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I didn't miss the sarcasm Criada, but what I did point out is that
people are willing to undergo persecution and alienation for things
they are not willing to let go of, things they want to keep, or things they believe in.
And I would beg to differ that some who claim Christ are willing to accept
those things that come with it as that explains their need to rewrite God's Word
to suit themselves and raising up teachers to preach to their itching ears what they
would rather hear as they will no longer endure sound doctrine according to 2 Tim 4:3-4
If you talk to homosexuals that will be honest, the truth is, the majority are not happy about their situation. There are very few who, if they are being honest, are "content" as homosexuals. They know in their consciences that it is wrong. They don't need society to tell them that. They hate and condemn themselves without even knowing what God's Word says. Some kill themselves because they hate it so much, and do not realize there is absolutely a way out, because the stronghold of sexual addiction, just like a drug addiction, and alcoholism is demonic in nature and grips their very souls.
There is a war going on deep within them, and that war only becomes more intense when they hear
the truth of the Word of God, and make a choice to repent and turn to Jesus. The war is immensely
increased between their flesh and their newly reborn spirit.
I do not appreciate your regular accusations of me condemning anyone though I must mention, as you do so without any substantiation for your claims whatsoever. I would like for you to substantiate your claims and quote where it is that I have ever condemned anyone.
I believe that you believe if anyone says homosexuality is a sin or points out that God condemns it in His Word, then they are condemning the people who covet the sin, which is not true.
The truth is there is hope and healing. 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, "and such WERE some of you."
God is able to do exceedingly abundantly even more than we can ask or imagine, but we first
must put our trust and faith in Him, and repent of those things that we are practicing no matter what they are, that He has shown us clearly in His Word, are displeasing in His sight. But if we keep claiming the sin stain is upon us, (or worse, begin to reject that it is sin at all) we cannot be cleansed of it, because we continue to take ownership of it rather than leave it at the foot of the cross.
If a person murders someone and comes to the saving knowledge of Christ and repents, and is cleansed from his sin, but keeps referring to himself as a murderer, the chances of him killing again, are high.
Because in essence he still believes he is what he was. Do you understand what I am saying?
Those you are calling "heterosexual" may not have had any struggle with that particular temptation, but don't pretend that ALL Christians have never had any struggles or major bondages or strongholds to overcome in their lives once they couldn't get around the fact that God condemned it, whatever IT is. That is lame really. Homosexuality is a stronghold, there is no doubt about it. And of course the enemy is going to tempt ANY of us in an area he knows we have a weakness. What enemy wouldn't? But each time you overcome him, by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony, you get stronger and so on and so on until you are an overcomer in Christ. The enemy can no longer effectively tempt one who has overcome. Doesn't mean he won't crouch at your door here and there just to see if there might be an opening to get you all bound up again, as I am most positive he will. But for the one who has overcome, if they are aware that the enemy will come, having their armor of God on (Ephesians 6:11-17), they will quench the fiery darts of the wicked with their shield of faith and cut his lies up with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
I didn't miss the sarcasm Criada, but what I did point out is that
people are willing to undergo persecution and alienation for things
they are not willing to let go of, things they want to keep, or things they believe in.
And I would beg to differ that some who claim Christ are willing to accept
those things that come with it as that explains their need to rewrite God's Word
to suit themselves and raising up teachers to preach to their itching ears what they
would rather hear as they will no longer endure sound doctrine according to 2 Tim 4:3-4
If you talk to homosexuals that will be honest, the truth is, the majority are not happy about their situation. There are very few who, if they are being honest, are "content" as homosexuals. They know in their consciences that it is wrong. They don't need society to tell them that. They hate and condemn themselves without even knowing what God's Word says. Some kill themselves because they hate it so much, and do not realize there is absolutely a way out, because the stronghold of sexual addiction, just like a drug addiction, and alcoholism is demonic in nature and grips their very souls.
There is a war going on deep within them, and that war only becomes more intense when they hear
the truth of the Word of God, and make a choice to repent and turn to Jesus. The war is immensely
increased between their flesh and their newly reborn spirit.
I do not appreciate your regular accusations of me condemning anyone though I must mention, as you do so without any substantiation for your claims whatsoever. I would like for you to substantiate your claims and quote where it is that I have ever condemned anyone.
I believe that you believe if anyone says homosexuality is a sin or points out that God condemns it in His Word, then they are condemning the people who covet the sin, which is not true.
The truth is there is hope and healing. 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, "and such WERE some of you."
God is able to do exceedingly abundantly even more than we can ask or imagine, but we first
must put our trust and faith in Him, and repent of those things that we are practicing no matter what they are, that He has shown us clearly in His Word, are displeasing in His sight. But if we keep claiming the sin stain is upon us, (or worse, begin to reject that it is sin at all) we cannot be cleansed of it, because we continue to take ownership of it rather than leave it at the foot of the cross.
If a person murders someone and comes to the saving knowledge of Christ and repents, and is cleansed from his sin, but keeps referring to himself as a murderer, the chances of him killing again, are high.
Because in essence he still believes he is what he was. Do you understand what I am saying?
Those you are calling "heterosexual" may not have had any struggle with that particular temptation, but don't pretend that ALL Christians have never had any struggles or major bondages or strongholds to overcome in their lives once they couldn't get around the fact that God condemned it, whatever IT is. That is lame really. Homosexuality is a stronghold, there is no doubt about it. And of course the enemy is going to tempt ANY of us in an area he knows we have a weakness. What enemy wouldn't? But each time you overcome him, by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony, you get stronger and so on and so on until you are an overcomer in Christ. The enemy can no longer effectively tempt one who has overcome. Doesn't mean he won't crouch at your door here and there just to see if there might be an opening to get you all bound up again, as I am most positive he will. But for the one who has overcome, if they are aware that the enemy will come, having their armor of God on (Ephesians 6:11-17), they will quench the fiery darts of the wicked with their shield of faith and cut his lies up with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
I am sorry.. I am sure your intention was not to condemn.
