Devotional for Thursday November 20th

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh.” Galatians 5:16-17 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “We do not have to act on our desires.”

 

The truth is that we all have strong desires we are repeatedly tempted to act on. Some of those desires run deep and last a lifetime. Homosexual desire can certainly fall into that category.

 

As we learned yesterday from the writing of Pastor Sam Allberry, if you struggle with same-sex attraction that is something about you, but it is not you. If you are a Christian then same-sex attraction is not your core identity and it does not have to define, dominate, or drive your life. Just as with any other unbiblical desire we have, the Bible instructs us to control it by living under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.

 

That’s often not the answer we want. It’s seldom easy, but it is always right. Sam Allbery is just one of many sincere Christians who struggle with same-sex attraction but who have made the decision to bring that desire, right along with all other desires, under the control and dominion of the Holy Spirit.

 

In his book, “Love into Light” pastor Peter Hubbard tells the story of the great Christian writer C.S. Lewis who lived most of his life as a celibate single man. (He was married for a very brief time later in life, but after a short marriage his wife suddenly and tragically died.) There’s no indication that C.S. Lewis had any homosexual tendencies himself, but within his university community of professors and writers in England during the time of World War Two, there were many homosexuals whom Lewis knew and was friends with.

 

Lewis gave much thought to how a Christian with same-sex attractions could live a life that was Biblically obedient and which brought honor and glory to Christ. He concluded that homosexual desire needed to be handled exactly the same as any other desire of the flesh that was contrary to the expressed will of God. He wrote, “The physical satisfaction of homosexual desire is sin.” But then he drew a parallel between the ongoing struggle to gain control over same-sex desires, with the man born blind in John 9. Lewis concluded that any unnatural desire, any physical disability, any sickness, or any struggle with sin, can become a vehicle through which that person shines for Jesus in the way in which they deal with it. He said that our struggle with any of those issues “must be offered up to God.”

 

Yes same-sex attraction is real and deep and difficult. But so are many other things we struggle with in this life and in all of it, we can honor and glorify and magnify God in how we deal with it.

 

How does a person with a strong same-sex attraction accomplish this? Tomorrow we will discuss the issue of singleness. Many people (not just those with a same-sex attractions), live single and celibate lives. What does the Bible have to say about this?

 

God Bless,
Pastor Jim
 

Devotional for Wednesday November 19th

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.” 1 Peter 2:11 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Your desires do not define you.”

 

Sam Allberry is the author of the book “Is God Anti-Gay?” He serves as the Associate Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Maidenhead, United Kingdom. Sam is also a celibate gay man. He has experienced same-sex attractions for as long as he can remember and for many years he acted on those attractions.

 

Eventually though, Sam came to the point when he had to admit that there simply was no way his lifestyle could be Biblically justified. He realized he had deep desires which he could no longer in good conscience act on. Through prayer, Bible study, and deep thought he came to some interesting and helpful insights.

 

First, Sam finally came to see that although in the Bible homosexual desires are clearly portrayed as being unnatural and contrary to the will of God, they are described that way right along with a whole host of other desires that are also unnatural and contrary to the will of God. That being the case, he decided he needed to exercise discipline and refrain from acting on those homosexual desires, just as all people are to refrain from acting on the desires of greed, or over-indulgence in alcohol, or heterosexual lust, or any of the others on the list. You see, if we keep homosexual activity in its proper Biblical context, and include it right along with all the other sinful acts we are to refrain from, we see that a person’s response to it needs to be the same as to any other sinful desire. This is what Peter was writing about in 1 Peter 2:11.

 

Allberry writes, “We live in a culture where sexuality is virtually equated with identity: “You are your sexuality.” We are encouraged to think that to experience homosexual feelings means that you are, at your most fundamental core, a homosexual … My own perception is that I struggle with greed much more than I do with sexual temptation.”

 

Allberry’s point is crucial, “Your desires do not define you.” As a Christian it is your identity in Christ that defines you. Desires and behaviors contrary to the expressed will of God are symptoms of living in a fallen and broken world but in your inner-most being, you are defined by your identity in Christ, not by your sexual attractions, or over-eating, or your preoccupation with material possessions, or any other desire or behavior.

