I’m not sure if there’s any place more beautiful in the autumn than a glowing forest enveloped in color, unless in the same sweep of grandeur you can view a distant sea.
That is where I left off writing last fall—amidst the cascade of colors around Lunenberg, Nova Scotia.
I stopped in order to blog about celebrating Christmas in America, but in doing so, I left many tales about my Travels with Allie through the Northeast untold. Lord willing, I want to finish sharing about our trip around Northeastern America this fall, then finish our trip to the Southwest in the first half of 2024, and finally complete tales of our Northwest adventure during the second half of 2024. Let’s see how far I get!
From Nova Scotia, Alan and I passed through New Brunswick, Canada, and returned to America in mid-October.
The Atlantic Provinces of Canada are stunningly beautiful in autumn, but so is New England!
As we traveled south through Maine, we were greeted at every turn with breathtaking skyscapes and treescapes.
Rivers shimmered under canopies of kaleidoscopic color.
Colors ran like rivers across the open grasslands.
Textured skies vied for attention.
The highways beckoned us to follow their long and winding roads.
To . . . home?
God painted the sunset with undulating movement
and a palette of almost every hue under heaven!
Heading home? Yes, I think—just beyond the sunset . . .
Home, a place of refuge as the night closed in around us.
Not my home, but Susan’s home—warm, inviting, historic. We’ve been friends for over 50 years. She and Bob owned a dairy farm that looked like a Rockwell painting. In fact, everything about their life seemed idyllic.
Until Bob took off with a guy after more than 25 years of marriage. I was dumbfounded and incredulous. How could he do that? Really, his betrayal of my dear friend was also a big part of what kept me from writing more last year, and I’m still not sure what to say. Susan has given me permission to say whatever I feel led to say, and Bob has since died of lung cancer, but the ache in all our hearts may never heal.
Bob and I were actually friends first, and I didn’t meet Susan until after they married. Bob and I had been confidants in college . . . I thought. He told me all about his hopes and dreams and aspirations. I could tell him my woes over trying to figure out what to do with Alan during his rebel years, and Bob could tell me about the girls who were chasing him. It seemed like we really understood each other—or so I thought. He was the heir to a millionaire, which (unfortunately) made him especially attractive to other young women. I didn’t care about money, but I did genuinely care about Bob. He invited me home to meet his family. Not everybody has a landing strip in their front yard, do they? He took me to meet his grandparents. Their mansion looked like straight out of The Happiest Millionaire (although his family was gracious, not nutty). He was sweet, kind, and always a gentleman.
Yet there was something not quite right. When Alan and I broke up “for good,” Bob called to let me know he’d bought a farm and wondered if I’d be interested in marrying him. I thought to myself, “I may live to regret this, but I just can’t.” I said, “Thank you, but no.” I loved Bob, but I wasn’t “in love” with Bob, and I knew the difference.
We always remained friends. I married Alan, and he married Susan. We exchanged Christmas cards every year, and Susan’s letters always made me happy. Full life; beautiful kids; always doing a zillion good things for everybody.
When Susan told me Bob left her for a man, I contacted Bob and begged him to go home. As if it explained everything, he told me he’d been abused as a kid and had always struggled with homosexual desires. Personally, I think few people live through a marriage without at some point thinking they made the wrong choice, but I also believe we are better off toughing it out with our partner than quitting regardless of our secret struggles or how we change over time. Doesn’t our promise of “for better or worse” cover that?
Anyway, his mind was made up. We still kept in occasional contact, but not to any avail for positive change that I could tell. His life concluded with a series of shipwrecks and sorrows. A terrifying end, although his daughters attended him as he died, and he is buried back at home on their farm, close to Susan (as he wished).
I do not understand homosexuality. I do know the Bible is clear that God’s design for marriage is to pursue life as a heterosexual couple.
I’ve struggled for years to make sense of dystopic relationships and come up blank every time. But, I’ve also pored over the Scriptures enough to know that God challenges us to love everyone, including those we believe are wrong and making harmful choices. Jesus even tells us to love and forgive our enemies. He taught, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Which commandments? Well, for starters, to love God above all else and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
As we journey through life to our heavenly home, let’s remember to love everyone—not just those with whom we agree or those we admire. Love “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” (1 Corinthians 13:5-7). Can we love and pray for those around us, no matter who they are?
“This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12).
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” (1 John 2:3).
Next to mass shootings, I can’t think of anything more devastating than the sexual abuse that’s been happening in America.
Rachel Denhollander received the 2021 Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life
We all hear about the murderous evil splattered across the front pages of our newspapers from mass shootings, but the insidious assault perpetrated for years by athletic coaches and medical personnel has only recently come to light, largely through the tireless efforts of Rachael Denhollander, a courageous young lawyer and political activist who was a former gymnast . . . one of the hundreds sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar.
Athlete A, 2020, PG-13, 7.6 IMDb
This is a really hard movie to watch, but if you have a child (especially a daughter) who’s part of any athletic program, I urge you to watch it so you will beware of the potential for evil in our society. (And, consider watching it a second time with your daughter.) Frankly, I think it’s time for all of us to assess the sexual safety of each of our children, regardless of gender or athletic prowess. I have a close friend whose grand daughter was part of a rowing team a few years ago where the coach had secretly installed equipment for watching the girls in the dressing room. He’s in prison now, but the girls were totally unaware of his voyeurism, and they all loved him! He was a great coach, and they were a winning team. The girls were devastated by his betrayal.
I had a male friend (now passed) who was abused by an admired custodian at the elite prep school he attended, and after twenty-five years of marriage he left his wife for a man. He tried to live with his gruesome secret, but he confided to me that he never recovered from the affects of being abused. Both men and women are being assaulted in record numbers.
