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This is David Bay, Director of Old Paths Ministries.
And this is the Cutting Edge, a radio program dedicated to warning and informing God's people. We are committed to the study and exposition of the inerrant, inspired and authoritative Word of God. The views expressed belong to us, and are not necessarily shared by this station.
Our society is deteriorating, and Bible-believing Christians are ill-prepared to face that deterioration. This radio program is dedicated to preparing God's people to meet the challenges of the Day, and to encourage obedience to the Word of God in being separated from worldliness and false doctrine.
The moral bankruptcy of our society is well-documented.
Few people understand why we have become morally bankrupt. However, when we look at society through the eyes of God, through the Bible, we can easily see why we are facing the unprecedented troubles today. This study of America through the eyes of God is what we will always do try to here; stay with us for some eye-opening truths.
As we have repeatedly stated, we are convinced that this time is the End of the Age, and we are so convinced by several factors. First, Israel is back in her Land, as God had prophesied so many times. Biblical scholars have consistently stated that the countdown to the actual return of Jesus Christ could not begin ticking until Israel had actually returned. Of course, this miraculous event occurred on May 14, 1948.
Secondly, for the first time in world history, an organization has arisen which has clear, bold plans which, if actually carried out, would fulfill Biblical End Times prophecy completely.
Thirdly, mainline Christian churches have dramatically strayed from the complete Truth of the Bible, fulfilling the many prophecies that, in the End of the Age, Christian churches would depart from the Faith and would begin to teach Satanic doctrines, i.e., "doctrines that demons teach". This is the broad subject which we will study today with particular emphasis upon the Satanic doctrine that homosexuality is as valid a lifestyle as heterosexuality. We are not too shocked when we hear this doctrine coming from a practicing Satanist, but we are extremely mortified when we hear mainline Christian pastors teaching this falsehood from their pulpits.
Let us first consider the prophecies:
1. Jesus speaking in Matthew 24, which is universally known as the End Times prophecy against which all others are measured. In verse 11, Jesus said, "Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many and lead many into error."
False prophets do not look false to those whom they are leading into error. No, they look and sound genuine. Therefore, Jesus is telling us here that, in the End of Time, Christian ministers will arise within Christian Churches, and will espouse false teaching that will use Christian concepts and words to perpetuate the falsity.
2. The Apostle Paul, speaking in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, states clearly that the End of the Age generally and the appearance of Anti-Christ specifically, could not occur until the Christian church departs greatly from the faith. He states, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
Let us review again a few words which Paul uttered which are of paramount importance to us today.
* "Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way..."
In other words, we should expect that one of the signs of the End of the Age is great, even unprecedented, efforts at deception. Jesus stressed this prophecy three times in Matthew 24. The very fact that so many false ministers have arisen in today's churches is an unmistakable sign that we are at the very end of time.
* "...the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians..."
If this is the End of the Age, many professing Christians will be guilty of believing and teaching false doctrines. I believe these type of people will be among those at the Great White Throne Judgment who cannot believe they are being judged and about to be cast into Hell. They protest to Jesus, saying, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many mighty works in Your name." Why aren't we in Heaven? We lived active and powerful lives for You!! Jesus' answer will echo down through eternity, "I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who act wickedly -- disregarding My commands."
Disregarding Jesus' commands. This is the focus of the rest of this program. Jesus taught nothing new to the Jews of His day. Most false teachers will say the opposite, that Jesus' teachings were all about Love, that He strove to counteract those terribly negative commands and regulations of the Old Testament God of Wrath. Nothing further from the Truth could be possible. Jesus stated it best when He told the Pharisees, "Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law and the Prophets; I have come, not to do away with them, but to complete, or fulfill them." True Biblical scholars know that Jesus and His disciples throughout the New Testament upheld every single moral Law of the Old Testament and every one of the Ten Commandments, except the Sabbath Commandment. The only section of the Old Testament which Jesus annulled concerned the Temple Laws and Regulations, which included prohibitions against various types of food which God had originally commanded not be eaten.
Therefore, Jesus upheld every Old Testament Commandment which God had established. And remember, God never changes and he certainly never changes His mind about His commandments. On Judgment Day, many professing Christians will look at horror upon Jesus' face, saying, "Lord, I thought we rewrote the rules in Twentieth Century America." Jesus will look back and say, "Foolish man; whoever deceived or beguile you into thinking that you had the power and authority to rewrite the rules".
Therefore, we must look carefully at today's Christian churches which are teaching that man has rewritten certain Old Testament moral laws. If we see this happening, we can know certainly that we are at the End of the Age, and we may know that many people are being deceived.
NEWS BRIEF: The Providence Journal-Bulletin, Sunday, May 17, 1992, "A Revolution In Religion: Many Denominations Rethinking Teachings In An Effort To Respond To Gays, Lesbians",. p. J-1.
Mainline Christian Churches are rewriting God's rules prohibiting Homosexuality. This article reveals that this departure from the Faith is occurring across the spectrum of Christian Church Denominations.
