Friday, June 26, 2015

At What Cost?

Let me start this post by saying...

I am no better than the homosexual, the murderer, the adultress, the "worst of the worst." The only difference between me and these I have listed is that I have chosen to accept God's free gift of grace. I am a sinner. My nature is bent toward rebellion. I need Jesus. I need Him, and I have surrendered my life to His Lordship. He is my Savior, and He is my Lord. Without Him, I am nothing. Without His gift of grace, I myself would be condemned to hell.

Please read on.

As I scrolled through my newsfeed on Facebook today, I was very saddened to read posts of responses to gay marriage being legalized in our country. But my sadness is toward one very specific group of people - Christians who are supportive and happy about the direction of our nation.

What I'm going to say here will make many very angry with me. But I can no longer stay silent on this issue.

Christians, what we are dealing with here is so much bigger than same-sex marriage.

Here's the thing... This earth is temporary, and along with it, every earthly happiness. I understand that we want to see people be happy, but at what cost?

1. Homosexuality is sin.
Romans 1:26-28 "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For 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. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done."

2. Christians cannot continue in a lifestyle of sin.
1 John 3:6 "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him."

How can we, as Christians, applaud our government on this decision to legalize same-sex marriage? According to Scripture, one who keeps on sinning, walking in a lifestyle of sin, has neither seen Jesus or known Him. Therefore, someone who chooses to enter into marriage with someone of the same sex is choosing to enter into a lifestyle of sin.

Therefore, this person does not know Jesus and will be condemned to an eternity in hell.

Many will cry "HATE SPEECH" at that sentence. No. That is "Truth speech" and I say it with all the love of Jesus I can. My heart is broken over this.

Listen, I want people to be happy, too, but not at the cost of eternity.

 My brothers and sisters, that is what we are dealing with here. The eternity of souls. Earthly, temporary happiness fades in comparison.

I sin every single day. Since becoming a mother, I have seen my own depravity in a whole new light. I struggle with sin. If I chose to give into sin and experienced no conviction over it, but sinned with a carefree attitude all my life, this would be evidence that I have never seen Jesus, nor do I know Him, and I would be condemned to an eternity in hell myself.

Homosexuality is not the only "lifestyle of sin" that condemns the soul to hell. This "lifestyle of sin" can take many different forms. The key here all goes back to 1 John 3:6. Christians cannot continue in sin - whether that be homosexuality, idolatry, greed, pride, etc.

Christians, I ask that you would reconsider your stance on this issue. Please realize it is so much bigger than temporary happiness on this temporary earth.

I realize the world hates Christians for this hard message. But remember the words of Jesus: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19

I end with this...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:16-17

The world gets the words to those verses mixed up. I think they read it this way...

"For God did not send his Son into the world to save the world, but in order that the world might be condemned through him."

Jesus did not come to condemn the world. He came that we may have life and have it abundantly.

Although this is a difficult message and a sad day in America, I still say...

"This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."

27 comments:

  1. Thank you for this, you put EXACTLY what I've been thinking into words much better than I could.

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  2. This isn't a biblical or Christianity issue, therefore the bible shouldn't be brought in to it. I personally don't feel like God has a hand in everything, and not every issue is a biblical one. I feel like Christians throw the bible in my face a lot, and this issue is no exception. But here's the thing- The Supreme Court isn't tasked with interpreting whether an issue is a biblical issue. They are tasked with interpreting whether the Constitution covers that issue or not. The government isn't necessarily Christian- that's not what we were based on. This is an issue of equality. These people, some of whom I am proud to be related to and call friends- have been excluded from a lot of things for a long time, and it's ridiculous. Now they can legally adopt children together, file taxes together, be their husband/wife's beneficiary, etc. All things that we take for granted because we have always been allowed to do them, while they had to watch in silence. I can't imagine how horrible they have felt and I am overjoyed that it stops today. I took a major step back from the church several years ago, mainly because I was sick and tired of people thinking prayer is the only answer to life's problems, and I didn't particularly enjoy (and still don't) hearing people say things like "God did this for me". That's so wrong- you did it for you. You busted your butt, you put in the work, you made the decision.... you. Not anyone else. I am disappointed that you can't see how much progress our nation has made today. I am disappointed that you think this is a negative, when it's really overflowing with positivity. This decision hurts no one, but helps so many more. And it doesn't give lgbt people more rights than straight people, it gives them equal rights so that no one person is better than another. Equality is all it's about. If you wish to discuss this further, please feel free to email me at reilert79@gmail.com I would love to discuss this with you .

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  3. Thank you for your bravery in standing up for the word of God. You will be blessed for clinging to His truth.

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  4. Thank you for your words. In reading all the posts from different people that have broken my heart, it is so encouraging to read this. Thank you for sharing His word! I am so glad this world of sin is temporary.

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  5. Thank you for saying it just right. I was just saying to my husband how I struggled to see all posts today supporting this decision...and struggling with the anger it brewed inside me. Thank you for bringing me peace ;)

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  6. I am a Christian. I'm also straight. But Romans was written as Paul's letter to the Romans. Paul, I assume was human and therefore not all knowing. As a Christian who strives to be like Christ, I'd rather listen to Jesus. He gives us that in Matthew 22: 37-39. Supreme Court decision aside - let's leave the judging of other people's "sinful lifestyles" to Him. Humans are notoriously bad at judging in the sense that that's where our original sin stems. God specifically told us not to eat from the tree of knowledge. In the first sin, Satan says that when we eat from this tree "and you will be like God, knowing good and evil". The first sin was humans attempt to be Godlike and determine good and evil. It's not for us to judge. It's just for us to love. And even though our opinions are different, I'll love you too!