If I offended you, please forgive me.
I think I am too close to this to express myself rationally... I will leave this debate to others.
God bless you.
Thanks be to God.Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner."
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The good news of our salvation.
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner."
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The good news of our salvation.
Thank you for the parable. However it is inapplicable
to the spirit of my heartfelt post. Unless you are posting it
in agreement with my post?
The fact that you refer to your post as "heartfelt" and the way you praised yourself for overcoming your sins, contrasted against Tenebrae and Criada honestly describing their struggle should tell you the applicability of the parable.
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner."
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The good news of our salvation.
R. Thanks be to God!
And Jesus said "Lo, I was despised and rejected by men, cast out and beaten, called an abomination before God, and you did not succor me nor heal me, but preached to me repentance of my sins."
And they said unto Him, "Lord, when did we see you despised and rejected by men, cast out and beaten, called an abomination before God, and fail to succor or heal you, but rather preached to you that you should repent your sins?"
And he said unto them, "Inasmuch as you did it unto one of the least of these, you did it unto me,"
R. Thanks be to God!
And Jesus said "Lo, I was despised and rejected by men, cast out and beaten, called an abomination before God, and you did not succor me nor heal me, but preached to me repentance of my sins."
And they said unto Him, "Lord, when did we see you despised and rejected by men, cast out and beaten, called an abomination before God, and fail to succor or heal you, but rather preached to you that you should repent your sins?"
And he said unto them, "Inasmuch as you did it unto one of the least of these, you did it unto me,"
Kyrie Eleison
Christe Eleison
Kyrie Elieson
The homily comes after the Gospel reading.
R. Thanks be to God!
And Jesus said "Lo, I was despised and rejected by men, cast out and beaten, called an abomination before God, and you did not succor me nor heal me, but preached to me repentance of my sins."
And they said unto Him, "Lord, when did we see you despised and rejected by men, cast out and beaten, called an abomination before God, and fail to succor or heal you, but rather preached to you that you should repent your sins?"
And he said unto them, "Inasmuch as you did it unto one of the least of these, you did it unto me,"
tulc(an oldy but a goody)from rlp said:There’s something about the way you use the bible, something about the way you use it as a tool, as a weapon, as a fulcrum, as a means, as an end, as a trump card.
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]There’s something about the way you see the bible as a thing to be used at all.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]There’s something about your intensity and your urgency and the way you have your eyes locked on some distant prize. There’s something about the energy you are putting into this. It’s making you frantic and in a hurry. You will not be present in a sacred moment. You will not wait. You will not keep silence. You will not admit that you are weak. You will not let things unfold.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]You cannot abide, so you will not abide. You will not abide the journey. Arriving is all you want, and the bible is some kind of shortcut for you. You seem to be cutting corners and covering your tracks with memorized verses. You enter every room with a blast of pretty Jesus words and a lot of fast talking.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]Somehow you have come to think that the bible is like everything else in your life. You think it is something to master and something you can own. The more you know about the bible, the more power you hope to gain. The more verses you can quote, the closer to God you hope to be. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]The bible is your prop and your flag. You wave it around and make sure that it is seen. You highlight it and talk about it and make wild claims about its truth and fight over it and win with it and boast about how you believe every word of it. It is your way and your truth and your life.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]Behold, your sacred battle cry: “The Word of the Lord is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]But that verse isn’t about the bible. It’s about Christ, whom you serve, and whose spirit you are called to carry in your heart. It is only He who is your way and your truth and your life.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]That old man that you brushed aside? The one you called a liberal and a wishy-washy Christian? He spent the last fifty years with his hands and his heart in the pages of that sacred book. He has wept over it and searched for truth in its stories. His unanswered questions have increased every year until finally he knows nothing at all but the love of God and neighbor.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]He knows something that you do not know.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]Those people around the table? The ones you spoke so harshly to that night when you came upon them sharing a meal and pleasant conversation at church? You told them it was a shame when Christians gathered only to eat and talk. You dropped your big black bible on the table with a thud for emphasis. They are some of God’s oldest and wisest servants. They have prayed down the walls of prejudice and broken the strongholds of anger and pain with the prayers of their hands and feet. Their meal was a prayer, though you couldn’t hear it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]They know something that you do not know.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]These people know that the bible is not a self-help book full of easy answers, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]but a book of stories and wisdom that is meant to lead us into relationship and worship. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]There are hard and fast truths in it, yes, but they are surrounded by soft truths, and slippery truths, and sometimes truths, and truths that once were true but are no longer true, and truths that are only true if you are in the right state of mind, and truths that are only true if you are not hurting someone, and truths that are true in the moment but not if you are talking about the moment, and truths that can only be lived and should never be spoken, and truths that we cannot hear, and truths that are more than we can bear.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]The truths of the bible are utterly beyond anyone who seeks to own truth and who seeks truth above the Spirit of God.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]The bible is not a book for those who need a weapon. It is not a book for those who know where they are going and what questions they will ask. It is not a book for those who are in a hurry and looking for the shortest route.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]The bible is a book for pilgrims and wanderers. It is a book for children and for those who wish to become children again. It is a book for seekers and searchers and dreamers.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]It is a book for anyone and everyone who hopes that the desires of God might be written upon their hearts.[/FONT]
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