A reader sent me the following: A Baptist was stranded alone on a remote island for 20 years. When rescuers finally got to him, they found he had built three structures. When they asked him about them, the man pointed to one building and said, “That’s my house.” “And over there?” the rescuers asked. “That’s my church,” the stranded man replied. “I’m Baptist and take my faith quite seriously.” “And over there? What is the third building?” the rescuers asked. “Oh,” said the man. “That’s where I used to go to church before the split.”
It is a funny little story but so true. Are the congregations of churches in America unique in their struggle to get along? No, if one were to look at churches beginning with the dawn of time, we find polarization and strife. If we read the epistles, (letters) of the Apostles like Paul and John, it is readily apparent that churches have always had histories of bitter strife that often ended up dividing it.
I read this news account in the past few days: “Calling the “sexual revolution” a “threat to our church,” First Baptist Church in Jacksonville will now require congregants to sign a statement affirming their opposition to LGBTQ+ freedoms if they want to remain members.
In a video message posted on the church website, Senior Pastor Heath Lambert said members will be required to sign a document affirming that people are “either male or female and that this creation is a fixed matter of human biology, not individual choice.” They must also affirm that “marriage . . . is between one man and one woman and is the only context for sexual desire and expression.” The Jacksonville pastor, Reverend Lambert, added: “Everybody in our culture is fighting about sex and we want our congregation to be happy and kind, and so we don’t want to fight about it, and so it’s just very helpful to say, ‘Here’s what we think about it, and if you want to be a part of our congregation, you should too. If you don’t, that’s fine too.'”
So, what do you think about this? Hmmm . . . Well the Apostles Paul and John didn’t mince words when it came to chastising church members who did not adhere to the teachings of the Gospel. They enumerated bad behavior time and again for tolerating members that ignored God’s commands and indeed recommended that the church should remove them. So, should we ignore those who exhibit behavior that is contrary to the Bible such as the issues enumerated above, or do as this pastor has done and openly declare the basic tenants of their church and tell congregants that if they don’t agree with them to move on.
Yikes! Should a church dare to stand up for the Bible in this Age of the Woke? The Bible clearly states that marriage should be between one man and one woman, it also states that homosexuality is wrong and in fact an abomination. Should this Jacksonville church abandon all those Scriptures and strike it from the Bible because President Obama for the first time in the history of humankind approved of gay marriage as a nation. Think about that. Of all the nations since the dawn of mankind not one has ever openly endorsed gay marriage until just recently.
I’ve been writing these posts five times a week for nearly a quarter of a century now. During that time, I have on occasion received death threats. Most often they have been regarding posts that do not endorse this sexual lifestyle that is forbidden by the Holy Bible and in particular what Scripture teaches about homosexuality. Ironically, the homosexual movement states that their goal is all about inclusivity, but inclusivity doesn’t apply when it comes to pointing out what our God says about their sexual lifestyle in His Holy Bible. There is no tolerance of belief systems except their own. We are not to say a word about that or face the consequences which can be severe.
I stand for what the Bible states and will until the day I die. I do not fear those who threaten me because I will not endorse their lifestyle. I’ve told more than one that I’m not going to idly stand by without putting up a fight. I know how to use weapons and will do so to protect my family of myself.
I would not worship Almighty God in a church where homosexuality is celebrated as an acceptable lifestyle, nor one with gay priests, or flags, or whatever. I would suggest that if there are those who do not believe the Bible as written, that they should not even want membership in a church that does not espouse their belief system.
This is not to say that I or anybody should condemn homosexuals or judge them. That is God’s job. We are to love the sinner and hate the sin. I have nothing against those who commit this sin. Like the Apostle Paul I sin and cannot seem to avoid it though I hate it, even after studying God’s word for over a half century now. God has mercy on sinners, but we are told in the Bible we must ask for repentance and repent. Some do not want to give up their lusts and that is their decision.
I openly admit that I have many friends and acquaintances that do not share my beliefs about this issue or a myriad of others. I’m okay with that but as for me I steadfastly continue to believe the Bible as written! I cannot even envision deleting passages and a myriad of verses from the Bible because I don’t like the message. We should either believe the Bible or not. At the end of the day, I’m just the messenger. If you don’t like the message, then please feel free to take it up with God. However, before you do you should reflect on the following verse:
Matthew 19:4
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”