Today I ran across a tee-shirt on facebook that said "If the fetus you save is gay, will you still fight for its rights?" Then I googled and found this is part of the gay rights activist movement.
All I could think was 'why is there such hatred and anger toward those of us who are standing up for the lives of the defenseless and the truly innocent? Why are we being made out to be hateful , hypocritical, narrow-minded?'
Then I remembered why. Those that follow Christ will experience hatred from this world and may likely be persecuted for their beliefs and faith in Jesus Christ. We do not conform to this world's ever changing philosophies and social demands and so we are hated, called out as "narrow-minded". They got one part right- the truth is narrow. Logic says that everyone's beliefs cannot be true if incongruent beliefs exist. The existence of truth points out the existence of falsehood. The existence of light illuminates darkness, good has the ability to clarify its absence, which is evil and so on. Anyway, I had to go to the source of truth, God's Holy Bible to try and understand this age-old divergence.
Please read Romans chapter 1 verses 18-32 below. St Paul gives a clear explanation of why the world has become the way that it is. I will pray for God's mercy for the people described here, firstly for my own wicked flesh.
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."
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3 comments:
Amen, sister! Narrow road...few find it. Hate...one of my favorite scriptures Jesus talks about it. I came across this at a time when it seemed that few were for me and many were against me. I cried me eyes out...it broke my heart into pieces. "If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first." (John 15:18) This broke my heart because Christ was perfect, holy, pure, lovely, without fault and we murdered Him. That is how wicked the human heart is. So as a follower of Him, why should I expect different treatment? It goes on "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you:' No servant is greater than His master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." John 15:19-20 And then James 4:4 says "Anyone who choses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." These are some tough words to swallow, but this is no time to sugar coat scripture and just tell people what they want to hear. There is a war raging against the human soul and time is running out. But this battle is not ours, it is the Lord's. We just need to keep our eyes fixed on the Author and Perfector of our faith, pray without ceasing, and speak His truth in love and NOT grow weary for doing what is right for in due season...well you know the rest! And Jesus wins! (John 16:33) It is finished! (John 19:30) I had no idea how much the world hated Jesus until I became a born again believer. So, it's no wonder that my friends and family slowly froze me out of their lives and reject me. I come in His name and I stand on His truth...not mine...His... and the world tortured Him and He died a criminals death and was without fault! This narrow road is not easy, but He never said it would be. But I wouldn't give Him up for anything. Everything in this world is a cheap subsitute for what He offers. I love Him. I wish everyone else did too. He is so awesome and I am sad for those who don't know that. But for 33 years I lived without Him, so I understand all the arguments and the mocking...I am guilty of that. But just keep praying for these lost souls and hopefully more will find the narrow path that leads to eternal life. I'm glad someone was praying for me when I was in darkness. And when we see these tee-shirts that are intolerant of God's word and mocking people that want to protect little babies from being murdered then we just pray for them. The Lord loves them and wants them redeemed. He came to give sight to the blind and to set the captives free! He set this prisoner free! Amen? Great blog, sis! Love you, Lisa
Sis,
Thank you for your comments! So, so true! I appreciate the tone you set. We are to be like Christ- the humble servant, trying to ensure these people's redemption, trying to show them His love. We pray for them, for His mercy to reach them. We must turn our other cheek to these haters, which can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. I stand with you- for Christ and loving the people, hating the sin.
Go Daughter!!!The Holy Bible is like a mirror. Many people don't want to look at it because it is like a mirror that shows them the ugliness of their lives. I liked how you referenced Romans. We had just finished a study in Romans and one of our group discussions was about God abandoning people who dishonor Him by their actions. The wisdom of this world is not the true Wisdom of God. We are continually being assaulted on all sides about our belief, but we must not forget, we are not to hate the sinners just their sin. We must continue to pray for them that the scales will be lifted from their eyes and they will come to know the Truth and the Truth will set them free.
GRACE
G=God's
R=Riches
A=At
C=Christ's
E=Expense
Love, Jim
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