NOW THAT THE DUST HAS SETTLED A FRANK BUT COMPASSIONATE TALK ABOUT RECENT EVENTS BY PAUL JOHNSTON SR. There are those who would label me as an old hater and bigot as a consequence of my stance on the recent gay marriage debate. Neither of these words would be attributes to which I would aspire so it has caused me to do some sincere soul and heart searching to know myself and my true beliefs. About twenty years ago when the world was not so enlightened and many still cruelly referred to homosexuals as “queers”, I had a friend that I had known from high school days who had always been kind, supportive, and respectful toward me ask me to review a paper he had written regarding his struggles with depression for the purpose of gaining benefits based upon his disability. He cautioned me that after reading it I might no longer consider him my friend. In the paper he had written the detailed struggles he had had with depression and revealed that he had both heterosexual and homosexual feelings. His was a sad story of sexual abuse as a child from a close relative through his adult years of dealing with feelings that many at the time considered repugnant. When it was not popular to befriend the gay guy I viewed him with compassion and treated him with the same respect and kindness that I had always shown. I thought to myself if I had been through the hell of a childhood that this man endured perhaps I would not be as sure of my true sexual orientation either. He remained my friend until his death. I did not hate my friend when he revealed his orientation to me. I don't hate homosexuals in general. Most of the ones I've known personally were likable people. I even found myself cheering for a gay couple on “The Amazing Race” one time because they showed more kindness and genuine character than any of their competitors. To me this debate is not about putting other people down. The one good thing I can see coming out of this open dialogue is the fact that people can tell others what they are feeling inside without being made to feel they are second class citizens and I think that is a good thing. I do not have homosexual feelings but I can imagine that living with that secret knowledge eating at you can't be very pleasant. So what do I believe one as a Christian should do if someday your mother or father or brother or sister or child or grandchild or dear friend should come to you and tell you they are gay . I think you should do what you've done everyday, I think you should continue to love them unconditionally. I am a Christian. I have come to the conclusion that I am a sinner who has come short of God's standard of righteousness and that if I remain in such a condition I will be forever separated from God . I have also come to the conclusion that in spite of my sin God loves me and made a wonderful plan to forgive me, cleanse me, and make me worthy of His Heaven and eternal life. I believe in the doctrine of original sin which is that Adam was told by God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve was enticed by Satan who argued that God didn't really say what he meant, there were no dire consequences for her disobedience, and if she wanted to be intelligent she would partake of the forbidden fruit. She took of the tree, ate, and gave her husband Adam of the fruit and he too ate and all God had warned came true. They died spiritually that day and was separated from God and kicked out of the Garden of Eden and the more abundant life that God had planned for them. Yet, in spite of their sin and disobedience God still loved them and went looking for them even though they in fear tried to run away from God and hide from Him. He shed the blood of an innocent animal and made a covering for the shame of their nakedness. The innocent died for the guilty. This picture was repeated at Calvary where a world lost in sin because of the mess up of one man Adam was offered forgiveness of their sins through the death of one innocent man, Jesus. The penalty to be paid for sin per God's law is death. Jesus had no sin having God as His Father and not of Adam's biological paternal line. One man messed up the world and one man offers salvation to the world. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that Jesus was the Son of God and I asked Him to save me having faith that He was who He claimed to be. I do not pretend to be anyone special or perfect or that I have any right to Heaven other than I trusted that Jesus did for me what I could not do for myself. I have also come to the conclusion that the Bible is the Word of God and can be looked to for wisdom and guidance in any situation. I view it as the ultimate authority on how we should live our lives believing its words to be God inspired. Over the past fifty years there have been very few days that I have not read at least some portion of the Word of God. I took literally the admonition to “Study to shew yourself approved unto God”. I feel the greatest benefit of all this reading is the closeness I now feel to God. I understand that there are many people in this world that consider it to be an outdated book of allegories and tall tales with little value in their lives. As an American I defend their right to believe this and I don't find any place in Scripture where God forces a man to do anything against his will. I believe you have freedom to do what you want with the life God has given you. (Ecc 12:13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecc 12:14) For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whetherit be good, or whetherit be evil. Just as God did not come down and smack Eve's hand causing her to drop the fruit before she could eat it, He will not stop you from doing what is in your heart to do. He will give his Word on a subject, He will warn of the dire consequences of disobedience, then he will give you a free will to choose to obey or disobey. Satan will also surely come along and tell you that God didn't mean what He said, he will argue that there are no real consequences for disobeying God's instructions, and he will deceive you if at allpossible seeking to kill your body, steal your joy, and destroy your reputation through his lies. God's free will does not provide you with an exemption from the consequences of your chosen actions. Whether you choose wisely or wrongly a judgment from God follows. Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. If you do not choose Christ as your Savior then you bear your own sin and its consequences for eternity. Hell was not prepared for man but you can find yourself headed there even though this is not God's perfect plan for your life. The choice is yours and yours alone. For the Christian, our wood, hay, and stubble appears on an altar in Heaven before us on the day we give account of our lives to Jesus. Also on that altar is gold, silver, and precious stones the materials of which a crown is fashioned. It specifically states that some will suffer loss and have absolutely nothing in their hand after their works are tried yet they will be saved. I for one would not want to be in Heaven empty handed. It is my understanding that we cast our crowns at the feet of Jesus in an act of worship and humility and gratitude. I do not want to be without a single thing to offer to my Lord on that day to say thank-you. Let me first of all state without qualification the I believe the Bible teaches that God loves every lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender person alive today. Jesus loved them and died for their sins the same as he did for me. His arms are outstretched to all who will accept Him as their Savior. Yet, championing the LGBT cause is a new movement in the church that I believe is not based upon a sound understanding of Bible principles. If Satan is behind a movement you can be sure to spot a lie in it at some point mixed in with the truth. The best liars will give you just enough truth in their statements to sound like they are speaking correctly. For instance Satan told Eve that she would be like God knowing the difference between good and evil if she would just eat the fruit. He spoke the truth but he failed to warn her of the ramifications of her actions. This movement takes a truth that we would all be well advised to heed as Christians and builds upon it. That truth is that many if not most Christians at heart are not very loving. We might go through all the motions of Christianity but as the Apostle Paul warned if we do it without charity (that selfless type of love as shown by God to us) it is all in vain. I believe the way homosexuals have been shunned by the church in the past is wrong. A young person with these feelings could be very reluctant to share their feelings with their pastor due to less than loving statements made from the pulpit. (1Co 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bearit. If you are a Christian and you have homosexual temptation in your life then rest assured that you are not alone. Maybe the pastor or some of the respected deacons of the church have also struggled their whole life with the same problem. Temptation is not sin! (Mat 4:1) Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Clearly Jesus was tempted to sin by Satan yet He remained sinless. There is a truth that I believe is being exploited for purposes not intended by God's Word. (Mat 7:5)Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. It is a truthful fact to state that some Christians take a hypocritical stance of viewing their own sins as no big deal while exaggerating the sins of others. It was that way in the days that Jesus walked the earth and I sincerely doubt things have changed that much. There is often a pride problem with God's people and that is an issue worthy of being examined prayerfully. (Mat 7:1)Judge not, that ye be not judged. The verse above is a favorite with those with the new liberal theological thinking. Seldom do you hear it quoted with the second verse below and never do you hear it quoted with Rev 20:12 (Mat 7:2)For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (Rev 20:12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which isthe book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Now we're getting to Satan's lie. The argument is that Christians should never judge the actions of others because we have our own sins to worry about and the Bible says we should not judge others. They fail to understand that the Pharisees had their own list of man made rules and traditions that they imposed on others that they judged them by. If we judge by the Word of God we will be judged by the Word of God. But wait a minute, don't we all face judgment after death and isn't it already based on the Word of God? So if God says something is a sin and Christians go to a brother Christian who is taken in a fault and in humility and the right spirit attempt to restore him using the Word of God as their guide, where is the wrongdoing? Are we not commanded to do this very thing? (Gal 6:1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. How in the world could you possibly perform the commandment that is clearly given in Gal 6:1 without first making a judgment of the sin in another person's life? It is starting to smell like smoke folks! Saying a Christian should never judge sin is frankly a lie and does not reflect true Bible doctrine as illustrated above and in several other places as well where sin is addressed. It is further argued that when we as Christians point out the sins of others we offend them and drive them away from the church and Jesus. The indication is we should soft pedal preaching on sin. The question is will this assertion hold water when compared with Bible truth? Let us go back to the roots of the church and see how it was done? (Act 2:36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Act 2:37) Now when they heardthis, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Menand brethren, what shall we do? (Act 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of youin the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Act 2:39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Act 2:40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (Act 2:41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Now here is a wild idea that might just work. Instead of trying to get the Apostle Peter to change his old fashioned ways so more people might be less offended and might get saved maybe we should listen and learn a thing or two about how to preach! Peter pointed out their sin, they were pricked in their heart and responded