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  7. I totally respect your opinions. People are born as homosexuals. It is not something that is learned. Do you really think that they would chose to feel the way they do knowing the sad discrimination they would encounter in life? I hardly doubt. I wonder if your views would change if a member of your family or a friend "came out" or even if a child of yours ends up being gay. Would you shun them? He/She deserves as much respect, love, consideration as every person in this country. Every man was created equal. If it is about religion--God created everyone.

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    1. Exactly! You can't help who you love. Love is love.

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    2. Even if its a child or a family member? Of course you choose who you love!!!!!

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    3. Even if its a child or a family member? Of course you choose who you love!!!!!

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  8. Beautifully written! Praying for our nation and for those who have traded God's truth for a lie. May we be bold in sharing the hope that we have in Jesus now more than ever! His agape love won me over!

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  9. Thank you for posting this. My heart has been so heavy. Never in my lifetime did I think this would happen. The worst was I had to explain it to my 8 year old daughter because it was shoved in our faces everywhere we looked. You have made your mom and God very proud. Thank you for writing the truth. What a powerful post!

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    1. And now your daughter will grow up knowing that everyone is equal and she hopefully won't remember a time when people weren't equal, but sadly, you will be remembering this day with sadness and hate instead of the joy it deserves. If you aren't gay, you have nothing to be upset about- and neither do they. I hope you find a way to be more open minded, because your life will be so much better once you do.

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    1. Thank you for this post! You put into words what I couldn't quite express. I hope your adjusting to your move! I read your last post on being a mother! I felt the same way after having my daughter!! It's truly such a blessing being a mom and such a hard job! Thank you for your stand for God! I know it's not easy and comes with an open door for others to attack!!

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  11. This is exactly what I have been needing to hear from a fellow Christian. It has broken my heart to see Christians happy about this ruling and to also hear the names that we are called because we are standing up for what we believe. Our choices are eternal.
    Thank you so much for saying this.

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  12. Faith Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is LOVE.
    I'm a born again Christian and believe LOVE IS LOVE.
    People need to stop comparing gays to murders . What the heck????
    Christians need to stop "being devastated" that love won! Love won people!! In a world full of hate... LOVE WON!

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  14. Yes. Amen and amen. Thank you for speaking up. I just had this same convo with a friend last night. I would say that as a Christian, gay marriage is a close handed issue. It's not Biblical, therefore as a Christian, we should most certainly love the person, but we do not agree with or condone their sin. Period. If we are in a right relationship with Christ, than the response of a Christian should be a sad heart.

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  15. I read this and hoped that maybe somewhere, someone would find something good to say about the fact that homosexuals are no longer treated as second class citizens. I, for one, am trying to get back into church after taking a break. The hypocrisy and constant hate-filled comments from the congregation were just enough for me. The woman who had been divorced 3 times, with 2 kids out of wedlock is preaching about the sanctity of marriage being destroyed. The irony is almost too much.

    If the supreme court ruled today that tattoos were legal and eating catfish were legal everywhere, would anyone care as much? No, because those are the forgotten standards in leviticus. They're the ones that people choose to skim over.

    No one is perfect. Sure, express your utter disgust for the Supreme Court. But I don't see how being sorrowful in others' joy is such a Christian thing to do.

    Rejoice in the equality that your brothers and sisters in Christ now have! God created them just the same as you and I. Love prevailed. It prevailed 2000 years ago when Christ died on the cross for us, and it prevailed last Friday. <3

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  16. I read this and hoped that maybe somewhere, someone would find something good to say about the fact that homosexuals are no longer treated as second class citizens. I, for one, am trying to get back into church after taking a break. The hypocrisy and constant hate-filled comments from the congregation were just enough for me. The woman who had been divorced 3 times, with 2 kids out of wedlock is preaching about the sanctity of marriage being destroyed. The irony is almost too much.

    If the supreme court ruled today that tattoos were legal and eating catfish were legal everywhere, would anyone care as much? No, because those are the forgotten standards in leviticus. They're the ones that people choose to skim over.

    No one is perfect. Sure, express your utter disgust for the Supreme Court. But I don't see how being sorrowful in others' joy is such a Christian thing to do.

    Rejoice in the equality that your brothers and sisters in Christ now have! God created them just the same as you and I. Love prevailed. It prevailed 2000 years ago when Christ died on the cross for us, and it prevailed last Friday. <3

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  17. Amen!! Thank you for this post. I agree!!

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  18. Thank you I couldn't agree more. You said exactly how I feel and you did it with kindness.

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  19. So well said and very brave of you! The one comment writer had an excellent point about the hypocrisy at church and how one sin is considered "bigger" than another but unfortunately the comment unraveled into something else. One thing the other side likes to point out is that "the Bible says to love one another" but the command starts with God telling us we are to love Him with all our hearts and souls and minds. That means knowing his word and his word is clear on homosexuality as well as fornication, adultery, drunkenness as well as many other sins. The Supreme Court decision was a sad blow to this country.

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  21. I am a heterosexual female who has homosexual friends, although I do not put labels on people. A wonderful couple (two gay males) have been together for years. They applied to be foster parents. It started with teens who were told the environment and were given the opportunity to move in or not. Both had no issue with it. They were actually adopted by the couple and are now college graduates. The couple has four children (siblings) with them now, so thankfully these children are allowed to stay together. It is about being with people who love and look out for your best interest. Heterosexual married couples do not make them good people. Being raised with a loving family that want nothing more than the best for you is what it is about. These wonderful children are no longer being bounced from one foster home to another.

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  22. Hi Jordan...I am a new follower to/of your blog, and I follow you on IG. I am from Canada, where, Gay Marriage has been legal for awhile, and I am appalled by what is happening in the world. Thank you for saying what we are all afraid to say!!!

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