Can you Hate Religion and Still Love Jesus?

This video, entitled, "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" has risen to fame via Facebook and YouTube, almost overnight. Jefferson Bethke is the author of the poem and is also the man performing a dramatic reading of the poem in the video.

Many of my friends on facebook are liking it and sharing it. If you haven’t seen it, you can view it here at this linkhttp://youtu.be/1IAhDGYlpqY

But again, I’ve been thinking about it more carefully.

Now it probably resonates with so many different people because first, no doubt many folks have been “burned” by their encounters with Christians and churches. No question. Hypocrisy and the bad practice of the religion of Jesus Christ. It’s the principle of what Gandhi said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

But second, I also think that this video resonates with folks sadly because it doesn’t take any obvious stances other than a basic rebellious attitude that claims the higher ground by supporting “Jesus” over “religion,” whatever “religion” is supposed to mean.

So let’s talk about this video. Yes, this is a strong artsy video with some great editing, good background music, a strong emotional appeal, a catchy rhyme. But it is a weak theological video. Don’t get me wrong. He makes some good points. Some denominations and individual churches do not do some of these things like feeding the poor and judging divorced people, etc. Some people assume your faith based on your political vote. And I do wish some would take “Christian” off their religious status on Facebook based on how their act. Again, I think I understand about encounters with bad and loveless Christianity and of the institutional church which in too many places only focused on “rituals” and often interferes with their personal relationship with Christ and does not changes the core of my heart and how I live my life. So yes, there are some things that he says that modern “Christians’ need to hear.

But (you knew that was coming) there are too many other false messages I take away from this video. I am not breaking down each point this guy makes but I do care, strongly on a few.

First, he says (and many others have said), that Jesus came to get rid of religion, Jesus didn’t. In fact he said the opposite if anything. (Read Matthew 5:17-19)

It is true that in the Gospels, the Pharisees and Sadducees are depicted as the representatives of organized religion at the time of Christ. Jesus constantly confronted them about their hypocritical lifestyles. But remember the definition of a hypocrite: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. Jesus actually told the disciples that they should DO what the scribes and Pharisees tell them...“…practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice” (Matthew 23:3).

Now we are also read in many of the NT epistles how there were “organized groups” that mixed the gospel with certain lists of required works and rituals. They also sought to put pressure on believers to change and accept these “Christianity plus” religions. Galatians and Colossians give warnings about such religions.

So yes, it is true that in many cases, the end result of organized religion is a distraction from the intent of Jesus Christ.

However, the Bible does speak of organized believers who are part of His plan. God calls these groups of organized believers “churches.” Now the New Testament often refers to "the church" in a universal sense, encompassing the entire saved body or family of God throughout the world (Mt. 16:16-18; Eph. 1:21-22;19-22; 5:23-25) Also, the scriptures frequently refer to "the church" in a local sense (1 Cor. 1:2).
Furthermore, what do we do with Jesus’ declaration “on this rock I will build my church” if we think Jesus hated organized religion? (Matt. 16:16-18)

The Bible authorizes no organization for the universal church, except Jesus, who is the absolute ruler and head (Eph. 1:21-22) with absolute authority (Matt. 28:18). The New Testament does present Christ's plan for the organization of the local church. (Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-12; Titus 1:5-11)

From the descriptions from the book of Acts and the NT letters clearly indicate that the church is to be organized and interdependent. The organization leads to protection, productivity, and outreach (Acts 2:41-47). In the case of the church, it could better be called an “organized relationship.”

So, again, yes, Jesus confronts religious people and challenges them, but he never does away with religion because of the people that are misguided. He actually comes to bring religion to its fullness, what it is really meant to be, steeped in relationship with Him. (cf. John 14:7)

Further Jesus did give further instructions on how we as His followers should actually live out our relationship with Him. You can say that the whole of the Sermon on the Mount is about how to live properly in “religion”.

So, no God doesn’t hate religion. Jesus didn’t come to throw it away. God made religion, Jesus is it’s fulfillment. (Mt. 5:13-16) God’s displeasure is not in religion, but its misuse, in religiosity that misses the point of using the system of religion to be in relationship with the One who created it.

