Wake-up America—Barack Obama and the second crucial campaign issue, part 15
My book—The Black Sword: The Secret U.S. Army in Vietnam—is available by mail (not yet in book stores). See post on July 31, 2008 entitled The Black Sword.
I suggest you check out the following website if you are a policy holder of Farmers Insurance Group or thinking about having them insure you in any capacity: www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com
.gif)
https://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=367
The above link is for a company—Vision Forum—that provides unique products for the family. I am an affiliate for the company and receive a small commission whenever someone uses this link and then makes an unreturned purchase while using the link. Check it out. I think you might like the products offered. I do. See my more complete explanation on my post of February 1, 2008 entitled “Affiliate program with Vision Forum.”
Based upon past historical data: 3,287+ UNBORN BABY MURDERS have occurred in the last 24 hours in the United States. See my post “BABY HOLOCAUST” posted January 22, 2008.
I’ve been involved in a problem one of my clients has with Farmers Insurance Group. My previous posts in relation to this problem were:
September 10, 2007 post: “Beware of Farmers Insurance Group”
September 11, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group’s response”
September 18, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Company received the requested list”
September 19, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Company’s response to the list”
October 16, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and my request for information”
November 27, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group does not respond to my request”
January 11, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group latest stall”
January 12, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group is sent a response”
January 14, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group pays some money”
January 19, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group continues to be obstinate”
January 26, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group receives another request”
February 11, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group shows how low they will go?”
February 12, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group: If I were going to respond to the final letter”
February 13, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and associated companies”
February 14, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and how others rate the company”
I will not be continuing my Creationism posts today. I do not plan to get to them until after the general election in November.
I do plan to discuss Iraq before the election. I am sorry for the change in plans. Plans, in reality, often are altered for one reason or another. “The best laid plans … often go astray.” Thank you for your understanding and patience.
How many unborn toddlers were murdered today because of the humanistic, paganish, barbaric decisions of the United States Supreme Court?
Stop the
Murder of
Unborn
Toddlers
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4: 17 (NIV)
www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com
www.childpredators.com
www.lifedynamics.com
www.libertylegal.org
www.alliancedefensefund.org
www.searchtv.org
Wake-up America!!! Who ultimately is in control—GOD or man? Who determines right and wrong—GOD or man? Who controls the weather—GOD or man? Who determines righteousness and sin—GOD or man? Who controls our economy—GOD or man? Who defines good and evil—GOD or man? Who controls what happens to the United States of America—GOD or man?
As a Christian, I believe that there are three crucial issues in this Presidential election. The second most crucial issue in the campaign deals with the continual moral degradation of our society through sexual immorality which not only has been destroying individuals but also the family—GOD’S chosen instrument for procreation and the developmental growth of the children of society. In the 2008 election, that continued moral degradation is centered on homosexuality and allowing homosexuals to marry. The following material was posted by me earlier this year—May 20 and May 21, 2008. This is most but not all of the original posts.
Some people claim that JESUS said nothing about homosexual behavior and HIS silence is synonymous with HIS approval of such acts. Nothing could be farther from the truth. However, it is true that little is recorded in the gospels concerning HIS pronouncements in this area. This also is understandable.
The major focus of the gospels is that of establishing the fact that JESUS is the SON of GOD, the MESSIAH—the CHRIST—and that JESUS is the only path to obtaining salvation and eternal life. John wrote in John 20: 30-31 (NIV), “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Nevertheless, some pertinent statements from JESUS are recorded and need to be identified as important in understanding what the Bible says about homosexuality.
First, JESUS makes reference to Sodom and Gomorrah. “‘Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.’” Matthew 10: 11-16 (NIV)
“Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.’” Matthew 11: 20-24 (NIV)
Luke repeats the comments of Matthew in his book concerning sending out the disciples of Jesus in Luke Chapter 10: 8-12 (NIV), “‘When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.’” (Luke does not include the statement about sending them as sheep among wolves or about being shrewd. Luke then continues with the woes given in Matthew quoted above but stops at “go down to the depths.” Luke does not include “‘If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.’”)
However, Luke does include material that was not given by the other gospels in relation to Sodom. “‘Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day
Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.’” Luke 17: 26-29 (NIV) (The book of Matthew also carries an account of these comments given by Jesus but leaves out “‘It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.’”)
