and miss my favorite TV shows.
Just for this evening when I run my fingers through
your hair as you pray,
I will simply be grateful that God has given me the
greatest gift ever given.
I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children,
the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children’s graves instead of their bedrooms,
and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can’t handle it anymore!
And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter and a little longer, It is then I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing – except one more day.
This page is for longer articles. Following is an excellent one, written by one of our Elders, (Shepherds) David Duncan on how to influence others.
Standing Up For God's Word
The Orlando Sentinel reported (Aug 29, 2011) that Jerry Buell (teacher) was suspended from Mt. Dora High School after Facebook posts such as "...gay marriage made him want to throw up". One Christian responded to Buell's situation by saying "I guess we need to stop trying to stand up for the Word of God on social media."
We should not confuse being offensive to others as "standing up for the Word of God". Standing up for God is accomplished by living according to the principles of God - not by posting offensive statements in a public forum. Living by God's principles involves: love, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-26). Which of these attributes are used in offensive language toward others? God does not call us to be offensive or judgmental toward others. He does call us to love those who are in sin and to do good to those who oppose us (Luke 6:35).
Some look at John 15:20 (Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.), and reason that die litmus test for standing up for God's word is whether you are persecuted or not. One sure way of scoring well on this litmus test is to speak offensively, for it will more likely generate the results of being persecuted. However, we are not judged by whether others persecute us, but by whether we do the works of God.
If we offend others by judgmental statements, then it is even more difficult to attract them to the Gospel - and this is not "doing good" to them, it is to their harm. We should be concerned about causing others to stumble at the word of God, for God will purge his kingdom of all that "offend" (Mt 13:41). The meaning for 'offend' (Gr. skandalon) is that of being a snare, trap, or stumbling block. If our speech lacks love, or can be perceived as lacking love, and it causes others to believe that God's ways only foster hatred, then we have failed to represent God faithfully, and caused others to stumble.
The speech of Jerry Buell (as recorded in the Sentinel article) did not hold up God's judgments, but rather held up his own personal judgments with phrases such as "gay marriages made him want to throw up" and "same sex unions are a 'cesspool,'..." These may be based in the idea that if God is opposed to it, then it should be 'sickening' to a Christian, but consider the following two things. First, many who use speech like this typically do not use this speech in the * context of other sexual sins such as adultery and fornication. Should not these be just as repulsive? Secondly, it does not make you a "good Christian" simply by stating a revulsion in such a manner as this - you can feel the revulsion and still do good to your neighbor for that is part of self-control. Be angry and Sin not (Ephesians4:26).
Let us not mistreat our neighbors by expressing hatred, and using speech which implies hatred, but rather let us express love for them and entreat them to consider God's ways. Let us be
"speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
The apostle Peter wrote: " {11 } Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, {12} having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12)"
It is not considered honorable to use language which demeans others. We need to carefully consider our speech so that we can have conduct honorable among all, so that even when we are spoken against as evildoers, it is without justification. Let us always fulfill the "will of God" for us as Peter instructs - "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men... (1 Peter 2:15)"
We know that God speaks against sexual sins such as homosexuality, adultery, and fornication. For example, the Apostle Paul says, "Do not be deceived. Neither fomicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, {10} nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10)" Let us convey that truth - not as our own judgment, or as a means of condemning others - but let us point to the judgments of God and our common need for the salvation that is in Jesus the Christ.
-- David A. Duncan
Shepherd S. Bumby church of Christ
The Orlando Sentinel reported (Aug 29, 2011) that Jerry Buell (teacher) was suspended from Mt. Dora High School after Facebook posts such as "...gay marriage made him want to throw up". One Christian responded to Buell's situation by saying "I guess we need to stop trying to stand up for the Word of God on social media."
We should not confuse being offensive to others as "standing up for the Word of God". Standing up for God is accomplished by living according to the principles of God - not by posting offensive statements in a public forum. Living by God's principles involves: love, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-26). Which of these attributes are used in offensive language toward others? God does not call us to be offensive or judgmental toward others. He does call us to love those who are in sin and to do good to those who oppose us (Luke 6:35).
Some look at John 15:20 (Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.), and reason that die litmus test for standing up for God's word is whether you are persecuted or not. One sure way of scoring well on this litmus test is to speak offensively, for it will more likely generate the results of being persecuted. However, we are not judged by whether others persecute us, but by whether we do the works of God.
If we offend others by judgmental statements, then it is even more difficult to attract them to the Gospel - and this is not "doing good" to them, it is to their harm. We should be concerned about causing others to stumble at the word of God, for God will purge his kingdom of all that "offend" (Mt 13:41). The meaning for 'offend' (Gr. skandalon) is that of being a snare, trap, or stumbling block. If our speech lacks love, or can be perceived as lacking love, and it causes others to believe that God's ways only foster hatred, then we have failed to represent God faithfully, and caused others to stumble.
The speech of Jerry Buell (as recorded in the Sentinel article) did not hold up God's judgments, but rather held up his own personal judgments with phrases such as "gay marriages made him want to throw up" and "same sex unions are a 'cesspool,'..." These may be based in the idea that if God is opposed to it, then it should be 'sickening' to a Christian, but consider the following two things. First, many who use speech like this typically do not use this speech in the * context of other sexual sins such as adultery and fornication. Should not these be just as repulsive? Secondly, it does not make you a "good Christian" simply by stating a revulsion in such a manner as this - you can feel the revulsion and still do good to your neighbor for that is part of self-control. Be angry and Sin not (Ephesians4:26).
Let us not mistreat our neighbors by expressing hatred, and using speech which implies hatred, but rather let us express love for them and entreat them to consider God's ways. Let us be
"speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
The apostle Peter wrote: " {11 } Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, {12} having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12)"
It is not considered honorable to use language which demeans others. We need to carefully consider our speech so that we can have conduct honorable among all, so that even when we are spoken against as evildoers, it is without justification. Let us always fulfill the "will of God" for us as Peter instructs - "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men... (1 Peter 2:15)"
We know that God speaks against sexual sins such as homosexuality, adultery, and fornication. For example, the Apostle Paul says, "Do not be deceived. Neither fomicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, {10} nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10)" Let us convey that truth - not as our own judgment, or as a means of condemning others - but let us point to the judgments of God and our common need for the salvation that is in Jesus the Christ.
-- David A. Duncan
Shepherd S. Bumby church of Christ