Woman interviewed in Athlete A
I’m not sure it’s possible to assess the effects from being betrayed by those you trust and admire, but I think the impact and struggle to overcome is a lifelong battle for most.
Sexually abuse is a topic so ugly no one wants to touch it, but it’s way past time to confront this evil and protect our young people. I suspect this movie is just the tip of the iceberg, but may we each take it seriously and examine what’s going on in our homes, schools, and social groups.
It is my prayer that at the beginning of this new school year, each parent makes the challenging effort to talk individually with each of their children. Start building trust with them in this area. You can be sure they’re hearing “all about it” at school anyway. We need to have listening, non-judgmental hearts, seeking to figure out how each child is doing. Are they involved in any physical activity where they are being touched? Even what’s labeled therapeutic massage can lead to erotic mishandling. Please, please be wary. Please, please make sure your youngsters feel safe with you, so they don’t think you’ll condemn them. I have one dear friend who finally got the courage to say her uncle had been sexually abusing her, and instead of protecting her, the whole family turned on her in disbelief because the uncle “couldn’t possibly” have seduced her. “It must have been her fault!”
No, the older person is responsible for protecting the younger person. If you find yourself attracted to someone much younger than you are, seek help immediately! If you find yourself attracted to someone older who should not be available, tell an older adult who’s in a position to help you, and get help!
If you don’t know where to turn for help, please start by praying and asking God for wisdom about how to proceed and where to go for emotional and physical safety. God knows each of us intimately. He understands our hearts and needs. He sent Christ to die for our sins, and He can bring miraculous healing to our wounded hearts—if we’ll let Him!
“Help, Lord; for the godly man ceases; for the faithful fail from among the children of men” (Psalm 12:1).
“And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him” (Psalm 37:40).
This isn’t simply armchair speculation for me. This is real-life pondering, prayerful heart-searching, and diligent study of the scriptures. What do you think? Do you have “the” answer? Is the answer the same for all Christians, or might different Christians be led by the Holy Spirit to different conclusions? Please tell me what you think!
The first thing that’s obvious to me is the biological fact that a “marriage” in the sense of the institution ordained by God in the Bible—a permanent union between a man and woman culminated by intercourse and providing for the lifelong establishment of a home—is not possible. Two individuals of the same sex cannot have procreative intercourse. It is simply, biologically not possible. So, marriage in the biblical sense between two people of the same sex is simply not possible either.
From ages past to about 1950 AD, there are precious few examples of homosexual unions (although they existed, mostly disapproved). However, in the past thirty years it’s becoming more acceptable. In 2005, Canada became the fourth country to make same-sex marriages legal, and today 29 out of 215± countries have made a contract entitled “marriage” legal. That’s about 14% and growing. However, for almost all human beings, there is a difference between “legal” and “moral.” “Legal” means the government allows it without being penalized. “Moral” means it is “right” rather than “wrong” according to the code of ethics for human behavior. For an example that would be almost universally understood: It is not illegal in America to have sex with your best friend’s partner or your neighbor’s dog, but most people would consider such behaviors immoral.
So, we have a dilemma with same-sex marriage. After 6,000 years of human history disapproving heterosexual acts and contracts, the world seems to be gradually allowing people to make their own choice about sexual partnerships. Is this just fine? A tolerance we should all embrace? Or, is this immoral and to be discouraged?
I’m not sure how others make their decisions, but as a Christian, I believe we have a responsibility to base our decisions on the Bible, which was given to us as the “How To” guide for doing life in a way that pleases our God and best cares for the needs of mankind. The Bible is clearly against homosexual acts, despite increasing attempts to rewrite, reinterpret, and explain away such texts.
For a start, does it seem logically reasonable to you that Judeo/Christian culture would condemn for 4,000+ years perfectly fine behavior that was not condemned in the Bible? If you really think it has always been just fine by the Bible but misunderstood, over the past 7 years I’ve written a number of posts addressing various aspects of the issue. I’ll give links at the end of this article for three posts, but if you have time and are really exercised to do more reading, look along the right side of this page under the heading “Various Posts by Topic,” and if you scroll down to “Sex and Gender Issues,” you’ll find over 60 articles, some of which discuss the various biblical passages on homosexuality.
If I could put all the arguments in a nutshell for why the Bible condemns homosexuality and does not make allowance for same-sex marriages, the kernel is this: I don’t know, but I trust God and His Word. I can argue the reasonableness (such as our sex is encoded in every cell in our bodies, so why not pursue healing and integrity rather than give in to perversion? [as in “to divert to a wrong end or purpose”]; the potential for same-sex marriages is shallow; marriage is to be a picture of Christ and the Church—who are not two equals, etc.), However, the bottom line is that I can’t “prove” it’s right or wrong outside the Bible. I don’t know “why.” I just know by faith in the Scripture that it is condemned, and I trust God’s goodness and wisdom. I also know that God commands us to “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 20:7). God wants us to be holy—to be like He is. Does He require this because He’s mean and wants to spoil our fun? No. “God is Love” (I John 4:8)! I am convinced God calls us to holiness because that is the very best way we can be, and it will produce a life that is ultimately the happiest possible for us—all of us! Holy living will best fulfill the “royal law” to love God above all else and love others as we love ourselves (James 2:8).
Therefore, would it be good and wise to attend a same-sex marriage based on the desire to show love and support of your friend regardless of how you feel about the marriage? Not if you understand by faith that the sexual fulfillment of such a contract will transgress God’s laws and ultimately become deadly rather than life-giving: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12). Should I support the legalization of something that I know will dishonor God and the people involved (whether or not they think so)? For me, the answer is clear. Jesus summed up the entire law as, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (Luke 10:27). Loving God prohibits dishonoring God. Loving someone as I love myself prohibits standing by celebrating while they do something I know will hurt them. Do you think it would be loving and supportive to watch your loved one jump off a cliff if they really, really, really wanted to and thought it would help them fly?