 

This subject of our true identity in Christ and how it relates to same-sex attractions is just too important to address in a single devotional message. There is much more we need to consider. Therefore we will continue this discussion tomorrow.

 

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Devotional for Tuesday November 18th

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

Our Bible verse for today: “Then justice will inhabit the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the orchard. The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.” Isaiah 32:16-17 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Knowing what you believe and why you believe it gives you a quiet sense of confidence.”

I love the scene described in Isaiah 32:16-17. The prophet was painting a picture of the Messianic Kingdom. He was explaining that at that time righteousness and noble values will reign, and that will produce in God’s people a quiet sense of confidence.

You may remember from earlier in this series when I explained how impressed I was with the tone that was set at the ERLC conference on sexual ethics. Even though the subject was serious and difficult, the tone was friendly and kind, compassionate and even upbeat. One reason it was that way was because the conference leaders and attendees had a quiet sense of confidence. They had taken the time to prayerfully think through the issues and they did their homework so that they were thoroughly familiar with both sides of the issues. That then gave them a quiet sense of confidence. Because they were sure of what they believed and why they believed it, they were able to calmly and rationally discuss the issues without getting upset or defensive.

That is why I am writing this devotional series on sexual ethics. Far too many Christians do not have enough accurate information to enable them to feel confident in explaining their beliefs or discussing the difficult issues. That lack of confidence often leads people to feel insecure and defensive. That then leads to the use of overheated language and silly clichés like “God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.” (Pardon me while I groan).

Please don’t say things like that. It only makes you look simple-minded and silly and it reflects poorly on the rest of us as well. Also, please don’t come across as hard-hearted, mean-spirited, or insensitive. Doing so won’t win any arguments. It will only further inflame the situation and it will actually drive people further away rather than drawing them near.

My goal in this series is to provide all of us with enough accurate information so that we will feel confident discussing the issues with those who may disagree with us. The starting place should always be compassion, kindness and love. Then move-on to some basic Biblical truths. Then be ready to give good answers to some of the more difficult questions, such as those we have discussed so far and which we will continue to explore as we go forward in this series.

Tomorrow we will think some more about the very real struggle of same-sex attraction and what a person can do about it.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Devotional for Monday November 17th

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Does science prove a genetic cause for sexual orientation?’

 

Whether or not scientific research points to a genetic cause for sexual orientation is one of the most hotly debated topics in the scientific world today. There have been a large number of studies conducted and they have produced a wide range of findings – much of it contradictory.

 

The truth is that the studies have not been able to provide conclusive proof one way or the other. That’s why, simply as a matter of intellectual honesty, the American Psychological Association (APA) felt compelled to write the statement we read in yesterday’s devotional. But likewise for the sake of honesty, I must tell you that the APA also said that they believe the overall trend in the research is leaning in favor of a genetic cause, even though science has not yet been able to prove it. 

 

But then, along comes another study like the one I am about to cite from, the results of which make a strong case for there not being a genetic link.

 

In 2010 researchers in Sweden working for the “Swedish Twin Registry” surmised that if sexual orientation is a matter of genetic design, then in the case of identical twins there should be observable evidence of identical sexual orientation. Their premise was because identical twins come from the same egg and share the same genes if sexual orientation is genetic, then if one of the twins is gay the other should be also.

 

The study looked at 71 sets of identical twins where at least one was living a homosexual lifestyle. What they discovered was that in only 1 out of 10 cases were both twins gay. In 90% of the cases one twin was gay and the other was not. If there was a genetic cause for sexual orientation then the results should have been exactly the opposite.

 

As far as many in the scientific community are concerned the jury is still out regarding whether or not people are born gay. However when all personal bias is removed from the conclusions, honest scientists admit that despite the overwhelming number of studies which have been conducted, they have been unable to demonstrate a genetic cause for sexual orientation.

 

For Bible-believing Christians this comes as no surprise. As we’ve already observed, the Bible provides us with no reason to believe that God would create someone gay. And despite science’s best efforts, they have not been able to prove otherwise.

 

And yet, same-sex attraction is real and it is deep. So what’s the answer for a person who struggles with a same-sex attraction? We will consider that next but first, it’s time for another attitude check. 

 

God bless,
Pastor Jim    

Devotional for Saturday and Sunday November 15-16

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

Our Bible verse for today: “For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:13-14 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Does science prove God creates people with a same-sex attraction?”