Both Matthew and Luke cite instances when JESUS makes reference to Sodom. Matthew gives two accounts leaving out one mentioned by Luke. Luke gives two accounts leaving out one mentioned by Matthew. Both Matthew and Luke make reference to one particular
account. In all, three instances of JESUS making reference to Sodom are recorded.
JESUS in making reference to Sodom used an illustration that all Israelites who were knowledgeable about the Old Testament would recognize and understand. All knowledgeable Israelites knew that Sodom was destroyed by GOD for its grievous SIN including homosexuality and that Sodom was an example given by GOD of the wickedness of man.
JESUS by these three references to Sodom verifies that the account in the Old Testament is a true and accurate account of an historical event. JESUS in John 18: 37 (NIV) said in response to a question from Pilate that HE had come into the world to testify to the truth, “‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate.
Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’”
JESUS the SON of GOD testifies to the truth. By referring to Sodom he must be referring to a true event or he could not be testifying to the truth. Either the record of the destruction of Sodom for SIN including homosexuality is a true account or Jesus is a liar and is therefore not the SON of GOD. In fact, JESUS states emphatically in Matthew 10: 15 (NIV) that He is telling them the truth when he says, “‘it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.’” It’s that important to accepting JESUS as GOD’S SON. GOD’S SON testifies to the truth.
Testifying to the account of Sodom is testifying that it was a true, historical event. Testifying to the account of Sodom is testifying that GOD punished the inhabitants of the town for their grievous SIN including homosexuality. Testifying to the destruction of Sodom for SIN is testifying to the fact that homosexuality is a SIN to GOD. It can’t be anything else. If it is, then GOD was unjust in destroying Sodom. GOD can not be unjust.
(Continuation of a portion of the original May 20th post with a portion of the original May 21st post)
“Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!’
Jesus replied, ‘And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’’
Then the disciples came to him and asked, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?’
He replied, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.’
Peter said, ‘Explain the parable to us.’
‘Are you still so dull?’ Jesus asked them. ‘Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’’” Matthew 15: 1-20 (NIV)
“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were ‘unclean,’ that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, ‘Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?’
He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.’
And he said to them: ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’
Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’’
After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. ‘Are you so dull?’ he asked. ‘Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach,
and then out of his body.’ (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods ‘clean.’)
He went on: ‘What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’’” Mark 7: 1-23 (NIV)
Both of the passages in Matthew and Mark list EVILS that come from the heart of a person. Matthew lists seven EVILS and Mark lists thirteen EVILS as given by JESUS, the SON of GOD. Matthew’s entire list is included in Mark’s list. (Mark uses the term deceit while Matthew refers to false testimony.) Both include in this list of evils: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, adultery, murder, and theft. All of these as well as others given are EVILS as identified by JESUS. They are SINS that make a person “unclean.” JESUS is an Israelite speaking to other Israelites. All knowledgeable Israelites familiar with the law of Moses as given by GOD knew that SEXUAL IMMORALITY includes HOMOSEXUAL behavior as given in Leviticus Chapter 18. Therefore, JESUS is definitely identifying HOMOSEXUALITY as a SIN that makes a person “unclean” because it is an EVIL that comes from the heart. JESUS says nothing about genetic traits forcing a person to commit a HOMOSEXUAL act. HOMOSEXUALITY is an action that results in SIN and is EVIL. That conclusion can not be denied based upon the text. Opposition to HOMOSEXUAL acts is not a tradition of the Pharisees, teachers of the law, or a tradition of the elders. It is a command of GOD and JESUS includes it as one of a number of EVILS that come from the heart of a person.
“[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7: 53-8: 11.]” The Holy Bible, New International Version, © 1984 by International Bible Society, published by Zondervan, page 903.
“Then each went to his own home.
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand
before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’
‘No one, sir,’ she said.
‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” John 7: 53 and John 8: 1-11 (NIV)
Some people have tried to use these verses to argue that just as JESUS did not condemn the woman caught in adultery, which is a SIN according to the law of Moses, neither should HOMOSEXUALS be condemned for their acts of HOMOSEXUALITY. However, they ignore important points of the incident. First, JESUS has proclaimed that adultery is a SIN. Second, JESUS has proclaimed that HOMOSEXUALITY is a SIN. JESUS did not condemn her for her adultery at that point in time. HE did not say that she would not be condemned for her adultery on the Day of Judgment. In fact, HE specifically warns her to “Go now and leave your life of sin.” JESUS recognized that she was living a life of SIN. JESUS emphatically warns her to leave that life of SIN. It is reasonable to believe that HE would also warn people who are living a HOMOSEXUAL lifestyle to “leave your life of sin.” That is, stop living a HOMOSEXUAL lifestyle. The Bible and JESUS are clear. A life of SIN is not compatible with spending eternity in Heaven with GOD.
Finally, nowhere in the gospels is there any indication that JESUS ever tolerated SIN. Nowhere in the gospels is there any indication that genetic traits are to be considered in determining what is SIN and what is not SIN. Nowhere in the gospels is there any indication that HOMOSEXUAL acts are a positive lifestyle or a positive activity even for the individuals involved in those activities. Nowhere in the gospels is there any indication that JESUS was neutral toward HOMOSEXUAL acts. JESUS does however condemn SEXUAL IMMORALITY including HOMOSEXUALITY as EVIL!
In conclusion, it can not be denied that according to the Bible—the WORD of GOD—
the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a historical fact accomplished by GOD to punish the inhabitants for SIN including the SIN of HOMOSEXUALITY. JESUS condemned SEXUAL IMMORALITY including HOMOSEXUALITY as EVIL and, therefore, as SIN.
“Thus, in 1789 President Washington issued ‘The First Thanksgiving Proclamation of the United States,’ which he began with these words, ‘Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly implore His protection and favor ….’”
“But the forces of unbelief that have moved in to control American life, would remove every influence of God among us. We are reminded of the statement by William Penn that, ‘If we are not governed by God, we will be ruled by tyrants.’”
“Rather He pronounced a blessing on ‘the nation whose God is the Lord.’ (Psalm 33: 12)
“He promised that his eye would be ‘upon those who fear him.’” (Psalm 33: 18)
“He has said, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach (or a disgrace) to any people.’” (Proverbs 14: 34)
“‘Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.’”
“Without the influence of Divine Providence, believers will be disenfranchised and America will fall as other great societies in the past have done, from within.”
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6: 7-8 (NIV)
My book—The Black Sword: The Secret U.S. Army in Vietnam—is available by mail (not yet in book stores). See post on July 31, 2008 entitled The Black Sword.
I suggest you check out the following website if you are a policy holder of Farmers Insurance Group or thinking about having them insure you in any capacity: www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com
https://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=367
The above link is for a company—Vision Forum—that provides unique products for the family. I am an affiliate for the company and receive a small commission whenever someone uses this link and then makes an unreturned purchase while using the link. Check it out. I think you might like the products offered. I do. See my more complete explanation on my post of February 1, 2008 entitled “Affiliate program with Vision Forum.”
Based upon past historical data: 3,287+ UNBORN BABY MURDERS have occurred in the last 24 hours in the United States. See my post “BABY HOLOCAUST” posted January 22, 2008.
I’ve been involved in a problem one of my clients has with Farmers Insurance Group. My previous posts in relation to this problem were:
September 10, 2007 post: “Beware of Farmers Insurance Group”
September 11, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group’s response”
September 18, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Company received the requested list”
September 19, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Company’s response to the list”
October 16, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and my request for information”
November 27, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group does not respond to my request”
January 11, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group latest stall”
January 12, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group is sent a response”
January 14, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group pays some money”
January 19, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group continues to be obstinate”
January 26, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group receives another request”
February 11, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group shows how low they will go?”
February 12, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group: If I were going to respond to the final letter”
February 13, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and associated companies”
February 14, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and how others rate the company”
I will not be continuing my Creationism posts today. I do not plan to get to them until after the general election in November.
I do plan to discuss Iraq before the election. I am sorry for the change in plans. Plans, in reality, often are altered for one reason or another. “The best laid plans … often go astray.” Thank you for your understanding and patience.
How many unborn toddlers were murdered today because of the humanistic, paganish, barbaric decisions of the United States Supreme Court?
Stop the
Murder of
Unborn
Toddlers
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4: 17 (NIV)
www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com
www.childpredators.com
www.lifedynamics.com
www.libertylegal.org
www.alliancedefensefund.org
www.searchtv.org
Wake-up America!!! Who ultimately is in control—GOD or man? Who determines right and wrong—GOD or man? Who controls the weather—GOD or man? Who determines righteousness and sin—GOD or man? Who controls our economy—GOD or man? Who defines good and evil—GOD or man? Who controls what happens to the United States of America—GOD or man?