Ultimately, as many others who have written a negative response to this video has said, there is a false dichotomy; you cannot love Jesus and hate religion. Jesus himself was VERY religious. Now the thing about religion is that it is composed of people. The thing about people is that they are not perfect. Therefore the people who practice the religion of their faith (the church) will never be perfect! Yet, God is still works through people and His church, every day!

Some other problems I had with this video.

In the video Bethke says that religion is just “behavior modification, like a long list of chores.” I think this speaks to a profound “don’t tell me what to do” attitude that dominates, if not defines, my generation. If you don’t what to be told that you’re not perfect and are in need of change, then Jesus is not the guy you want to speak to. To claim that “religion” is trying to tell you how to behave, but Jesus doesn’t want to tell you what to do demonstrates at best a profound ignorance of the Bible, in particular the Gospels themselves, and at worst a dangerous self-centeredness that is fundamentally antithetical not only to the Christian faith, but to Jesus himself. Jesus’ entire ministry was centered around how to live a particular way of life, or as Bethke said it “behavior modification.” To call it “a long list of chores” reveals a true lack of interest in fulling Jesus’ command to bring the kingdom of God “to earth as it is in heaven.”

And in this connection, where does James 1:27 fit in the hatred towards “religion?” James said, Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Now, keep in mind that James 1:27 is NOT intended to be an exhaustive or comprehensive definition of true religion as some have mistakenly thought. But James clearly says that the real outward manifestioan of a genuine faith is in the practical life. True religion or worship will best express itself by action.

Here’s a side bar observation: I’ve noticed that one difference between emerging progressive and more traditional evangelical Christians is how they conceive holiness. Emergents seem to often more than not to see it primarily in terms of social action. A holy person is one who cares for the poor, and they tend to be less concerned about that person’s swearing, drinking, gambling, or sexual activity. By contrast conservative evangelicals tend to view holiness much more in terms of sin avoidance. Thus you can be considered “holy” by avoiding a long list of sins, but without ever lifting a finger to serve the needy.

James reminds us about the balanced definition of pure religion.

Now, also, Bethke promotes what is at the heart of modern Protestant doctrine and it’s idea that we are saved by “faith alone.” He says “which is why salvation is freely mine and forgiveness is my own. Not based on my merits but Jesus’s obedience alone.” Well, yes and no. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer would be quick to remind us “ye were bought with a price…and what was costly for God must also be costly for us.” Likewise, we don’t have ownership of our forgiveness. If we did then it would be something we purchased or earned which would be counter-intuitive to Bethke’s argument. And while he’s right that that forgiveness stems from the actions of Jesus and not us or what we do, nonetheless, we are saved by “grace through faith.” (Eph. 2:8-9) Grace is God’s part. Faith is our part. And true saving faith is obedient. (cf. John 3:36; Rom. 1:5; 16:26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; James 2:22-24) Our obedience is the demonstration of our acceptance of that grace and forgiveness. The two are not as separate as soon many have come to believe.

Bethke also says, “See because religion says do; Jesus says done.” – So is he implying Jesus doesn’t want us to “do” anything? That he doesn’t want us to act a certain way? That he doesn’t want us to treat other as we would like to be treated? Your interpretation of Jesus as something that is already “done” implies that there is nothing left to do. That is a very dangerous assertion, and one that is very damaging to the church you claim to love. We can appreciate, love, and worship what Jesus has done without throwing our hands up in the air and saying “well, I guess that’s it then, let’s go do what we like!”.

Again, what about what James said about true and undefiled religion: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

Sounds an awful lot like we’ve got something to “do.”

I like what J.F. Arnold wrote when he blogged about this video: “The problem with the ‘relationship’-exclusive language–particularly when it jettisons ‘religion’ language–is that we have a generation of people who ignore or deny the importance of church (be that fellowship or history or wisdom of old), which strikes me as problematic. It isn’t that I think we need to be extremely strict with how this plays out, but if we end up systematically opposed to all things that sound like ‘religion,’ then suddenly it doesn’t matter whether I have fellowship with other believers. All that matters is me and Jesus.”

Exctly. We hear a lot of the popular sentiment, It’s not a religion, but it’s a relationship” from people are not active or apart of local congregation of Christians. But when we seperate Jesus from the religious community then we are left with a Jesus out of context whom we are free to shape and mold in any way we see fit.