I think part of the confusion regarding the issue of sexual orientation lies in the definitions of “orientation” and “design”. The dictionary says that an orientation is simply “A direction; to make familiar with or adjust to a situation.” In other words, you are oriented towards something when you set out in that direction or when you adjust towards a purpose or thing. Whereas design is: “The purposeful arrangement of parts or details; a reasoned purpose; intent.”

So as you can see, there’s a big difference between orientation and design. Orientation is a decision based upon a choice. Design is part of the inherent nature of the person or thing in question. I find myself “oriented” in the direction of many behaviors I would be better off without, some of them stemming from as early in childhood as I can remember. I also find that the more I engage in those behaviors the more oriented in that direction I seem to become. But that doesn’t mean God designed me that way. Those behaviors are not part of my created design.

The American Psychological Association (APA) has studied this issue in great detail. Many scientific studies have been conducted regarding the nature and source of sexual orientation. After compiling and reviewing a formidable body of scientific research the APA came to some interesting conclusions.

First, with respect to what a sexual “orientation” actually is they defined it as, “an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes.”

But as to where this attraction comes from the APA was honest when they wrote,

“Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors.”

The question we’re considering here is not if same-sex attraction is real – it is. There is also no question about whether or not it is deeply rooted within a person – it is. The question is whether or not God designs some individuals that way. When the APA describes sexual orientation they do so by describing patterns of desire, not genetically driven pre-dispositions. The desires may be deep, and they may be part of lifelong patterns of behavior, but it cannot be said they are genetic.

The APA’S honesty is helpful but we’re not yet finished allowing the scientific community to speak for itself. There is one more very compelling study we need to be aware of with respect to genetic design and same-sex attraction. We will take a look at that tomorrow.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Devotional for Friday November 14th

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone.” James 1:13 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Would God create someone gay?”

 

As we consider the issue of sexual orientation and same-sex attraction we must do so with kindness and compassion, but also honestly and accurately. Same-sex attraction is very real and it runs deep. Most people who have a same-sex attraction report having had those attractions from an early age. Likewise, those who demonstrate characteristics and behaviors normally attributed to the opposite gender have usually demonstrated those qualities beginning early in life.

 

Therefore the question is an important one, “Are people born gay?” As we consider the possible answers to that question we must be careful to be Biblically and scientifically honest and accurate. Let’s not try to make the Bible or science say more or less than they really do. Today we will consider what the Bible does and does not say about this issue.

 

The fact is that there is no passage in either the Old or New Testament which would lead us to conclude that God designs people with a same-sex attraction. As has already been shown, the pre-sin sexual ethic established by God was of a man and a woman expressing human sexuality within the covenant of marriage. That sexual ethic was affirmed in the New Testament by Jesus, Paul, and Peter. Additionally, the six passages we have looked at (Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10) all clearly prohibit same-sex sexual relations.

 

That being the case, would God then actually design certain individuals to engage in the very behavior He Himself has expressly forbidden? Not only would make no sense for Him to do that, but it would be cruel to design that desire into a person but then forbid them to act on it. But there is nothing we know about God from the Bible which would cause us to conclude that He would do something like that.

 

Same-sex attraction is undeniably real but the fact is that there simply is no Biblical basis for concluding that God designs and creates individuals to be sexually attracted to members of the same sex. If He did, then the statement James made in James 1:17 would not be true. God would in fact be creating real temptation for certain individuals.

 

And yet observing human behavior, even from an early age, seems to suggest otherwise. It can seem as if same-sex attraction must be something that develops in the womb and is therefore of a Godly design. Today there are even loud voices claiming that science “proves” people are born gay. But does it really? Is that really an accurate and verifiable claim about what science actually “proves”? Tomorrow we will let the scientific community speak for itself.

 

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Devotional for Thursday November 13th

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

Our Bible verse for today: “… He who created them in the beginning made them male and female, … For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Matthew 19:5

Our thought for today:  “There are a number of good reasons for Jesus to have not directly mentioned the issue of homosexual behavior in His teachings.”