This article is quite clear that the basis upon which this change is occurring is "compassion" toward the men and women who have chosen homosexuality as their lifestyle. The terrible emotional and psychological shock which has been brought on because of lovers dying of AIDS, is one of the major forces at work here. There is no doubting but that these people are hurting and hurting badly. There is also no doubt but that homosexuals and lesbians have strong emotional feelings, even feelings of love toward each other.
However, after acknowledging all this, there is also no doubt that these factors do not change God's prohibition against this practice. At this point, let us pause to examine God's Biblical prohibitions against homosexuality.
God teaches that He gave every word of the Scriptures to His servants to record. Every word is God-breathed. If there was only ONE instance in the entire Bible where God issued a prohibition against homosexuality, that ONE instance would be more than enough to enforce that command for all eternity.
Finally, we must also remember that, while God never changes His mind about any of His moral commands, Satan is all too ready to step in and deceive people that God does change.
1. Genesis 18:20-19:25 -- God preserves for eternity the story of Sodom and Gomorrah which were destroyed because of their open practice of homosexuality. God destroyed these cities completely. What is shocking is that this instance occurred hundreds of years prior to God's Law which we will quote you in a few moments.
Since God never punishes without first warning, we know that His unwritten commandments included, not only prohibitions against murder, but homosexuality. We shall return to this story shortly, but let us now go to God's written Law.
2. Leviticus 20:13
"If a man lies with a male as if he were a women, both men have committed an offense -- perverse, corrupt unnatural, abhorrent, and detest able." (Bible Commentary) The King James Version uses the word "Abomination" instead of abhorrent. God also issued this command against homosexuality in Leviticus 18:22, again referring to this practice as an "abomination". In chapters 18 and 20, God uses this word, "abomination" five times in connection with His prohibitions against the various sexual sins. Do you think God was trying to impress something upon us?
The entire chapter of Leviticus 18 governs the practice of various types of sexual sin. God concludes His warnings in 18:24-29, "Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for in all these things the ...land is defiled; therefore, I visit the iniquity of it upon it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants...Who ever commits any of these abominations shall be cut off (killed) from his people." These are strong words from an Omnipotent, Unchanging God.
3. Deuteronomy 23:17, God forbids cult prostitution, either male or female.
4. 1 Corinthians 6:9, "Do not be deceived [there's that word again], neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality...shall inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God."
5. 1 Timothy 1:8-11, Paul lists all the sins which are properly controlled by the Old Testament Law. One of the sins so mentioned is "those who abuse themselves with men". This is shorthand way of referring to homosexuality.
Jesus also had some very stern things to say about homosexuality in Revelation. In Chapter 21, Jesus tells us that certain people will be cast eternally into "the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone." (verse 8) However, earlier in this verse, Jesus listed those types of people who would be cast into this Lake of Fire. He includes those who are "depraved and defiled with abominations..." Jesus used the same words, "defiled" and "abominations" here that He used in Leviticus 18 and 20 to refer to homosexual acts!!! Remember also that God said in Leviticus 18 and 20 that these sexual sins defiled the land, and the land would vomit out her inhabitants. Here, Jesus reiterates that this sexual sin defiles.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows, that and only that is what he shall reap." That word, "deceived" keeps popping up again and again, particularly during the End of The Age.
Let us return now to our newspaper article. Homosexuals are ecstatic because the great trend in American "Christian" churches today is toward acceptance of homosexuality and lesbianism. How strong is this trend? This article states that "now nearly every mainline denomination has an active organization for its openly gay members." Reform Jews have begun to accept gay and lesbian rabbis.
The words that are used to describe this new acceptance are very strong, emotional words. Let us examine some of these references:
* "The Gay community uses the power of unconditional love in ways that...constitute something new in history."
Wow!! Who wouldn't want to be part of something that emotionally powerful and historically unique?
* "Episcopalians must forge ahead toward understanding more about homosexuality and becoming more compassionate toward gay people...At the moment, [this issue] is tremendously explosive...It has the possibility of splitting our church..."
Jesus Christ demands that Christians be compassionate, understanding and forgiving. In Luke 17:4, Jesus showed the depth of compassion and forgiveness which He demands from His followers, when He said, "..Even if [your brother] sins against you seven times a day and turns to you seven times and says, 'I repent', you must forgive him..." This incredible commandment shows the extent of Jesus' forgiveness toward us. However, Jesus never intended that we excuse sin in our midst. Also in Luke, chapter 6, verse 46,"Jesus asked, "Why do you call me, Lord, and do not practice what I tell you?"
We see an example of how a this concept is to be implemented when we read 1 Corinthians 5:1-6:20. Paul begins by condemning the fact that the Corinthian church is tolerating an incestuous relationship within their midst. Why was this church tolerating such obvious sin in their midst? Because they wanted to be "tolerant" and "compassionate". Paul angrily told them to get rid of that man, in the name of Jesus Christ, and to "deliver this man to Satan". In other words, the church was to expel this man and allow him to go as far into his sin as he wanted to go, an action which would certainly result in his being completely controlled by Satan, working through the man's uncontrollable sexual desires. Paul continues by saying that the members of the congregation were not to even eat with this man. This stern admonition is certainly compatible with God's repeated commandment throughout both Old and New Testament to "come out from among the unclean and be separate".