So for me this video is a mixed bag of some good but too many erroneous thoughts. And I do care when Christians do not know the Bible enough to even recognize when a lot of this is questionable.

Now let me say I hope that some of the good things he does say in this video will be remembered and taken to heart and even the errors make the truth to shine all the more brightly.

I’d also encourage you to check out Trevin Wax who works as managing editor at LifeWay Christian Resources and his excellent review of this video at:http://taidochino.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/should-have-kept-my-mouth-shut-aka-thoughts-on-why-i-hate-religion-but-love-jesus/

Sincerely,
Robert Prater

Praise Him 2012!

This past Sunday night nearly 600 members from the Shawnee area churches of Christ came together for Praise Him 2012. We once again, rented out the Shawnee Expo Center and had a guest speaker, Tim Lewis and guest song leader Gary Jones Jr.
It was a terrific night of worship, unity and fellowship for the body of Christ in the Shawnee area. The event was sponsored by the five Shawnee area churches of Christ including Central where I preach, and I’d guess there were probably at least 5-10 other area congregations represented in attendance.

It hasn’t been that many years ago when congregations in a local area made it a point to join together for regular fellowship, worship and Christian service. Many remember the uplifting “area wide singings” of the past when Christians from a wide area would meet at one of their buildings and raise their voices in unity to God.

In today’s culture of churches we tend to withdraw and isolate ourselves, not so much because of differences, but because we rut ourselves in the routine of what we do. Sunday night at the Expo truly uplifted us spiritually as it lead to an increased sense of brotherhood with our neighboring congregations. We joined together to praise God for what He has done for us in Christ and our hope of eternal heaven.

Now, check out this link and video: http://youtu.be/o_MGG8j4aMY whcih was shown Sunday night in which members from the various congregations were interviewed and asked the question: "Why they want to go to heaven?" (Our theme for the night was “Why I Want to Go to Heaven”) Some of you might recognize that pretty little girl on the thumbnail:), my daughter Megan. Daddy's very proud of her that already at her young age she's talking about her real home!

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

Penn State, Joe Paterno and Doing the Right Thing

Finally, the trustees at Penn State knew what needed to be done and finally, someone with the Nittany Lions got something right.

Those who follow the news in the sporting world are well aware that Penn State’s most beloved head football coach Joe Paterno was fired late yesterday. Apologies to the victims came in so many ways, but none louder than the trustees showing the legendary football coach the door. Prayers must continue for those who should have been protected above a football program that protected itself instead.

Those innocent young boys deserved to be put in front of recruiting, fundraising, and a coach's winning legacy.

And speaking of JoePa’s legacy, writer Jason Chatraw wrote, “Joe Paterno may have won a lot of football games, but his failure to protect the innocent doesn’t taint his legacy – it is his legacy.”

It’s kind of difficult to understand how anyone is defending “JoePa’s” actions or, in this case, inactions. The emotions are complicated I know; but this is not a complicated situation. He in no way did the “right” thing, he only did what was legally obligated to do. He failed miserably to do the moral thing.

Of course Paterno made a public plea for his job on Wednesday morning. He announced he'd retire at the end of the season. He promised fresh prayers for the same victims he should have been praying for in 2002, right after he'd made a call to police telling them that his old defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, had apparently sexually assaulted, i.e., raped a young boy in the football showers. (Sandusky has of course now been charged with molesting eight boys over 15 years with more of the abuses taking place at the Penn State football complex) Paterno knew of the allegations in 2002 and told his supervisor, but he didn't do enough to stop his old friend.

Dear friends, let us not waste this opportunity to remember that choosing to do the right thing in every situation is the right thing.

“Defend the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 82:3-4

Also check out this excellent article by Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has written a sobering but necessary article in light of the Penn State sexual abuse scandal. His words are insightful and prophetic and hold many lessons for churches, elders, ministers, Bible school teachers, ministry leaders, children's homes, camp counselors, etc.

Robert Prater

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The Tragic Lessons of Penn State — A Call to Action, Al Mohler
--What would prevent this scandal at your school or church?

