Follower of Christ

July 20, 2019 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

A couple disclaimers for this post:

I refer to homosexuality in my video and in this blog as sin, not because I believe this, but because it is mirroring the context of those who believe it is a sin. The goal of this post is not to argue this view’s merits, but to focus on how the Bible describes how we should respond to sin….specifically in reference to the noted meme.
While I say in my video that I am a Christian, I actually refer to myself as being a Follower of Christ. Unfortunately, the label “Christian” has been hijacked by a loud and hurtful segment of the American religious community that is often hard for me to recognize. You may see it differently, but I hold more firmly to Jesus than the dogma that is portrayed often in my culture.

This is the final installment for this meme I came across that was posted by a family member. It is my most direct response to it. Again, this involves my interpretation of scripture that is also backed up by many studied theologians. I will ask, if your only response to this is to insist I am not a Christian or other choice words, that is not a productive conversation and therefore I would ask that you refrain (just as I will refrain from finding reasons why YOU are not a Christian). However, if you’d like to share your interpretations of the specific scriptures involved in this, I’m all ears.

Before I get into the theological aspects of this post, I want to emphasize that memes such as this create very dangerous scenarios for LGBTQ+ people. In today’s aggressive and even hateful rhetoric, people are actually empowered to physically harm LGBT people because of messages like this. Also, young people struggling with the realization of their sexuality can very easily lose all hope and go as far as take their own lives. Words have power, which is a Biblical truth, and I encourage everyone (but especially Christians) to let their words/memes be “always full of grace”. (Taken from Colossians)

First of all, many of my previous highlights regarding how many Christians today view things through a different filter today is related to Lordship Salvation. This branch of religion adds our requirements to salvation, sanctification, and emphasizes works over everything. Proponents of Lordship Salvation define it this way, “The doctrine of lordship salvation teaches that submitting to Christ as Lord goes hand-in-hand with trusting in Christ as Savior. Lordship salvation is the opposite of what is sometimes called easy-believism or the teaching that salvation comes through an acknowledgement of a certain set of facts.” Quote link. Opponents say this, “As defined by its own advocates, Lordship Salvation could more properly be called “Commitment Salvation,” “Surrender Salvation,” or “Submission Salvation” since in actuality the debate is not over the Lordship of Christ, but the response of a person to the gospel and the conditions which must be met for salvation.” Quote link.

To me, and to summarize – Lordship Salvation is the unsupportable and unbiblical belief that the PERFORMANCE of good works, the PROMISE of good works, or the EVIDENCE of good works MUST accompany faith in Christ in order to establish, or provide evidence, that such faith has resulted in eternal life. While the Bible definitely outlines parameters to assist us in being disciples of Christ, it does not say that any of these man-made conditions are necessary for salvation. However, many Protestant Evangelical churches, ministries, and pastors (especially in America) teach that concept as foundational today. Which is super ironic to me, because many of these same believers of these “truths” claim Catholics are not Christians because they are too focused on man-made efforts. In any case, I believe this approach and belief system was behind the creation of this meme. Further, I’d like to acknowledge that if you Google “Lordship Salvation believer’s favorite scriptures to condemn”, 100% of the noted scriptures will be listed (and not just for gays, but for ANYONE they determine have not met the additional criteria of works to be truly saved).

So, enough of my thoughts on this (though I think it is important to understand), let’s see what the scriptures indicate. Remember, they were referenced specifically to prove that I cannot be a Christian because I am gay.

1 Cor 6:9-11

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

First of all, I am MUCH MORE condemned for being an adulterer if I took this at face value, for Jesus Himself said, “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” Matthew 19:9. I would argue that, because of these red letter words, at least 50% of the Evangelical Church would be in hell with me! But again, the context of this meme is about BEING GAY, so I suppose they wanted me to ignore the adultery part and focus on the “who practice homosexuality” part. I won’t get into the etymology of the word “homosexuality” in the script for today, but note this is a more recent translation and heavily disputed.

I surmise that the person who created the meme as well as the one who shared it believe that people who commit serious sins (especially those filthy homos!), or whose lives have a pattern of serious sin, won’t go to heaven. They probably also believe that “true believers” won’t commit these sins, or at least that they won’t have a pattern of any of these sins in their lives – hence the “can’t be a Christian” tag for us gays.

However, this is NOT what this scripture is saying! This passage means that people who are not in Christ (that is, who have never trusted in Christ as Savior, aka “the unrighteous”) will not get into heaven. They are condemned because they have never believed in Jesus, not because they have committed these sins. Christ paid for all of our sins, past, present, and future, including the ones listed in this passage. Remember when we accepted Christ He put HIS righteousness over us? We are no longer unrighteous because of the free gift Jesus gave to us.

2 Cor 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Many Christians (but especially those who follow – even unknowingly – Lordship Salvation) believe this means that whoever has believed in Christ as Savior will have an instantaneous change, that their mind will instantly be focused only on holy topics, their will will be subdued and directly to God’s, and their affections will be completely changed from love of sin and self to that of love of holiness and God. Because of that, sin cannot truly continue – or especially pervasive and ongoing sin – because if it does, they can’t really have accepted Christ or have been saved.

But we all just have to be honest and look in our mirrors to understand that was not the case in any of our lives or our walk with Christ. The affections of a saved person are not automatically changed from a love of sin and self to a love of holiness and God. Changing our way of thinking to line up with God’s way of thinking takes our cooperation, as Romans 12:2 makes so clear:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 5:17 means that whoever has received eternal life through faith in Christ has been regenerated, resulting in the creation of a new human who is a sinless, incorruptible child of God. This new human is a result of the second birth, a spiritual birth, which all who possess eternal life have undergone. The flesh nature, which is neither good, nor righteous, does not go away when we are born again. That results in a conflict between the flesh and the spirit, which will continue until we die, or are raptured. We are instructed to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4), to put on the new man (Ephesians 4:24), and to walk in the spirit (Galatians 5:16 and 25) so that we can manifest the fruits of the spirit (which are good things) and not the works of the flesh (which are evil). This scripture has nothing to do with salvation, but a promise that we will not be forsaken and we hold a new position as a child of God that was given to us despite our position in sin.

Gal 5:24

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

To really get the context of this scripture, I am expanding it to include Gal 5:19-23

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Again, this scripture was used to prove that I am not a Christian because I am gay. Does this show that people who commit these sins will not get into heaven?

No. This passage teaches that these works of the flesh will be manifested in the lives of Christians if they choose to not walk in the Spirit. Not walking in the spirit is one thing, but it doesn’t mean one has not accepted Christ nor does it cancel salvation, which was a gift to begin with. The people referred to as “they” in this passage are unbelievers. They will not inherit the kingdom of God (go to heaven), because they have not believed in Jesus as Savior. People who are not Christians cannot walk in the Spirit, because they have never received the Spirit.

Further, also in Galatians, Paul rebukes the Jewish Christians for demanding that Gentile Christian men be circumcised to truly be a follower of Christ.

Claiming the Promise puts it this way:

Paul refuted the troublemakers by referring the gentile converts to Christianity to God’s early promise in Genesis. God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have heirs and be the ancestors of a multitude of nations (Genesis 15:4-5; 17:4, 15-16). Those descendants were Gentiles as well as Jews. Paul referred to that early promise in order to prove from scripture that it is not God’s law but God’s promise that defines God’s relationship (covenant) with humankind. The law didn’t come until long after Abraham and Sarah had received the promise and believed (Galatians 3:17-18). Though Gentiles were never under the Jewish law, they clearly were part of God’s covenant. They did not need to be circumcised or to follow other Jewish practices.

“Those of us who are lesbian and gay Christians,” some of us observe, “are the Gentiles of modern Christianity who are being asked wrongly to renounce their/our sexual identity and live under the law of heterosexuality in order to be included in God’s covenant. That demand is a gospel that is not really a gospel at all.” Link to Quote, Pg. 11

1 John 3:7-10

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

So again, the premise of the meme being that I can’t be a Christian because I am gay, I surmise these scriptures were used to point out that because I continue to sin (live as a lesbian each day), I am not practicing righteousness and am instead sinning. Therefore, I am not of God. Is that what this scripture is saying?

No. When we love God, we will love those born of God. Loving God and loving others is not automatic in the life of a believer. If it were, we would not be exhorted to love God with our whole heart and to love one another. But more importantly, we need to take the entire context of 1 John into account. Go backwards and look at 1 John 2:1. There John is writing that children of God can and do still sin. Paul in the book of Romans 7:14-25, tells us that indwelling sin remains within us. Our sin nature is dead, but indwelling sin is still active. The key to it all is understanding our identity in Christ; we have been declared righteous, however we will still sin after we have been saved. As we grow in Christ, we will learn to hate sin more and more, just as God hates sin.

Many still believe that we can lose our salvation or that because we still sin, we must not be a child of God. Remember who is declaring us justified – God Himself. And the Bible is clear that we are not justified by works. As such, our failure at works also do not disqualify us. So, the Bible is clear we sin as children of God, and we’d be more clear ourselves if we were more honest. Jesus has covered ALL of our sins; our will and self-effort cannot save us or keep us saved. Finding my identity in Christ has provided me freedom from bondage, and it was given to me as a gift from Christ Himself.

