But Nancy, What About God's Discrimination?

Nancy Pelosi has stated that we need to do everything we can to eliminate discrimination. This statement was made in the context of the U.S. Congress voting to end the DADT (Don't Ask, Don't Tell) policy in the U. S. military. This present policy is considered by her and others such as she as being discriminatory against homosexuals serving openly in the military. --- news video clip of Mrs. Pelosi commenting on ending discrimination in every way possible.

Nancy Pelosi has gone repeatedly on record as opposed to the U.S. military policy of DADT (Don't Ask, Don't Tell). This prevents homosexuals from serving openly in the military. So, presently if one is a homosexual, that "orientation" must be kept secret if one wants to remain an active member of the military. Mrs. Pelosi believes this to be a form of discrimination that needs to be ended.

A question that she and others in "her camp" have not faced is this -- what do you do about the glaring discrimination that God has shown in regard to same-sex practices?

An honest reading -- and note, I said, an "honest reading" of the Scriptures reveal that God does discriminate against those who engage in same-sex activity. God labels it as an abomination -- not just sin, as such, but as an abomination! Both the Old Testament and the New Testament provide information on how God views same-sex intimacy and the response from God is always very negative!

Those who practice or those supporting persons who engage in same-sex activity react with fierce hostility when it is suggested that God labels such conduct as abominable and that such will be severely judged. Defense mechanisms instantly come into play by labeling any who object to homosexual behavior as being homophobic, bigoted, hate-mongers and whatever other negative labels can be hung on the opposition, whether that opposition is expressed within church circles or in the public arena!

Further, there is no want to those who attempt to twist and pervert the Scriptures in order to justify same-sex practices. But none of us will be dead more than a few seconds at most and then, too late for many, comes the "wake up call" that God indeed meant every word He said in regard to the issue of homosexuality. The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah are mute evidence that God does discriminate when it comes to certain sexual practices.

And it appears, with the help of a lot of elected officials as well as a number of church leaders, that the United States is going to walk down the same path as did Sodom and Gomorrah. One thing is sure, the destiny of the United States will also be the same! If for no other reason than the fact that we have had access to God's revelation and how He regards the issue of same-sex intimacy from the time our republic was put together in the latter years of the 18th Century!

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed with the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds); then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.... --- 2 Peter 2:4-9

I'm One of Those Lower, Lower Middle Class White Guys -- Can I Get Special Protection Too?

(Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2012 to increase DOJ personnel to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in combating hate crimes.
(Sec. 6) Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit willfully causing bodily injury to any person through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years for violations and a life term if a death results from a violation or certain other violent crimes are involved. --- from H. R. 1913 which was recently passed

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. they trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity. --- Isaiah 59:3, 4

There's a high pitch level of excitement in the air and the end is not yet! The House of Reps gave their nod to a piece of legislation identified as H. R. 1913 and referred to as the Hate Crimes Bill. Incorporated into the bill are provisions in the federal criminal code for heavy penalties against anyone who has caused bodily injury to another person because of "actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability."

For years those who are aggressively pursuing an agenda favoring the concerns of homosexual, lesbian, and transgender persons have been putting the pressure on to have the "sexual orientation" category included in such legislation as H. R. 1913. So these come under the scope of special protection that many other persons do not have at present.

This is but one more step in the direction of reaching the ultimate goal -- which is forced acceptance of sodomy and lesbianism as a legitimate way of life. This includes marriage being recognized by both state and church. The "couples" should have the right to adopt and raise children. Finally, these units should be considered "families" in every sense of the word as would be the case of a man married to a woman with children being born to them in the course of their marriage.

For anyone to question same gender coupling or to speak against it in any way is to be considered guilty of being homophobic and inciting hateful attitudes and/or acts!

Now the question – why can’t I be given similar special protection by law? The chance of that happening is as great as that proverbial snowball surviving in that very hot place you have heard about from time to time!

Here are the basic reasons I won’t get that special protection although prejudice against my kind is growing day by day.

• First, I am a white guy – it’s mainly my fault that the country and the world are so badly messed up – therefore I deserve no special protection because of that alone!
  
  
• Second, I’m a heterosexual in my “orientation” and that’s also a solid reason as to why I deserve no special consideration and protection under the law.
  
  
• Third, I am married to a person of the opposite sex and have been so for many years. The fact that I don’t feel pangs of guilt because I enjoy this privilege which is denied others of a different orientation provides solid grounds as to why I should not be given any special protection under the law.
  
