And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This onefellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
Genesis 19:9-11
Genesis 19:9-11
Tolerance is a two way street that most seem to travel only one way on. The problem with most who cry the loudest for tolerance is that they are, themselves, usually militantly intolerant. This is found to be true to a great degree here in the story of the destruction of Sodom. This is a chapter that needs to be read and understood well in order to avoid similar judgement on across the land and to see how compromise can destroy others. Has God called us to be tolerant of behaviors that cause a soul to be lost forever? Should a Christian accept opinions as valid and equal when they are are opposed to the revealed will of God? Will compromise on what is right and wrong not hurt the one who is in error?
The Bible is very clear in its position on homosexuality and what defines marriage the way God intended in both Testaments. The real issue, then, is not whether this lifestyle is wrong, but why is the enemy of men's souls pushing the fight to make evil seem good and good seem evil? As said here before, the real issue comes down to the problem of trying to hide the cross. The Bible is clear when it says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)." By redefining what is sin, the god of this world, satan, has effectively hidden the Gospel. One will not repent nor turn to Christ if he/she is under the delusion that their actions are not wrong.
Genesis 19 could well be a commentary on attitudes found today across America. Two angels enter the city of Sodom to investigate the depth of darkness and, if needs be, to deliver Lot and his family. Lot, who already knows and is tolerant of the evil, begs them to come to his house; however, it is already too late. The men of Sodom have seen the angels who appear as men to them. Do you think for a minute that they didn't understand Lot's opinion of their lifestyle? By banging the door nearly off the hinges, they were showing their intolerance of his opinions. It was as if they were saying, "accept our way of life, but we will not tolerate your ideas." This took place just today in Ohio when a federal judge, ruling by fiat, beat against the door of the voter approved gay marriage recognition ban and said that the law was "unconstitutional and unenforceable." http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/April/Ohio-Must-Recognize-Out-of-State-Gay-Marriage/
Lot's reaction is one of the saddest commentaries on compromise in all of the Word of God. Rather than solidly affirm what the purpose of God really was, he tried to appease the unappeasable. He brings his virgin daughters to the door and makes a twisted offer. The men at the door saw right through this. They knew it was a half measure. It was as if Lot were saying, "While I don't agree with your choices, I'll meet you half way with a sin more along my liking." No wonder his own daughters came up with such a warped solution to the problem of carrying on the family name. With an example like that... Sin is sin and all sin must be seem for what it is. Furthermore, there is but one cure for sin and that is the blood of Jesus Christ.
Tell the truth! Don't compromise what God has said with the opinions of men. How will folks ever see the depth of their need for forgiveness if they don't see their condition from God's vantage point? Church, stand strong and boldly proclaim the truth--for it is by truth that men are set free. In an age similar to Lot's, a sure sign that angels may soon escort us out of here, stand firm by the power of the Holy Spirit and loudly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!
The Bible is very clear in its position on homosexuality and what defines marriage the way God intended in both Testaments. The real issue, then, is not whether this lifestyle is wrong, but why is the enemy of men's souls pushing the fight to make evil seem good and good seem evil? As said here before, the real issue comes down to the problem of trying to hide the cross. The Bible is clear when it says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)." By redefining what is sin, the god of this world, satan, has effectively hidden the Gospel. One will not repent nor turn to Christ if he/she is under the delusion that their actions are not wrong.
Genesis 19 could well be a commentary on attitudes found today across America. Two angels enter the city of Sodom to investigate the depth of darkness and, if needs be, to deliver Lot and his family. Lot, who already knows and is tolerant of the evil, begs them to come to his house; however, it is already too late. The men of Sodom have seen the angels who appear as men to them. Do you think for a minute that they didn't understand Lot's opinion of their lifestyle? By banging the door nearly off the hinges, they were showing their intolerance of his opinions. It was as if they were saying, "accept our way of life, but we will not tolerate your ideas." This took place just today in Ohio when a federal judge, ruling by fiat, beat against the door of the voter approved gay marriage recognition ban and said that the law was "unconstitutional and unenforceable." http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/April/Ohio-Must-Recognize-Out-of-State-Gay-Marriage/
Lot's reaction is one of the saddest commentaries on compromise in all of the Word of God. Rather than solidly affirm what the purpose of God really was, he tried to appease the unappeasable. He brings his virgin daughters to the door and makes a twisted offer. The men at the door saw right through this. They knew it was a half measure. It was as if Lot were saying, "While I don't agree with your choices, I'll meet you half way with a sin more along my liking." No wonder his own daughters came up with such a warped solution to the problem of carrying on the family name. With an example like that... Sin is sin and all sin must be seem for what it is. Furthermore, there is but one cure for sin and that is the blood of Jesus Christ.
Tell the truth! Don't compromise what God has said with the opinions of men. How will folks ever see the depth of their need for forgiveness if they don't see their condition from God's vantage point? Church, stand strong and boldly proclaim the truth--for it is by truth that men are set free. In an age similar to Lot's, a sure sign that angels may soon escort us out of here, stand firm by the power of the Holy Spirit and loudly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!
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