Rom 6:1-7

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

This is a complex area, especially since many Bible translations (including the older versions of the NIV) create the “sin nature” argument instead of sticking to “flesh”. These verses are often used to condemn groups of people that are viewed as sinful, thus labeling them “Not Christian”. See Andrew Farley’s article here for expanded details.

Look also at Romans 7:21 that puts the above verses into full context; our flesh so wants to contribute to our holiness. That is the flesh of self-effort or trying to will ourselves into a state of righteousness. That cheapens what Christ did on the cross! Saying that only some of our sins were forgiven (the ones leading up to our asking God to forgive our sins), would mean Christ only died for some of our sins. If He died for only some of our sins, then the cross isn’t finished, and He would need to go back on it each day to die for more sins and future sins. This is not to call out those of us who sin (which, hello, is all of us Christians) to expose us as fake, or any other focus – but to remind us that we are crucified with Christ and we need to stop acting like we used to when we tried to offset this with our own actions. Or even worse, deny we are sinning while condemning others who sin.

1 Tim 1:8-10

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine

Again, based on the meme, I am to understand that – because I am sexually immoral – I can’t be a Christian. But what is Paul really saying to Timothy with these verses? Paul White says this:

Now Paul wants to make sure that no one thinks that he is against the law, so he says that it is good, “if a man use it lawfully” (verse 8). Wait a minute! If there is a lawful way to use the law, then there must be an unlawful way to use the law. Paul says, “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane…” (verse 9). In light of this instruction, why is the law so frequently used against Christians? When a saint fails, we often hear the same condemnatory remarks used, citing the Law of God, as we do against the sinner. Instead, we should edify the believer, reminding them of who they are in Christ. Only the grace of God is going to teach them how to live righteous in this present world (Titus 2:11, 12).

In other words, the Apostle Paul was saying the law is for the list of sinners. We are not under the law, we are under grace. Paul White goes on to say, “Saint, receive no condemnation today. Let the love of God and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son silence the voice of condemnation in your spirit. God’s Law is just, holy and good and it shows people their sins. You are clean in Jesus, so see His grace and favor, and walk therein.” Link to article.

Conclusion

The Bible does not give us a litmus test to check if someone else is or is not a Christian. As I’ve shared in previous posts, the fruits of the spirit can and are manifested in non-Christians as well – even Satan displayed them per the Bible! Jesus said others would know we follow Him by the love we show. I think the Apostle Paul’s answer would be fairly straightforward: a Christian is someone who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ”, he writes in Romans 8:9. Then, two verses later: “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” So if someone has the Spirit, they will be raised, and if someone does not have the Spirit, then they don’t belong to Christ. That sounds about as close to a definition of what makes a Christian as we’re likely to find. And for what it’s worth, I think the story of Cornelius indicates that Peter and the other Jerusalem apostles would agree (Acts 10:47; 11:17-18).

The problem is, then, how can we tell who has the Holy Spirit? Admittedly, this doesn’t give us a cut-and-dried test we can apply to others. It is, after all, not always easy to be sure who has the Spirit and who doesn’t, but that may not be such a bad thing. If God had wanted us to know for certain whether a particular church leader, or presidential candidate, or an LGBT person was a Christian, he’d have given us a secret password which only true believers could say. But he didn’t. So maybe we’re supposed to have assurance of our own salvation, but leave the final answers about the salvation of others with God. And, I contend, that it is MORE IMPORTANT to love……Christians, non-Christians, sinners, even our enemies.

Reverend Dr. Kari Tolppanen put it this way:

With respect to the debate about gay marriage, people in opposite camps have shown very little real love for each other. It is sad to see how few Christians have shown any desire to see the issue from the perspective of homosexuals. They do not want to explore the subject or to know any gay people (GMR or show love and compassion to family members they do know). The only thing that homosexuals hear from the mouths of these people is condemnation and disapproval. These Christians are today’s Pharisees who cling to their view of the Bible’s teaching, but forget what is most important in the law: mercy, justice and faithfulness (Matt. 23:23). They tie up heavy loads and put them on homosexuals’ shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them (Matt. 23:4). They believe they know what is best for homosexuals even though they may not know any homosexual people personally. I constantly hear stories about how cruel some Christians are towards homosexuals. Some parents abandon their gay children and many churches kick out gay people. No wonder many homosexuals have a very hostile attitude towards Christians and regard them as the worst kind of Pharisees. Link to article.

If you believe LGBT cannot be Christians, that is your right. Even if you’ve read this blog, seen my other blogs, and stick to that view, that is your right. But memes such as these are not loving. They do not share “good news” as the gospel does, but it closes the door to relationships. Where there is judgment, there is no love. And, I encourage you to ask yourself, is it more important to condemn others than to love them and have a relationship with them? Is your way better than the steps Jesus took with the sinners around Him? Do you honestly believe that, unless someone is perfect in your moral measurement, they can’t be Christian?

I contend we are called to love. Love our neighbors, love our enemies, and love is to have a relationship with them where they are. And I will NEVER say someone is not a Christian because I cannot tell with any surety that they have the Holy Spirit in them.

But to those who DO know me, I would hope that you see the love I share. I cling very heavily to the Holy Spirit to assist me in this, because I am the one being told my sincere faith is not true and I am not changed. I rest in Christ and I know without fear that I am His, no matter that others would rather spend their time insisting I am going to hell.

Peace.

The Day I Met Grace

September 24, 2017September 24, 2017 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

Many of you may not know this, but my family and I moved to North Carolina in late May. While the move has been a positive one, it took place when – for lack of better words – this country has been in a mess of turmoil. Racism, political polarization, social media bullying, and religious noise seemed to be the norm……and for me, it meant my personal life and attitude was being hugely impacted negatively. Day in and day out it was becoming harder to find something positive to focus on, and for me that meant despondency was my first and strongest thought on most days.

de·spond·en·cy

dəˈspändənsē/

noun

a state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage.

I pretty much had lost hope and did not demonstrate much courage in my life. Day in and day out. It sucked.

While this was happening, something else was occurring as well. For, on each drive from my new home to work, on the corner of Midway School Road and Thomas School Road, a black woman stood each morning waving to passing cars. As she waved, her face was alive with the brightest and most sincere smile I had seen in quite some time. At first, my reaction was to think, “gah, that woman is crazy. Doesn’t she know how screwed up we humans are? Her mornings would be better spent somewhere else.” But as each day passed, and no matter if I passed at 7am or 8:45am, she’d be out there waving and smiling brightly to each and every vehicle that passed. Her arm would be raised high and with confidence, as if attempting to throw out the joy that was so evident on her face.

This daily event was “no big deal” to me, at least I convinced myself of that fact at first. She was just doing something that made no sense, and while my attitude moved from the idea of her being crazy to more like apathy towards her actions, I could not shake her beaming, smiling face. The only time I would not see it would be on rainy days, and when that would happen I realized I would actually feel disappointment. Maybe even concern……I wondered if she was okay……until I realized she never came out if it rained. And slowly, with each passing day, I realized I was trying to smile at others more as the residue of her smile seemed often to be reverberating in my own mind. “Gosh, that smile is contagious…….maybe I should wear one once in a while, too……”

The truth is, my friends, after weeks and weeks of passing this person, I had to acknowledge something – she was changing my life. Day after day, she was sending love to me in a world where hate seemed to reign. No matter her religion, her social standing, her race, her gender, her sexuality, or her political affiliation, she waved and smiled and connected with strangers all morning long. She connected with ME. Sincerely. Physically. Consistently. She seemed to care SO MUCH about this, she invested hours each non-rain morning spreading this message with no expectation of return. And it was working out a miracle in my heart and thoughts.

When I finally formed these realizations in my own mind, I was shocked. And, in that shock, a flicker of hope sparked in the depths of my soul……and it felt good. Courage began to spread deep in my gut and I could not contain it. I felt energized for the first time in months in a way that reminded me of the Gina that used to exist; one that knew it was okay to believe in a future that was not all bad.

So, the next day I decided I had to meet this person “for real”. When I got to that corner, I pulled over, shut my car off, and began to walk toward the woman that initiated this change in me. As I got closer, almost feeling the power of her smile as cars passed by, I was surprised to see she was much older than I had expected. Her raised arm was so feeble and aged, I was surprised it could sustain the hours of waving it accomplished everyday. She was also tiny, MUCH smaller than she appeared as I flew by her day after day. I started to feel a bit nervous as I took each step, something my extroverted personality rarely feels, and also careful not to scare her. I quickly introduced myself and as she turned her gaze to me, she shook my hand and said, “Hello, I am Grace.”

grace

ɡrās/

noun

simple elegance or refinement of movement.

(in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

To be continued……….

Rest

June 2, 2016June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

This week I received a long overdue massage, a 90 minute one in fact! Myriad stresses have done their toll on my body, so I practically apologized to my therapist knowing he was sure to find my muscles a mess. I had prepared mentally for the massage all day – cleaning my mind to enter into as close to relaxation as I could, focusing on the stress and knots of my muscles being released as I planned to control my breathing. In……out…….easy…….feel the stress being released…….clear all thoughts but the feeling of my therapist’s hands press out the tension from my body.

Focus. Relax. Breathe. Repeat.

