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Perversion is an intoxicating drug. It
affects the whole place of sanity and thought.
With apologies to Dickens, perhaps, this is
the craziest of times as the dissolute pus seeps through the sagging integument
of Christian consciousness; and in all honesty, our noses have not only been
turned—there is a slithering process of moral asphyxiation from the effused
miasma of convoluted reasoning.
In this article, I shall attempt to exercise
bearable restraint and practical care in discussing an issue that has become
almost scary, slippery, and frightening to discuss in certain countries. Over
there, any slight attempt to refuse to pander to the zeitgeist interpretations
of commonsensical wisdom sustained by one's obstinacy in failing to dance to
the rancid tunes of levity and frivolity—by holding firmly to the traditions
handed down the generation—results in serious legal repercussions.
Sadly, in most such countries, people of
conscience are being swept under the carpet and confined to the narrow walls of
their residence to express their true opinions and feelings. Yes, many are
trembling and tremulous to ventilate their true feelings. In fact, any attempt
to stick one's head above the parapet attracts public censure and communal
animadversion.
To state it bluntly: I am no homophobic
person. As a Christian striving to follow the high standards set by Jesus
Christ, I love everybody.
However, loving people must not be confused
with loving acts perpetrated by those one loves. Moreover, just because I am
not swayed by a certain position does not make me antagonistic towards those
who have been persuaded by such. It is important to state such truths clearly
as intellectual discourse must afford us the opportunity to agree and disagree
in a spirit of fragrant cordiality and respectful dialogue. It is such a
premise that allows me to even discuss such matters.
It is also worth dismissing any charge that
by even discussing such a matter, I am some form of bigot (or many other names
that those who are fearless enough to broach the subject receive as labels).
That some people want to legalise a certain way of life, and do as they please
is solely within their prerogative; neither must I also be coerced into
subscribing to their way of life.
For my considered disagreement, I sincerely
hope that critics do not refer to me as a narrow-minded or mean person. After
all, a person must have a right to live by his or her conscience—this is what I
believe, and this resolute belief will guide whatever I do.
'Special treatment'
Equal rights to do as one pleases must not be
confused with special treatment. In fact, many practising a certain lifestyle
should not hide behind the cloak to demand something more than they make it out
to be. If they want special treatment, then they must ask for such.
Considering the seriousness of discussing
such matters, and noting that the whole atmosphere has been stained with flakes
of trepidation, I will carefully segment my audience. My core audience is not
those who live only by the laws of a land. In truth, I hope to address those
who fraternise with our cherished and beloved faith—Christianity.
Christians in general have a duty to show the
benefits of the alternative. Yes, we must live as true examples. Apostle Paul
encourages us to "be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as
lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15 KJV; see also Matthew 5:13-16).
'Vox populi, vox Dei'
On 22 May 2015, The Republic of Ireland
through a plebiscite legalised homosexual marriages. 62.07% (over 1.2m) of the
voter turnout (1,949,725) backed the decision. Thinking about the fanfare and
excitement that many people expressed; amid them celebrating, I found myself
cerebrating on the question, "Must God Apologise to Sodom &
Gomorrah?"
The phrase 'vox populi, vox Dei' ("The
voice of the people [is] the voice of God") surely came to mind.
Nonetheless, I realised that according to the
Bible's description of Sodom and Gomorrah, homosexuality had widespread
acceptance (Genesis 18 and 19). If God destroyed them although the masses
approved of their lifestyle, then perhaps it is not always that the voice of
the people is the voice of God.
When I look at Christianity in a global
context, the picture in some places make grim reading and viewing. Many are
having to cave in to external pressure to twist what they believe; however, as
this discussion progresses, I will equally shine the light on a faint glimmer
or flicker of hope.
In some areas, it is increasingly obvious
Christians have become a law unto themselves, and they have surely lost their
essential compass of thought. In truth, we do not know what else we believe,
and our confusion has become our blaring bane.
Today, Christians are fighting each other
about God's view about homosexuality. Who would have expected such a sad turn
of affairs? Even clear-cut Scriptures are now being seen and interpreted
through certain relativity spectacles; and a new believer may on occasion,
struggle to know whether the Bible is, and says what it purports to say.