No one thought it would end this way. Joe Paterno, the legendary head football coach at Penn State University heard of his firing by the school’s board of trustees by phone last night. Just two weeks after achieving the most wins of any NCAA Division One football coach in history, Paterno was fired. His firing — a necessary action by the Penn State board of trustees — holds lessons for us all.

Almost a decade ago, a graduate assistant told Coach Paterno that an assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, had been observed forcing a young boy into a sexual act in the school’s football locker room showers. Sandusky was himself a big name in Penn State football, and he was considered a likely successor to Paterno if the head coach had retired. Sandusky also ran a non-profit organization for boys, and he brought the boys onto the Penn State campus. He continued to do so even after his own retirement from Penn State’s coaching staff.

After hearing the report, Paterno informed university officials of the accusation. At that point, little or nothing seems to have happened. The scandal broke into public view last Saturday, when Sandusky was arrested and charged with 40 felony counts of sexual abuse involving young boys. Penn State had been harboring a serial child sex abuser. Also arrested were the university’s athletic director and its senior vice president of business and finance. Both were charged with failure to report the abuse and with perjury.


What about Paterno and the university’s president, Graham B. Spanier? The Pennsylvania grand jury said that both men had knowledge of the 2002 first-hand report of abuse, and neither contacted the police. Furthermore, Sandusky was allowed some use of university facilities even long after this report. Paterno went back to coaching football. Spanier went back to raising money and building the school’s reputation. Jerry Sandusky had every opportunity to keep on sexually abusing young boys.

When the facts became known, the firings of both Paterno and Spanier were inevitable and necessary. Both men had credible knowledge that young boys were being sexually abused, and neither did anything effective to stop it. Most crucially, neither man did what they should have done within minutes of hearing the first report — contact law enforcement immediately.

Every single coach, athletic director, and college or university president awoke this morning to a changed world. Nothing will ever be the same again. The firing of Joe Paterno will send shock waves through the entire world of higher education. A man who a day before had announced under pressure that he would retire at the end of the season was told by phone that he would never coach another game. Penn State University will forever be associated with a scandal the likes of which college athletics has, thankfully, never seen before.

But the world has not only changed for college athletics. The detonation of the Penn State scandal must shake the entire nation into a new moral awareness. Any failure to report and to stop the sexual abuse of children must be made inconceivable. The moral irresponsibility that Penn State officials demonstrated in this tragedy may well be criminal. There can be no doubt that all of these officials bear responsibility for allowing a sexual predator to continue his attacks.

What about churches, Christian institutions, and Christian schools? The Penn State disaster must serve as a warning to us as well, for we bear an even higher moral responsibility.

The moral and legal responsibility of every Christian — and especially every Christian leader and minister — must be to report any suspicion of the abuse of a child to law enforcement authorities. Christians are sometimes reluctant to do this, but this reluctance is both deadly and wrong.

Sometimes Christians are reluctant to report suspected sexual abuse because they do not feel that they know enough about the situation. They are afraid of making a false accusation. This is the wrong instinct. We do not have the ability to conduct the kind of investigation that is needed, nor is this assigned to the church. This is the function of government as instituted by God (Romans 13). Waiting for further information allows a predator to continue and puts children at risk. This is itself an immoral act that needs to be seen for what it is.

A Christian hearing a report of sexual abuse within a church, Christian organization, or Christian school, needs to act in exactly the same manner called for if the abuse is reported in any other context. The church and Christian organizations must not become safe places for abusers. These must be safe places for children, and for all. Any report of sexual abuse must lead immediately to action. That action cannot fall short of contacting law enforcement authorities. A clear lesson of the Penn State scandal is this: Internal reporting is simply not enough.

After law enforcement authorities have been notified, the church must conduct its own work of pastoral ministry, care, and church discipline. This is the church’s responsibility and charge. But these essential Christian ministries and responsibilities are not substitutes for the proper function of law enforcement authorities and the legal system. As Christians, we respect those authorities because we are commanded to do so.

There may well be further arrests in connection with the Penn State scandal. One can only imagine the lawsuits that will consume the university’s time and treasury in years ahead. Christian institutions and churches looking at this scandal had better act immediately to ensure that all operate under adequate policies and guidelines. What would prevent this scandal at your school or church?