and three thousand people who didn't ignore the truth of God's Word got saved that day. Did you catch verse 40. The Apostle Peter had the audacity to criticize the generation of people he was addressing. Remember his preaching was by the power of the Holy Spirit and I challenge any preacher anywhere to show me a more loving representation of God toward the human race than that portrayed by the Holy Spirit as He leads us in kindness and meekness. The Holy Spirit does not inspire preachers to soft pedal sin! There was another preacher who is described as a really good man filled with the Holy Ghost. Here is what he had to say speaking in the power of the Holy Ghost. (Act 7:51) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Act 7:52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: (Act 7:53) Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not keptit. (Act 7:54) When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him withtheir teeth. (Act 7:55) But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, (Act 7:56) And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (Act 7:57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, (Act 7:58) And casthim out of the city, and stonedhim: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. Which one of our modern politically correct mega-churches would this fellow be invited to speak to the congregation. He told his congregation that they were murderers and betrayers. Yes, Stephen died for his faith that day but it was a faith worth dying for. God also used it to begin shaping the Apostle Paul into the man of God that he came to be. He also used it to scatter the church and spread the gospel far and wide. How dare these modern “I got a better idea” preachers redefine the Holy Ghost inspired preaching of Stephen as offensive and ineffective!!! Offensive yes, but definitely the way God wanted it said. The Apostle Paul was known to ruffle a few feathers on occasion also. (Act 17:22) Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said,Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. Paul, having seen the idolatry that was rampant in ancient Greece, stood at the center of all activity and said probably the most insulting thing he could have said in the middle of the capital of learning and philosophy for the western world. You're too superstitious. He did not ignore the elephant in the room. He addressed the sin of idolatry that was keeping these people from a knowledge of the one and only true and living God. No matter how good a speaker may be or how wonderful his theory is on how to win people for Christ, if it goes against Bible truth it is not a valid theory. How do you explain then the demonstrable success that some of these new thinking pastors are experiencing in building huge churches with many converts and the latest and greatest in technology and exciting worship services. (2Ti 4:1) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2Ti 4:2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2Ti 4:3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; butafter their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (2Ti 4:4) And they shall turn awaytheir ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2Ti 4:5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. The Apostle Paul tells of the coming of a day when people because of their lustful lives will seek preachers who will tell them what they want to hear. They frankly don't want to hear that their lustful lifestyles are wrong. They want uplifting sermons and feel good services. The Apostle Paul however advised Timothy a young preacher to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort”. Two of the three duties he enumerates are negative in nature. They imply corrective preaching. He also advises him to “endure afflictions”. It is the man who tells you the truth who will be afflicted. People don't mind if you tell them how good they are. Those who soft pedal sin are eliminating the first step in the salvation process. Before a person will seek a Savior they must first understand what sin is and how they have failed God. They must understand their need for a Savior in order to seek one. Some may say well we don't want to scare people away or make them feel uncomfortable in our services. If you are not openly preaching on the topic of sin, how are you exhorting your Christians to continue in a Christ honoring life. Yes, the Holy Spirit will bring to their hearts conviction but Paul and the other evangelists of his day taught their people how to live. Even when he wrote letters or epistles to the churches there was great attention to living virtuous lives and producing works worthy of our faith. I would discount the advice of any of these “I've got a better way of building a church” crowd. Their methods are at direct odds with Bible principles as practiced by Peter, Stephen, and the Apostle Paul. Their contention that a Christian has no right to make a judgment about the life of another is contrary to Bible teaching. What appears as a successful church to human beings may be viewed entirely differently by God. (Rev 3:14)And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Rev 3:15)I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (Rev 3:16)So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Rev 3:17)Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Rev 3:18)I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, andthatthe shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Rev 3:19)As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev 3:20)Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. This church that was viewed as so successful by those within it “sickens” God when He looks at it. Jesus has been pushed out of His own church and is shown knocking on the church's door wanting true worshipers to come to Him. He still loves them but calls them to repent of their ways. Just because a church has a huge congregation and large offerings does not make them a good church. (2Ti 3:1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2Ti 3:2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (2Ti 3:3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (2Ti 3:4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (2Ti 3:5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power (of God) is indicative of the last days. When an individual reads his or her Bible and it states that God is not pleased with a behavior and then goes ahead and denies what God has to say about it is valid based on their church's teaching then it is time to change churches and repent. I suppose that most people with homosexual feelings are probably already familiar with the Scriptures that condemn it. It is not my purpose to rub anyone's nose in their sin butfor academic purposes I believe the basis for my beliefs should be given. (Lev 20:13) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. That is a very harsh statement. This was a capital offense under Old Testament law. Even if you disagree with this verse, can you deny that it is defined in the Bible as a sin? It is called an abomination. It was not viewed as a trivial little matter. Again in the 1st Chapter of the Book of Romans the Apostle Paul condemns homosexual practices. (Rom 1:20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Rom 1:21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorifiedhim not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Rom 1:22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (Rom 1:23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Rom 1:24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (Rom 1:25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Rom 1:26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (Rom 1:27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Rom 1:28) And even as they did not like to retain God intheir knowledge, Godgave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Rom 1:29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (Rom 1:30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (Rom 1:31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (Rom 1:32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. For the person who has no belief in the Scriptures I would not expect them to bemoved by these words but if you do name the name of Jesus as your Savior and at least give lip service to Christianity how can you teach that homosexual relationships are entirely normal and acceptable and worthy of being elevated to the holy status of matrimony. The Holy Scriptures uses words like “vile affections, against nature, burned in their lust, unseemly, did not like to retain God in their knowledge, reprobate mind, filled with all unrighteousness”. Then for the religious crowd cheering on this movement may I point out verse 32. (Rom 1:32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Now if at this point you are getting really aggravated at me I will ask you the same question that the Apostle Paul asked the Church at Galatia. (Gal 4:16) Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Consider this, who truly loves their child more, the parent who refuses to yell at their child to turn around when they are heading into dangerous traffic not wanting to upset their child or the parent who sees the tragedy that is about to happen and intervenes to turn the child around to safety? I take no pleasure in pointing out these Scriptures to those who have broken God's law but few people seem to care enough about these people to try to turn them around from what is sure to be a troubled life. There are people that I know and have known that are or were caught up in the homosexual lifestyle. These are people I loved and respected. I would only want the best for their lives. The best that life has to offer is not found in a life of rebellion against God's will for their life. Clearly the blessings of God are not upon these homosexual relationships. This is not a personal judgment, this is an obvious conclusion that cannot be missed by simply reading the Scriptures. For those who have stood on the sidelines cheering on this movement. Would you have stood on the sidelines in the Garden of Eden and as Satan spun his lies to Eve intending to do her harm asking if God really said that she shouldn't eat of that fruit and that it isn't any big deal, you will not surely die; would you have lent your voice to Satan to cheer, “Eat it, eat it, eat it”? The Apostle Paul reiterated the Old Testament law and reminded them that this is a sin worthy of death. My point is not that gays should be executed but that this is not a trivial matter in the eyes of God. Some will say well we all sin and there is no difference in this sin or in the sin of Deacon So and So overeating. That simply is not true. It is Satan's lie with the intended purpose of instigating rebellion against God's instructions. (1Jn 5:16) If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1Jn 5:17) All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. Some sins carry more dire penalties than others. Perhaps this has been a sincere belief on your part that God treats all sin alike. No one Scripture should stand alone as a testimony to God's truth. Let's look at a case that had the Apostle Paul plenty disturbed. (1Co 5:1) It is reported commonlythat there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. (1Co 5:2) And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. (1Co 5:3) For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present,concerning him that hath so done this deed, (1Co 5:4) In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1Co 5:5) To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1Co 5:6) Your gloryingis not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (1Co 5:7) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1Co 5:8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavenedbread of sincerity and truth. (1Co 5:9) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: (1Co 5:10) Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. (1Co 5:11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (1Co 5:12) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? (1Co 5:13) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. You will find that the Old Testament penalty for sleeping with your father's wife is death. The New Testament does not carry that forward as a codified law but clearly those sins with prescribed death penalties in the Old Testament are adifferent class of sin even during the church age and among the Gentiles. Here is the Old Testament