Lutherans, Presbyterians & Episcopalians Have Lost The War

The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." The great war against the power of Satan and his controlling influence continues today and will continue until Christ puts all enemies under His feet. As the battle rages we see the doctrines of men and traditions of men crumble before the savage beast of error.

The Bible clearly establishes that homosexuality is a deprivation of man's body and spirit. In the beginning of creation, man was created in the image of God and from the side of Adam woman was brought to fulfill the complete pattern of God's design and purpose. Any relationship outside the bond of a man and woman is against the makeup of man (fornication, adultery, homosexuality, sodomy). To those who believe in God and love Him to follow His commandments understand that sexual immorality is the transgression of the law of God.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither ... homosexuals, nor sodomites ... will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9,10) Does God hate the homosexual? No - Jesus died for the homosexual. Should Christians hate homosexuals? No - Jesus died for all men. Paul observed in the same text of 1 Corinthians 6 that the Corinthians had practiced such things as listed in verse 9, 10. However, they had turned from their sin and were washed, sanctified and justified.

Does this suggest they remained in the sin of which they were condemned? Their obedience was only possible through the repentance of the lives they were living and leaving those relationships to return to the design of creation - one man and one woman for life! Verse nine establishes that homosexuals and sodomites cannot inherit the kingdom of God - no matter what the religious world may say.

In the past year and in recent weeks, three Protestant groups have made the news regarding their stand on homosexuality. Last year, the Episcopal News Service (July 19, 2000) reported, "Convention Recognizes Faithful Relationships Other Than Marriage." David Skidmore, writing for the ENS, "In a move that many hailed as evidence of a new way of doing business, the General Convention engineered a compromise giving hope to gay and lesbian members while affirming traditional church teaching on the sanctity of marriage." This same agency reports (March 23, 2001) the Lutheran church is seeking to "affirm welcome to Gays." The Lutheran Church is seeking to "encourage gays, lesbians and bi-sexual people who feel alienated from Christian churches to return to worship in caring communities." Crosswalk.com reports, "A proposal to ban blessing rituals for same-sex couples in the Presbyterian Church (USA) has been defeated, leaving clergy free to conduct such ceremonies, so long as they are not confused with marriages."

It is with no doubt that the homosexual and sodomite (Biblical terms) need love and understanding as they stand in need of Jesus Christ. God loves the sinner but he hates the sin. To accept them as they refuse to leave their life of sexual immorality is to embrace to very tenets of the doctrine of Satan. I would feel confident that most members of these three denominations would decry such actions but that has little changed the decisions of those who have the authority over them - men.

When religious groups begin to compromise with the truth of God's word, they have no recourse but to allow homosexuality to be an accepted part of their religion. Jesus said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." (Matthew 15:13,14)

By Kent E. Heaton Sr

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