Just for the record, fellowship is a good thing, and living in community with other people is usually a good thing. If I lost my spouse, I can imagine eventually feeling lonely and looking for another partner. Sharing life space and expenses with someone can be part of a healthy lifestyle. It’s sexual relations with anyone (heterosexual or same-sex) outside of a heterosexual marriage that is condemned in the Bible.
“And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?” (Matthew 17:17, ESV).
“An individual human” (Merriam Webster). “An adult male human” (Wikipedia). While pondering proverbial themes, I surveyed how many times various words are used, thinking that would help me find some patterns for study. I couldn’t find a list of every word and how many times it’s been used (if you can, please tell me where or send me a copy!), but I did scour the passages and came up with my own list of over 300 words that seemed most common (not counting articles like a, and, the). Want to know the results?
I won’t bore you with every detail (although it will probably affect my writing moving forward), but I was personally surprised. “Lord” is used 87 times, which didn’t surprise me. Considering that Proverbs is known as “The Book of Wisdom,” I also wasn’t surprised that the word “wisdom” is used 53 times and “wise” 66 times . . . and after thinking about it, the fact that “foolish” is used 23 times and “fool” 78 times is also not surprising. We often learn by contrast.
Chart from BBC News
What did surprise me was the revelation that the word “man” was the most commonly used word in Proverbs. Certainly, many of those usages refer to individual humans who are also adult males, but for today, I want to discuss “man” in the passages where they refer to human beings—mankind as a group . . . our human family that numbers over 7 billion with only another 1 billion who have lived and died since mankind has been alive on Earth.
What is man? Really, man is not defined in Proverbs, but we know a few things about ourselves from the Bible generally:
We were created by God, in his image, as male and female, and were given the privilege and responsibility of reigning over the rest of God’s creation here on earth (Genesis 1:26-27).
We were made a “little lower” than the angels but were “crowned with glory and honor” and “set over the works” of God’s hands (Hebrews 2:7).
We have a special place in God’s creation because—although we have all sinned—we can all be redeemed by Christ (Galatians 3:13, which is not true of angelic beings who sin; see Jude 1:6).
Putting aside all the references to men who have descriptors (which includes the vast majority of them!), the universal theme that jumped out at me and seems to apply to all of us is our propensity for wandering and our need for guidance. Although we were created to worship God and care for his beautiful creation, we don’t have the wisdom on our own to accomplish this work. Consider these verses:
1.”All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits” (Proverbs 16:2; see also Proverbs 21:2, etc. ) 2. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25; see also Proverbs 14:12, etc.). 3. “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead” (Proverbs 21:16). 4. “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” (Proverbs 24:12). 5. “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:21). 6. “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors” (Proverbs 8:34). 7. “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). 8. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).
To me, the bottom line of the Book of Proverbs is that it’s God’s handbook for man—for us . . . for all human beings—on wisdom, including how to get along with other human beings and how to care for every living thing and every natural resource on earth. How to care for man and animals. How to conserve energy and purify the earth.
When we start worrying about global warming, the coronavirus pandemic, human trafficking, gender issues, social injustice . . . whatever issue is driving us to distraction . . . may I suggest that we begin by learning and living out the principles of God’s Word? Check out the book of Proverbs! There’s a world of wisdom about how to treat others—man-to-man, and man-to-God’s creation. Let’s learn it, and let’s do it!
“As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man” (Proverbs 27:19).
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Proverbs 9:9).
After a very taxing day and the expiration of our productive energy, Alan and I sat down to watch a video. Somehow, there was a new movie in our queue which neither of us remembered adding. It had an intriguing title, and the first line mentioned a burned-out FBI agent going to the country and befriending a special needs child. It sounded like a warm, Hallmark-style movie with a happy ending, which seemed like the perfect way to end our day. Also, being a 2020 release, I thought it might make a good story to pass along to you as well! 🙂
Wrong! The movie started out warm and wonderful—panning mountains and idyllic country roads—but before long we were seeing artsy FBI flashbacks to sensuous ballet dancing, eruptions of profanity . . . and suddenly the realization that we were heading into a lesbian romance. Not at all what we’d hoped for. We shut it off and headed for bed, but the next morning when I looked it up, I was chagrined to discover that if I’d bothered to read the entire synopsis, I would have saved us both some time and frustration!
How many times do I make snap decisions based on incomplete information? Too many to count, for sure! Even videos that sound good aren’t always good; have you noticed? I need to be more careful and more prayerful, not only concerning what I watch, but also how I spend all my time, how I eat . . . even how I’m going to vote! What sources do I trust? Which candidates stand for what I believe is right? And on, and on!
I have a trio of little bronze monkeys sitting on a window ledge to remind us: “Speak no evil, see no evil; hear no evil.” It’s also been said: “What goes in comes out.” “You are what you eat.” “What you sow you will reap.” “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (see Proverbs 23:7).
That next morning, I received an ad from Revelation Media concerning a free premiere showing of a new release called In His Image, which anyone who signs up for can watch free on October 20th. (They invite you to donate and they’ll send you a DVD, but I think you can watch it free without donating anything.) I’m going to share the link with you, but be sure to check it out for yourself! If you—like me—think it will be worthwhile, maybe you’d like to watch it too! It sounds good; I hope it is good, but if you watch it, I’d love to hear your critique!