As a Christian, I believe that there are three crucial issues in this Presidential election. The second most crucial issue in the campaign deals with the continual moral degradation of our society through sexual immorality which not only has been destroying individuals but also the family—GOD’S chosen instrument for procreation and the developmental growth of the children of society. In the 2008 election, that continued moral degradation is centered on homosexuality and allowing homosexuals to marry. The following material was posted by me earlier this year—May 20 and May 21, 2008. This is most but not all of the original posts.
Some people claim that JESUS said nothing about homosexual behavior and HIS silence is synonymous with HIS approval of such acts. Nothing could be farther from the truth. However, it is true that little is recorded in the gospels concerning HIS pronouncements in this area. This also is understandable.
The major focus of the gospels is that of establishing the fact that JESUS is the SON of GOD, the MESSIAH—the CHRIST—and that JESUS is the only path to obtaining salvation and eternal life. John wrote in John 20: 30-31 (NIV), “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Nevertheless, some pertinent statements from JESUS are recorded and need to be identified as important in understanding what the Bible says about homosexuality.
First, JESUS makes reference to Sodom and Gomorrah. “‘Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.’” Matthew 10: 11-16 (NIV)
“Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.’” Matthew 11: 20-24 (NIV)
Luke repeats the comments of Matthew in his book concerning sending out the disciples of Jesus in Luke Chapter 10: 8-12 (NIV), “‘When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.’” (Luke does not include the statement about sending them as sheep among wolves or about being shrewd. Luke then continues with the woes given in Matthew quoted above but stops at “go down to the depths.” Luke does not include “‘If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.’”)
However, Luke does include material that was not given by the other gospels in relation to Sodom. “‘Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day
Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.’” Luke 17: 26-29 (NIV) (The book of Matthew also carries an account of these comments given by Jesus but leaves out “‘It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.’”)
Both Matthew and Luke cite instances when JESUS makes reference to Sodom. Matthew gives two accounts leaving out one mentioned by Luke. Luke gives two accounts leaving out one mentioned by Matthew. Both Matthew and Luke make reference to one particular
account. In all, three instances of JESUS making reference to Sodom are recorded.
JESUS in making reference to Sodom used an illustration that all Israelites who were knowledgeable about the Old Testament would recognize and understand. All knowledgeable Israelites knew that Sodom was destroyed by GOD for its grievous SIN including homosexuality and that Sodom was an example given by GOD of the wickedness of man.
JESUS by these three references to Sodom verifies that the account in the Old Testament is a true and accurate account of an historical event. JESUS in John 18: 37 (NIV) said in response to a question from Pilate that HE had come into the world to testify to the truth, “‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate.
Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’”
JESUS the SON of GOD testifies to the truth. By referring to Sodom he must be referring to a true event or he could not be testifying to the truth. Either the record of the destruction of Sodom for SIN including homosexuality is a true account or Jesus is a liar and is therefore not the SON of GOD. In fact, JESUS states emphatically in Matthew 10: 15 (NIV) that He is telling them the truth when he says, “‘it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.’” It’s that important to accepting JESUS as GOD’S SON. GOD’S SON testifies to the truth.
Testifying to the account of Sodom is testifying that it was a true, historical event. Testifying to the account of Sodom is testifying that GOD punished the inhabitants of the town for their grievous SIN including homosexuality. Testifying to the destruction of Sodom for SIN is testifying to the fact that homosexuality is a SIN to GOD. It can’t be anything else. If it is, then GOD was unjust in destroying Sodom. GOD can not be unjust.
(Continuation of a portion of the original May 20th post with a portion of the original May 21st post)
“Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!’
Jesus replied, ‘And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’’
Then the disciples came to him and asked, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?’
He replied, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.’
Peter said, ‘Explain the parable to us.’
‘Are you still so dull?’ Jesus asked them. ‘Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’’” Matthew 15: 1-20 (NIV)
“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were ‘unclean,’ that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, ‘Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?’
He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.’
And he said to them: ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’
Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’’
After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. ‘Are you so dull?’ he asked. ‘Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach,
and then out of his body.’ (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods ‘clean.’)
