Homosexuality and the Christian Community

        There is a significant and divisive debate in the Christian community over whether or not homosexuality is sinful. Many people believe that all Christians are "anti-gay," but there is really no consensus on homosexuality among Christians. Some conservative Christians are vehemently opposed to homosexuality and gay rights, believing that homosexuals should "become straight." However, some liberal Christians fully support homosexuality and gay rights, emphasizing God's love and forgiveness. Many Christians find a middle ground, believing that being attracted to the same sex is okay, but that the Bible prohibits sexual behaviour between people of the same gender. This wide range of beliefs is reflected in the differing positions of Christian churches and organizations. The United Church of Canada welcomes homosexuals into its congregations and allows its clergy to perform same-sex marriages. The official catechism of the Roman Catholic church states that homosexuals can be Catholics, but that they are called to chastity. The New York Times reported about a conservative evangelical Baptist church in Ausbury Park, New Jersey that attended the city's annual gay pride celebration, giving out water bottles. The church believes that homosexuality is a sin, but went "to show God's love" to the people there.

        The debate over homosexuality in the Christian community largely centers around particular Bible verses relevant to the issue (e.g. Leviticus 18:22 and 1 Corinthians 6:9). Scholarly, contemporary translations of the Bible (such as the New International Version) support the view that homosexual behaviour is sinful, though not necessarly same-sex attraction (an important distinction). However, some Christians believe that the Bible has been misunderstood and mistranslated, arguing that the Bible means to condemn other practices such as child abuse and rape instead. This is likely a debate that will divide Christians for many years to come, with implications for the relationship between the Christian and LGBT communities. However, Christians from every standpoint should be able to agree on the importance of treating homosexuals with love and respect, as the Bible commands (Mark 12:31 and Proverbs 10:12). It is also helpful to consider that too much of an emphasis on sexuality can detract from the Bible's main message, that of the forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.

In writing this post, I have done my best to put aside my own beliefs on the subect and remain unbiased, in order to present an impartial summary of the differing standpoints Christians have on homosexuality. You can read my personal standpoint here.

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Gr8 Words

     I've decided to base my life on the Bible (yes, that does mean you have the right to correct me if I say anything contrary to it!). Here are some of my favourite Bible verses. I believe they are particularly relevant to how one should live as a disciple of Christ. This first two verses remind me that everything I do should be done in love and for the glory of God. That's hard. The third verse reminds me that I need to fully surrender to God's plan for my life. That's hard. The fourth eliminates the excuse "I'm just a youth, so I can wait until I'm older to follow God" and lists five things I need to work on continually. That's also hard. The last verse reminds me that it may be hard, but through God I can do it all.


Do everything in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:14

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. – Luke 14:33

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13 (NASB)


These verses are all from the New International Version except for the last one, which is from the New American Standard Bible.

Royal Proclamation

 His Majesty King Charles William James Philip Toblerone the Eighth, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, LG, CI, DGStJ, PC, etc., hereby brings forth this day a royal proclamation of utmost momentousness regarding the exceptional significance of music:

       Since creation, music has been a central part of society. First allow me to show you the universality of music. As the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes states, there is a time for everything. And there is a song for everything as well. While many songs have been composed for celebration and joyfulness,  many songs have also been written for sad times and mourning. Contrast "Hurt" performed by Johnny Cash, and "The Happy Song" sung by Delirious. The former is mournful and sober, the latter sunny and energetic. One may see this variety even in early literature. Take for example the book of Psalms, which contains many songs both joyous and unhappy.
  Music applies to both work and leisure. The famous song "Whistle While You Work" obviously concerns the former, while dance music concerns the latter. Music is also composed for special occasions and holidays. “Happy Birthday”, “Auld Lang Sang”, and the entire genre of Christmas music are all for special occasions and holidays.
  Wherever one goes, one cannot escape music. It is found in every culture, in every time period, in every place humanity has lived. Astronauts have even played the keyboard, guitar, saxophone, and didgeridoo while floating weightlessly in outer space! Because music is popular anywhere, at any time, for anyone, it has established itself quite firmly as a central part of human society. From North America to Japan and from Greenland to Australia, music continues to be one of the most important elements of culture.
       In modern western society, music accompanies many things. People listen to iPods while exercising and the radio while travelling. Movies, TV shows and commercials, video games, sports, theatrical performances, religious worship, and many other everyday activities all utilize music.
Music has also become big business. Albums, tickets for concerts and musicals, downloadable music online, instruments, sheet music, and music playing devices all sell for billions of dollars each year. Professional musicians earn fame and fortune. The enormous electronics company Apple Inc. has earned a large amount of their income from the 16 billion songs downloaded off of their iTunes store and the 300 million iPods they have sold.
       Why is music so popular? Because of its spiritual, mental, and emotional power. If you have ever put on a good song and just let your spirit sing along, you should know what I mean. Arts such as motivational speaking, drama, and music are unique in the their ability to significantly impact people spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I believe that because music is the most universal of these arts, it is also the most effective and beneficial.
       That is the reason why music is often used in religious worship. It is very emotional, while at the same time structured, systematic, and sensible. The medium is successful at establishing emotional ties to the supernatural while remaining rational and practical about the needs of life.
       While music is great at bringing people together around a common cause such as religion or nationalism, it is also very good at helping people define themselves. The many different types of music often cause people to want to identify with a certain genre, subgenre, or composer. This results in groups of fans united around a certain type of music. Often these groups are informal, but formal fan clubs develop as well. Sometimes entire subcultures and even religions are formed around a genre. The notable Rastafari religious movement owes much of its popularity to reggae music. Other subcultures are also built around music, such as the heavy metal subculture, which has its own symbols and fashions.
       Music is a central part of society because it is universally effective at bringing people together and helping them find their identity. It has intertwined with culture all around the world. Music belongs among the most influential and beneficial of all aspects of society, along with essential components such as religion, government, industry, and the media.

Thoughts

"Do you know what I mean when I say I don't wanna be alone? I have no fear of drowning, it's the breathing that's taking all this work."

- Lyrics from the gr8 song Work by Jars of Clay

    I'm not scared of the future. Perhaps I'm just naive, but I'm not actually scared of failing my life. If I live and accomplish little for good, at least I've accomplished something. If I die tomorrow, I'm fine with that – God's will be done.
    But I don't really want to fail – who does? I don't wanna live my life without standing out and making a difference. I don't wanna live a boring, uneventful life in the background of everything going on around me, and end up not making a difference in anyone's life.
    I want to succeed. I want to stand up and stand out. When I die, I know I'll have many regrets – that's just the way I am, a perfectionist – but I want to know that some part of the world is better because I lived. I want to be active and do lots of work for God's kingdom during my life. That's the way I am.
    Life is good – very good at times. But sometimes it does get hard. Instead of feeling peace and freedom, I sometimes feel bogged down with life's business. I hate letting my life get stagnant and boring – I think a very key aspect of freedom is change. On the other hand, I hate it when my life gets really busy and it feels like everything's getting out of control.
    So I try to try to live life to the fullest – not by partying and getting wild with friends, but in my own introverted, quiet way. I read the Bible, I read the classics, I write (like I'm doing right now), and I soul search. I pick out what to stand for, and do my best to stand for that – whether it be Jesus, the Bible, open-mindedness, and truth, or just my favourite clothes brand (Quiksilver!) or hockey team (Oilers!). I search for beauty – in stories, in nature, in music, in people.
    And I prepare for the future – prepare to face the enormous world out there. For now I'm just a homeschooled kid in a small farming town, but some day I'll be so much more than that, God willing. And I really don't know where I'm going with this...
    I guess I'm just trying to sort out my thoughts. I'm the kinda guy who sorts out his thoughts by writing... and then posting them on my blog for the entire world to see! Hahahahaha! :) Oh well, at least I'm honest. Very honest. I'll be a lousy politician.

Thanksgiving

 I will praise God’s name in song
   and glorify him with thanksgiving.
 This will please the LORD more than an ox,
   more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
 The poor will see and be glad—
   you who seek God, may your hearts live!