* Leaders of this effort to excuse homosexual behavior also couch their explanation as to why the church has taught that homosexuality is sinful in explosive and emotionally powerful words and phrases. "Anger", "fear", and "homophobia" "prejudice against a minority group" are just some of these types of words.
Do not be deceived in this era of deception: God has not changed His mind nor His commandments. Do not use the argument that, because the great majority of people now believe that homosexuality is valid, it must be valid. God does not put His commandments up for a democratic vote. The Bible gives clear examples of just this type of situation.
This article then concludes by printing a box entitled, "The Bible On Homosexuality: Does The Bible Condemn Homosexuality?" The box is divided into two sections, "Yes" and "No". I would like to conclude our discussion by examining these arguments.
The "Yes" column is essentially correct in stating that God does condemn homosexuality. However, the "Yes" argument is weakened by eliminating God's strong and emotional words as He prohibits homosexuality. This omission is critical because the argument today for condoning homosexuality is framed in powerfully emotional language. For this part of our study, we turn to a study of the meaning in the original language. God uses the following words to condemn homosexuality in Leviticus 18 and 20.
Secondly, the "Yes" argument omits some powerful verses which make no bones about God's prohibition of homosexuality. For example, no mention is made of 1 Corinthians 6:9, "Do not be deceived; neither the impure, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality..will inherit the kingdom of God." Secondly, Romans, Chapter 1, is the strongest prohibition against homosexuality and lesbianism to be found in the Bible; yet it is omitted from this section. Reading from the Bible Commentary, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools -- professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves...Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their own hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, abandoning them to the degrading power of sin...for this reason, God gave them over to vile affections and degrading passions. for their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural one; and the men also turned from natural relations with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong doing...which was their fitting retribution...God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not decent, but loathsome...They were without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless, and merciless. Though they are fully aware of God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves, but approve and applaud others who practice them."
This passage of Scripture states God's stand against homosexuality, including lesbianism, better than any other; yet, the authors of this article chose to eliminate it from the "Yes" argument. There is one other Biblical passage which also describes the overall attitude among today's people, "The time is coming, when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but, having ears itching for something pleasant and gratifying, they will gather to themselves one teacher after another, to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold." (2 Timothy 4:3). This is certainly what is happening in America today, as homosexuals draw out false teachers who stand in their pulpits and tell them what they want to hear, namely, that God created them to be homosexuals, and they should not be ashamed of it, but should go ahead and do it; God will applaud them for it. We see this parallel in thinking in Israel, just before God allows Nebechednezzer of Babylon to destroy them. In Isaiah 30:9-11, God laments, "This is a rebellious people, faithless and lying sons, children who will not hear the law and instruction of the Lord; Who virtually say to the seers by their conduct, 'Prophesy (Speak) not to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, speak deceitful illusions, Get out of the true way, turn aside out of the path, cease holding up before us the Holy One of Israel." God goes on to say that He will break Israel in judgment as thoroughly as a piece of pottery is broken when it is struck with a rod. This is exactly what is happening today in America.
False religious teaching has sprung up, telling homosexuals and lesbians that their behavior is acceptable in God's sight, because He created them to inevitably be what they are. False teachers have arisen to fulfill this strident demand for false doctrine. Not only will God act to judge those who have demanded to be led astray, He will begin His judgment with those false teachers. We encourage you to read Ezekiel 9, the entire chapter, because God reveals how He carries out his physical judgment finally upon a nation who repeatedly rejects His commandments. But especially notice that God commands His Heavenly executioners to "begin at My sanctuary".
Now let us turn to the "No" section of this article. This section argues that the Bible does not teach that homosexuality is wrong; its arguments reveal much Biblical ignorance, outright rebellion, and plain oxymoronic thinking that would be laughable if eternal human souls were not at stake.
I am also tired of hearing that Jesus is only love, that He never spoke of negative things like judgment and Hell. Nothing could be further from the Truth. Jesus spoke more of judgment and eternal Hell than any other Bible writer, and He spoke more about this subject than any other subject. Jesus revealed most of what we know about Hell. Bible scholars believe this was necessary, because if this very frightening information came from any other source than the Son of God, the Messiah, no one would believe it.
Perhaps the most telling of all Biblical passages about Jesus' attitude toward the sin which existed in His day is found in Luke 12:49, when Jesus exclaimed, "I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled!!" Read the four Gospels and the book of Revelation carefully and with your mind open, and you will discover for yourself that you have been lied to. Jesus does hate the sin of homosexuality as well as all other sins and when He returns to set up His kingdom, He will bring into judgment all those people who have foolishly rejected His clear teachings.
This is the bottom line on this subject: Homosexuality is a serious sin, but it may be forgiven just as any other sin. After a homosexual asks forgiveness, he then must give up the practice of homosexuality, and many people have done just that.
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