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Yes, former CIA member, Tim Ballard, has founded Operation Underground Railroad to combat the fastest growing “enterprise” (criminal business) in the world: human trafficking. There are about 30 million people being trafficked worldwide in 2020, 8 million of whom are children, largely used for the sex industry or for harvesting organs. Tim’s voice message to the world? “There’s slavery, and it’s alive. It’s terrifying to talk about this. It takes guts to listen to this interview [link below] and guts to engage. You think you would have been an abolitionist. Now is your chance! There are more people enslaved today than ever before.”
Once I started listening to the interview on the Candace Owens Show, I couldn’t stop! I’m going to share a few of his most cogent points, but if you think slavery is wrong and should be eradicated, please take time to listen to the discussion. A few “must knows;”
*The U.S. is the greatest problem, because our nation is the world’s largest consumer of trafficking services. This is shocking and horrifying. No wonder we are accused by some as being “the Great Satan.” We need to repent as a nation and pray for an end to this grotesque immorality.
*There’s been a 5000% increase in child rape videos in the past few years [we’re talking 5-7 year-olds, not teens].
*Should we legalize prostitution? According to Ballard, no, but we should not be prosecuting prostitutes. Rather, we should be prosecuting pimps. If we legalize prostitution, children will be even more terribly abused. We must protect children. (Listen to his explanation; it makes sense.)
*Should there be a “wall” of protection between Mexico and the U.S. “YES!” Ballard cited the case of one young woman they rescued who was kidnapped and taken through the dessert of Mexico into the U.S. She estimated that she had been raped 60,000 times before being freed and said if there had been any opportunity at a border, she would have cried out for help. (Editorial note from me: Victims are frightened for their lives in most cases if they’re not too drugged.)
*What can we do? In Michigan, there is MAP (“Michigan Abolition Project”). If you want to learn more or help support those who are on the front lines, I can now recommend two international organizations:
Operation Underground Railroad is working in 25 states within America and in 22 countries around the world. Their website is:
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:22-23).
If I may start at the end and work backward, I’d like to begin this with a quote from the end of Karen Keen’s book on this subject: “The end results surprised me. Rather than a black-and-white answer, I heard God saying ‘freedom.’ Not the kind of freedom that celebrates licentiousness, but the kind of freedom that loves you no matter what, even when you don’t measure up.” In a nutshell, this conclusion resonates in my heart as well.
That being said, let me point out places where I question the logic in Karen’s lines of reasoning in her book, Scripture, Ethics, & The Possibility Of Same-Sex Relationships. It would take hours—possibly even a book—to adequately discuss and counter all her arguments (at least the ones I disagree with, which aren’t all of them, of course! 🙂 ), and I am open to discussing any points or details she’s written about, but for the sake of this post not turning into an alternate doctoral thesis, let me address her four main topics:
1. Attending to the overarching intent of biblical mandates 2. Engaging in a deliberative process for creation ordinances 3. Discussing honestly the feasibility of celibacy 4. Reflecting on the fall in light of science
1. I agree that the overarching intent of biblical mandates is to provide for the common good of all people, and the law can be summed up in “Love God above all else and love your neighbor as yourself” (see Matthew 22:36-40). Where we disagree is in what it actually means to love God and love our neighbor. Jesus expanded on that in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (See also John 14:21 and John 15:10). Our love for God is proven by our keeping his commandments, but in the spirit of love, not without it. (See the beautiful description of what love in action looks like in 1 Corinthians 13.) 1 John 5:3 enlarges on this: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” If we truly love God with all our hearts and souls, even the terribly difficult things we endure for his sake will not grieve us, because we understand that our self-sacrifices are done out of love for Him and for the good of others . . . which fulfills God’s mandate.
God’s commandments were given to us for our good and for the good of others. God created us; He understands us; He has given us commandments to train us in the way of godliness. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (1 Timothy 1:5). Love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith will naturally follow from the prayerful practice of God’s commandments, and it will also result in knowing what true love for others looks like. True love will persevere through failure, but true love doesn’t condone breaking commandments for the sake of accommodating someone else’s failures. Jesus never broke any of the commandments. He fulfilled the law, although he had compassion on the failures of others. To break any of God’s commandments is a failure to love God and our fellow man, and it comes from a lack of faith. From Genesis through Revelation, God is trying to teach us to trust Him to solve our problems rather than break laws attempting to find our own “better” solutions. He doesn’t want us to take matters into our own hands, like Sarah, to make things “turn out right.” They won’t! When we disobey, we open the door to failure, not success. Compassion unhinged from righteousness creates evil, not good. God calls us to overcome evil with good, not succumb to evil because persevering in good is too hard.
Before moving on to her second point, I do want to applaud Karen for her honesty in reporting: “The Old Testament authors speak only negatively of same-sex relations” (17; see Lev. 18:22;20:13 and Deuteronomy 23:17-18). She goes on to explain, “In the New Testament, all mention of same-sex relations is negative” (18; see in particular Romans 1:18-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1:9-10). Karen goes on to ask: If both the traditionalists and the progressives agree that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is wrong, “then why the debate? Doesn’t that mean the Bible says same-sex relationships are wrong?” (19). I would say, “Yes! Preach it, sister! 🙂
However, Keen goes on to suggest that the authors of the biblical books may not have had insight into all forms of same-sex relationships, so they “may not” have been addressing homosexuality generally. To me, that is like saying that the Bible always condemns adultery . . . but it may not have been addressing some of the extenuating circumstances. For instance, what if your spouse has an incurable illness and is no longer sexually available? Based on how difficult it is to be celibate, might the Bible turn a blind eye to the man who seeks to relieve sexual tension and find some comfort with another woman in that devastating situation? Or, what about many single people who have the same sexual urges all of us experience but have not been able to secure a mate? What about the widows and widowers who yearn for sexual release? What about those who are imprisioned and can’t be with their spouse? So far, our society does not make exceptions for extenuating circumstances, and although most Christians would feel compassion, no one would deem such behavior godly or to be celebrated.