Church leaders and pastors must decide now — not later — that we will respond to any report of sexual abuse with immediate action and an immediate call to law enforcement officials. We must decide in advance what we will do, and not allow ourselves to think that we can handle such a challenge on our own. Every church and Christian institution needs a full set of policies, procedures, and accountability structures. As leaders, we must develop the right instincts for right action.

The leaders of Penn State University must have acted, or failed to have acted, out of many motivations. One may well have been to protect the image and reputation of the university. Well, we now see where that leads. A scandal reported and ended in 2002 would be horrible enough. A scandal that began there, was known by officials, and explodes almost a decade later is too horrible to contemplate.

We all need an immediate reality check. I discovered yesterday that the policy handbook of the institution I am proud to lead calls for any employee receiving a report of child abuse, including child sexual abuse, to contact his or her supervisor with that report. That changes today. The new policy statement will direct employees receiving such a report to contact law enforcement authorities without delay. Then, after acting in the interests of the child, they should contact their supervisor.

In a real sense, the whole world changed today. We all know more than we knew before, and we are all responsible for that knowledge. The costs of acting wrongly in such a situation, or acting inadequately, are written across today’s headlines and the moral conscience of the nation. The tragedy at Penn State is teaching the entire nation a lesson it dare not fail to learn.

WTC Memorial: The Offense of the Cross

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since the dark and horrid day that was 9/11. Most of us remembers as Alan Jackson so beautifully sung “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning that September day.” One of the iconic images to emerge from among the rubble of the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks was two ton section of cross beams that looked like a rugged cross. (picture above) This cross became a beacon of hope of Christian rescue workers and mourners. In 2006 the cross was temporarily moved from ground zero to nearby St. Peter’s Church and a plaque was placed on it that read:

Now the group, American Atheists, claiming a violation of church and state, saying its inclusion "constitutes an unlawful attempt to promote a specific religion on governmental land.” They have sued in an effort to block the cross from being included at the World trade Center Memorial and Museum.

These atheists further claim: “the mere existence of the cross has brought on headaches, indigestion, even mental pain.”

If you’re an atheist how does ”A cross formed by two intersecting steel beams that survived the Twin Towers collapse on 9-11″ cause you such pain and suffering that it can’t be displayed in a museum with other artifacts taken from the site.

I can understand going to the museum and seeing the artifacts bringing up feelings of pain. But if you are an atheist the cross shouldn't’t bring up any more pain than anything else. You don’t believe, right?

Unless there is more spiritually going on than “meets the eye.”

Check out below this article I recently ran across that is worthy of much consideration especially in light of this protest over a cross shaped beams. It’s written by Ryan Halliday and appeared as a web-only piece at Christianity Today under the title 9/11 Cross Should Offend. Why the 9/11 Cross Should Offend All of Us
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Why the 9/11 Cross Should Offend All of Us

In a recent debate surrounding a cross displayed at the World Trade Center 9/11 memorial site, both sides agree on at least one point: the complaints by atheist litigants that the presence of the cross has caused them to suffer “dyspepsia, symptoms of depression, headaches, anxiety, and mental pain and anguish” are less than credible. Even the commentators who have argued against the inclusion of the cross in the 9/11 memorial have nevertheless ridiculed these purported symptoms, assuming they are nothing but a thinly-veiled attempt at establishing legal standing.

But Christians should recognize that these seem to be the sort of symptoms many sane and thoughtful persons experience upon encountering an unwanted vision of the cross. Far from being silly, these four atheists seem to take the cross more seriously than many believers do.

Because the cross tells the world’s strangest story in an image, it has always provoked a variety of responses, most of which have been negative. In the first century, the idea that the crucified Jesus was God-in-the-flesh was considered, depending on one’s background, either a scandal or a joke. (As the Jewish-turned Christian theologian St. Paul put it, “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”) A weak, suffering deity held little appeal and would have been easily dismissed, were it not for the early Christians’ insistence that the death of Christ was everyone’s problem.

Jesus’ first followers did not only assert that God came to earth and died, but also that culpability for his death was universal. “This Jesus, whom you crucified,” were the words chosen by St. Peter to conclude the first Christian sermon, directed to an ethnically diverse crowd, most of whom were not even present in Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ death.