- Psalm 69:30-32

In Defence of Mourning

      Faith in Christ brings hope and joy. Often music is the best reflection of a worldview (i.e. culture, mindset, and/or religion) so take a look at the Christian music out there. Most of the well known Christian songs are joyful – "just be happy and everything's going to be fine! Don't be sad, praise God!"
     But life isn't always like that. There is hatred, mourning, loneliness, shame, and despair, all enhanced by deep divisions between people. These things can even be found in the best of churches. Sin's consequences are ugly. There are times for mourning and sadness. But where does Christ fit into these times?
     Christians love to celebrate the joyful parts of the Bible - for example, we love our big Christmas festivities. But not everything's all fine and dandy in the Bible. The book of Job is about a man in the depths of despair, who lost everything he had and even began to think that God had deserted him. Ever read the book of Jeremiah? It predicts many calamities and can be depressing at times.
     God knows all about suffering. Jesus spent 40 days in a desert with no food and the devil for company. He sweated blood in anticipation of his crucifixion, which is known to be one of the most brutal ways to die. And It wasn't just any ordinary crucifixion - He also took upon himself the weight of the world's sin, with God's wrath attached.
     Most people celebrate Christmas, but not nearly as many people commemorate Good Friday, the anniversary of Jesus's brutal death. I also fall into the trap of concerning myself only with happy things – I often try to ignore sadness. Sometimes it's like I'm trying to deny the fact that there even is sorrow, though in my own life I hit rock bottom all too often, writhing in the grip of dark depression. I've said to myself, "I'll just publish the happy half of my writing and keep the bitter parts to myself."
     And perhaps that's one of the reasons people dislike Christianity – we come across as do-gooders with our heads in the clouds, showing off our shiny hope and joy, without the simplest acknowledgment that we're still broken sinners who still feel pain.
     Love, hope, and joy is great of course. But sometimes we don't leave any room for Christian mourning and Christian sorrow. Sometimes we present to the world an image that seems to trivialize the bad times of life. At least I do.
     So what should we do? We can't throw away our love, hope, and joy. But I think we could acknowledge sadness more – recognize that there is a time and place for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:4). For example, the well-known Christian song Tears of the Saints by Leeland expresses sadness for the lost, and the lesser-known Lament by the Christian band NewWorldSon is downright mournful. Why? Because sometimes hope seems bleak and instead of joy there is misery.
     We should also get involved in ministries that reach out to people who are broken and in misery. Some good organizations that do this are Love is Louder, Gospel For Asia, and the International Justice Mission.
     Of course, there needs to be a balance. Most of the sad Psalms in the Bible end with a reminder that God is in control and He will redeem us. The book of Job ends with the protagonist getting back twice of what he lost, and also shows us how his suffering was part of a much bigger picture. God will always pull through (Isaiah 40:28-31). We may not understand, may not see any hope in our future, and may not even be delivered until after death. But still God will never fail. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. - Matthew 5:4

     We live in a broken world. Mourning is a fact of life. Don't ignore it, gloss over it, or trivialize it. Feel free to be sad without thinking that you're putting God aside. But always keep in mind that one day there won't be any mourning - in heaven. God is in control, and God is good.

Ancient Words

    The Bible is comprised of 66 books written thousands of years ago, in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). Christians (like me!) believe it is God's word - essentially God talking to us! Unfortunately, many people think the Bible isn't relevant today, in our modern world. But just because something is old, it doesn't mean it's irrelevant. We don't abandon seniors just because they're past their prime. Classic books written hundreds or even thousands of years ago are still read for the wisdom written inside that transcends time. The thoughts of ancient writers like Plato and Socrates are still very relevant and influential.

    But what does the Bible have to say about its own relevancy? Since it is the foundation for my life, the backbone of my worldview (set of beliefs), and the air I breathe, I can't help but ask this question. I like the let the Bible speak for itself, so let's take a look...

*  "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." - Isaiah 40:8

*  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." - Matthew 24:35 (Jesus speaking)

*  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." - Hebrews 13:8

    I think the answer is pretty clear. But even if it still is relevant, why should we place our faith in it? What's so special about the Bible?

*  "And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times." - Psalm 12:6

*  "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." - John 17:17 (Jesus speaking)

*  "May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous." - Psalm 119:172

*  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9

    The Bible is pure, true and righteous. It reveals God to us - His greatness, His justice and love, His plan for all of humanity, and His plan for you. He is better and greater than anything we could imagine.

    The Bible has also been accurately preserved and passed down to us. For example, The Case for Christ, a great book written by former-atheist (now Christian) journalist Lee Strobel, points out that "the modern New Testament is 99.5 percent free of textual discrepancies, with no major Christian doctrines in doubt." We have eye-witness accounts of Jesus' life and death, with far better reliability than most ancient documents. It was those accounts which led Strobel to a faith in Jesus Christ.

All Bible verses are from the NIV, copyright 1984.

