Current Events – Auriesville Tubthumper

DESIRE TO KILL

It has been over a week since the horrific killing of all the little children at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. I haven’t done much writing since then. I knew I needed to write something about it but couldn’t bring myself to face it down until I was ready.

My heart was sick when I saw the pictures of the little children. Parents thought they were safe in kindergarten class at school. They should have been safe. They should have been safe like we all were when in kindergarten a long time ago. Do you remember those days? These kids were not taken by guns but they were killed by a crazy, selfish, jealous, evil young man. This man was no different than the very first murderer that bloodied his hands within a short time of the earth’s creation. His name was Cain and this started a long time ago. Killing has been a part of our society for ever.

Just to illustrate this is not the first and won’t be the last I submit the story of the “Bath Massacre”. It was America’s first school bombing and shattered lives just like last week but this was back on May 18, 1927. That mass killing of 38 children and six adults happened 85 years ago in a very small town in Michigan named Bath. The killing was done by a farmer named Andrew Kehoe, and he blew himself up as well. This man was a school board member; in fact, he was the treasurer and school caretaker. He was well known and trusted. He was having financial difficulties and taxes went up so he blamed the school for his problems. That morning he beat his wife to death and set his farm on fire. While the firefighters were busy with the fire on his farm he rocked the school with explosives. When he was seen in his car and people ran over to him he detonated a massive bomb inside his car and shrapnel killed the school superintendent and others. This was fairly similar to the mass killings last week and remains as the number one deadliest school killing in our nation’s history.

In the beginning, after God had created the earth he rested on the seventh day. And then, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2: 7). Then The LORD made the Garden of Eden and put the man there. You know the story. The man, Adam, was told that he could eat freely of any tree except the “Tree of Knowledge of good and evil”. Then the LORD caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and took one of his ribs and made a woman. Then the serpent tricked the woman into eating from the tree of knowledge and she also talked Adam into eating it as well. God was angry! He cursed the serpent and kicked them out of the garden and nothing would ever be the same. Sin and evil became a part of mankind.

In the 4^th chapter of Genesis we read that Eve had two children. The first born was Cain and the second was his brother Abel. Cain was a farmer and Abel was a sheep herder. Cain gave an offering to the Lord from the ground and Abel gave an offering to the LORD of the first of his flock. The LORD respected the offering of Abel but didn’t pay so much respect to Cain for the offering he gave. Apparently Abel’s offering was one of faith and Cain had no faith. Cain was beside himself and very upset. He was wroth, which means angry and irate. His countenance fell so he was moping around. God asked him what was wrong and Cain explained. God’s answer was that He would give Cain a second chance and if he gets it right then it will be accepted. God also mentioned sin at Cain’s door. So God knew there was sin in Cain’s heart. So what did Cain do? He killed his brother Abel. Just like that! He snuffed the life out of his only brother. Why? Because he was jealous and he was only concerned with self and he was sinful and did not have the love of god in his heart. He had little regard for the life of others. Is that any different than what happened last week? I don’t think so.

So you see… this killing, this evil, this sin has been with us from the beginning. It will be with us until God reigns over chaos and evil in the end as written in Revelation. That day is coming soon.

Since the beginning all civilizations have been trying to figure out why. They want to know why men are willing to put their own lives in jeopardy to extinguish the lives of others. This has been puzzled over since Cain slew Abel. The theme of murder is used dozens of times each and every week by television script writers. It has inspired stacks of novels and multiple volume stories. Legal philosophers, sociologists, psychologists and psychiatrists have theorized endlessly to no avail. The cause of murder still remains a considerable mystery to those that do not study God’s word. But we, the studied Christian’s know. We know the core of where it comes from. Students of murder can spot only the visible and apparent reasons for it – greed, jealousy, fear, revenge, or a sudden insane anger that seizes a person and, a moment later, blots out all memory of his deed. (Or so they say. There are not any guilty people in prison you know.) Ted Bundy referred to the killer as “the entity”. No killer wants to take responsibly and he never did. But maybe Bundy was onto something. Maybe it was “the entity”.