First, as has already been noted in an earlier devotional message, in this passage in Matthew chapter 19 Jesus restated and affirmed the pre-sin sexual ethic established by God in the Garden of Eden. By doing so He implicitly ruled out every other sexual activity that falls outside of the God-ordained pairing of a man and a woman in marriage. There were many other expressions of human sexuality which are forbidden by God and which Jesus also did not mention. But when he affirmed the pre-sin ethic established by God in the beginning, He effectively ruled out every other potential sexual activity – including homosexuality.

Second, Jesus didn’t mention homosexual behavior because He didn’t need to. His ministry while on earth was carried out almost exclusively to the Jews geographically located in Biblical Palestine. Homosexual behavior wasn’t much of an issue in that culture. Such practices were rare among the Jews and therefore it wasn’t necessary for Jesus to teach that lesson to those people.

However, earlier in the Old Testament, when the Jews were in such close proximity to cultures where homosexual behavior was prevalent, the issue was addressed by Moses. Likewise later in the New Testament, when the Christian faith began spreading outside of Jerusalem and beyond Palestine, the people of God once again found themselves in close proximity to cultures where homosexual behavior was common. So God had the Apostle Paul restate and affirm the Old Testament prohibitions against it.

The words of Jesus are without question the most important words in the Bible. But they are not the only words in the Bible. God gave us the entire Bible for a reason. Jesus Himself did not speak every word that needed to be spoken and He did not teach every lesson that needed to be taught for all people in all places for all time – but the Bible in its entirety does. When the people of God needed to be told that God forbids sexual relations between people of the same gender, He had Moses do so in the Old Testament and He had Paul take care of it in the New Testament. Therefore it wasn’t necessary for Jesus to speak to it.

Tomorrow we will begin a discussion about sexual orientation. Are people born gay?

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Devotional for Wednesday November 12th

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are also his offspring.” Acts 17:28 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Honest gay scholars agree on what the Bible really says.”

 

Before we leave the very important subject of the accuracy and reliability of the historic understanding of what the Bible says and means with respect to homosexuality, I want to share with you a couple of quotes from gay Bible scholars.

 

In Acts 17:28, when Paul was in Athens attempting to make his case for the truth, he used the words of some of their own intellectuals to help make his case. I am doing the same here.  

 

Dr. Lewis Crompton is a homosexual professor who knows his Bible. He is openly gay and an advocate for gay causes, but he is disturbed by the intellectual dishonesty of those who attempt to make the Bible say and mean things it clearly does not say and mean. With respect to the attempts to distort Paul’s words in Romans 1:26-27 Dr. Crompton writes:

 

“According to this interpretation, Paul’s words were not directed at ‘bona fide’ homosexuals in committed relationships. But such a reading, however well-intentioned, seems strained and unhistorical. Nowhere does Paul or any other Jewish writer of this period imply the least acceptance of same-sex relations under any circumstances.”

 

Dr. Luke Johnson, pro-homosexual professor of the New Testament also agrees that the New Testament clearly teaches against homosexual relations in all respects. Dr. Johnson simply chooses to dismiss what the Bible says:

 

“We are fully aware of the weight of scriptural evidence pointing away from our position, yet place our trust in the power of the living God to reveal as powerfully through personal experience and testimony as through written texts.”

 

Johnson further writes that he believes the specific commands of Scripture on this issue are “fallible, conflicting, and often culturally conditioned.” Both Crompton and Johnson agree that the Bible says what it says and the meaning is clear. They simply choose to dismiss God’s clear teaching on the issue and they allow personal experience and desire to trump Biblical teaching.

 

Johnson and Crompton are wrong to dismiss the clear teaching of Scripture of course, but at least they’re being honest. If you have to be dishonest to make your case then there must be something fundamentally wrong with the case you are trying to make.

 

Tomorrow we will address the issue of why Jesus did not specifically mention homosexual behavior in His teachings.

 

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Devotional for Tuesday November 11th

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “We must know what we believe and why we believe it.”

 

Increasingly today the authority and accuracy of historical interpretations of the Bible are being challenged in an effort to normalize homosexual behavior. Many of the attacks are sophisticated and on the surface, somewhat convincing. That, combined with the ever-increasing pressure society is placing upon the Christian community to be “tolerant”, is leaving many Christians confused and searching for answers. Therefore it’s essential that we know what the Bible really does say about the issue and that we are prepared to respond with accurate and carefully thought-out answers.