It was about 45 minutes into this process, and I was feeling pretty good I might add, a thought hit me. It seemed to come out of nowhere. The thought was loosely based on the following verses:

Matt 11:28-30 ESV “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

When I get a massage, I do not focus on the knots, the aches and pains, nor the stress that has wound me up. No. I focus instead on relaxing. On the releasing power the therapist’s hands and the impact they have on my body. The feeling of the cleansing breaths that I take, the feeling of the air exiting my lungs as I envisions every cell of my body getting loose and relaxed. Of how healthy I feel. How strong I am in the relaxed state. Of how slowly my heart is beating as the blood begins to flow at a more effective rate throughout my body. And as I realized that, I also realized that maybe God doesn’t want us to be these uptight followers that focus only on “being this” or “doing that”, but instead “resting in Him”!

I think we Christians focus way too much on creating a mechanism of our own efforts to make ourselves holy. We go to church multiple times a week. We present ourselves in such a way that we cannot be pointed at as sinners. In fact, we separate ourselves from “sinners”, maybe avoid places like movie theaters or bars, and then we decide at some point that we are suddenly holy. Or maybe we never feel holy and then get sad or mad or frustrated. Maybe we get a little arrogant or self-righteous. But through it all, the efforts are all ours. I am NOT saying any of the efforts are bad – hear me – I just think perhaps they are the wrong things to focus on.

Instead, I think Jesus was trying to explain a few things. I don’t know, I mean He said He fulfilled the law and covered our sins and, because of that, we are saved. He said above that His yolk is EASY, His burden is LIGHT. We get so busy trying to be what we think we need to be to seem acceptable to Him (or maybe the others struggling within our churches, let’s be real), that we forget to even SIT next to Jesus, let alone REST in Him! And, as the massage and this idea rumbled quietly in my head I realized that this Truth is bigger than I anticipated. We don’t necessarily always need to DO anything! Sometimes we just need to rest, and when we do we actually LEARN from Jesus.

And, when that lightbulb turned on, I thought of the last 4 visits/days I had with my Mom. Usually I am the project manager in all things; I talk to doctors, I get nurses to care for her better/faster/more diligently, I update family members and buy groceries and arrange for this and for that and whatever. I was a bit irked with myself the last 4 visits though, because I was out of character and just stood or sat right next to my mom. I didn’t really get ANYTHING done. I didn’t even work remotely on my computer. I felt WEIRD and I felt unproductive. I almost felt worthless. My character was so out of place. And yet, those 4 days with my mom I will cherish FOREVER. I said more to her in those days than I have in years. I learned tidbits I had never heard before. And I told her the most important things I could about how I felt for her. When I just rested beside her, everything fell into place. And now, weeks later, I know I will never have that time again, and it makes it all the more powerful to realize…….thank GOD I was out of character! Action and doing are not the devil, by any means, but they are not a deity either that needs to be adored. Take time to rest in Jesus, and to rest with those you love. And maybe even rest when getting a 90 minute massage. The Lord said it, not me! 🙂

Church. The Struggle.

April 10, 2016June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / 1 Comment

Tonight I read an article that I came across in my newsfeed on Facebook. I have to admit, it seemed more angry than I personally feel towards the church, at least right now. Yet, to be completely candid, the article DID bring up some pretty good points, and focused on many of the things I have personally gone through in my own walk as a LGBT Christian.

This article did get me thinking, so I wanted to share something with you regarding “church”. It’s a struggle for me, and perhaps you may be surprised as to why.

To knock out the obvious, going to most churches is awkward for my family. More often than not, we can’t just go to a church to check it out. No, instead we have to vet it out; check out their web page, see if there are any notations about homosexuality on their “what we believe” sections, and I usually email the Pastor and straight out ask if it would be a problem if we attended. Only about 40% of the respondents indicate “no, please don’t come” (or variations of the context, some not in a mean way though some of which are pretty aggressive about sin, though those happen only about 5% of the time). 45% struggle with what to say, hoping not to offend but still unable to respond in a positive way. These sound more like, “wow, of course we hope you come over, though we have never had any such people in our church and we are not sure how the congregation would respond.” Some ask if “we look gay”, wonder if they could meet with us before we attend, and that sort of thing. 10% have been affirming, and 5% have been predominantly LGBT churches.

I have to say, however, that it isn’t “easy” to go to a gay church, really. I mean, our kids aren’t gay, you know? And, in relation to OUR experience, more often than not when we attend the 15% gay or affirming churches, they are less conservative. And, really, we like a more conservative, non-denominational church. But the more conservative churches that are around are apt to not want us there. So, can you imagine the struggle? To sum it up, we really don’t fit into either church.

But even beyond that, what I REALLY, REALLY wish for is to just be able to go to church with my family. Period. I would LOVE to not even have to talk about the fact that Deana and I are LGBT. In BOTH scenarios, we just want to worship our Lord and Savior, get into the Word, be fed and recharged with brothers and sisters in Christ, and not have this layer of “us” that truly just gets in the way. It’s like having an extra layer of clothing on each time we go to church that makes it difficult to enter into the holy of holies. It’s like walking with a scarlet letter on our lapels and everyone focuses on that letter instead of what we really are attending church for……and that just seems so wrong. So, personally speaking, I avoid that. Because it just seems like a circus to me, in both types of churches. And yet, when I do that, my very spirit suffers for it as I remove myself from fellowship. From worship. From what I believe I was created to do. So I attend and work though it, but the cycle continues.

So, my heart of prayer often says, “Lord, let me be authentic, yes. But can’t it just be about You? Can’t we just assemble and BE? Can’t we just kneel and sing and pray and listen and encourage and interact and follow? Can’t it just be about learning to be more like You?”

So, in most ways I’ve tried to forgive, yes. I don’t sit here hating evangelicals or wave my fist at those who condemn me to hell. It hurts, I won’t lie, but I don’t despise the ones who say that so much today. But what I miss, what my soul yearns for, is to just be able to worship. Without asking. Without wondering if my presence is offensive or bothering someone. Without thinking the LGBT brothers and sisters with me are more interested in getting more churches to accept us. Without even thinking about sexuality. I yearn to just see the face of Jesus, to hold the hand of someone hurting as I pray with them, to laugh at a Pastor’s anecdote during a sermon, to cry with joy as I consider the vast love that God provides you and me for each moment of our lives, to be more like Him, and to do it not as an LGBT anything, but as a sister in Christ.

And, well, I am still praying.

Condemnation is a Four Letter Word

April 5, 2014June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

If you talk to any of my 2.78 regular readers, you may learn that the topic of condemnation is prevalent on this blog. Oh, I might not use that specific word, but it threads its way throughout many of the themes and stories that I’ve shared over the years. And that got me to thinking……why is that? So, for several weeks that has been rumbling through the recesses of my mind, popping up here and there with epiphanies, to the point I decided I MUST write something about it TODAY.

So here I am. Welcome to the recreation of my mini-journey, at least in part. Sit back, grab your coffee, and let’s roll.

You may remember my post A Response to “A Friend in Christ” last year. This situation still slightly haunts me today, as I have no clear evidence (though plenty of speculation) as to who sent me the letter and DVD. I still have varying emotions (anger, sadness, and such) when I think of the words that exist in the letter I received. More often than not, I feel the need to write additional responses – at least mentally – throwing out my detailed thoughts about how wrong it was to send that letter to me and how it was, at best, worthless condemnation on my life. The amount of anger that is involved in my emotions at the time is directly related to how biting the words I mentally create in my response are. And really, if I’m honest with you, the more biting they become, the more justified and happy I feel. And that was my first realization.

Condemnation breeds condemnation.

The most satisfying feeling related to this situation – when I am living in my flesh at least – is when I lay down condemnation toward the person that wrote that letter. Even though, when I first received it, I believe with my whole heart Jesus taught me I was doing this and that it was a mirror of the person’s letter. That I was guilty of the same sin of condemnation towards them as they were towards me.

“But Lord,” I thought, clinging to my anger…….”they were wrong!” As if my condemnation was somehow…….okay. Righteous even.

So that got me to look around my life beyond this scenario, even to others around me, both those I know and those I know of. And it became pretty clear very quickly…..

Condemnation breeds condemnation.

Don’t believe me? Check out just a few examples:

Fred Phillips, founder of Westboro Baptist Church, famous for the “God Hates Fags” message and for picketing numerous events including military funerals, was nearing death. SO MANY rejoiced when hearing of this news, saying he would burn in hell, that his funeral should be picketed, etc.
Read anything online about the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) and you will read a rainbow of views, across the board, many of which just spew hate – more towards the people who share their views than anything else.
Spend more than 5 minutes on Facebook, and probably see extreme political memes such as these. And they do nothing but encourage those who are condemning, or giving the other side reason to retaliate with their own condemnation.
Religous actions and debates in thousands of online chat rooms, Facebook feeds, or online news comments filled with hate in the name of Christ (for and against topics). Here is but one sample article and extracts of comments (more mild ones, too!). In fact, there were over 175 comments on this article alone and most were arguments between commenters.