If Bundy was thinking “the entity” was Satan he would very likely be correct. It sounded kind of strange back in Genesis when a serpent tricked Eve into eating the fruit of that tree. Was it a snake? No. The serpent was not a talking snake. The serpent is identified in the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, as Satan himself. Satan beguiled Eve by taking the form of a serpent and using his evil and clever skill to scam her into it. We must remember that Satan did not force her to eat that fruit and he didn’t force Adam. They had to choose to do it. And we also choose daily between good and evil and between being in the world or of the world. So how do people get to the place where they can take another human life (or many human lives) simply to benefit some little feeling inside them? It is when the evil one has taken residence in the person. Certainly the professionals can put labels upon labels on top of it but at the root it is sin, it is Satan they follow and not God and it is a turning away from God.

In The Mind of the Murderer, W. Lindesay Neustatter remarks, “. . . motive, without the whole background in which it is set, tells little of the criminal’s psychology.” He classifies murderers as the schizophrenic (with delusions of persecution), the hysteric, the mental defective, the paranoiac (victim of a systemized delusional insanity), the epileptic (with epileptic automatism and amnesia), the constitutionally unstable psychopath, and finally the chap who is simply depressed possibly due to low blood sugar (momentary malnutrition). J. Reid Meloy, a forensic psychologist and author of The Psychopathic Mind; and Violent Attachments, says that such crimes occur as the result of a build-up of anger, frustration and planning, which undermines the already-fragile sense of self. They don’t take failure lightly and cannot tolerate humiliation. Having no way to relieve their stress, they let the steam build until it just explodes into violence. Their families are generally the easiest target and they have no inner defense against the flow of rage. Once it’s done, they often return to a sense of equilibrium and if they don’t also kill themselves, they often feel much better.

Jesus referred to Satan as “the ruler (prince) of this world”, (John 14:30). Jesus also spoke of two masters that people have the choice of serving. The two he spoke of were God and Mammon, (Luke 16:13). You see, Satan rules Mammon which is where most of the population put their treasures. People don’t actually need to choose Satan directly. Once they choose to serve Mammon as the master then Satan knows he has someone he can get to. Satan is very crafty. He gets to the weak willed that serve Mammon and takes over their lives. That is where the seed of this propensity to kill is sown. The origin that it comes from. Without realizing it this person falls into working on Satan’s side without even knowing it because they do not understand Satan’s schemes.

When Satan comes against you, be sure he has no power over you. He will have no power if he finds the love of Jesus Christ in you and finds you following the Holy Spirit instead of the ways of the world (Mammon). Follow the world into paganism and you could be the next bomber or shooter. I know you think I am over exaggerating this. But am I? Am I really?

Our land has moved away from the roots of a belief and faith in God. ‘In God We Trust’ is not anymore worth more than the bills it is printed on. Evil is taking over. Evil is at the heart of these killings. We know where it comes from. It was not a gun that killed all those children. It was an evil and sinful mind that like Cain had no faith in God. Put the blame where it belongs.

The gates of Hell have prevailed against the “church” and its leaders today. The tolerance of sin has made us powerless in this battle against Satan. Because of this failure we will likely see more of the kinds of things we witnessed last week. God forgive us. We need a genuine Holy-Spirit revival that will deliver believers from the love of the world and drive the prince of the world out of our churches. We need a healing in our land. Before Jesus went to the cross, He told His disciples, “The prince of this world comes and he has no power over Me”, (John 14:30). He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Next week we celebrate the life of the King. He is the only answer to this issue.

Merry Christmas to all,

“The Tubthumper”

Yo, Christian, You’ve got a hit out on you!

I was out at a local eatery a few days ago when somehow our conversation turned to the Muslim Brotherhood, Muslims and Islam. My friend said, “Why do they come here, they don’t like anything about the US or us? My reply was quick and easy. “They are here because they are on a mission”. This mission they are on is not a secret. From as far back as I remember Muslims have always hated the Christians. It has always been death to the Christians. Turn to Islam or die.

When I hear of all that is going on around us regarding the Muslim Community it gets my guard up. My guard is up because I am a Christian and I know there is a hit out on me. There is also a hit out on you, if you love and worship Christ. (And you, and you, and you… all of us.) It doesn’t stop with us, all other religions are on their target too and most importantly the Jews. The goal for them is to have Islam be the only remaining people. I know it won’t happen. In the end they will get theirs. It’s only the interim I get concerned about.

