“God’s Word—Filtering the Messages of the World”

One of the challenges of the Christian walk is keep the message of the Bible before the message of the world. If this is properly achieved then we use the Bible as a filter for the world’s message, but if the order is reversed then the world becomes a filter for the Bible’s message. One of the clearest examples of the importance of this order today is in respect to Gay & Lesbian issues.

The world tells us that homosexuality is a legitimate option to heterosexuality. Arguments have been based on history (homosexuality was a legitimate option to heterosexuality in many ancient societies), genetics (genes have been identified that are believed to predispose a person to homosexuality), political (homosexuals as full American citizens deserve all the human rights and freedom as any other American citizen), and sociology (homosexual couples have been shown to be just as capable as heterosexual couples to raise a child in a healthy home environment). Yet the greatest message that we are hearing is “This is who they are and they cannot change.” The volume of the world’s position is increasing and with it are the cries for the narrow minded position of Christians to be overlooked.

But the Bible has a different message. Scripture clearly tells us that the romantic-sexual desires & acts of homosexuals are not acceptable to God (Romans 1:24-28).  Yet at the same time God states that there is forgiveness, acceptance, and the power to change that can be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ if they will surrender to it:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘but the righteous shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17).

“Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

So, in what order are you keeping the messages? The best indicator is if you are actively seeking to let the Word of God transform the lives of all those you have relationships with, regardless of their sexual orientation. Remember, ‘such were some of you.” Give the gospel, the power of God, opportunities to transform lives.