So far I have offered examples outside of myself. But I must be real with you – I am the Queen of Condemnation. It should not be so, as I often decry the condemnation that is often directed at me for my “lifestyle”. As I stand proud, ready to fight themes like “Lordship Salvation vs Grace” and other seemingly holy interactions. And yet, the last few weeks have revealed that, alas, I am no better than those who contact me. If someone is in my face about a topic (political, religious, or otherwise) I have NO PROBLEM getting right back in their face. In fact, if I’m honest, I will say I rather enjoy it. And at some point, it even becomes a competition – who can be the best at condemning the other? Oh, we are usually VERY good and veiling our words in polite discourse, even spiritual vernacular or via holy scripture. We feel justified in our personal doctrines, the dogma we adhere to, or in the developed belief system we encircle ourselves in. But the fact remains, we are going for the kill and usually feel completely righteous in our stance, even if there are no survivors when it is all said and done.

And, to make this clear about how painful this revelation was to me……I claim in word and “deed” that my dogma, my world view, my Christian Walk, is centered in Grace. In Love.

And yet – condemnation was the root. The focus. The action. The idol. I cannot deny it any longer.

That got me to realizing a lesson I’ve learned before, I have even taught it! We humans, we Christians filled with the Holy Spirit, too often walk in our own fleshly nature and not that of God.

OUR nature says that it is right and good to act out based on the actions of those around me. You are good to me, I am good to you. You are bad to me, I am bad to you. You agree with me, we are good. You don’t agree with me, it’s okay to annihilate each other. Even in the name of God. That’s even in the SCRIPTURE!

Exodus 21:24-25 ESV, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

Leviticus 24:17-22 ESV, “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death.”

Deut. 19:21 ESV, “Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

See? We obviously know these words so well as I have shown we function in this cycle very well in our society!

And yet…….as Jesus so lovingly reminds me almost daily and which I think I learn before stepping back into the law (flesh) and away from Grace……there is a Better way. Because, time and again, He pointed out that we TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD THE CONTEXT OF SCRIPTURE! If you don’t think that’s the case, then why did Jesus have to say so often “you have heard it said, but I have said” and then corrected our understanding? And so He did……..

Matthew 5:38-41 ESV, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

Jesus then ups the auntie by saying this:

Matthew 5:43-48 ESV (I often quote this…..pay attention Gina), “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

And to just be clear what I believe Jesus meant to model the “Christian World View” on, let’s review this. We should NOT base our actions on the old way (the law) as IT BREEDS CONDEMNATION. In fact, the Apostle Paul himself referred to it as such and then turned around and refers to the New Covenant brought by Jesus Christ as the ministry of righteousness.

2 Cor. 3:4-11 ESV (emphasis mine), “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.”

So the letter (old covenant), which I seem to use in my life most often as I feel justified in “fighting back” or retaliating with those I choose to fight with, is clearly a ministry. A ministry of death. A ministry of condemnation. It has “no glory at all”. And Jesus meant for it to end.

And yet, here I am.

Instead, I want to live and walk in the spirit of Matthew 5. If someone doesn’t agree with me – heck, call them my enemy – I will turn my other cheek. IT SHOULDN’T MATTER. In fact, I think Jesus was radical enough to say I SHOULD NOT RESIST THEM! Okay, you want to say I am going to hell? I don’t agree but you have that right and it is not my job to fight with you. To convince you. You have your political views? Amen. But my point is, we as humans/Americans/Christians/Name here spend far too much time condemning others. And we should stop. We should disagree, sure. We should hold our beliefs and probably even hold them to heart, but that has NO bearing on how we interact with each other. Vote for whom you vote, donate to whom you donate, but our hearts should be open and love should be our first thought. Empathy our second. Respect our third. But not condemnation. Ever.

So, to sum it up, the HEAVENLY WAY of acting has no room for condemnation. No more living in my flesh, of condemning others in the name of God or otherwise. I want to live in the Spirit, where love reigns. I will leave the rest of this summary to the Apostle Paul. Peace to you!

Romans 8:1-11 ESV, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

A Response “To My Friends Who Identify Themselves As Homosexual”

December 22, 2013June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / 2 Comments

This blog post is a direct reply to this post, which I came across when a friend of mine posted it on their FB page. The friend was upset by this post, and truth be told, I was too. My first reaction was to come out fighting, but due to the late hour and the importance of the message, I put it off until today. I am glad I did.

Helpful hint if you so choose: you may want to read Mr. Howell’s blog before proceeding so that you can have a reference. Or bring it up so that you can refer to it as I post.

Before I begin, I welcome your comments and viewpoints. I offer this perspective not only as part of my own freedom of religion and freedom of speech, but as one who is not afraid of varying views. Further, I am NOT interested in dictating how you should think or believe. I just offer this as my own view on the subject.

First, the person who wrote it is an American. As such, I affirm he has every right to write the post, express his personal convictions, and believe what he wants. I am GLAD that he has this freedom and applaud the time that he took to write it. He should not be censored. That is the American Way.

Having said that, I must also say that too many people feel that, in America, everyone must follow the Christian faith to BE American. Even as a Christian, I must emphasize that this is NOT the American Way. Everyone in this country has a right to believe whatever they want, or nothing at all. To impose, at the national or state level, the idea that the Judeo Christian Bible dictates the parameters in which all citizens must adhere is inherently wrong. Further, it defies our very constitution, which states very clearly that religion is allowed but does NOT define the laws of this land nor subjugates the law to it. This is well documented and has been ruled on in our country in great detail, an example of which is noted here (with links to the mentioned decisions if you’re interested) Note, emphasis was done by me:

“Freedom of religion means freedom to hold an opinion or belief, but not to take action in violation of social duties or subversive to good order,” Chief Justice Waite wrote in Reynolds v. United States (1878). The U.S. Court found that while laws cannot interfere with religious belief and opinions, laws can be made to regulate some religious practices, e.g., human sacrifices, and the Hindu practice of suttee. The Court stated that to rule otherwise, “would be to make the professed doctrines of religious belief superior to the law of the land, and in effect permit every citizen to become a law unto himself. Government would exist only in name under such circumstances.”[1] In Cantwell v. State of Connecticut the Court held that the free exercise of religion is one of the “liberties” protected by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment and thus applied it to the states. The freedom to believe is absolute, but the freedom to act is not absolute.[2]”

So, my first point is that Mr. Howell has every right to believe and post about his beliefs, but that in no way means he can legally impose those beliefs on ANYONE in this country, even if he believes he holds the right to do so.

But here’s the deal, I AM a Christian and hold very strong convictions based on the Bible, just as Mr. Howell does. And I personally am brought almost to the brink of tears when the Bible is used in such a way as to condemn others, especially when the condemner appears to be doing so in what they claim is love. And HEAR ME, I don’t know Mr. Howell and therefore I put “appears” because I honestly do not know his heart. I don’t know ANYTHING about him. So, in large part if he says he wrote that blog in love, we should try to accept that. However, there are very specific things he says about the Bible I would like to talk about today, as a Christian and as an American. This may take a while because I feel like I have to respond point to point (as my 2.78 readers know is my modus operandi).

Mr. Howell’s assertions are in bold, my responses follow each point he makes.

First, I believe that the God of heaven, the God we read about in the Bible, created the universe and all that is in it, through His son Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-18).

As a Christian, I affirm this view of creation (though I do adhere to the scientific idea of evolution and such) and I look to God the Father and His Son Jesus as the supreme rulers over my life. However, I personally think it is wrong as Christians to stand like a toddler stomping his or her feet demanding that everyone else bow to the same God or belief system. “GOD IS IN CHARGE AND YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE.” I mean, don’t you hate it when a vegan sits in a restaurant and verbally decries how gross all of us carnivores are? I mean, dude, why you wanna be all up in my lunch? If you don’t eat any animal products, high five, now let me eat my steak in peace! I think it’s taints the awesome testament of my belief system when I push my very personal and very intimate and very wonderful feelings of Christ especially to the point of making others feel wrong or guilty for not seeing things the way I see it. And I believe that Christ never operated in that way. If He did, he would have called His legions of angels to knock the Pharisees and the Roman Leaders down when He was being tried and ultimately crucified. Instead, He was quiet. He was humble. He spoke only love to those who condemned Him.

And I contend that, if Muslim stood up and demanded that we follow his beliefs because the Quran stated this or that, many people such as Mr. Howell would have a heart attack. Well, my friends, many in this country react the same way when we pull out the Bible and say “listen up, you gotta follow this”.

Second, I believe that the Bible is God’s inerrant communication to mankind. It tells us of his power, love, and grace, but also of his judgment. It tells us of what he wants from his creation, but also what he does not want. It is by the words of that book that the entire world will be judged in the end of material existence—even those who rejected those words (John 12:48).

First, the Bible will not be used to judge us. Based on the Bible, CHRIST will judge us. Now, let’s not split hairs, the Bible is clear that the Word is Jesus. But to suggest that the laws will be used and what not for CHRISTIANS is not Biblical. The Bible is clear that, for those in Christ, the blood of Christ will be sufficient and no other “words” of the Bible will be manifest in the judgment.

Second, the scripture shared above is clear that Jesus was saying if you reject ME, judgment will be upon you. Again, Mr. Howell and I may believe that, but we need to accept that others may not, and often times do not. It’s like saying I believe aliens are real, and to prove it read this book my dad wrote about aliens being real. To insist a truth based on something that others don’t even accept is kind of silly. Basically, you’re saying “you better believe the Bible, which I know you don’t, because it says you’re toast if you don’t!”

