Christian Bakers, Photographers, Florists, Caterers, Wedding Planners, etc.

 I recently participated in a heated and very disheartening discussion in my Sunday school class.  The teacher and several of the students took a position which I strongly disagree. 

The teacher’s position is described as follows:

It is not sinful for a Christian to provide goods and services, such as a wedding cake, photography, or flowers for same-sex couples for their “marriage” ceremonies.  Homosexuality is sinful, and you can tell the couples that you don’t agree with what they are doing, but you can set a better Christian example for them by “giving them grace” than you can by refusing their request.  You can provide these goods and services without condoning their sin.

My rebuttal follows:

First of all, Romans 1:24-27 (ESV) says,

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie…their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” 

1 Corinthians 6:9 and Ephesians 5:5 say that homosexuals cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.

These passages clearly show that homosexuality is a serious sin.  One who condones homosexuality does not do a good deed to the homosexual.  But can one participate in a sin (or a celebration thereof) without condoning it?  

From Acts 15:28-29, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 and 10:19-20, I can see the following: 1) Abstaining from eating meat from idols was a requirement (not a just a suggestion) in order for Gentiles to become Christians. 2) Anyone who does not abstain is a participant in idol worship and is guilty of sinning against Christ. 3) It can cause a weaker brother to stumble or in fact, to be “destroyed”. There is no grace in that.  Therefore, anything that might be gained by eating the meat is nothing compared to the downside of it.

At this point we must ask these questions,

1)      Is homosexuality any less serious of a sin than worshipping idols?

2)      Is there any difference between eating meat sacrificed to idol and selling an animal to idol worshippers knowing that they intend to sacrifice it to idol?

3)      From the standpoint of Christian ethics, is there any difference between knowingly eating meat sacrificed to an idol and knowingly contributing to some other sinful activity such as a ceremony that promotes the sin of homosexuality? 

4)      If something is wrong because it can cause a “weaker brother” to stumble (or be “destroyed”), then wouldn’t it stand to reason that it would also put a stumbling block in the way of an unbeliever coming to repentance?

5)      If you sell something to someone knowing that the recipient intends to use it for a sinful purpose, can you justify yourself by telling them that what they intend to do is wrong? Will this strategy lead people to repentance or steer them away from it? 

Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 and Ephesians 5:1-14.

People often quote, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” from 2 Corinthians 6:14 to prove that Christians should not marry non-Christians.  Certainly this a valid application of this teaching, but nothing in the context suggests that this principle is limited to the bonds of matrimony.  In the ESV, in addition to “yoked”, it uses the words partnership, fellowship, accord, portion-sharing, and agreement to describe what should not take place between the body of Christ (i.e. the Church) and the unrighteous or demons.  The reason why there must be such a partition is so that God may dwell and walk among us (the Saints).  A necessary condition is given in order for God to be a father to you is that you “touch no unclean thing”. In other words, “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.”

As imitators of God, we are to love the lost, but sexual immorality is not love, but rather it is the opposite.  A same-sex union can never be a true marriage, but a ceremony which has all of the trappings of a real marriage ceremony serves to deceive people into thinking that it is.  Children of light must not participate in such deceptions.  “The fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true”, not in deception.  Children of light must rather expose such deceptions. 

What God Thinks of Progressivism or Liberalism

    “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”--- Proverbs 17:15 (NASB)

A Matter of Life

 

I read the above verse again this morning and marvel at its clarity and its perfect summation of the philosophy of  many folks on the Left in America, Europe and the rest of the Western world. The gross injustice of abortion is regarded by many as a "right" and something good. Killing of a pre-born human being is condoned. Feminists and most liberals seem glorify abortion as a  cherished act of worship. It is tantamount to the ancient practice of placing children on the altar in sacrifice to their imaginary gods.

 

Unnatural Affections

 

Then there is the elevation of sodomy to a respected lifestyle choice. Although it is primarily deviant behavior, it is now considered by progressives to be a respected alternative to natural heterosexual behavior. Homosexuality, lesbianism, bi-sexuality and even transgenderism are all condemned by most major religions. The left insists on having society embrace these perversions. It is not enough for Liberals to have the freedom as consenting adults to participate in this immoral behavior behind closed doors, but they want all of society to join them in their celebration of this decadence. They now work at punishing or ostracizing anyone who has does not join the bandwagon. Those who do not get on board are considered homophonic bigoted discriminators...

 

Transformation from Good to Bad

 

Loss of basic values and freedoms are the natural results of any citizens who go along to get along with the activists bent on tearing down the foundation of a just society.  Progressives led by President Barack Obama in his quest to fundamentally transform America are doing just that. He is intentionally and intently working on changing America from a country that respects life and biblical principles and values to a hedonistic, goodless and godless culture like past civilizations that choose the path of death and deviance over life, righteousness, and justice for all.

 

Vote

 

In this mid-term election, between now and November 4th, we have an opportunity to put some God-fearing men and women into office on the state and federal levels. It is the responsibility of those who respect life and godly values and principles to vote their conscience and elect people who will counteract the corruption currently crumbling our culture... 

The Whole Armor of God, Part 7

Today I continue my series of articles commenting on the concept and principles involved in the Armor of God, which the apostle Paul described in the New Testament. This is the topic of the Sunday school lesson I am currently teaching.

The Armor of God – Righteousness

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2. Righteousness: Having on the Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14).

Righteousness implies conformity to a standard. With God, the standard is His holiness. God, in His actions, does not contradict what He is in His character. Since man is made in the image of God, he is also expected to live in accordance with the character of God. This standard of course is holiness. This code of conduct is found in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and in other parts of the Holy Bible such as in the book of Leviticus. The problem, of course, is that no one is able to live up to these lofty standards. People to whom the commands of God have not been revealed have this code of conduct in their hearts, which they do not live up to, as mentioned by Paul (Romans 2:11-15).

God came to earth in the likeness of sinful flesh, but being sinless, and lived without ever having ever sinned (Romans 8:3; 4:15). He was named “Jesus” and fulfilled the law. In being crucified He represented all of mankind before God (I John 2:2). He took the sins of the whole world in his own body and tasted death for all mankind (I Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:9).

God then is just, righteous, and holy and makes just, righteous, and holy the ones who have faith in Jesus. He took the wrath of God against Himself for all of mankind. Thus, He is Just and the Justifier of those who believe on Jesus (Romans 3:26).

This then allows the following to make up the armor of righteousness which protects the individual of God from the various attacks or blows of the enemy.

A. Faith is counted for righteousness.

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4, 5 “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.” Romans 4:13, 16

B. We are the Righteousness of God in Christ.

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians 5:21

C. A person must repent of his sins for forgiveness to be counted righteous.

“For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Acts 17:29, 30

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47

D. Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe.

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” Romans 10:4

E. Jesus is our Righteousness.

“In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jeremiah 23:6

F. Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God.

“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

G. Walk after the Spirit.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1