For the two millennia since Jesus’ resurrection, Christian orthodoxy has been consistent in repeating this same message: the whole world stands equally guilty of committing history’s greatest atrocity, an atrocity in light of which the events of 9/11 pale in comparison. God came to earth, and we killed him.

The Book of Acts records that upon hearing this indictment for the first time, many of Peter’s listeners were “cut to the heart.” Understandably so—the charge is enough to turn the stomach, darken the mind, and plunge the heart into despair. Or, in other words, Peter’s words were enough to cause “dyspepsia, symptoms of depression, headaches, anxiety, and mental pain and anguish.” The atheist litigants have called the 9/11 cross “an ugly piece of wreckage,” arguing that it speaks of “horror and death.” On the basis of the New Testament, these statements are difficult to contradict.

But if the image of the cross represents humanity’s greatest collective failure, why would a nation cling to it as a sign of hope in the days after 9/11? The exchange that follows Peter’s sermon sheds some further light.

When asked to suggest a course of action, Peter advised his hearers, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”—advice which makes little sense unless one assumes certain premises. These premises, implicit in the Christian religion from day one, were intricately explored over the next several decades in the writings of St. Paul, who advanced what would become the best-known but least-understood tenet of Christian theology: that somehow the death of the perfectly sinless Christ was itself the event which atoned for all the wrongdoing of the sinful human race.

If true, this turns the cross into a profound paradox. The same event that condemns humanity also justifies it, standing at once as damning evidence of guilt and a doorway to forgiveness and innocence. What’s more, the very episode that shows humanity at its worst shows God at his best, as he transforms an act of wickedness into a display of mercy and love. It is difficult to imagine themes more relevant to the attacks of September 11.

Suppose God himself has suffered and died at the hands of evil men. Suppose God himself has shown the capacity for taking what was intended for harm and using it for good. Might this affect the way we ourselves face evil and suffering? Might this be a source of strength to someone who is waist-deep in ash and rubble, trying to loosen bodies from steel and concrete?

For the person who accepts this narrative, the cross is the only thing that makes sense in the face of a senseless tragedy. But for the person who rejects it, the cross serves as a reminder of an offensive and seemingly absurd accusation, adding insult to injury. The trouble with the cross is that it refuses to be the universal symbol of beauty that some would make it out to be—it speaks life to those who believe, but death to those who do not.

No wonder people disagree about where it should be displayed.

Ryan Holladay is pastor of Lower Manhattan Community Church, which meets two blocks from the World Trade Center site.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/augustweb-only/911crossshouldoffend.html
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Friends, there is also something to keep in mind as our nation will observe the 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Yes, it is right, much like we do with Pearl Harbor, that we, on September 11, remember and honor those who died on that day. We continue to ask God for His continued blessings upon our nation and for those who help keep our nation safe at home and abroad.

Now it just so happens that the 10th anniversary falls on a Sunday. And as meaningful and important as the day is being the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, the day is far more meaningful as the Lord’s Day. As much as the honoring of those who died is, the honoring of the Savior who died for us is more importantem>.

God bless
Robert Prater

The Presbyterian Church and Homosexaulity

Maybe you saw in the news recently about how the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) became the latest in a string of Protestant denominations to vote to accept homosexuals into its clergy. They join Episcopals, Lutherans, and the United Church of Christ. Methodists, Disciples of Christ, and other mainline denominations are receiving both external and internal pressure to follow suit.

I read one article online about their decision which identified a few of the reasons for this new policy. One of the reasons was "the change in broader American society toward accepting same-sex relationships." In other words, they changed to accommodate and please the culture.

What this means, of course, is that the god they are really serving is the world. No matter how much people insist that they are worshiping and serving the God of the Bible, when they shape their values by the world's moral standards rather than the Word of God, they are worshiping and serving the world. For those who seek to serve God, He tells them, "do not be conformed to this world" (Rom. 12:2). I like how JB Philips translates this verse: "don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold." And that is precisely what is happening in denominations like the Presbyterian Church USA—they are letting the world squeeze them into its mold.

Now, from the beginning, God made it clear about sexual relations and intimate companionship. He made a woman for the man (Gen. 2:18-23). He did not make another man for Adam. He also said the man is to leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, not his husband (Gen. 2:24).

