Shifting sands of time . . .

There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous. Blaise Pascal

One may resolve to live righteously; yet, foolishly twist the words of Christ and scriptures to suit themselves. Such self-righteousness is not righteousness at all—it’s a spiritual oxymoron, if there can be any such thing. Yet, some try to go it on their own. They make up the rules along the way, and think that they can get by with it. It’s the modern answer to an old outdated morality, they proclaim.

Somehow, according to their way of thinking, love—erotic or otherwise, trumps all. God has shifted His eternal will to meet today’s cultural norms, and self-defined love is the standard. The quicker the old morality is replaced, the better, as far as they are concerned, particularly when the politically correct wind of the future is blowing in a different direction.

Gender identity is scoffed at, by these absent-minded purveyors of political and religious liberalism. After all, as the reasoning goes, why cannot one become what one wishes to become? Born a man, want to be a woman? No problem. A good surgeon and some hormonal shots and enough money, and that can be resolved. Thus, despite all available scientific and psychological research, these decadent purveyors of licentiousness plod on trampling decency underneath them wherever their warped theology takes them.

Strange isn’t it, that in regard to gender and marriage, Jesus responded to the Pharisees,

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:8)

No question of gender there, or whom should marry whom. Why then do our politically correct churches agitate for change? Same sex marriage? Not in God’s eye, they’re not.

What about the foolish regulation that wool could not be mixed with linen when making a garment (Deuteronomy 22:11)? Surely that was a stupid law, right alongside the other regulations found in the law—as for example, proscribing same sex relations, and a host of other archaic regulations.

Well, the answer is simple. Only the priest had that privilege (Deuteronomy 22:11)—that is, to wear a garment made in such a way. So, laypersons were prohibited to dress that way. Today there are similar laws. It’s illegal to dress up in a badge and a uniform to impersonate a police officer, isn’t it? Police have the authority to stop a speeding car, or handcuff a person, or breakup a domestic dispute and arrest the culprit — things no one else may do. In a similar manner, God gave priests special authority to lead worship in his Holy Presence, administer Temple rituals so that they were, therefore, identified by the clothes they wore. So, it was and is unethical and misleading for a lay person to dress up like a priest, particularly when this can confuse the public or provide unwarranted privileges to the imposter.

I bring the issue up once again because I see so many Christians, pastor’s and laymen alike retreat to a politically correct corner and cave in to the most egregious immorality imaginable. Murder is alright—their warped reasoning goes, after all an abortion is a woman’s right. Furthermore, love is the bond that unites a couple, regardless of sex; and, therefore, God must be pleased to sanction such practices.

Not according to Scripture, particularly Romans 1:18-32, or as implied by the words of Christ, as found in Matthew 19:8, which was quoted above. The natural minded confuse the order of creation, including human sexuality, among other things, when our theology strays from God’s Word. Friendships aside, we are obligated to take a stance solidly on Scripture; speaking in love (Ephesians 4:15), of course.

We are only complete in Him. There is no perfection outside that. Anything less is like spinning our wheels. We get nowhere. Frustration sets in. Like the proverbial gerbil, round and round we go, and where we stop no one knows.

The writer to the Hebrews declared,

For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. (Hebrews 2:11)

Which brings about an interesting conundrum, and that is, who sanctifies us? Christ, of course. He is the One who sanctifies us, the Scripture tells us, doesn’t it?

So, it’s best to stick with Jesus and His Word under all circumstances, past and present, whether or not it is the politically correct thing to do.

Let us therefore, put on the whole armor of God, including the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:11-20). For It is because of God that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Therefore, to dismiss the words of Christ and his duly appointed Apostles and prophets, upon whom the Church is built, with Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) as outdated is perhaps religion, but not much more—certainly not the faith that was delievered once and for all to the saints, of which Jude speaks. 

Now, may God keep you safely in the arms of Jesus, for in Him dwells all the fulness of God bodily, and we are complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10).

JimR/-