But, again, I DO believe the Bible, and I DO believe I am no longer “toast” because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. But Mr Howell’s comment about “God’s inerrant communication” ticks me off, to be blunt. Too many Christians spout off this statement even though it is bogus. Hey, chill your heels, I am not saying the Bible is WRONG. It may have been pristinely communicated by God, but unfortunately it had to go through humans, which has been proven for all time are errant! Furthermore, we stupid humans have either bastardized the message over time, or may have maliciously changed it to meet our agenda.

What?

’Tis true. My first offering of evidence is Jesus Himself, spoken thousands of years ago. After beginning His sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 to teach His thousands of followers “The Way”, He began to RE-educate them on things that had been documented IN THE BIBLE, but which THE PEOPLE HAD COMPLETELY MISUNDERSTOOD.

Verse 38 starts with “you have heard it said”, and all the verses around that are clear corrections to misinformation or misinterpretation. Jesus straight out says, “BUT I SAY” and I will paraphrase “you got it wrong people, let me set you straight!”

Jesus quotes SCRIPTURE that had been followed in a certain way for THOUSANDS of years, and says, “I am telling you, what was REALLY meant was…….”

Example 1 (Matt 5:38-42): And eye for an eye, meaning you mess with me, I will mess with you (taken from Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy). This had been practiced by the Jewish nation for thousands of years and they used scripture to justify it. Jesus clearly says in Matthew it doesn’t matter WHAT someone does to you, you turn the other cheek and leave any retribution to God. And Jesus takes it further……they steal something from you? GIVE THEM MORE! Because the REAL way to being my follower is to LOVE. When you’re good with THAT, then you can go ahead and start playing God.

Example 2 (Matt 5:43-48): Love your neighbor, but hate your enemy. This was how the Israelites followed the Bible and felt justified in doing so because “the Word was inerrant”. But Jesus CLEARLY goes on to say “you have it all wrong”. The human interpretation of the Word had been flawed, and Jesus had to correct that incorrect belief system. Jesus is clear you love EVERYONE, even your ENEMIES. And He doesn’t qualify that by saying “as long as they don’t sin, then love them.” There is NO qualification. We need to love, period.

But it doesn’t stop there. The fact remains that the Bible was not written in English, and even after it was translated to English it has been translated many times and on too many “platforms” that often had nothing to do with God.

Example 1: the word “homosexual” does not exist in the King James Bible, the most famous of the first English translations offered in 1611; the term homosexual was first added to Bible translations in 1946. Some argue that the term “homosexual” didn’t even exist until the late 1800’s, so where it didn’t exist it could not be used and that the Bible is clear that the “action” was what we now call homosexuality. However, those who are honest with themselves admit that some of the original Greek terms used, especially by the Apostle Paul, have no definitive English translation and that we – with agendas or perhaps limited understanding of God and His Omnipotence – have said “meh, Paul must have meant homosexual”. Completely ignored is the fact that Greeks had forced homosexuality practice in place during Paul’s life (men forcing young boys to be their sex slaves) as well as non-Christian, pagan temple homosexual activities to pagan gods. Words that were used by Paul – such as arsenokoitai – didn’t really exist in his culture’s vernacular and if we’re truthful we’d admit we know not much more of its meaning today. And really, if Paul REALLY wanted to say “homosexual” he could have used a word clearly understood in his culture such as paiderasste. There are TONS who understand Greek and the etymology of this, so I encourage you to do a bit of research.

But ever further, within the last few years conservatives have decided that there needs to be a CONSERVATIVE Bible published! They said that there is “too much liberalism” in the Bible and that the “true intent of the Word” needs to be shown. Basically, they want to make the Bible say what they believe to be the truth. THAT IS DANGEROUS MY FRIENDS and just one example of error being added to the Word of God in print (not even talking about the errors added at pulpits day in and out! Can anybody say “Westboro Baptist Church”?) So exclusively quoting scripture and saying it is the truth because it is in the Bible is not the best platform to have.

As to the judgment piece…..um, holy cow! MY belief system states that every person will be judged, but NOT BY ME! The Bible is clear when we focus on the words of Jesus that we SHOULD not judge and if we DO judge, we are toast!

Matthew 6 is clear that if you don’t forgive others, you will not be forgiven.

Matthew 7 is clear that Jesus views us as hypocrites if we judge others while ignoring the fact that WE are sinners, too.

And let’s be real, Romans 3 is VERY clear that ALL have sinned and fall short of God. You. Me. People who are heterosexuals. People who are homosexuals.

So, TO ME, calling out ONE type of group in our society and implying they have fallen short, while NOT acknowledging that truly everyone else is in the same boat, is short sided, hypocritical, and a gross misrepresentation of the Lord that I have chosen to follow.

But that’s just me.

For everyone, what the sovereign God of the universe has said are the words of (absolute) “truth and reason” (Acts 26:25; John 17:17)—even if you choose to reject them.

This means that if I am going to be consistent in what I believe, I have to speak out against sin. Just because you don’t believe in God’s existence or that the Bible is his word doesn’t mean that it does not apply to you.

If I know that God will judge the deeds of every man and woman at the end of time, then I am compelled to speak about the matter. I have to persuade people to stop doing the things that are against God’s will, and that will ultimately harm them physically and spiritually (2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Ephesians 5:11).

First, see my previous comments about using the Bible to make your point to people who don’t accept the Bible. Remember, Americans have rights in this country, and for me or anyone to say “yeah, you have rights but anyway, my beliefs trump them” is not cool.

Second, the Apostle Paul is clear that we should not judge those who are not believers and we should NOT tell them they are sinning. How can we hold them to a belief they don’t even acknowledge? This is clearly stated in 1 Cor 5:12, that those who do not believe can’t be held to it. It’s like saying we Americans have to live by and accept Sharia law that is prevalent in Iran! It does not apply to us as Americans, and it is not Biblical to demand non believers follow the Bible.

However, although 1 Corinthians is clear that believers in the church CAN be judged based on the Bible, I believe the context of this scripture are those that are causing strife and darkness in the church. And, I truly believe those who are in Christ no longer have their sin held against them as it is covered by the blood of Christ.

You are my neighbor. If I knew that you were about to step into danger, but instead of warning you I just stood back and let you be harmed, what kind of neighbor would you think I am?

Really, do you believe that getting in people’s faces change hearts? I have written about this before, but if a personal trainer came up to me in a restaurant and said “I noticed you’re overweight, you really need to eat less and I can show you how to get off your butt and exercise more” they would be telling the truth but I would still kick them in the face. IN FACT, if someone came up to me and said, “The Bible says gluttony is sinful” THEY would be right. Or that Jesus Himself said if you divorce and remarry, you are committing adultery……and oops adultery is right next to the more recent translation of homosexuals and is part of “the group” that cannot inherit the kingdom of God. But do you think, when people come up and share in this way, it would change anyone’s heart?

I contend that changing hearts is what we should be doing, and in doing so, actions follow. But then that exposes the fact that OUR actions pretty much suck, too. And that is not as easy to acknowledge, it is MUCH easier to point out the failures of others.

Further, why is homosexuality almost always the platform for this action when divorce is WAY more prevalent and “dangerous” to our faith community, based on many factors including the percentages that exist today in Every…….Single…..Church…….in comparison to homosexuality?

I would rather you be the neighbor, as a Christian, that Christ has called you to be. For He called you to love me, as noted in Matt 22:39, like you love yourself. And I am pretty sure you don’t start each day standing in front of the mirror reciting all the reasons you’re going to hell. I would hope that you loved me as Christ loves me, as He called us to do in John 15:12. And how DID Jesus love us?

He did not come to condemn. John 3:17

He died for EVERYONE, even those who are the filthiest there is. Even those that do not deserve it, and He did it with no strings attached, in that He’d do it even if no one accepted Him as savior. 1 John 2:2

Even as He lay hanging on the cross, beaten for something He was not guilty of, falsely accused and abused, even though they did not repent of their actions and certainly not because they deserved it……He said “Father, forgive them”. Luke 23:34

And I would like some example where Jesus called out the sins of anyone that didn’t have a platform of claiming they knew the heart of God, such as the Pharisees. It just didn’t happen. So, as a follower of Christ, I will focus on love and not judging because the Lord I claim to follow did not call out the sins of others.

So in order to be consistent with what I believe, I must speak out against homosexuality.

Wow. What about the other sins? You must be hugely busy because there are LOTS of things you must speak against. Like I don’t know…..not honoring the sabbath? I mean, that comes STRAIGHT from the 10 commandments! Homosexuality doesn’t even hit that level, and yet unless you start at sundown on Friday and follow the BIBLE through sunset on Saturday, you are sinning. And since your own blog put it this way if you follow the Bible, and the ten commandments, I am sure this is something you also talk about quite often and try to share with your Christian friends especially since we probably all meet predominantly on Sundays.

Certainly, I imagine you warn people how to handle black people (aka slaves) as that is clearly in the Bible, right? Further, I am sure you make sure all women follow scripture and advise them to leave their homes when they have their period. I am CERTAIN you encourage fathers to stone their daughters to death if they find out they have been sexually active before marriage, as the Bible demands.

