Daily Devotional for Friday May 17, 2002

The Abomination of Homosexual Clergy and Churches

(Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Over the past 33 months of Liveprayer, I have refused to fall into the traps that so many national ministries have fallen into, and that is simply bashing those who have CHOSEN homosexuality as their sexual preference to incite the faithful and generate dollars. I have clearly stated in many past Devotionals that homosexuality is a sin; that is not even debatable. But today, I MUST speak out on 'churches' that support this sexual choice, and ANY denomination or ministerial organization that would even consider having someone who has chosen this as their sexual preference to be ordained into their fellowship.

Let me say right up front, the Bible clearly teaches that there is NO division of sin. Sin is sin in God's eyes. My Catholic brother and sisters have a 'tradition of the church" that tries to separate sin between 'mortal' and 'venial'.

THAT IS A MAN-MADE DISTINCTION. THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES THAT TO GOD, ALL SIN IS EQUAL. THERE IS NO DISTINCTION!!!

Those who commit the sin of homosexuality commit a sin no greater and no less then someone who chooses to commit the sin of gossiping. Sin is a choice! The two greatest lies the pro-homosexual community has put out are that 1) homosexuality is something that you are "born with", 2) 10% or more in our society are homosexual. First, modern science has CLEARLY rejected and been unable to prove that ANYONE is 'born gay'.

IT IS A CHOICE!!! PEOPLE CHOOSE TO ENGAGE IN HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR!!! LIKE ALL SIN, ONCE YOU DO IT LONG ENOUGH IT MAY SEEM 'NATURAL', BUT IT IS STILL A CHOICE THAT YOU MAKE.

Also, the REAL studies done by the non-homosexual community clearly show that less then 1% EVER engage in this type of sexual choice.

To have a 'church' that accepts this sinful choice, to have a ministerial body that accepts people as clergy who make this choice, you MUST reject the inspiration and inerrancy of God's Word. There is no difference in having a 'church' that accepts those who make the choice to engage in homosexual behavior than a "church" that would accept those who make the choice to commit adultery. How popular would THAT church be!!! To have an institution represent God, to have people represent God, who have clearly REJECTED God, is an ABOMINATION!!! It makes me sick every time that I hear of a 'church' that accepts homosexuality as an acceptable sexual choice, and even more sick when I hear of a denomination or ministerial organizations that accept people who choose to engage in this type of sinful sexual behavior to be in spiritual leadership.

IT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN IF YOU HAVE YOUR CHILDREN GOING TO A SCHOOL WHERE PEDOPHILES ARE THE TEACHERS AND ACCEPTING THE SEXUAL INTERACTION WITH CHILDREN AS AN ACCEPTABLE CHOICE!!!

Sadly, the voice of sin in our culture has almost an unlimited national platform which tries to get people to think their view is correct. The Bible is our ultimate authority in ALL matters. The Bible clearly says that God condemns the choice of homosexual behavior as sin and an abomination. You either believe God or reject God. The choice is that simple. Can those who choose to engage in this behavior go to Heaven? Of course!!! Just like those who chose to commit murder, those who choose to commit adultery, those who choose to engage in ANY sin can go to Heaven. It is your faith in Jesus Christ that saves you. But IF you chose Jesus as your Savior, it is hard to believe that you can engage in continual sinful activity. It is hard to believe that you can blatantly sin against the God that you proclaim to love. While your faith in Christ may save you eternally, your rebellion against God will make you an instrument that God can NEVER use to reach others for the Kingdom, and you will go through this life without knowing the true joy, the true peace, the real abundance that this life can offer when you are living in accordance with God's word.

I love you and care about you very much. Churches that tell people who engage in habitual sinful activity like homosexuality are an abomination to God. To have any denomination or ministerial organization accept those into the ministry who are living a life of blatant rebellion to God, makes a mockery of the ministry. You can't cut out the parts of the Bible that you don't like. Once you start down that road, you have made yourself God. However, we live in a free society. If people who choose to engage in homosexual activity want to have their own church, they have every right to; just like those who worship satan can have their own church. As those who follow Christ, we have a responsibility to pray for them, for God to open their hearts to the truth of His Word and turn from their sin. Only God can change hearts. For those who are in bondage to the sin of homosexuality, we must pray for them to open their hearts and turn from their sin.

Until Jesus returns, we will always have those who have chosen a perverted form of sex with those of their own gender, just like we will always have those who choose to pervert sex by having it out of the bonds of marriage. While we can never accept their choice, since it is clearly against God's Word, we must pray for them, just like we must pray for everyone who is battling any sin in their life. For those reading this who are currently fighting homosexuality, let me tell you that God has never stopped loving you and is simply waiting for you to turn from your sin and come back to Him. We serve a God of deliverance from sin, a God of forgiveness, and a God of restoration. Millions have turned from the sin of homosexuality and found complete restoration and fulfillment in living a life according to God's plan. What He did for someone else, He can do for you! I pray today that you hear these words and choose to find freedom from your sin today. That freedom is only a prayer away!