There are a number of very prominent and well know ministers of the protestant faiths that are promoting an insane idea that you can integrate the Muslims into our worship services treating them with love. While I do subscribe to the bible’s teaching of love your neighbor I know what is dangerous and what isn’t. It is clearly dangerous stupidity to think that Muslims will be converted or will come to our way of thinking. If they accept an invitation in it will be for one reason only. Their goal would be to gain more ammunition and positioning to accomplish their mission. I was born with a lot of common sense too. And it aint rocket science here brother!

That brings me to one of the news items of our day.

Islam: Religion Of Peace Wants To Wipe Christianity From Face Of The Earth!

This very point was made publicly by a leading Muslim cleric recently. This piece of news clearly backs up what I have known all along. I hope all those Pastors and Preachers from the watered down Christianity of today are listening. Heads up boys! It’s war!

There is available a 23 page declaration recently produced by Sheik Farook Al-Mohammedi of the United Muslim Nations International. This booklet very clearly spells out their goal to Islamize western civilization and set up the Islamic Caliphate as the global religion and government. I think I should send one to each of the mega-church pastors I am thinking of now. Here you can see a small sample of what Sheik Farook Al-Mohammedi has published in this little gem of a booklet:

“Christianity should be destroyed and wiped from the face of the earth. It is an evil demonic and Anti-Christ system, all Christians are in complete Ignorance.”

“Islamic Power has returned upon the face of the earth and the Revived Global Caliphate has set eyes on the West to once and for all rid the world of Christianity and there is nothing you can do about it. I have pledged and made a firm promise to the Caliphate of the United Muslim Nations International organization that I will do my utmost to Islamize all of the West within a short period of time…”

“Firstly we will deal with the matter of the Global Islamic Civilization, its honored status, the unrivaled Universal Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the Muslim Ummah. Islam the only true religion enjoins upon mankind Total Submission to the will of Allah, which means that you are to live a life that is Totally Devoted to the Almighty Allah by serving Him in the manner which He has prescribed for us through the example of the Holy Prophet Mohammed Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam…”

“Today as I breathe the air of our newly found Islamic State of America before my trip this week to Eurabia I leave behind me an Internationalist Islamic Ideology which will be the future of America and Europe Inshallah.”

“None will resist, you will submit! Islam will conquer the hearts of all christiandom, this is a definite reality. Every government has surrendered to the Revived Global Caliphate and those nations who resist will be placed under a police state within their realm.”

The Islamic community tries to paint a picture that it is a religion of peace. This is not true. They are only peaceful among their own. Take a look at the incident recently where a group of Muslims turned violent toward some Christian protestors. Islam is a religion of absolute power and domination. They worship Allah, a false prophet, according to the Holy Bible, which is my guide. I heard the other day that this false prophet was actually a black stone but I need to look more into that one.

The Islamic world once was in a distant land and only a few were around. This is no longer true. In fact, they are multiplying like rabbits. They have infiltrated out capital and our government by way of duping the weak minded and easily led politicians running our country now. The Muslims are right next door, they are your neighbors.

The migration of millions of Muslims into the West and the terrorists that came with them is one of the most serious threats we face today. Wake up Christian America, there is a hit out on you. And we didn’t go looking for trouble, but this trouble has come looking for us as they promised.

Eventually, Islam will be destroyed. The Bible prophesies that God will pour out judgment upon the Arab nations in the end times for their hostility towards the Jews and their attempt to claim the Jewish homeland as their own.

In almost every OT book, there’s End Time prophecy of some nations getting judged. They are always the same ones.. all of them Muslim. Here we have a sort example: Babylon (Iraq/Arabia) Isaiah 13, Assyria and Philistine Isaiah 14, Moab Isaiah 15, Damascus Isaiah 17, Cush (Somalia) Isaiah 18. Egypt Isaiah 19, Egypt and Cust Isaiah 20, Babylon Edom Isaiah 21 Tyre (Lebanon) Isaiah 23; Ezekiel 28-32 Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Turkey, Arabia, Iraq, Iran; Psalms 83: Edom (Jodan/Arabia) Moab (Jordan), Gebal (Lebanon), Tyre (Lebanon), Philistia, Ishmaelites Hagarites (Arabs) Assyria (Iraq, Syria), Amalek (Jordan); Ezekiel 38 Gog Magog (Turkey), Meshech (Turkey), Tubal (Turkey), Gomer (Turkey), Beth Togarmah (Turkey), Persia (Iran), Cush (Sudan/Somalia), Put (Libya).

