Thursday, January 2, 2014
Building People of Substance for Works of Power
Happy, Happy, Happy New Year, Friend!
Unless you have been living in a cave for the last month, you have heard about the uproar over Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty TV show fame. He made waves by quoting from 1 Corinthians chapter 6:9-10. Since he specifically mentioned homosexuality as a sin, he has been reviled as a hater and a “homophobe.” The network suspended him in response to outrage from homosexual groups. After nine days he was reinstated. All the advertisers of this mega-hit stuck with Phil, and millions of fans responded with support. It is just show biz, mostly artifice driven by profit, but it does raise some interesting questions. Is it hate to quote the biblical position on homosexual behavior? Does the massive response tell us anything about our culture? How should we be responding to the amazing shift in sexual mores? I encourage you to read the interview in GQ magazine. I was offended by the language of the interviewer, but not the beliefs of the interviewee. That said, I wanted to give you a synopsis of my take-aways from the whole kerfuffle.
- Remember loyalty to the ones who brung ya. Thank you, family Robertson. I was touched and encouraged by the loyalty that the Robertson family, their church, and their community showed to the elder gentleman.
- The nation we live in today is a very different place than it was 30 years ago. It is another planet. We are aliens here. The behavior we are talking about here was a crime when I was a kid. Then it was a psychiatric disorder. Now it’s a crime to even say you find it distasteful.
- We live in a hyper-sexualized culture that makes Corinth look like Old Mother Hubbard. Anything goes. Remember, biblically, all sexual contact outside of marriage is sinful. Meditating on it is sinful. Your TV brings it to you constantly, and your computer opens the door for all kinds of refuse. Guard your heart, and watch your step – Satan wants to destroy the weight of your witness by seducing you. Proverbs 4:23
- Homosexual attraction is not a sin. Homosexual behavior is a sin. We have an obligation to be available to those who wish to serve Jesus. Hating people because of their sexual sin is a sin in itself. Sin is sin. We treat homosexual sin just like any other sin. The problem is we have become lax in our attitude toward many things because we like them! We are here to preach the Gospel, make disciples of Jesus, help those who want help, and love those who don’t. 1 Cor 6:11
- The spirit of Antichrist is alive and working, so we can expect resistance to the Message. 1 Jn 4:2-4. Jesus is the Message. It is all about the Message. Don’t get sucked into useless debates.
- Be consistent and loving in your attitudes toward the sexually unclean. The homosexual agenda is one of the ways the evil one is looking to invade, control and destroy churches. Be above reproach in love, and beyond wavering in faith. 1 Jn 4:4 The Greater One is in us. We win every time we stay in love and speak truth.
Somebody Said: "I think our problem is a spiritual one. Where there is no Jesus, evil always reigns."Phil Robertson
Scripture Reading: Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. (1Pe 3:15-16 MSG)
We live in a really challenging time. Our lifestyle is supposed to prompt questions from those around us. Our job is to live like Jesus is really Lord and give a respectful but truthful response to a befuddled world around us. Everything else is fluff. A little more Jesus in this world would be a very good thing.
vls
Find the message “The Great Duck Kerfuffle of 2013” at www.fcftucson.org or check out our FCFTucson YouTube channel.
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