2. Our response to the second issue is directly connected to our view of the Bible . . . and man’s first temptation: “Hath God said?” (Genesis 3:1). The basic issue is whether or not the Bible’s teachings were superintended by an all-knowing God whose precepts were and always shall be an immutable standard for life and conduct, or whether the scriptures were written by various men who were limited in their understanding, bound by cultural issues, and not aware of current scientific theories, rendering their ideas no longer binding or sufficient. Karen feels we can improve on some of them to better meet the needs of modern people.
“Engaging in a deliberative process for creation ordinances,” in common parlance, is suggesting that even that which was ordained at the time of creation—such as God creating male and female as complimentary halves of a marriage unit—is now up for debate and possible reinterpretation. In part, Karen justifies this by saying that science has disproven the Genesis account of creation. For instance: “Instead of Adam and Eve, the data indicates Adams and Eves” (86) and makes the assertion that the scientifically approved “Y-chromosome Adam” [as the progenitor of all living males] “was not the only Homo sapiens alive in his time nor the first. In other words, he is only the father of male lineages that happened to survive to the present” (86).
To me, it is impossible to have a meaningful conversation about the authority of Scripture with someone who no longer believes the biblical accounts are accurate. For instance, Keen claims that “both science and Genesis indicate that bodily decay and evil existed prior to Adam” (87). Evil pre-existed the fall: The serpent tempted Adam and Eve to sin. However, the Bible clearly teaches that “by man [Adam] came death, by man[Christ] came also the resurrection of the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:21). Yes, evil existed, but not the principle of death and decay working within the bodies and spirits of Adam and Eve.
Keen’s theory that same-sex attraction may be simply variation in species development rather than natural fallenness is based on a failure to understand the clear teaching of Genesis. Keen says Genesis indicates that bodily decay predated the fall because Adam and Eve were forced out of the garden to keep from eating from the tree of life. This is faulty thinking. At the time they were cast out of the garden, they were in the process of decaying, but that is because they had already sinned. The Genesis record is explicit: God said they would die if they ate from the forbidden tree. Death was the result of failing to believe and obey God. Keen can imagine that scientific “evidence” proves death and decay were already present, but there is nothing in the Bible to support her claim. To the contrary, the Bible makes clear that death came as a result of disbelief and disobedience. Also, no ethical scientist would purport to be able to “prove” via any scientific examination of non-existent remains that this woman, named Eve, was predisposed to death before disobeying God. Scientific theory is based on present-day human genetic programming, which according to the Genesis account was changed by the fall rather than predating it. Sending Adam and Eve out of the garden lest their decaying bodies continue to live forever in a state of spiritual death was a mercy! It is only through being born again spiritually that we receive eternal life, and it is only through the process of physical death and resurrection that we will inherit a new, incorruptible body.
The book is filled with hermeneutical inconsistencies. As a couple of examples, she compares homosexual behavior to someone who has Tourette’s. This isn’t even close. Homosexuals make conscious choices to engage in what comes naturally to them. The tics of those with Tourette’s are not controllable by the patient any more than an epileptic can control his seizures. Also, likening people who have a homosexual preference to those who become left-handed as an amoral, natural variation is incompatible with any consistent interpretation of scripture. The 700 elite troops from Benjamin who were left-handed were praised in Judges 20:16, and God used Ehud, who was left-handed, to deliver Israel from the Moabites. Being left-handed is never condemned in the Scripture, whereas homosexual behavior is never approved but always condemned.
3. Okay, let’s have an honest discussion on the feasibility of celibacy. Keen reports: “I came to a greater appreciation that no evidence exists that it’s possible for all people [to remain celibate], I saw that setting a bar that cannot be reached renders the mandate meaningless and perpetuates spiritual and psychological trauma for the person trapped in that impossible situation” (113). This is the voice of reason apart from faith and the Judeo-Christian moral code, because the God of the Bible does demand perfection in all areas: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). The purpose of the law is to make us realize our inability to attain perfection and to bring us to faith in Christ as our only hope for salvation: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Hebrews 4:12). The fact that we can’t keep the law does not “render the mandate meaningless,” however. Instead, it should drive us to Christ for help, as we are taught a few verses later: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Hebrews 4:16). To say that we can’t keep the law perfectly makes it “meaningless and perpetuates spiritual and psychological trauma for the person trapped in that impossible situation” is logical to an unbeliever, but not to a person of faith. Reason without faith is not Christianity. It is agnosticism.
Lest I seem too harsh, I want to stand on record as having a clear recognition that celibacy is nigh unto impossible for most of us. However, it is how we respond to this challenge that will guide us into the paths of life! If you can be celibate, and want to be celibate, by all means do so! Great good can be accomplished by those who are not distracted by mates and family, and we should all honor and help provide community support for those who feel called by God to forgo the joys (and difficulties) of married life in order to serve God unencumbered.
However, for most of us, the awareness of our own need for sexual intimacy drives us to find a mate, and for those of us who believe that sex was created as the uniquely sacred privilege of marriage . . . well, we become driven to marry! Single people who have been unable to find a mate are not off the hook. Again, I’m sure many people feel compassion toward those who end up involved in sexual encounters outside of marriage, but such acts are never condoned in the Scripture. “Fornication,” which is the basket term for sexual immorality, (and if you use the Greek word, “porneía” it’s pretty obvious that pornography would be included) is always condemned.