reference: (Lev 20:11) And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their bloodshall be upon them. When this death penalty sin cropped up in the church as an act by a believer in the church Paul said the church should have mourned and put him out of it. Essentially, Paul said that he should be turned over to Satan to kill him so he would go on to Heaven and quit bringing down the church. It cost this man his life to mess around in sin that was deemed “unto death”. Look just two verses farther in Leviticus (Lev 20:13) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. Homosexual activity is viewed in the same category as lying with one's father's wife. Would you honestly expect the Apostle Paul to say well welcome the unrepentant brother into your group and if he wants to be pastor, teacher, song leader, youth pastor, or deacon we should just love everybody and be inclusive? Much of what is being preached in the name of love is simply a twisting of God's Word to encourage a kind of inclusiveness that if left unchecked would destroy and not add to the church. Jesus gave a new commandment that we should love one another. This commandment is so true but be careful how you apply it. Some say Jesus NEVER talked to sinners harshly only to the religious hypocrites of his day. Please exam the following Scripture for truth. (Joh 5:5) And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. (Joh 5:6) When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him,Wilt thou be made whole? (Joh 5:7) The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. (Joh 5:8) Jesus saith unto him,Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. (Joh 5:9) And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. (Joh 5:10) The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. (Joh 5:11) He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. (Joh 5:12) Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? (Joh 5:13) And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. (Joh 5:14) Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. Now one cannot read the Gospels and see the interaction of Jesus with sinners and not come away without an appreciation for his compassion and kindness toward sinners that other shunned and ridiculed. This is the kind of Savior we serve. Let me remind you though that Jesus is not some glorified Santa Claus that pets everyone on the head and accepts them just as they are. Here Jesus speaks pretty harshly toward this man to whom he has shown love and compassion. He reminds him that he has been an invalid for the last thirty eight years because of his own sin against God and cautions him to change his ways with the threat of a worse future than past if he does not turn from his sins. That won't preach in the “I've Got a Better Idea” mega-churches. Doesn't this kind of fly in the face of the don't you dare judge another person's life and just be inclusive of all sinful behavior? I love kind people. I like to see people champion the underdog. I hate bullying. I hate to see young gay people being bullied. I said before if a close relative or friend came to you and said, “I'm gay”, then my prescription for the situation is just love them. Yet, I would caution you not to lie to them. They need to know that God loves them and He genuinely does. I fully support people who want to provide a soft place to land for those rejected by most of society. It takes a special gift of mercy to do this well and God has gifted some individuals naturally with this ability to reach out in love. That is indeed a noble cause. What isn't noble is twisting the Word of God to say something it doesn't say. Homosexual behavior is a sin. Being tempted to participate in homosexual behavior is not a sin. I had a young man say that he felt so different from other people he knew and he couldn't help his feelings toward other men. I think I can understand that. Each of us has a sin that so easily besets us. That doesn't happen to be mine. That does not make me better than this young man. He is not dirty, he is not weird, and he should not be a target for your ridicule. Being gay, having this temptation in your life, is not a sin, acting on your gay feelings is. If someone in your family came to you and said, “I'm an alcoholic”then I would hope you would continue loving them unconditionally. I would also hope that you wouldn't stand on the sideline shouting chug another one, chug another one, chug another one. Oh go on, it's not a big deal, take that drink. Other people have their faults too just go ahead and have another one. Please also tell the truth that homosexual activities are considered sin by God and all sin will be judged. If a person has fallen and participated in homosexual activities, it is not the unpardonable sin. Jesus died to pay for it and very much wants to be your Savior. The Apostle Paul tells us that his church was made up of people from all kinds of diverse backgrounds who had practiced every sin imaginable with Paul saying he was the chief sinner worse than them all because of his persecution of the church. Yes there were repentant homosexuals in the church who were considered precious indispensable building blocks in their local assembly. They were not second class Christians. Don't wait to come to Jesus until you think you can change. Come to Him just as you are and you will be loved. Take things one day at a time. Pray for strength not to yield to your feelings and for deliverance from sin. I am not going to tell you that things will always be easy and on this side of Heaven there are always sorrows. I leave you with this thought from the Book of Isaiah: (Isa 66:2) For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this will I look,even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Be honest with God, respect his Word and if He says something is sin don't try to correct Him if you disagree. It is always safe and best to seek God's better will for your life. Accept Jesus as your Savior. Walk with Him one day at a time. When you mess up take it to him and ask for His help in your life. Stay humble and God will make a way for you. One day Jesus will come again and bring us a new body that cannot sin. Know that a better day is out there for all of God's children. Know that you are loved.