'Full of twisters'
It is classic human nature to twist the truth
to suit our fleshly purposes. And when such tendentious acts are gradually
becoming a norm, soon, we will end up with a hotchpotch of the precious faith
delivered to us. And at this frightening pace, and with our ranks full of
twisters, we will need to apologise to the fathers of the faith, and in turn,
our posterity will lay a myriad of maledictions upon us for handing them a
corrupted faith when we should have "earnestly [contented] for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
It is always surprising how people continue
to say they belong to a religion but then try to bend the rules to suit their
carnal desires. Why do you want Christianity to agree with your lifestyle, is a
question I like asking. Without doubt, it is not the religion that must change;
it is your duty to alter your sublunary taste and warped palate.
To previse that the debate about
homosexuality will go away will be a temerarious conclusion. It featured very
early in the Book of Genesis, and it is still a hotbed issue today. The subject
is so contentious that anyone who attempts to say anything that does not side
with the possessed and fevered zeitgeist view of the subject risks being
treated as a pariah. The consequences are grave, and sadly, even staunch bastions
of the faith are marinating their stance to suit the popular taste. Yes, they
are giving "them" leadership positions and opening several other
doors to them.
Perhaps, I must state that if the church
continues to remain divided on the issue and gets sucked in the whirl and whoop
of the times and watches indolently as such lifestyles invade its fabric, then
God owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.
Yes, He must needs apologise to a people who
were only acting according to the way He made them, if some of the proponents'
views are anything to go by. If we are to agree with the argument that some are
born with it; if God is the creator of life and He makes you a homosexual, and
turns round to punish you, then that leaves much to be desired. On that porous
premise, Sodom and Gomorrah would have done nothing wrong to merit being
decrepitated in the crucible of God's raging anger. Nevertheless, Scripture
rings true: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face" [1].
'Cheap grace'
Today, under the false illusions of cheap
grace, everything is acceptable in Christianity. We just do what we like and
hide behind the curtains of grace. It is shocking in the least. And those who
call us back to the Bible are labelled legalists.
The truth remains that the just God does not
change. Thus in resounding response to the question posed by this article: God
does not owe anybody an apology. No, not for the "overthrow of Sodom, and
Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger,
and in his wrath" [2]. And He may very well do the same in our times.
It goes without saying that God's view on the
subject remains clear, and will remain so till earth's last sun shall set.
As with life, we can expect to see convened
panels, and on occasion people with stained collars attempting to speak for
God. However, most true believers who are more interested in pleasing God and
not pandering to the passions and palpitations of the flesh will always know
what the real truth is. It is undeniable, and no amount of statute will ever
change what feels like salty water rushing into a clean, fresh flowing stream.
The debate will rage on and on, but the truth
stands firm; and as one great apostle has rightly pointed out, "We can do
nothing against the truth, but for the truth" [3].
Peter is worth quoting on such matters:
"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell,
and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And
spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow,
making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And
delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that
righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous
soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)" (2 Peter 2:4-8).
Jude 5-8 also has an essential piece of
advice: "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew
this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt,
afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their
first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting
chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and
Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to
fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example,
suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers
defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities."
To reiterate the answer to the posed
question, Romans 9:20-21 is conclusive: "Nay but, O man, who art thou that
repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why
hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same
lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"
On a number of issues, the Bible is pellucid
in position, and yet there are many who will continue with their policy of
twisting: "[W]hich they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" [4].
Having thought about the subject and read
several justifications for this way of life, I can conclude that: "There
is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from
their filthiness" (Proverbs 30:12).
If the comments on some threads are anything
to go by, on such subjects, one has but to wonder whether a presumption of
passivity on the part of Christians is to blame.
As a final word, God does not owe anybody an
apology, and He will cause the Jehus to arise, and the Josiahs to emerge; for
God "will build [His] church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it" [5].
All Scripture references are from the King
James Version unless otherwise advised.
[1] Psalm 89:14 (NKJV).
[2] Deuteronomy 29:23
[3] 2 Corinthians 13:8
[4] 2 Peter 3:16
[5] Matthew 16:18
Angelina K. Morrison is interested in national development, true religion, and self-improvement. She enjoys thinking, and writes stories only when the muse grips her. Her first short story, Gravellatina is a breathtaking five-part series available now at Amazon. You can email her at angelinakm75@gmail.com, or find her at www.angelinakmorrison.blogspot.com or Facebook page.
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