 

One objection that is commonly put forward is that the Old Testament prohibitions regarding homosexual behavior no longer apply in New Testament times. And if we’re going to insist that they do, then we are obligated to obey all the other Old Testament prohibitions as well – such as the dietary laws in Leviticus. How do we distinguish which Old Testament laws and principles carry over into New Testament times and which do not?

 

The answer is found in the New Testament itself. If an Old Testament law or principle was restated or affirmed in the New Testament then it applies to us today; and it if wasn’t, then it doesn’t. The dietary laws and the prohibition against homosexuality are two issues that make the case nicely.

 

In the New Testament Jesus in Matthew 15:11; Luke in Acts 10:9-15; and Paul in Romans 14:2-3 and 1 Corinthians 10:23-31 all made it clear that the Old Testament dietary restrictions no longer applied. But in Romans 1: 26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, and 1 Timothy 1:10 Paul affirms and reinforces the Old Testament prohibition against same-sex relationships. Therefore the dietary laws no longer apply but the prohibitions against homosexual behavior do.

 

Obviously this point only matters if a person cares what the Bible does or does not say. Not everyone does. But I’m writing these devotionals primarily for a Christian audience who does care. The primary purpose here is not to win an argument but instead to provide Christians with good answers to difficult questions.

 

Tomorrow we will give a little more thought to the accuracy and reliability of the historical interpretations of these Bible passages. Then we will move on to the issues of sexual orientation, the apparent silence of Jesus, issues of civil obedience and disobedience, and much more.

 

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Devotional for Monday November 10th

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3 (NIV) 
Our thought for today: “We must not twist the clear meaning of Scripture.”

 

Matthew Vines is a twenty-four year old professing Christian from Kansas. He was raised in a Christian home and attended a conservative Presbyterian church. Matthew is also openly gay.

 

After graduating from High School, he went off to college at Harvard University. Upon arriving there he was astounded to discover the openness and encouragement he found for the gay lifestyle. After two years at Harvard Matthew dropped out to work as an advocate for gay Christians.

 

In 2012 he delivered a speech in a liberal church, attempting to make the case that with respect to homosexuality, the Bible has been misunderstood and misapplied for thousands of years. Matthew attempted to show that the passages which seem to teach against homosexual conduct, actually only apply to lust-driven short-term hook-ups, not to long-term committed homosexual relationships. In order to achieve his purpose Vines had to engage in a substantial amount of Scripture-twisting and deception but in the end, he was able to construct an argument which on the surface was somewhat convincing to those who were eager to accept it.

 

The speech was videotaped and posted to YouTube. It went viral and to-date has been viewed over 700,000 times. In early 2014 the speech was published as a book entitled “God and the Gay Christian” and quickly became a best seller.

 

Matthew admits that he himself is not a Bible scholar, he has no training in the Biblical languages, and he does not even have a Bible College education. Additionally, the “Bible scholars” whose work he did draw from, mostly all come with a gay-friendly bias and their work is largely dismissed in most of the Christian world.

 

I bring this to your attention simply because Matthew’s video and book have become a sensation in the gay community and are being offered-up as “proof” that God is not opposed to committed long-term same-sex relationships.

 

Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson is a gay New Testament scholar who does have extensive training in the original Biblical languages. He is an advocate for same-sex relationships, but at the same time he is refreshingly honest about what the Bible really does and does not say about it:

 

“The task demands intellectual honesty. I have little patience with efforts to make Scripture say something other than what it says … we know what the text says. (However), I think it important to state clearly that we do, in fact, reject the straightforward commands of Scripture, and appeal instead to another authority when we declare that same-sex unions can be holy and good. And what exactly is that authority? We appeal explicitly to the weight of our own experience and the experience thousands of others have witness to, which tells us that to claim our own sexual orientation is in fact to accept the way in which God has created us.”

 

What Johnson says there is that he knows full well what the Bible says about homosexuality and he doesn’t care. He relies instead on how he feels. He then fulfills his desires and claims God’s blessing upon it.

 

That attitude is sad, even tragic, but at least it’s honest. Matthew Vines should learn from Luke Johnson. Tomorrow we will think a little more about Biblical accuracy, and then we will address the question of sexual orientation. Does God create people gay?

 

God Bless,
Pastor Jim