As I said, “In the end they are doomed”. There is no partiality with God. He chose the Jews not to be a repository of His blessings, but to be a vehicle through which He would bless all the nations of the world, including the Arabs. But, the fundamental requirement to receive God’s blessings for both, Jew and Arab as well as all people is to accept God’s gift of love in Jesus by receiving Him as Messiah.

The Tribulation will settle things folks. But what happens between now and then. How much must we endure? We need to take bakc our land. They will destroy us along their path if we let them. I mentioned in a previous post that it is time we as Christians need to stand up and fight for our Christian faith and come back to “In God We Trust”.

Get out this fall and vote for Christian leaders. Pray and vote your mind. Remember that God is still in control and is not finished. All the leaders placed in office are of His will or they are allowed by Him for His purpose.

“Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers”, John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Watch your back!
“The Tubthumper”

Man Jailed for holding Bible Studies, Part 2

As you can see this bothered me…

You can see his sign and the cross clearly…

Mr. Salman should be responding to the civil charges with submission and moving to file the proper forms and doing what is necessary to comply with the zoning laws. He should also be holding prayer meetings to pray for the officials in Phoenix. The Christian’s responsibility does not end with mere obedience to government authority. Paul actually tells us to pray for those in authority—and includes a specific reason. He states, “I EXHORT therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Tim. 2:1-2).

The bible is very clear on this issue. The apostles were beaten many times for obeying God before the civil law. But they accepted the civil law, took the punishment. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore and went back to God’s work with respect for the rulers.

Look what it says in God’s word. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour”, Romans 13:1-7

There is a lot there to be considering when you decide to go against the government that God has placed or allowed to rule. The scriptures leave no question that all people (“every soul”)—including Christians—are subject to the “higher powers,” because they are “ordained of God.” To resist them, God says, is to “resist…God.” This is pretty serious isn’t it? It looks to me like this man in Phoenix could be resisting God! At the very least he is rebellious and not showing himself separate from the world as a member of God’s Kingdom.

When Christ was on trial for His life before Pontius Pilate, He clarified the real source of Pilate’s authority over the outcome of the trial. Notice: “Then said Pilate unto Him, Speak You not unto me? Know You not that I have power to crucify You, and have power to release You? Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against Me, except it were given you from above: therefore he that delivered Me unto you has the greater sin” (John 19:10-11).

Men or women seem to come into power in lots of different ways, including nepotism, bribery, revolution, deceit, or possibly murder. If they have obtained the office then God has allowed them to hold the power for His will and His overall plan for the universe. His plan includes you and me.

The bible say’s more as to how we are to treat them. “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. Titus 3:1-2. Peter also gave important instruction about what God expects of Christians in their responsibility toward civil governments. He wrote, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with welldoing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men…Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (I Pet. 2:13-15, 17).

So there we have it! “Submit yourselves”—this is what we should do. This is what the preacher in Arizona should do. The term, “for the Lord’s sake,” clarifies that it is God who wishes us to submit to “every ordinance” of men’s governments. Therefore Mr. Salman should submit to the government and be a good Christian in order to let his light shine.

We all need to submit ourselves to all of the ordinances of men as though we were directly obeying God Himself—because that is exactly what we are doing when we obey men’s laws. We should not be breaking men’s laws and then trying to assert that you are in some way actually serving God and are discriminated against.

Also, when courts make final rulings, on any matter, they are to be obeyed. To defy them is sin—and either a civil or criminal offense! No one should ever let their mind or emotions fool you into endless excuses for why it is not really wrong!

Ok, unless I find out something different regarding this issue, you know where I stand.

“The Tubthumper”

Man Jailed for holding Bible Studies, right or wrong?

This is all over the news lately.

Father of six faces 60 days behind bars for hosting Bible study in his OWN home against city rules.