Personally, my deep conviction that if I left my husband, Alan, I should remain celibate helped keep me in my marriage, because I knew my chances of remaining celibate for the rest of my life were about zippo. 😦 I would recommend that homosexuals who take the Bible seriously consider this point, because I also firmly believe that “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). If you find yourself attracted to the same sex, and same-sex relationships are condemned as wrong in the scripture (which everybody agrees is true), then please keep taking your temptation to the Lord. People have some plasticity and ability to change. I have only known a couple dozen homosexuals well enough to say this, but of the ones I’ve known, all of them have had some interest in the opposite sex at some point in their life. I know that the dopamine rush from homosexual behavior can light up your brain like a Fourth of July fireworks and permanently rearrange and reshape your brain chemistry, but if you sincerely believe there is no way out except by learning to love someone of the opposite sex (and I do mean “learn,” as an act of the will, just the way most of us have to “learn” to love our heterosexual partner), then you may find that you are capable of forming a heterosexual union. And, eventually, I am convinced (by faith) you can find deep and lasting fulfillment with that partner, whether or not it’s the most erotic relationship you could ever imagine with a same-sex partner. Frankly, if people could be honestly polled, my guess would be that most people are married to someone who was not the single most sexually attractive person they ever met! However, I can say from experience, that sexual attraction is not the best indicator of whom will make the best life-time partner or most satisfying mate. The best mates are those most like Christ. Think about it! There is hope beyond celibacy. No one HAS to refuse attempting to develop a satisfying relationship with someone of the opposite sex. Be honest, but be willing to try. That is your choice!
4. “Reflecting on the fall in light of science.” For a starter, Keen kind of says it all: “Currently, there is no scientific consensus on why people are gay or lesbian” (91). “Genes do not cause a person to be gay” (93). Fact! To date, scientists cannot explain how people develop an attraction to same sex individuals. Obviously, there are a few (very rare) cases of true hermaphrodites (“intersex”—people born with characteristics of both sexes), but the vast majority of people who self-identify as homosexual have no genetic basis for their orientation (at least, none presently known). Research has been able to find some statistically significant correlations between birth order, sexual abuse, and dysfunctional family life, but so far nobody—including gays—can clearly trace the course of their sexual development. In the few personal histories I’ve known, most of them were abused (or allured) by a homosexual and were caught off guard at first but then “fell in love.” Seduction isn’t the whole answer, though! All sorts of people attempt to seduce others (and by far the greatest number—as reflecting the general population—are heterosexual). What makes one person “fall for it” and another shun the seducer/seductress? Our minds and bodies are so intricately interwoven and complex that even we ourselves can’t understand everything that goes on within us!
Despite the “no known reason yet” of science, we are left with the reality that a small percentage of our population definitely experiences same-sex attraction. As a society, how should we respond? Karen’s answer is completely dissatisfying to me! She sees the desire of Christians to see homosexual people become heterosexual as a “lust for perfection” and suggests that we should re-envisioning how we respond. However, Jesus sets the standard at perfection: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) and the Bible calls us to holiness rather than simply accommodating sins: “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). The Bible never suggests we give up on our efforts to live godly lives, although it does offer forgiveness for us in our failures and imperfections. The Bible never approves simply accommodating natural fallenness with sinful alternatives. For example, someone who feels like they can’t stop lusting isn’t therefore given a free pass to watch porn without any consequences, because there are always consequences for sinful behaviors. To simply say, “It’s okay to be gay” goes against the uniform guidance of scripture on how to provide for a good and just society, and we would do well to heed the Word of God!
If I may, I would like to end back at the beginning. God does give us freedom to choose how we will live our lives, including with whom we choose to live them. He has definitely gifted us as humans with a great deal of autonomy, and in this life on earth, we are granted the right to be the master of our own fate in many ways. BUT, God has provided a way of wisdom through Jesus Christ, who is “the Word made flesh” and the living “Word of God.” If you are a believer, then “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4). Jesus set us free—but His desire is that we obey his commands (found in His Word, the Bible) because we love HIM. His commands are for our own good, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).
One verse that has really helped me in my own wrestlings with the lusts of my flesh is found in Psalm 16:7, “I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.” The counsels of the Lord in the Bible lead us into the right paths, and his reins (the restrictions that bind us) help us during the times when we are confused and can’t tell clearly which way to go. If you will allow God’s commandments and the reins he puts on us to guide your heart day and night, He will bring you to the place of fullness of joy. As David wrote, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). May God bless and guide us into the Light as we seek to walk by faith. I know it’s never easy to “live godly in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:12).
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:7-14)
Some topics are a joy; others are painfully difficult. This is one of the latter, but the subject of same-sex attraction has become one of the most prominent issues in our culture today, and it’s beginning to touch the lives of so many both in and out of the church that I feel led to address it. I’ve actually read a lot of books on the topic over the past couple of years, and rather than individually reviewing them, I would like to recommend a few of the ones I’ve found most helpful for trying to understand what’s going on.
Frankly, facing questions about same-sex attraction have almost become routine for our young people today, although it was virtually non-existent (as an issue) just one generation ago. (Both Alan and I first learned about homosexuality in college at the end of the 1960’s but we never even heard the term “same-sex attraction” until post 2000.) Today it’s an in-your-face everywhere issue that all young people have to negotiate. If you have children growing up in the public schools, you can be sure they will be exposed to the opportunity to consider whether or not they prefer the possibility of sexual interaction with their own sex over that of the opposite sex. Even children with robust heterosexual inclinations will be asked the question and have to consider it. So, “same-sex-attraction” is going to be on their radar, and many children and young people will find it confusing.