He went on: ‘What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’’” Mark 7: 1-23 (NIV)
Both of the passages in Matthew and Mark list EVILS that come from the heart of a person. Matthew lists seven EVILS and Mark lists thirteen EVILS as given by JESUS, the SON of GOD. Matthew’s entire list is included in Mark’s list. (Mark uses the term deceit while Matthew refers to false testimony.) Both include in this list of evils: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, adultery, murder, and theft. All of these as well as others given are EVILS as identified by JESUS. They are SINS that make a person “unclean.” JESUS is an Israelite speaking to other Israelites. All knowledgeable Israelites familiar with the law of Moses as given by GOD knew that SEXUAL IMMORALITY includes HOMOSEXUAL behavior as given in Leviticus Chapter 18. Therefore, JESUS is definitely identifying HOMOSEXUALITY as a SIN that makes a person “unclean” because it is an EVIL that comes from the heart. JESUS says nothing about genetic traits forcing a person to commit a HOMOSEXUAL act. HOMOSEXUALITY is an action that results in SIN and is EVIL. That conclusion can not be denied based upon the text. Opposition to HOMOSEXUAL acts is not a tradition of the Pharisees, teachers of the law, or a tradition of the elders. It is a command of GOD and JESUS includes it as one of a number of EVILS that come from the heart of a person.
“[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7: 53-8: 11.]” The Holy Bible, New International Version, © 1984 by International Bible Society, published by Zondervan, page 903.
“Then each went to his own home.
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand
before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’
‘No one, sir,’ she said.
‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” John 7: 53 and John 8: 1-11 (NIV)
Some people have tried to use these verses to argue that just as JESUS did not condemn the woman caught in adultery, which is a SIN according to the law of Moses, neither should HOMOSEXUALS be condemned for their acts of HOMOSEXUALITY. However, they ignore important points of the incident. First, JESUS has proclaimed that adultery is a SIN. Second, JESUS has proclaimed that HOMOSEXUALITY is a SIN. JESUS did not condemn her for her adultery at that point in time. HE did not say that she would not be condemned for her adultery on the Day of Judgment. In fact, HE specifically warns her to “Go now and leave your life of sin.” JESUS recognized that she was living a life of SIN. JESUS emphatically warns her to leave that life of SIN. It is reasonable to believe that HE would also warn people who are living a HOMOSEXUAL lifestyle to “leave your life of sin.” That is, stop living a HOMOSEXUAL lifestyle. The Bible and JESUS are clear. A life of SIN is not compatible with spending eternity in Heaven with GOD.
Finally, nowhere in the gospels is there any indication that JESUS ever tolerated SIN. Nowhere in the gospels is there any indication that genetic traits are to be considered in determining what is SIN and what is not SIN. Nowhere in the gospels is there any indication that HOMOSEXUAL acts are a positive lifestyle or a positive activity even for the individuals involved in those activities. Nowhere in the gospels is there any indication that JESUS was neutral toward HOMOSEXUAL acts. JESUS does however condemn SEXUAL IMMORALITY including HOMOSEXUALITY as EVIL!
In conclusion, it can not be denied that according to the Bible—the WORD of GOD—
the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a historical fact accomplished by GOD to punish the inhabitants for SIN including the SIN of HOMOSEXUALITY. JESUS condemned SEXUAL IMMORALITY including HOMOSEXUALITY as EVIL and, therefore, as SIN.
“Thus, in 1789 President Washington issued ‘The First Thanksgiving Proclamation of the United States,’ which he began with these words, ‘Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly implore His protection and favor ….’”
“But the forces of unbelief that have moved in to control American life, would remove every influence of God among us. We are reminded of the statement by William Penn that, ‘If we are not governed by God, we will be ruled by tyrants.’”
“Rather He pronounced a blessing on ‘the nation whose God is the Lord.’ (Psalm 33: 12)
“He promised that his eye would be ‘upon those who fear him.’” (Psalm 33: 18)
“He has said, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach (or a disgrace) to any people.’” (Proverbs 14: 34)
“‘Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.’”
“Without the influence of Divine Providence, believers will be disenfranchised and America will fall as other great societies in the past have done, from within.”
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6: 7-8 (NIV)
posted by Christian Gunslinger at 4:34 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home