A recent (December 6, 2022) article entitled “Why I Stay: LGBTQ people of faith find ways to belong where doctrine rejects them” [link is in the Appendix] reflects extreme deception manifested by people making Jesus in their own image. The words from the article that stood out read:
Jodi O’Brien, a sociology professor at Seattle University, said many LGBTQ Christians have had the ‘aha’ moment Marlett did when she encountered stories of Jesus ministering to those on the margins.
“They rewrote themselves in the script of Christianity,” said O’Brien. “Instead of being the sinners, or the cast off, they were the ones who most embodied the love of Christ.”
Yes, Jesus ministered to the marginalized in 1st Century society, but that does not equate to His approval of their behavior or lifestyles. In an article (April 4, 2016) entitled “The Gospel of Jesus on Sexual Binaries” (link: The Gospel of Jesus on Sexual Binaries | Robert A. J. Gagnon | First Things ), Dr. Robert Gagnon wrote:
There is absolutely no connection between Jesus’ outreach to sexual sinners and some putative license to sin sexually. It’s the exact opposite: Jesus reached out to sexual sinners because they, like the exploitative tax collectors, were most in need of being called to repentance, so that they might yet inherit the very Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed. Jesus both intensified God’s ethical demand and reached out in love to the biggest violators of that demand.
Two clear prohibitions against homosexual practice, which have application to the practices of the LGBTQ lifestyle, are Leviticus 18:22 (NET), which reads:
22 You must not have sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman; it is a detestable act.
And, Leviticus 20:13 (NET), which reads:
13 If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.
In the case of sexual sin, Jesus raised the bar per Matthew 5:27–28 (NASB95):
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in theology to comprehend Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:27-28. It is gross error to say that on December 9, 2022, the risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ looks with favor upon the sins of the LGBTQ lifestyle.
In light of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, it doesn’t take an advanced degree in theology to appreciate that the practice of the LGBTQ lifestyle is damning. 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (NET) reads:
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals,10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.
It is a tragedy for some people to encourage a serial and unrepentant practitioner of the LGBTQ lifestyle to continue with a lifestyle that leads to damnation. See my February 10, 2022 article entitled “The NRSVue Bible Translation of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: Keeping Practicing Homosexuals on the Road to Hell” for a discussion of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (link: https://stevebelsheim.com/?p=1174 . Also see my April 1, 2022 article entitled “Why Must Those Persons on the Offenders List of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Display “serial and unrepentant” Behavior?” (link: Why Must Those Persons on the Offender List of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Display “serial and unrepentant” Behavior? | Steve Belsheim).
May evangelical churches effectively preach the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, which includes calling sin “sin.”
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my new (published in October, 2021) book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, your eternal destination is hell unless God intervenes. But, your destiny can change. Today can be the day of your salvation. Please see my blog (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/04/20/for-god-so-loves-you-2/) for a description of how you can be saved and a more concise description at my (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/10/20/there-is-hope-even-when-there-seems-to-be-no-hope-2/ ).
NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS
I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and/or publishers possess in their works. I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and/or publishers possess in their works. The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or “fair use” is available and/or to secure direct permission for specific works. The quotations from commentaries are considered to be “fair use.”
Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked “NASB95” are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
Scripture marked “NCV” is taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
The Scriptures marked “NET” are quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked “GW” is taken from the God’s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.
APPENDIX
(link: Why I stay: LGBTQ people of faith find ways to belong where doctrine rejects them (religionnews.com) )