  
• Fourth, I am a pastor who has proclaimed the truth of God’s Word regarding human sexuality and the boundaries which God has clearly established for sexual experience and expression. Rather than being afforded any special protection it would more likely be ruled that lynching a person such as I would be justifiable and adding an amendment to that effect in Hate Crimes legislation would be appropriate as well as necessary!
  

Fortunately the One Who established all moral law to start with is slated to return to this planet and among other things, He will set the record straight on what is or isn’t a hate crime!

Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." --- Isaiah 56:1, 2

Preening --- Success Depends on What You Have to Work With and What the Limitations Are!

It's the time of year that our humming birds are back and we were ready and waiting. When we had a front porch added to our home, we agreed that it would not be postage stamp size. It's 32 feet long and 12 feet wide with a roof which is supported by six 6 x 6 posts!

We have at least 3 large humming bird feeders suspended on front side of the porch It is always a pleasant and at times an exciting experience to sit on the front porch during fair weather months of the year. Watching the humming birds is better than watching any production coming out of Hollywood!

Just recently we observed 2 of the birds feeding side by side. Once in a while they would pause and then touch those long beaks, tip to tip. Was that the humming bird version of a passionate kiss? Later I saw a ruby throated male preening his feathers -- well, he was trying to anyway! One is pictured above. He's not very big to begin with and then there is that extra long beak that he has to maneuver around for the preening job. But he was making a noble attempt -- he was able to get to some of the outer area of his wings and lower part of his body, but that was it -- quite a bit of his upper body was left untouced -- too much beak and very limited area of body with which to work!

About a day later a wild turkey hen came into our back yard where we have bird feeders and always there is some feed on the ground. She began her usual picking away at cracked corn and then stopped after a bit. It was preening time -- very nimble with a long neck, she started to do her feathers -- all over -- about the only place she couldn't reach was a space about 2 inches or less around her neck -- limitations, you know! But she had a much higher percentage of coverage than the humming bird.

In our faith walk here on earth with trust centered in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, one needs to be aware of limitations -- ours, not His! Always one has to be on guard against the temptation to try to do certain things in our own way and relying upon our own strength and resources. It makes for a bad scene every time -- all too easy to forget Paul's statement which applies equally to all of us who claim to follow Jesus Christ -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." [Philippians 4:13].

In a sense, we are called to be involved in spiritual "preening" -- part of the definition given in the dictionary for this activity is "cleaning the feathers." God wants His people to be clean -- preened, if you will, of all sin. But the moment we tend to forget our limitations, then sin begins to accumlate in numerous ways. The Corinthians were told at one point that they were badly messed up due to sin in their lives -- but they had been cleansed and forgiven -- here is how it is described:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. --- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

An aside here -- does this statement make Paul one of those persons afflicted with "homophobia" such as we hear so often about these days, outside as well as inside the church -- you know, if you don't condone same-gender coupling then you are homophobic and a hater of those who practice that particular way of life!

A humming bird on our front porch and a wild turkey hen in our back yard remind me that I do have limitations, and have to be constantly on guard lest I forget that -- the wild turkey may have thought she did a good job of preening, but even she had limitations!

"Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest; when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the rock of flint; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end; then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. --- Deuternonomy 8:11-18

A Tumor May Be a Part of the Body, But....!

But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves; they are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. --- Jude 1:5-13

There was a great multitude of comments following a "witness" at the United Methodist General Conference on May 1 by those who practice sodomy and lesbianism along with their supporters. Certain votes related to the issue of human sexuality did not sit well with those who want the UMC to place its "blessing" on the practice of sodomy and lesbianism, accept such persons into the ordained ministry of the UMC, accept "unions" of such persons until such time as legal marriage for them is established, acknowledge the legitimacy of such "couples" raising children and their being identified as "family" in the same sense as a heterosexual couple which is married and raising children whom they have conceived in their marriage.

Hence, the protesting which of course disrupted the proceedings of the conference. But it appears to have been quite acceptable due to the "demonstration" having been negotiated with the Council of Bishops. We have long since learned, have we not, that what the bishops do, singly or collectively, is to be considered the "right thing" and if we march in lock step as we are expected to do, then that is the final word on the matter. But as pointed out elsewhere in this blog, there are times when the bishops choose to remain silent on very critical moral issues that impact our culture.

It was stressed that this was a moment of the body "hurting" in this struggle -- and on basis of the Corinthian reference that when one part "hurts" then all the parts "hurt" together, etc.

We have fast progressed (or is it more accurate to say, "regressed") to the point that sexual immorality is no longer considered to be "immorality" -- therefore, one can overstep God's boundary lines on sexual activity and it is no longer considered offensive to God, because we have reestablished those boundary lines by human edict and what formerly was an abomination no longer is so!