Jesus addressed this issue when he brought the standards of marriage and sexuality back to the Creation (Matt. 19:4, 5). At creation, Jesus claimed that God made “male and female.” And that because of this creation of human beings “a man will leave his father and mother and cling to his wife.” By limiting the marriage relationship to men and women, Jesus did speak against homosexual practice (and much of our common divorce and remarriage practices as well).

Jesus also uses in Matthew 19:9 the Greek word “porneia” which condemns “unlawful sexual relationships.” God intends sex to be between a man and woman are married to each other. Any sex outside of marriage is sinful and wrong. Period. This would include homosexuality. In fact, it was commonly understood that “porneia” in first century Jewish circles represented a sort of short-hand reference to all of the sexual behaviors forbidden in Leviticus 18, including once again, homosexual behavior (Leviticus 18:22).

The apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit deals with sexual immorality when he writes: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-10; see also Romans 1:18-32; 1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7) Now it is not that homosexuality is the only sin condemned, but it is a sin and must be forsaken.

So clearly in the realm of human sexuality–heterosexual immorality and homosexual activity–both are impulses and activities which must be brought under control. Once again, all sexual expression outside heterosexual monogamous marriage falls under the wrath of God. The Hebrew writer says: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” (Heb. 13:4)

The good news is that Paul says some who engaged in sexual sex were changed and forgiven. “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:11) Adulterers, fornicators, and homosexuals can be forgiven of their sins, just like an idolaters, thieves and drunkards can A person who has lived these kinds of lives, but has repented and stopped living in them, can be saved.

Please observe that this passage makes no distinction of the degree that each of the listed behaviors is abhorrent to God. It lumps alcoholism with fornication, and homosexuality with covetousness. If God didn’t bother separating one sin out from that list, why do we? Especially when it comes to homosexuality??

One possible reason that believers call this one sin out of the list for special derision is that many of us, at least in 21st-Century America, can identify with most of the items on that list. We can understand how easy it is to fall into the sins of drunkenness or fornication, because we remember ourselves how it was when we were young. But most of us can’t say the same for homosexuality, so we make a distinction.

However, in this passage, God makes no such distinction. The listed sins seem to be all the same to Him. I believe this is what Paul means when he says “such were some of you.” He’s reminding the Christians in Corinth (as well as you and me) that we all have a past consisting of things displeasing to God. The fact that the Holy Spirit pulled some of us out of the mire means our role is to help others come out of similar (if not the same) sin, so that we all may enjoy a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ. It goes without saying that being hateful toward any person does not help them come out of anything.

Let me give you a practical application of this. Do you have a co-worker or neighbor who is living with someone to whom they are not married? Are you friendly with them? Would you be as friendly if their live-in lover were of the same sex? This is really what it boils down to. Both types of sexual sin in this example are equally displeasing to God.

If it is commonly known at your workplace that you are a Christian, the fact that you are nicer to the straight co-worker who is living in sin than the gay one will be perceived by the gay person as typical of Christians, further driving them away from believers, and reducing the chance of their ever being receptive to the good news of the Gospel

Friends, we cannot settle for truth without love nor love without truth. Homosexuality is a sin and like any other sin, it needs to be dealt with in the only way possible. It needs to be laid at the cross and repented of. As Christians, we should pray for the salvation of the homosexual the same they would any other person in sin. We should treat homosexuals with the same dignity as they would anyone else because, they are made in the image of God.

We need to also keep in mind that many homosexuals have some serious hurts based on events in their past. When I say "many," I mean a much higher percentage than in the general population.These hurts have come as a result of events that happened to them that they did not bring upon themselves. They need healing as much as any cancer patient, as much as any of the lame or blind people that Jesus took the time to heal. How can we have any attitude toward them but compassion? This is why God says to speak with wisdom, grace and love. (Col. 4:5-6)

Friends, we reject the sin, but we love the sinner, because we are all sinners. We teach and preach the Word of God, the Bible, without compromising it. We teach and preach the Word of God whether it is popular or not, whether it is politically correct or not, even when it doesn’t conform to the latest moral trends. And when we teach and preach the Word of God, we always do so in love. We don’t belittle and call people names. We aren’t arrogant and self-righteous. We always remember that we are all sinners saved by the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (1 Tim. 1:15)

God bless,

Robert Prater

Thoughts on Osama Bin Laden's Death

Surely by now most on planet Earth have heard about the terrorist leader Osama bin Laden’s death. Few would argue that the world is not a better place for his absence.