If you have been following my blog you know I am a professed Christian. Just for the record right up front, I think this preacher is wrong. He is seriously wrong. While the entire world is increasing in acts of rebellion and anger at authority I believe a man of God should be setting an example for the world. Romans 13 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God.”

I especially believe one who claims to be a preacher which comes with a high level responsibility outlined by the Lord should be submitting to authority and showing the world how a Christian lives differently.

“The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of man; and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”, Benjamin Franklin.

To all my fellow Christians, be careful, the world is watching us.

Read the news release and then I will continue:

A Phoenix man who held weekly Bible studies at his home has had the book thrown at him over the religious gatherings. Michael Salman (pictured at right) has been sentenced to two months in jail and more than $12,000 in fines because the group sessions at his home were against the city’s building code, Fox News Radio reported.

“They’re cracking down on religious activities and religious use,” Salman told Fox News Radio. “They’re attacking what I as a Christian do in the privacy of my home.”

Vicki Hill, Phoenix’s chief assistant city prosecutor, said religious freedom had nothing to do with it and that it was a matter of public safety.

“Any time you are holding a gathering of people continuously, as he does – we have concerns about people being able to exit the facility properly in case there is a fire,” Hill told Fox News Radio. “It came down to zoning and proper permitting.”

Since 2007, The Salman family has fought to say the building in their backyard is for private worship, but Phoenix officials say its run as a church, and not up to code.

The battle between Salman and the city of Phoenix is a longstanding feud. Hill said that Salman’s neighbors complained of the gatherings back in 2007 because they were causing too much traffic congestion. Originally, about 15 people would attend the Bible studies, Fox News Radio reported.

But that number began to grow, and that’s when Phoenix officials sent Salman a letter saying that his living room gatherings were in violation of the city’s building codes.

When he didn’t stop hosting the groups, the Phoenix Fire Department broke up a Good Friday gathering Salman was hosting at his home in 2008 in which there were as many as 20 people in the backyard.

Salman then decided to construct a 2,000-square-foot building in his backyard and move the gatherings there. He said that he applied for and was granted the appropriate permits for the building. Hill, however, said that the permits Salman received were for converting his garage into a game room.

Finally, in 2009, a dozen cops raided Salman’s home and charged him with 67 code violations for hosting the gatherings. Since then, the courts have sided with the city, saying that Salman was using the building as a church and, therefore, was subject to city zoning laws. “He built a structure that he said wasn’t a church that is, in fact, a church,” Hill told Fox News Radio.

“The state is not saying that the Salmans can’t run a church or have worship services at the location,” read a Jan. 4, 2010, Arizona court ruling. “But the state is saying that if they do so, they must do it properly and in accord with fire and zoning laws.”

Salman doesn’t buy the court’s argument and has claimed that Phoenix officials are discriminating against him for his religious beliefs.

“If I had people coming to my home on a regular basis for poker night or Monday Night Football, it would be permitted,” he told Fox News Radio. “But when someone says to us we are not allowed to gather because of religious purposes – that is when you have discrimination.

Salman’s attorney is appealing the ruling and Salman’s sentencing, but unless a federal court intervenes, Salman will begin serving his sentence on July 9. End of news release.

Ok, so this man and his followers have garnered the attention of the entire United States. I wonder if he is proud of the scene he is making. The officials said publicly they didn’t care if Mr. Salman ran a church there as long he goes through the proper channels.

Christ said that Christians are to be the “light of the world” and the “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13-16). They are always to shine as outstanding examples to the world. This includes a humble willingness to cheerfully obey all civil governments under which they find themselves. I have reviewed enough of this case to know that this preacher is holding regular and consistent meetings to preach and study the word of God and to fellowship together. (Sounds like a church) I reviewed photos of his property and there is a cross in front marking the property clearly for all to see and there is a pulpit in the meeting room. (Looks like a church) I usually say if it looks like duck, walks like duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. I have no idea why this man is rebelling against the city ordinances and crying discrimination but it looks to me as though he is wrong. Besides, didn’t anyone tell him that once you become a child of God the persecution would begin?

Continued… Click here to read part 2.