As parents, I think it’s important to be able to listen, guide, counsel, and give our children space to make wise decisions without responding with revulsion. I don’t think same-sex-attraction is any different from any other temptation, and as human beings, we all have to face and deal with the temptations in our lives. Our sexuality is ingrained in every cell in our body (literally), and controlling our physical appetites for food and sex are among the most difficult lifetime challenges all of us face. There’s no shame in this; it’s just acknowledging the reality of our human natures. However, how we respond to those challenges makes a huge difference in our lives and can deeply effect our wholeness and holiness.
If you are a parent with a child (or adult offspring) who is struggling with same-sex-attraction, I would like to recommend Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God’s Grand Story, by Dr. Christopher Yuan. This 2018 book is up to date with the latest research while maintaining a balanced, sensitive approach, written by a professor at Moody who himself struggles with same-sex attraction but is living a vibrant, holy life of faith. Two other excellent resources for parents (or mature young adults, as they are heavy reading—can you tell by the covers? 🙂 ) are:
Kevin DeYoung. What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015.
Robert Gagnon. The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. Nashville: Abingdon, 2002.
If you have a young person who has taken a firm stand that he/she has committed to a gay lifestyle, then I highly recommend two more books for your own mental and emotional health:
Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God. A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope. This 2011 book was co-written by Christopher Yuan and his mother, Angela and gives insight into the problems and pains of both the parent and “child” (offspring), with a lot of opportunities to think through what was and was not helpful to them, and what might be most beneficial as you pray for and continue learning to love your own son or daughter.
Another excellent resource is When Homosexuality Hits Home, published by Joe Dallas in 2015 through Harvest House Publishers. This book definitely tackles the arguments from both sides (with talking points), but it also gives some really practical advice on topics like how to negotiate family boundaries, whether or not to attend same-sex weddings, and what does love look like in the face of grief?
This Thursday, I’ll be discussing the arguments found in Karen R. Keen’s book, Scripture, Ethics, and the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships, recommended to me by a young friend who was studying for the ministry before recently deciding that it’s okay to be gay. The author of this 2018 book describes herself as someone who was a celibate gay for sixteen years but is now reconsidering her position. I’ll let you know if her deliberations change my opinion on what the scripture teaches, but meanwhile, I would also like to hear your thoughts! Thanks! I’d also appreciate your prayers, as this is one of those hot topics that’s sure to discourage some of my followers, more than a handful of whom self-identify as homosexuals. Blessings on you all as you seek to walk in the Light!
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
If you’re more apt to listen than buy a book just now, here’s a link to a very helpful and insightful discussion with Dr. Christopher Yuan on his latest book, Holy Sexuality. (Dr. Jonathan Armstrong, the interviewer, also teaches at Moody and is my son, so this conversation was especially interesting to me! 🙂 )
“Don’t cast your pearls before swine” conjures up such a provocative image that pretty much everybody’s heard it. However, what did Jesus mean when he first proclaimed it? Perhaps the most common interpretation among Christians today runs something like this: “Share the good news of redemption through Christ (our Great Pearl) with everyone around you, but if they don’t believe you, don’t keep pressuring them. Instead, share the Gospel somewhere else, among those who may gladly receive Christ and the mysteries of the Kingdom of God (also referred to as treasure hid in a field, Matthew 13:44). Everybody deserves to hear the good news, but those who don’t believe and disparage the gift of God will just trample your treasure (eternal life through Christ) underfoot, possibly turning back to harm you as well.” I think this is good advice and a fair interpretation, although perhaps more narrow than Jesus intended.
Here is a more inclusive paraphrase that I believe fits the parameters better: “Don’t cast your pearls (the wisdom found in the Bible) before swine (in this case, anyone—believer or not—who fails to accept and submit to the teachings of God’s Word).” Why? “Lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6).
I mentioned last week that there is one other thing repeatedly affirmed as “holy” in the scriptures. It is the Bible. The Bible is described as “his holy covenant” (Luke 1:72), “the holy scriptures” (Romans 1:2) that is “given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:15). It was not written simply by various men who were limited by their understanding of the world and locked into the culture of their time period, but rather, “prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).
Furthermore, the laws given in the Old Testament were not annulled by Christ but fulfilled by him. He took our punishment for failing to obey the law perfectly, but that didn’t end the value of God’s instructions to us! After the death and resurrection of Christ, Paul affirmed their value: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12). One of the things we shouldn’t give away is our confidence that God’s Word is holy: “worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness” (Merriam Webster).
Jesus warned us not to give that which is holy to the “dogs” (as a metaphor often used in the Scripture to refer to those who were without moral scruples and unpredictable). “Pigs,” on the other hand, are unclean but very predictable. Pigs are predictably dirty and have one thing in mind: satisfying their own appetites. Since pearls can’t be digested, they would be useless to a pig. In fact, casting pigs some pearls instead of slop might infuriate them. After squealing and stampeding in hopes of getting their pig’s share—only to find that pearls weren’t tasty—pigs might turn against you in anger!
So, dispersing pearls of wisdom to those whose god is their belly is a waste of time and may merit persecution rather than regenerate pigs. Extrapolating from that: God’s wisdom (found in the Word of God) is something that those who have already given up their holiness (and rejected the authority of our Holy God) will not receive. These people have become like pigs. They are intent on satisfying the appetites of their flesh, and inflamed appetites cannot be satisfied by the Words of Life found in the scripture! Falling for Satan’s “Hath God reaaally said???” is a slow process. First a person wants some forbidden fruit. Next, they refuse to accept the obvious truth as stated and try by sleight of tongue to twist God’s Words into something that will allow or (hopefully even) affirm their desires, intentionally suppressing truth (trampling it in the mud). Eventually, they become as incapable of discernment as spiritual pigs who can no longer even digest the truth, and if you offer it to them, they will be angered, preferring to feed on the slop of this world.