That being said, however, and whatever your stance on capital punishment is, it is still a strange and somewhat unsettling thing to be cheering the death of another human being. I think we should have a healthy respect for death - to acknowledge that it comes for everyone in time, and that we should in general take no more pleasure in someone else’s death than we would want someone to take in our own.

I’ve also seen several quotations making the rounds on Twitter and Facebook since the announcement last night of bin Laden’s death, though it’s been misattributed to Mark Twain and misquoted to boot: the real quotation, by famed lawyer Clarence Darrow, is (with the line before it that improves it) “All men have an emotion to kill; when they strongly dislike someone they involuntarily wish he was dead. I have never killed anyone, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction.”

That really sums it up nicely: You don’t have to think that someone deserved to die to be pleased at their passing. Truthfully, my first reactions were to “rejoice” for bin Laden’s death. Not because a human being is dead but because a man who in my mind was far more evil than good, and who was responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent people, will never be able to hurt anyone ever again. And that is surely a good thing.

Now, I also have no doubt that in this military killing the United States' government exercised its divinely ordained task, wielding the sword to administer justice and constrain evil. I believe this to be so largely because I am one of those Christians for whom the question of the proper task and character of government cannot be answered without reference to Romans 13:4 "if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” (Rom. 13:4)

Yet, I still think Bin Laden’s death serves as a challenge for us as Christians to evaluate our reactions, not only to his death, but to the reactions we have when those who have harmed us stumble or suffer. It should remind us that God takes no pleasure Himself in the death of the wicked. He would rather that they repent. (cf. Ezek. 18:32; 33:11)

Therefore I believe that God’s heart is grieved about Osama bin Laden – his life AND his death. We should honor God with our reaction to the death of Osama Bin Laden.

So, instead of taking to the streets and rejoicing gleefully with the American flag, I’m think the better Christian response is to pray for the families who were impacted by the tragedy of September 11, 2001 – the families who lost loved ones, the First Responders who gave their all, our troops, and our leaders. Let us pray for our world and pray that this will mean that peace and security will come, and soon.

And, let us pray for those who desire to kill, to persecute, and to engage in these terrorist activities. Let us pray that they may see the errors in their ways, find forgiveness, seek the face of God, and be restored into the image of God through glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,
Robert Prater

The Resurrection of Christ

Easter has its fair share of chocolate bunnies, big bonnets and baked ham dinners with the family. It’s a special time fun time for children. Of course, the Easter “holiday” also has a spiritual significance for hundreds of millions of “believers” who remember that first “Resurrection Sunday.”

Knowing that I am a preacher, I am often asked by people this time of the year, “How does your church plan to celebrate Easter?” You can imagine I’m sure from similar responses you have no doubt experienced when people are very surprised to hear when I tell them that we don’t have any special elaborate Easter programs. Rather I say every single Sunday is to be revered as the day of resurrection. The New Testament makes no specific reference to the apostles or early church celebrating “Easter” or Christmas on specific days. Instead, the resurrection of Christ was always emphasized on the Lord’s Day and in the weekly remembrance of the Lord’s Supper on every first day of the week. (cf. Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-24; 16:1-2)

Having said that, let me be very clear: Now, we don’t want to ever come across as ones who do not believe that Christ's sacrifice and resurrection are important. The Bible teaches that the resurrection of Christ is the central fact of New Testament Christianity. (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3-4) If Jesus were not raised from the dead, then nothing in the scriptures--or for that matter, outside the scriptures--is of eternal value. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Cor. 15:19 NIV) Christianity without the resurrection of Christ is no Christianity. It would be absolutely meaningless.

One final thought to keep in mind. I am always thankful when people anytime are thinking about Jesus and His life, death, burial and resurrection. Therefore I have always believed that these occasions provide us wonderful opportunities to invite and look for visitors. This could be our only opportunity to connect with some people who may be searching for a purpose to their life. Take the opportunity to especially invite someone this week to Bible class and worship with you.

God bless,
Robert Prater