I am sure that’s what you meant on your blog when you said your truth is absolute and unwavering and that you must speak out against sin.

Jesus is clear throughout scripture that He died to save us. He provided GOOD NEWS, and yet most of the time all I hear out of the mouths of Christians is condemnation and judgment. You think homosexuality is a sin? DO NOT DO IT! But I think the Bible has many more scriptures about not judging other’s “sin” while we all have pretty full time jobs working on our OWN sins. And again, let’s be honest here…….we all do sin every single day. As Christians though, we need to shut up about hell because we believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. And because of that belief, we need to acknowledge those sins are COVERED ONCE AND FOR ALL. Homosexual or not.

I believe it is far more Biblical and important to not waste time, energy, and lives talking about our views of sin, other’s sin especially, and focus on loving each other. We should edify, encourage, and lift up those around us – NOT condemn them and focus on penalties and hell. Romans 14:1-13 is clear that we should not argue over things; let one believe this and another believe that, but we are called to LOVE each other and exist with each other. In fact, I will share verses 10-13 as they sum up this entirely:

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me;every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Mr. Howell’s blog says, in essence, that he MUST be intolerant because his faith demands it, and that we need to tolerate his intolerance or else we’d be hypocrites. I am just saying, to me the Bible is clear that we need to focus on our OWN lives and sin and stop dictating or pointing out the sins of others, perceived or otherwise. And I truly believe, in doing so, we do more for spreading the Good News and representing the God we claim to follow.

Psalm 1:1 (which, to be clear, are DIRECTIONS to help Jews and ultimately Gentiles, not LAWS) says we should not stand in the way of sinners nor be scornful, and I will paraphrase by saying this “Dude, walk in righteousness and follow God, but don’t worry about those sinners around you.”

I’m not going to stop telling the truth.

Again, “the truth” of the Bible has already been proven to be potentially questionable, as part of understanding or malicious tampering. But even within the Protestant faith, WHOSE truth are we talking about? Lutheran? Assembly of God? United Methodist? Should we speak in tongues or not? Is baptism required for salvation? Should be abstain from all wine, or is it okay as long as we don’t get drunk? What about women in pants?

I bet there are dozens of truths just on the subjects I’ve listed above.

So, in sort of the same vein as Mr. Howell, I will share the platform of MY truth, based on two areas of the Bible and fully acknowledge others who believe the Bible may not interpret these scriptures as I do.

Matt 22:34-40 (emphasis mine):

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Gina: basically, if you can’t love God and others where they are, then the rest of the laws should not be our focus and, in fact, do not exist.

1 Cor 13 (emphasis mine):

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Gina: Basically, we need to love……our neighbors, our enemies. We need to act in ways that don’t make sense like giving those who steal from us more or letting someone who smacked us in the face hit the other side. Because, when we’re real about it as Christians, we deserve NOTHING Jesus did for us and yet He did it, anyway. And when we can collectively do that without focusing on sin so much, or our perception of sin and needing to “correct” those sins in others, ONLY THEN will our beliefs begin to spread into the hearts of others around us. Love wins. So stop using the Bible as a weapon to push others away from the very thing you want others to accept.

A Response to “A Friend in Christ”

September 13, 2013June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / 14 Comments

On Friday, September 13th I received a packaging in the mail.

There was no postal “canceling” stamp to indicate where it was sent from, though it looked beat up.
There was the proper amount of stamps on it, but was it really mailed?
There was no return address.
Inside was an envelope with my name, inside of it a letter written on lined paper.
(UPDATED 9/17) Also inside was a DVD, enclosed in a case, with the name GINA written on it. This dvd includes two sermons from Mark Driscoll preaching about the proper roles for women and the sin of homosexuality.
I have attached a picture of the letter below for reference.

First, I am the first to acknowledge that, “sharing tough love” is not easy. I have been approached by people who have addressed aspects of my life in the name of Christ, and I respect them for it. I can admit that often people who come to me to address my life have the best in mind, but often I can comfortably respond to them and affirm that I am good with where I am in Christ, my life, etc. But my point HERE is that I respect that they came to me, in love or otherwise, and had a face-to-face conversation with me from their heart – even if it was hard. And those people remain my friends today.

However, an anonymous, no name, no return address, no NOTHING letter communicates cowardice to me. It communicates not love, but judgment and condemnation. It communicates that you are fearful, and if you are reaching out in love (even if the message is hard), why is there fear? So if you sent the letter to me, please reach out to me as a real person with a real identity. Those of my friends who have done so in person, in the past can attest that I am not belligerent, I am not unkind, nor will I attack. They will also tell you that the love of God comes into the LIGHT and does not hide behind curtains or anonymous letters. If you do decide to come forward and address me openly and personally, I will not reveal your name publicly or otherwise chastise you. If you approve me sharing your name, I will, but that is the only means to which I will share it.

So, on to the activities today. Because I don’t have your name; because you’re hiding behind the fear or judgment or whatever, I have to respond publicly to you. I am sorry that it has come to it, but you’ve given me no alternative. I often fail in approaching things logically and with the least amount of emotion when I have been made to feel attacked, but know that I have prayed hard and know that I write this from my heart. Forgive me, but this will be long because I must address almost every line of the letter you sent.

But know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that your letter has violated me and my family. Love does not do that.

You wrote, “Dear Gina, I am writing to you because I wanted you to know that Jesus loves you Gina.”

My response: Thank you, though I have full knowledge of and an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, who is not only my Friend, but my Savior. I spend time with Him, I talk to Him, I think of Him, I read His Word, and above all I rest securely in the center of His Finished Work. His Love is so powerful that I cannot separate myself from it even if I tried. It is eternal and I am saved, period. IT IS FINISHED. This is affirmed in John 1, John 10, Acts 20, Romans 3:20-24, Romans 4:15-17, Romans 5:1-2, Eph 2, and many, many more. You may think, from where you sit in your “perfect life” that YOU know Jesus and I need to know Him like you do. Rest assured, I already know Him and He loves me.

You wrote, “We as Christians must humble ourselves before God when we pray. If you ask God for a good and godly husband, who will love you and cherish you, God will give you the desire of your heart.”

My response: Okay, know that I am humbling myself right now and praying to God, sincerely, because the offense to me and my family with these words is huge. I am confident that my Lord can keep me from responding in the flesh, though He is encouraging me to be real and truthful. First, I AM MARRIED – both legally (though only recognized in 13 states and by the Federal Government currently) and spiritually. My marriage, whether or not you acknowledge it, is Biblically, spiritually, legally, and physically binding. It is monogamous, prosperous, harmonious, and has been so for over ten years. I am exceedingly cherished and treated far more lovingly than I could ever imagine. And to that, which is a direct answer to prayer, I can affirm and Praise Jesus that HE DID give me the desire of my heart! I have a beautiful and loving wife, five beautiful children, and His everlasting peace! For you to suggest that, 1) this was not really, truly the desire of my heart and 2) to REALLY be fulfilled, I need to desire and marry a man is OFFENSIVE to me! And, for what it is worth, I would never EVER suggest that you marry a WOMAN (assuming you’re a woman, which I base on the writing of the letter) if that is not how you were born. Further, I certainly would not write to a person I knew was married and say they needed to pray for a DIFFERENT person to marry. It is an affront and there is no love in these comments!

You wrote, “Philippines 4:6 (you didn’t note it, but this is the NASB version) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

My response: I happen to love this verse, and just like the Bible teaches elsewhere, the Word does not return void. I do thank you for this verse, but not in the context you meant it. You see, I trust that the Lord, in His perfectness, knows that I come to Him as a broken vessel which is only made whole through His Life. And I will confess to you in this letter that I went to Him specifically about your letter and to help me not cry from it – to not spiral from the pain it caused me and my family. To not allow the yoke of condemnation in your words to suppress the love of God. And then, I asked that my building anger would not boil over like a storm. And THEN I went on to pray that He rebuke you as a person sitting in judgment, throwing stones from the dark at me and my family. I confess that I called you a hypocrite and accused you of lacking love for others (especially me), while you claimed the name of Christ under the guise of “love”. I shared with the Lord that you wrote to me for no other reason but to condemn me and to insinuate that I am somehow incomplete because I don’t have a husband. And as I spewed out all these things to my Lord, Jesus showed me that I was acting just like you – the very thing I was ranting against – in my anger and condemnation, and that made me cry all over again.

You see, Jesus does want us to follow Him, to not sin. But we often forget that He covers our sin and only wants us to FOLLOW Him, and in doing so His spirit works its way and soon enough we sin less. We become more like Him not by OUR power, but by HIS. And He made it clear that the Royal Law is to love God and love others as ourselves (Matthew, James, John – tons of scriptures support this). He even said to love our enemies! And I will tell you here, your letter did NOT do that. It did not show love, for love would never have sent it. And my reaction was not loving, for love does not think of the weaknesses or failures of others as a means to justify punishment. So yes, this verse is good to remember this ideal established by Christ, and to remind me specifically to always pray with supplication for Jesus to lead me in HIS ways, which is to love. Period. Especially for those who maybe don’t deserve that love. He said in Matthew 5 that all the laws and the prophets hang on LOVE. And I hope that when YOU truly approach Him in supplication, you hear His leadings about letters such as the one you sent me. Maybe He will direct you to not send them, or to sign your name, or maybe to just pray for the people He leads you to. That is between you and Him. But I will say again, nothing about your letter spoke love to me.