We now say simply that we have some disagreement on these matters and efforts have been made to "adjust" the UMC Book of Discipline to reflect this view. But as one reads the many laments on how the votes turned out, we then try to make the best of a bad situation -- the body is hurting!

Medical history shows us that sometimes the body can be afflicted with a tumor that is destructive -- it has cells and is living in the body, but its effect on the body is extremely harmful.

Jesus, as well as authors of New Testament writings, warned of those who would bring false teachings and have a malignant influence within the church that is called by Him to advance His Kingdom and proclaim His eternal truth.

Peter made a statement which clearly identifies the situation we are facing:

We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. --- 2 Peter 1:19 - 2:3

I am fully aware to speak of these things in such a manner I will instantly be labeled as being "homophobic" and "mean-spirited" -- a hater of those who are practicing a same-gender coupling way of life!

I presently am pastor of a small church. Those who live as described above are welcome to my church anytime and the members of the congregation will also welcome those individuals. Never will we ever say, "You are not welcome in this place!"

But, on the other hand, do not expect us to condone your way of life if you engage in sexual activity with a person who is the same sex as you. And when it comes to the serving of the Lord's Supper, the condition is the same for you as it is for all of us, pastor included -- we are to repent of all sins before receiving the symbols which represent the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Does not the ritual in the United Methodist Church mention something about persons earnestly repenting of their sins before partaking of the elements? Here is how it is worded in one of the rituals:

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in His holy ways: draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to Almighty God.

As mentioned in another posting or so, if I had to repent of my sins (including those sexual in nature) why do those who engage in same-sex sin not have to repent? Then again, maybe the above paragraph has been conveniently omitted and is considered no longer relevant when it comes to observance of the Lord's Supper!

What's that? It's not sin when a "couple" is in a committed monogamous "relationship?" Since when did God move that boundary?

Now then -- think on this -- you go to the doctor -- some tests are done -- the results are in, and you have a tumor growing rapidly in your abdomen. It's in your body and in a sense, it's part of your body -- but do you want it to remain there? If the doctor says, "We need to do surgery and remove the tumor." What would your response be?

The church is a spiritual body -- what should be done about the tumors?

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord. "Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters," says the LORD Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. --- 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1

'Tis a Mystery in this Fair Land; Will Somebody Please Help Me Understand?

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today responded to the United Methodist Church’s decision to reaffirm homophobic language which says homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching and its failure to reverse a decision by the church’s Judicial Council to allow pastors to reject lesbian and gay people who seek membership in the church. The vote, which passed by a margin of only 84 votes out of more than 900 cast, reaffirmed discriminatory language in the Discipline of the United Methodist Church and failed to counteract an earlier decision by the denominations judicial body. The vote was taken on Wednesday, April 30, at the United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Separately, the church voted against anti-transgender legislation and voted to oppose "all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation." --- Part of press release by Human Rights Campaign, May 5, 2008

It's a mystery that has been around now for a few decades. Here are some of the elements ----

How is it that those who practice sodomy and lesbianism (and heterosexuals who support their agenda) speak in glowing terms regarding those who agree with them? But those who object to the practices of sodomy and lesbianism on moral grounds are automatically tagged as persons who are hateful and afflicted with bigotry and homophobia?

How is it that those involved in promoting the sodomite/lesbian agenda can quote Bible verses and such referencing of Scripture is considered a tactic that is quite acceptable? But those who object to sodomy and lesbianism are not permitted to refer to the Scriptures. If they do, they are guilty of using "clobber" references and the unpardonable sin of using "proof texts!"

How is it that within the church there are voices which say that God is giving us "new revelation" on human sexuality and sodomy and lesbianism as practiced within committed monogamous relationships are just as legitimate as marriage between a male and a female? This seems to get quite a chorus of amens. But those who insist that God's revelation is complete with a volume of information made up of 66 books which conclude with the book of The Revelation are considered to be a bunch of narrow-minded Bible idolaters!

How is it that there are those who speak of ALL being welcome at the Table (where the symbolical elements of the Lord's Supper are being served) with little or no emphasis on repentance from sin? This is considered a great thing because we are ALL regarded as being children of God. But those who stress the need to repent from all sin, including sexual sin, before partaking of those symbolical elements representing the body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus are considered mean-spirited, judgmental and even un-Christian!

Can you answer this mystery for me along with one final question -- if I had to repent of my sexual sins (which I will not detail here), then why does a person practicing the sexual sin of sodomy or one practicing the sexual sin of lesbianism not have to repent?

The response from some will be that these are not sins under certain conditions -- OK, then where and when did Almighty God give His approval? Please limit your response to books, chapters and verses only!

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. --- 1 John 3:4-10