“The Tubthumper”

The battleground: Homosexual vs. Heterosexual

I am responding to the practice of gay-bashing and also the actions returned in-kind. This kind of stuff has been going on as long as murder. And that is from the beginning of mankind!

In a Peanuts comic strip, Lucy tells Linus, “I finally figured out how to prove to everyone that my religion is right.” Linus asks, “How do you do that?” “It’s simple,” says Lucy, “I hit ‘em over the head with my lunch box!”

I lay claim to being a born again Christian and so my beliefs are grounded from God’s Holy Word.

We must recognize that some people have mistreated homosexuals in the past. It’s a shame that people do mock, taunt, or bully another human being. If those things are done by Christians and I am quite sure they are I want it known I do not support that action. We were made in God’s image and although I admit it is hard should work to carry ourselves in His image.

I should remind you of what was reportedly found in a late medieval manuscript: “The church is something like Noah’s ark. If it weren’t for the storm outside, you couldn’t stand the smell inside.”

That said, I think we need to make one thing clear in regard to civil discourse: To differ is not to hate. I hope we can still have a real conversation in this country about different points of view without casting one another in the worst possible light. The idea that disagreeing with homosexual behavior necessarily results in harm to gay people is designed to shut down conversation and immediately rule one point of view (in this case, the Christian one) out of bounds. The same thing happens the other way around and we have the Christian zealots ruling the other point of view out of bounds. I think this issue is blown so far out of proportion it is without question used by the devil to divide humanity. We Christians should be heralders of the Gospel and not the judge and jury. We need to leave that to the Lord. When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, he listed homosexuality among other sins—idolatry, adultery, burglary, greediness, drunkenness, slanderers, and cheaters. He didn’t just single out the homosexual issue.

Merville Vincent wrote, “In God’s view, I suspect we are all sexual deviants. I doubt if there is anyone who has not had a lustful thought that deviated from God’s perfect idea of sexuality.” That in itself makes one person no better than another. According to God sin is sin, simple as that.

As a Christian, I am to love my neighbor and seek his good, even when I don’t see eye to eye with my neighbor.

Joseph Sizoo writes in his book, Preaching Unashamed, “Jesus healed them all. He identified Himself with the paralytic who had just enough feeling to know pain. He became one with the lepers whose bodies withered with anguish. He seemed to belong to the blind who stumbled through the streets of eternal darkness. He cared what happened to the lily that faded, the reed that was bent, the coin that was lost, the prodigal son who had stepped across the threshold of indiscretion. He was the most compassionate man who ever lived.” We in Christ’s likeness need to show compassion.

First Peter 3:15 reads, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

If you truly believe the Holy Bible this is important, if not nothing I can say is important. Read in Leviticus 18 and 20, Romans 1, or 1 Corinthians 6—classic passages which condemn homosexuality.

Jesus did not say “Go and make heterosexuals” but rather “Go and make disciples.” Remember–it is not a sin to be attracted to the opposite sex; it IS a sin to be involved in any form of sexual activity apart from the husband/wife relationship. What’s more, mankind is already heterosexual—physiologically, anatomically, and biologically.

I want to be careful to not leave any hint of self-righteousness. I am nothing but a lowly sinner saved by grace. Jesus died to save lustful, homo- and heterosexual sinners and transform our hearts and minds and behavior.

Joe Dallas, who writes, “Our response should show interest and concern, two qualities the church has rarely shown when dealing with homosexuality. We must admit we have mishandled the issue in many ways: we have veered between ignoring the problem to becoming obsessed with it, we have made hasty and false generalizations at times about homosexuals themselves, and we have shown a tremendous zeal for defeating the political goals of gays while showing less concern for their eternal well being.”

I believe the church has let society down in many ways, but that is a topic for another time. If Christians believe Christ is the answer, and we do. At least I do. I would then say if we speak of the homosexual with contempt, disgust, and hatred, we will never win him to Christ. I could reason that because gays strike at us it gives reason to fight. I don’t believe that. I believe we are to respond in love and compassion as Jesus did. We can differ with one another and not hate. We can have a genuine conversation about our different points of view. To differ is not to hate and to differ is not forcing my belief on others. I lovingly ask to not have your belief forced on me. Let us agree to disagree!

“The Tubthumper”