You wrote, “It is hard for a man to find a good-hearted woman, such as yourself. You have always been a beautiful woman inside and outside.”

My response: Again, since I am married already, this comment is inappropriate. I don’t think it is Biblically sound to encourage a married person to seek out another person other than their spouse. Even still, if I were “on the market” I think it is a misfortune to tell me (or any woman) that I need to “help a guy out” because it’s hard for a man to find a good-hearted woman. It is just as hard for a woman to find a good-hearted man, and yet I would not think to write to my single male friends and tell them they better get with God right away because of it! Women and men don’t necessarily need the other to be complete or fulfilled. It is an affront to singles today to say so. And affront to God’s plan for their lives. Paul wrote that some are called to be single, others to marriage. Who are WE to say what is “normal” or “right”? We need to stop acting for God and saying what others need to do or pray for.

So I am ASSUMING the real concern here is that I am married to a woman, which is clearly a sin in your eyes. To that, I would like to say with all sincerity that I am not called to convince you to think otherwise and I appreciate that is the view you may hold. However, I will not bow to your view that I am somehow not a full woman or a full Christian. I am actually quite complete and fulfilled and again, rest in my place as a Child of God and accept the full inheritance His has given me. I will also refrain from thinking you’re less of a Christian for your letter, though I am still working on that and am concerned that your stance damages the testimony of Christ to non believers and those who are jaded by Christians such as your letter presents. Thank you for your comments about me being beautiful, however. I wonder, truly, if you even know me though.

You wrote, “I hope these words find there (sic) way into your heart and encourage you to seek the Lord. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in all that you say and do.”

My response: Your words broke my heart. They offended my heart, for I approach my marriage seriously and with my entire heart. They did NOT draw me closer to God in any way, shape, or form. It was the Holy Spirit in me that drew me to Him. And I praise Jesus for His encouragement despite your letter.

And yet, it is obvious that you believe, to be a REAL woman and a REAL Christian, I am in need of a man as a husband. And by your words, I need to “seek the Lord”. I can only assume you mean I need to understand that I am in sin because I am in a same sex marriage. Again, it is not my calling to convince you to believe otherwise. But I WOULD like to ask you this – let’s say you once were a heroine addict, took part in orgies, were married and divorced and remarried, even took heroine during your first pregnancy that resulted in altering your child’s life when born. If I sent you a letter saying “you need to seek the Lord and marry a different man”, do you think that would make you run to Jesus? How about if you were fat and I walked up to you and said, “you need to seek the Lord because your gluttony is a sin, and for heck sake take that food out of your mouth” would that make you want to hug me and say “Praise Jesus?” Show me an example in the Bible where Jesus condemned anyone but the ones that thought they understood God such as the Pharisees or those selling goods in His name in the Temple? The woman caught in adultery He forgave and said “go and sin no more” and then gave her the means to stop sinning by dying on the cross! The woman at the well He told her she was living with a man, and yet He never said “but you need to change your ways.” We can both learn from this my anonymous friend. ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. You. Me. Everyone. We are NOT called to point out the sins we both commit or see each other doing, but to LOVE. Period. And if you honestly think your letter encouraged me to CHANGE, you are seriously mistaken. Instead, it has made me more aware of the pain caused by people who profess faith with their mouths (or pens, as it were) yet lack its power in their deeds. For Jesus said His yoke is easy, and His LOVE endures forever. Show me the LOVE. It doesn’t reside in your letter.

You wrote, “Sincerely, A Friend in Christ.”

My response: If you were really my friend, you would have signed your name. If you were really my friend, you would not tell me to leave my wife, break up my family, and become whole by marrying a man. You would not cause me to turn my heart from the person I committed my LIFE to, for richer or for poorer, through sickness or in health. I assume you hold marriage in high regard, and yet your letter tears marriage to shreds. You have no respect for the sanctity of marriage or all it stands for.

So here are some Biblical scriptures.

Luke 6:31 NIV “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6:37-42 NIV “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

James 4:12 ESV “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”

Romans 14:1-10 NIV “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

1 Cor 13 NIV (emphasis mine) “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

THE DVD You Sent

Mark Driscoll is not my pastor. I personally find his view of the Bible as slanted and misogynistic. In the future, if you want me to “get” what you’re saying, you probably should not send me something that Mark is speaking on. I affirm your right to esteem his views and words, and I know that God works out all things for those that love Him. I know Mark claims to love Jesus, so that is enough for me. However, I choose not to follow Mark’s teachings. Thanks.

Again, I encourage you to reach out and tell me who you are so that you can be removed from the darkness and come into the light as followers of Christ are called to do.

Bible Study: Jesus Plus Nothing

August 15, 2011June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

As presented to CCC 8/14/11

Today is not going to be a lesson based on my shortcomings, at least not directly. It’s not going to be about my work, although I WILL share that my tenure there didn’t last the two weeks as planned. Instead, my last day was Thursday and I will be starting my new job tomorrow! In all I can attest that Jesus DID have it, and He still does!

Today I’d like to share with you a concept that, at times, has apparently caused great controversy and debate. Even in the bible study, when this topic was touched on we all struggled in some way or another. And yet, even with this struggle, I wonder, “Why should this be so HARD?” I can’t answer that, but wanted to say straight out that you may hear some things that initially at least will cause you to say, “NO WAY!” and that I understand that reaction.

So without further adieu, everyone who calls him or herself a Christian, in theory, can attest that they’ve been saved by Christ. That they have been covered by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for each one of us. His death, and more importantly resurrection, broke the chains of bondage to sin and has allowed us eternal life as well as provides HIS righteousness for us TODAY. This miracle is described in our Gospel, as recorded in the New Testament.

Everyone agree?

Yet, many of us do NOT live under grace, or the “Jesus plus nothing” umbrella, but instead have created a hybrid religion. That is not healthy for us as Christians, nor to the world as we try to proclaim His Truth. As described in Andrew Farley’s book THE NAKED GOSPEL:

“Many Christians still walk in Old Covenant bondage. Regarding the law as a Divine ordinance for our direction, they consider themselves prepared and fitted by conversion to take up the fulfillment of the law as a natural duty.”

Andrew Murray (1828-1917)

“If you Christians want to make us agnostics inclined to look into your religion, you must try to be more comfortable in the possession of it yourselves. The Christians I meet seem to me to be the very most uncomfortable people anywhere around. They seem to carry their religion as a man carries a headache. He does not want to get rid of his head, but at the same time it is very uncomfortable to have it. And I for one do not care to have that sort of religion.”

Quoted in Hannah Whithall Smith, The God of All Comfort

Why do we as Christians insist on viewing ourselves as not good enough, or define ourselves by our sins? How about us Christians who “do and do” and don’t even really have time to interact with our Lord? Or even feel Him? Why are we compelled to do this? This is not a present day problem, even Martin Luther struggled with this.

Martin Luther, who many would say was a very faithful man and has done so much for Christians for centuries, struggled with guilt. Yet a large portion of his life was ruled by self-flagellation and other physical abuse in attempt to atone for his long list of sins.

Mother Teresa is another great example, and many of you can say you know she worked endlessly and unselfishly for so many in need. Yet, in a personal diary entry penned to Jesus, she wrote the following:

I am told God loves me – and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Before the work started, there was so much union, love, faith, trust, prayer, and sacrifice. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?

Even after working for over 40 years exclusively for Christ, Mother Teresa struggled for meaning, purpose, and a stable relationship with God!

Can you related to these two, at least partially?

How did this happen to these two, maybe even to us? Let’s go back in time and do a little research.

In Exodus 24:3,4 and 7, it reads:

When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”

This amounted to 600 commandments in all – more than 350 items and actions to abstain from and nearly 250 actions on the Jewish to do list. Some actions were even punishable by death!

And how did the Israelite’s fair with these laws? I think they reaction is best described as a rollercoaster ride!

Psalm 78:56-59 says:
But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. Like their fathers they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols. When God heard them, he was very angry; he rejected Israel completely.

But you may say, “he give them a break, they may have not known better! Maybe if they were knowledgeable on the Lord, they’d fair better!” So let’s see how the Priests handled God’s commandments:

Malachi 2:1-2

“And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.”

Time didn’t seem to help the Israelite’s get their act together, either, for centuries later Saul or Tarsus – maybe the most committed of all – wrote the following:

Romans 7:15

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

So, struggling to do the right thing to feel the presence of God is not a new thing at all. But maybe Martin Luther, Mother Teresa, even the Israelites had it wrong!

But certainly, you can say, there were many Old Testament Heroes who were SUPER close to God and received great blessings from Him. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, even David! Yet they lacked SO MUCH compared to us if we are to believe the Bible.

Hebrews 11 speaks of the faith so many of these heroes manifested, which saved them or caused great miracles to occur.

11:33-34

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

11:39

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

So what was this that God had planned, this “something better” than what amazing people received?

The Old Testament defined who could approach God, and how. So it’s with amazement that I realized though this study that our High Priest, when viewed through the Old Testament , does not meet the requirements to hold this office! The law requires that a person be from the tribe of Levi to qualify as high priest, yet Jesus was from the tribe of Judah! This has been confirmed in Hebrews 7:13-14. Do you agree that no one from the line of Judah has EVER served as priest? The law forbade it. That’s because the law and Jesus just don’t mix.