The End of the World

     I don't know why any Christian would try to predict the end of the world, or believe any apocalypse prediction. Christ specifically said that no one except God the Father knows when the world will end:


Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.  – Mark 13:31-33 (Christ's words)


     Christ's words above are also recorded in Matthew 24:35-36. There are many other places in the Bible that say Jesus Christ's return will be sudden and unexpected:


Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. - Matthew 24:42 (Christ's words)

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3


     Any apocalypse prediction goes against what Christ said and what the Bible says, and is thus extremely unChristian. Even if we don't know exactly when it will happen, what does the Bible say about judgement day? Let's take a look:

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  – Matthew 13:47-50

     So to conclude... I'll just let the Bible speak for itself! We don't know when Jesus Christ will come back to earth, but we need to be ready (Luke 12:40).

All Bible verses are quoted from the NIV

Being Zealous :)

   God matters more than we could ever imagine. Psalms 144:4 says that "Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." God is trying to tell us to "store up treasures in heaven" instead of on earth, because we aren't going to be here on earth very long anyways, and the only things we can "take with us" to heaven are those things with eternal significance. The Bible says the earth and everything in it will soon pass away, and all we'll be left with is our spiritual treasures, not earthly treasures like money, fame, or popularity. Jesus Christ used the Parable of the Hidden Treasure to illustrate this. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Matthew 13:44. We need to realize how gr8 God is and give everything to follow Him.
   Death (and our eternal destination) is just around the corner! Every day we hear of people dying in tragic accidents, extreme weather, anything! But we never think anything like that will ever happen to us. I'm pretty sure those people who have died unexpectedly never thought it would happen to them either! (Thus the word "unexpectedly") Because death is unexpected, and it's also a very real, very close possibility. God could say our time is up any moment now... a sobering thought. Then BAM! suddenly we would realize how much God matters.
   So we need to do something about this! I don't mean to install more airbags in your vehicle, put some more smoke alarms in your house, and wear a helmet everywhere you go. Quite frankly, death will eventually come anyways. No point worrying about it! What I mean is that we need to live life to the fullest. Go party all day long, get drunk, and, uh... oh ya, treasures in heaven - eternal significance. Right. Instead of throwing up our hands and becoming hedonists, we should become completely transformed for the better- by being full of zeal for the one, true, amazing God. We interrupt our regular scheduled programing for a message from our sponsor:

~ Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

~ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

   The definition of zeal: "great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective". Our cause and our objective as Christians is God. I would like to ask you a question: What is the most important thing in the world? Well, if God exists, the answer is obviously God Himself. Because He created us, because He's so awesome, perfect, all-powerful, and all-fulfilling. My pathetic little words can not even begin to describe God. And because He died for you, you can spend all eternity with Him, if you wish. So if you're not a Christian, ask yourself, "Does God exist?" It's the most important question that could ever be asked. Well, now back to zeal - our energy, our enthusiasm, should obviously be incredible because our cause, our objective is God himself.
   I've heard about this one minor soccer coach who said that the only difference between the Christian players and the non-Christian players on his team was that the Christian kids didn't swear as much. Not cool :P Not cool. The classic Christian song Shine by the Newsboys goes like this: "Shine! Make them wonder what you got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking bored. Shine! Let it shine before all men, let them see good works and then let them glorify the Lord." Have you seen this Leeland album?

www.leelandonline.com

You and me are called by God to be that one arrow pointing the opposite direction. 179° doesn't cut it. Only 180° works. And people will notice, but that's okay, because that's what God wants. And this zeal of ours needs to be directed by God. For example, recently lots of people have become really enthusiastic about Jesus. That's a gr8 thing - hey, Jesus reigns!!! But some people have taken it too far - they've got all wrapped up in their own passion, their own zeal, that they have rejected the church. There are lots of people who think that "organized religion" is somehow evil. And because they didn't let God direct their zeal, they ended up rejecting Christ himself by rejecting His church.

~ It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. Proverbs 19:2

So to summarize, we need to be on fire for God (that old-fashioned word "zeal") and make sure that it is God's fire, not our own. Oh, and I forgot something! Your age doesn't matter! If you're under 18 (like I am), this still applies!!

~ Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

And one of the best ways to express our zeal for Christ is through love! ♡

~ He [Jesus] answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbour as yourself." Luke 10:27

~ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9

All verses are quoted from the NIV