Sitting with a group of people and they start talking about homosexuals. They turn to you and ask you what you think. They know you are a Christian.
The problem is compounded because I don't know what I think Jesus, I don't know how I am supposed to handle questions like these because I'm not sure . . . add to this the fact that my brother Joey was gay before it was the cool thing to be.
He died during the AIDS epidemic back while AIDS was scary and we weren't sure how contagious it was.
I have a couple of friends that I really love and adore who identify as gay. I'm serious about how much I love these guys. It is the kind of love where your heart leaps and smiles whenever you are around them. So it isn't me just saying I love them.
Homosexuality is condemned in the bible. It is listed as abhorrent along with a few other things. (Some of the sins listed I am guilty of committing in the past but I hope I don't continue.) Plus, I personally detest that someone would identify themselves by their sin.
What I ended up doing, as everyone was staring at me, by the way, I now know what deer feel like when the headlights shine on them, was I answered someone when they said that surely you feel people should do what they feel like.
I told them the story that Ray Comfort mentioned in one of his videos. Picture that you are walking along a sidewalk near a construction zone of a high rise. You see some kids having fun and playing in an elevator shaft. You see that the elevator is coming down and the kids will be crushed. But the kids are having so much fun. Do you still go over and get those kids out of that elevator shaft or do you let them play? One of the people yelled that you go get those kids!
Then someone, well several people said that they were Christians. Then some others joked about how they passed churches when they were driving, or that they went to church when they were children . . .
Another person was pressing about what do you say to your homosexual friends then? Do you try your best to make them change?
I shook my head and said no. I looked at both of the people and I said that it isn't my job to change someone. I can't even change people who call themselves Christians but don't attend church, don't pray unless they are wanting something, they don't read the Bible.
A couple of people said they do want to go to church but Sunday is their only day to rest. I told them that once they find a church they love then going to church isn't a chore. I reminded whoever would listen that we were created to worship God.
All of this was happening in a diverse crowd of people that consisted of some family and some strangers, different age groups that included a child. It was a tough crowd and I was very aware of not wanting to tell an untruth and of not wanting to turn them away from loving God.
I need to write that statement again: I was very aware of not wanting to tell an untruth and of not wanting to turn them away from loving God. I wanted to hold to the truth but still show Jesus.
I left tonight with two people wanting to go to church with me - not to my church but a church they chose. I don't think I changed anyone's mind about anything. What is funny about this evening is that just this morning I had asked God to limit my words because I continually screw up my words and I always hurt someone's feelings, unintentionally hurt them, but they can't hear what I'm trying to say because they can't get past feeling hurt. It's hard to explain. A good example was Adult Study at church.
We were talking about what happens when we die. After a couple of people spoke I was able to say that we are told in the Bible that when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. I also mentioned Lazarus being in Abraham's bosom. As we broke up from Study to go up to Church Service, a lady stopped by and said, "You said that it was my opinion but we both agreed." She was hurt. I guess I had said that it is my opinion but I am going to go with what the Bible says that 'absent from the body is present with the Lord'. She thought I was differing from her opinion. I had forgotten about her speaking. I vaguely remember saying something like that but it was only because multiple people had been speaking. But she got hung up on two words and then was hurt. I never want to hurt anyone. So I asked God as I was leaving church to limit my words. I am continually tripping over them. It's a huge problem with the engineers I work with also. They never understand what I am trying to say. To say I have a problem with communicating would be a huge understatement.
I am getting a very strong feeling that I shouldn't speak on matters that I am unsure about. If I do have to speak then I will trust that the Holy Spirit will lead my words. I do stay in the Bible (reading the Bible) and I do continually read and listen to commentaries by various sources, and I pray. One of the leadings I'm getting (I'm thinking of my wonderful friend Carol) is that I should use the words contained in the Bible, scripture, and let the word of God speak. I just smiled because the verse about girding yourself with truth. Here is a link to something MacArthur wrote: http://www.gty.org/resources/bible-qna/BQ040612/girding-yourself-with-truthfulness
Ephesians 6 says:
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Pray for discernment. Because these are hard issues. http://www.gty.org/blog/B140512
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