That’s why it’s amazing to read and receive what Hebrews 7:12 says:

For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.

So, with this change of the law, should we live exclusively under Christ’s grace, should we follow the law, or should we combine the two?

My struggle IMMEDIATELY escalates at this point! I mean, we are ambassadors for Christ and our walk is important when we represent Him, right? It’s important to live righteously, to be holy, to honor our Lord! So how can you even PRETEND to ignore the law?

Do you feel me?

But grace is still a contract, with Jesus Christ directly. In contrast to the old contract that God wrote through Moses, GRACE will never be replaced! IT IS THE FINAL WORD CONCERNING A HUMAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

Hebrews 8:8-9

But God found fault with the people and said:

   “The time is coming, declares the Lord,
   when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
   and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
   I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
   to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
   and I turned away from them,
            declares the Lord.

God always intended to usher in something RADICALLY DIFFERENT, and that passage clearly states something totally new was coming. And this new way was going to solve a huge problem – our failure to remain faithful. Whatever this NEW is, it somehow CAUSES people to remain faithful, even when their own strength fails them!

THERE IS REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE OLD IN ITSELF. IT SHOULD STILL BE ESTEEMED AS HOLY AND GOOD. THE ISSUE WITH THE OLD WAS THAT NO ONE COULD OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY UNDER IT. FOR THAT REASON, GOD ORCHESTRATED A DIFFERENT WAY.

In the new, we have a personal connect with God, as explained in Hebrews 8:10:

This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

I want to share a very subtle change in this verse, one that I overlooked for years. For the writer of Hebrews purposely MISQUOTED the Old Testament; he changed the old testament “my law” to “my laws”.

Contrary to popular teaching, it’s not the law of Moses that is written on our hearts, It’s GOD’S LAWS! The New Testament speaks to this and Jesus also helps us with this.:

•   The Royal Law –
o   James 2:8 – If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
•   The Law that Gives Freedom –
o   James 1:25 – But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
•   Jesus’ Commands –
o   Mark 12:30-31 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”
o   John 13:34-35- “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
o   John 14:15 – If you love me, you will obey what I command.
o   “Jesus plus nothing”

Okay, if you’re anything like me, your mind might be filled with “but what about this?” and “what about that?”

So what IS the law for???? The law is there to point unbelievers to Jesus, not to lead believers.

But how can I know I am on the right path if I don’t have a road? Jesus is the lamp that lights our paths.

1 Cor 10 talks about “all things are permissible, but not all things beneficial”
•   In context of eating meat used for sacrifices to idols
•   Today, it could be drinking around an alcoholic
•   Today it could be having tattoos
•   Neither action is wrong to Christians, but it may cause problems for others OR create a habit that is not beneficial for the believer. Neither has anything to do with our righteousness in Christ.

So let’s talk a little more about specifics. Are you hearing me say we should be lawless?

NO.

Am I saying standards like “thou shall not kill” or “there shall be no other gods” no longer matter?

NO.

But let’s put this in context –

•   do rules and regulations make us RIGHTEOUS?
•   If we DO those things, are we focused on our Lord?
•   If we fail on one of those things, do we really believe Jesus has saved us from it already?

The biggest struggle I have with the concept of GRACE over the LAW is the dichotomy they represent. Yes, I am 100% forgiven, but I need to represent my Lord, and it’s easier for me to do that if I have a list of standards to follow.

But I am telling you, the whole FOCUS changes when you accept that you only need to LIVE under GRACE!

For example, you hear Pastor Bob talk about tithing often. He tells us this is the only place in the Bible where we are told to test God, to see what He will do. That is the truth, I believe it.

But when I thought about tithing in the context of the LAW, I saw it very differently. You see, it was something I had to do to prove I was a faithful Christian. It was a requirement of mine, established by the Bible. And in THAT context – I call “the law context” – I approached it one of these ways:

•   With fear – I better tithe or I will be in trouble with God (the church, my Pastor)
•   With rebellion – Why is it a rule anyway? My church has plenty of money and God can do all things, anyway.
•   With Guilt – after all Jesus did for me, how can I say I love him when I can’t even give 10% of what He gave me?
•   With Appearance – I don’t want others to think I am less of a Christian
•   With Defiance – I’m just not gonna do it. I will handle my money the way I want to, period.

All of the above have something in common – they are all 100% focused on ME and MONEY! NOWHERE is my focus on my Lord.

However, when I began to view tithing in the context of GRACE (as I believe Pastor teaches is), it took on a whole new set of clothes:

•   With Truth – Jesus loves me so much, that He died for me so that I don’t have to fulfill ANY requirement
•   With Appreciation – Jesus provides for me so much, thank you Jesus! Thank you for blessing me with this income.
•   With Freedom – I know I will have a home/food/clothing/etc. no matter what, so I want to give a small portion so others can know this truth too.
•   With Abundance – Lord, you HAVE truly proven Yourself! The more I give, the more I have – both monetarily and spiritually!

Notice the above, which truly happened to me. Do you see much talk about money? ME? JESUS was the focus! The law points to US, Grace points to JESUS, even in things such as the standard of tithing! And the truth is, because Jesus is IN each of us, the closer we draw to our established relationship with Him, the more clearly He will guide us with His Holy Spirit!

Another way I reconciled the dichotomy of Grace and Law was an analogy I heard from my dear friend, George. And let me tell you, George gets fired up about the Grace we already have in Jesus! He does NOT want us to be tied down by the Law!

“Breakfast in Bed”

Everyone likes breakfast in bed! I know I love it! But breakfast is bed is very different when viewed under the Law!

Let’s say you’re married to the Law. The Law demands YOU prepare breakfast everyday, right at 7:30am. That breakfast needs to be exactly on time, perfectly prepared (not too hot, not too cold, eggs over easy, pinch of salt) everyday or else your marriage may be in jeopardy. Can you imagine the pressure you’d be under each day? There is no room for mistakes, no room for empathy if you’re feeling unwell, didn’t sleep through the night, etc. There may even be days when you RESENT the law, and grumble about having to serve breakfast in the first place. Or, if the eggs are cold (as they are sure to be) you have no recourse to fixing it and the guilt may overwhelm you.

To further complicate matters, this marriage TO the law cannot be ended UNDER the law, because the law says you can only remarry if you are a widow, or your spouse dies. But you know what? Here comes Jesus! HE died, and the Bible tells us that we are crucified with Christ, even though we live! So, WE died with Christ, breaking that marriage to the Law, and now we are free to remarry Grace.

Romans 7:1-4 says:

Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

Having read that, how do you think Jesus feels if we say we are married to Him and His Grace, but keep going back to visit our old spouse, the Law? ………..But let’s get back to our breakfast, with our new marriage to Christ:

Now breakfast in bed under Grace is very different. IN THIS arrangement, JESUS prepared the breakfast each day just the way you like it. As it turns out, it’s exactly perfect each day – over easy, not too hot, perfect seasoning – everyday, without fail. And, service is provided with the most amazing love and care! Day in and day out! He NEVER fails!

And then suddenly, something amazing happens to you after each breakfast is served! Suddenly, YOU begin to want to serve JESUS breakfast, and HE says, “oh, that’s okay, I can do it, it’s already prepared!” but you say, “Oh Jesus, I love you so much and appreciate you so much! I don’t care if I am required to make breakfast or not, I WANT to because I love you!”

Grace CAUSES us to do right, to take on the actions of Jesus. The Law does not!

Now, maybe you have in your head another situation. What about those who claim to be Christians, yet they are hypocrites! Maybe their walk shows no signs of Jesus, maybe they even ridicule the things of the Lord, even as they claim to follow Him!

Well hey, what do Jesus’ commandments say to do? Love them.

Further, it is usually not OUR job to measure the worth of a man, or to decide his heart. Now, there are parameters where leaders such as Pastors of this church can address actions or behaviors, but overall Jesus really says to us, “what is it to you?”

Like how Jesus dealt with Peter and John in 21:15-23. Keep in mind this is after Jesus’ death and resurrection, after Peter denied Christ 3 times. The disciples were fishing when John see’s a man and says, “It’s Jesus!” Before you know it Peter jumps out of the boat, swims to Jesus, and soon Jesus and Peter are going over the “Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep” conversation. Jesus goes on to tell Peter he faces a tough death, and ends with FOLLOW ME.

About this time, here comes John, who had NOT swam to shore is a flurry to see Christ. I can see, even with Peter’s failures in the past, he felt pretty good about himself right now in relation to Christ. He may have even felt a little competitive with John. So he looks at mister “mosey on in” and says, “Hey Lord, what about HIM!” And Jesus’ reply? You don’t need to worry about him, you need to just worry about following ME!”

So, I encourage you, don’t go back to your first spouse, the Law. Stop living under that life. Let Jesus’ grace, which exists inside of you, allow you to grow in Him. Focus on JESUS, and if others bug you, let Jesus handle it. Don’t try to read a list to be righteous, walk under grace which has already made you righteous in Christ. You can succeed by living under this truth – Jesus plus nothing.

Just Rambling

A place where writing and thinking are known as rambling.

Grace