Where am I going with all this? It’s a warning to each of us—believers as well as unbelievers. The Bible is full of wisdom about how to live. Both the Old Testament and New Testament have guidelines intended for the good of all people. It’s the “Guidebook on How to Live” written by the One who built every model of humanity that exists and who knows how we work. These pearls of wisdom are like treasure intended to guard us from evil and draw us into the ways of life and peace. If we cast off our personal holiness and reject the authority of the Bible as the true, holy words of God . . . if we have made an idol of one or another of our appetites and don’t believe that God can really meet our need without our breaking some spiritual law, then we have cast away our confidence in God. We have become like spiritual pigs.
If you happen to read this and it makes you furious, then I wish you would pray and ask the Lord to reveal the true Truth to you, whatever it is. I’m totally open to hearing your response. On the other hand, if it makes you furious, but you have even a glimmering sense that this might be right, then I beg you to pray for God to open your eyes and heart to the truth and give you the grace to obediently follow Him, even if it means giving up something you treasure almost more than life itself. God alone is worthy of our worship!
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:34-36).
Text for Today: Matthew 7:6, “neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
This has been a really challenging post for me to write, because by nature I am a moralist, and as I’m slowly learning—also a legalist. So, to figure out what Jesus was teaching—and is (present tense) expecting from those of us who attempt to be his disciples, I studied every verse in the Bible that talks about judging. . . and there are literally hundreds! From Genesis 18:19, where Abraham is commended as someone who will “keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment” all the way to Revelation 19:2, where God is worshiped because “true and righteous are his judgments,” the Bible is filled with admonitions about the importance of understanding and keeping God’s laws, of living justly, and doing right.
So, what did Jesus mean when he said, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged” (Luke 6:37 ), and “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:1-2)?
The first thing that struck me from studying is that Jesus doesn’t mean, “Don’t attempt to discern right from wrong.” The entire weight of scripture promotes a life of knowing and keeping the “way of wisdom,” embodied in knowing and keeping God’s laws: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:7-9). Being a moralist and a legalist is not all bad. God wants us to know and do what is just and good. “Mind over matter.” “Do right ’til the stars fall.” “Keep on keeping on.” These aphorisms are right and good! Don’t shove your moral compass (the scriptures) into a back drawer; keep your Bible as the GPS on your dashboard!!
The second thing I learned is to distinguish between discerning good from evil and judging people. I think Jesus is saying, “Judge not[people], that ye be not judged[by other people].” So, the standard is personal purity for ourselves while not assuming responsibility for the actions of other people . . . or passing judgment on them. You can call it a “Double Standard” if you want, and I think that’s almost appropriate, but the double standard puts the burden for purity and uprightness squarely on our own shoulders. It is up to us to do right regardless of what anybody else does.
What does this look like day to day? Jesus didn’t come only as an example to us (He came to die for our sins and become our redeemer), but He is the perfect example for us to follow, and in studying the life of Christ, we have many accounts of how he interacted with people—all of whom had character flaws, and some of whom were characterized by immoral behavior. Jesus never shunned anybody! (If you can correct me, please do, but I haven’t found a single instance.) Jesus rebuked those who confronted him with sinful behavior: “Sin no more” (to the woman caught in adultery, John 8:11) and even “Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men” (speaking to his most passionate disciple, Peter, in Mark 8:33). Jesus’s most violent reaction was to the religious leaders who had turned God’s temple into a “den of thieves” (Mark 11:17). Jesus was clearly enraged by the spiritual leaders hypocritically oppressing the people, and he cleansed the temple, but he didn’t lay a hand on anyone . . . anyone. If Jesus—who could have called down fire from heaven to devour evil men—never harmed anyone and only rebuked sinful behaviors, then none of the rest of us ever has the right to attempt to take justice into our own hands and repay evil with evil.
How do I know? Because the scriptures are crystal clear on how God intends for judgment and justice to work:
*God is ultimately responsible for judging: “He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity” (Psalm 98:8-9).
*God, as the creator, ruler, and sustainer of Earth, is the only one with the ultimate right to judge: “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22).
*God is the only one who can judge and execute justice perfectly: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people” (Hebrews 10:30).
*Furthermore, God does care about good and evil, and He is at work, even though it’s not always obvious to us: “God is angry with the wicked: God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11).
*God has ordained governments and church leaders to serve as judges in disputes between people: “And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him” (Deuteronomy 1:16). Also: “And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel” (Deuteronomy 17:12).
*In situations where we are being personally oppressed, we are free to pray for relief and for God to judge— based on our personal uprightness and innocence: “The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee” (1 Samuel 24:12). ” The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me” (Psalm 7:8).
*Because Jesus did not come to earth to judge, we are relieved of that responsibility at this time also: “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47).
*Our responsibility is to teach the Bible to others so they’ll understand right from wrong, because it is ultimately the Word of God in the Bible by which people will be judged: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
*We are specifically warned against judging other people: “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4).
* We are reminded that we are also not without sin: “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things” (Romans 2:1).
*Instead of being judgmental, we would do well to pray for those who are trapped in sinful lusts, doing everything we can to help them overcome: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
*Instead of being angry and shunning those who are doing evil, we need to learn to be broken-hearted for them, as they will eventually become miserable, whether or not we can observe it from the outside: “Unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil” (Romans 2:8-9).
*Lastly, let’s remember that there will ultimately be a judgment for our entire earth, where good will be vindicated and evil punished: “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works” (Revelation 20:12-13).
*Still confused? I am sometimes! But thankfully, if we are believers, we have the resource of the Holy Spirit to teach us how to interact with others, and we can remember that it’s HIS JOB to convict people of their sins, not ours! “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:7-8). “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin” (Ezekiel 18:30).
Summer Setting 