There are a few scriptures that are thrown in our faces. They are:
Leviticus 18:22, 20:12
Romans 1:26,27
1 Corinthians 6:9
Any scholar can agree that the Levitical Law is negated by the introduction of the New Covenant or Jesus. Otherwise anyone who eats shellfish, divorces or commits adultery (which we know begins in the mind, think it and so it is) is an "abomination" and should be put to death.
You cannot pick and choose which parts of the Levitical law you follow, its either all of it or none of it. You either believe in that law or the law of Jesus.
So let's move on to the New Testament scriptures, Romans and 1 Corinthians. These are contextual. We must understand Paul's audience (the fleshly author of these two books). The Romans were a culture of Paganism. They didn't build temples in cities, they built cities to protect their temples. When Paul encountered these places he wasn't fighting homosexuality, he was fighting ritualistic worship.
We will dive deeper into this next time, but until then, know that as we read the Bible we understand its meaning better as time goes on. Our knowledge evolves. Like it did with womens roles in society and the use of the Bible to condone slavery.
God hasn't condemned you to hell. Jesus DOES love you. People have one understanding, just like they did 100 years ago and it was wrong then, then as a society we evolved and so did our understanding of those passages. This will happen too with us.
Just like all societies, there will be those who scream about change, this is how religious hate groups get formed like White Nationalists, who are a despicable breed, not much different then the KKK, who also claims Christianity. Neither of which really are.
Christ gave us two commands, which are a summation of the original: Love your God with all your mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Do those...
If the teaching your hearing does not feel like love, it isn't. Furthermore, if its not love, it isn't from God.
Scripture to contemplate:
Romans 8:38-39...you would do well to memorize it!
With Love
Jeff Utnage
No comments:
Post a Comment