Backwards in America

A 17 year old Kentucky girl was sexually assaulted by two boys last year after she fell unconscious after drinking too much. The two 17 year old boys also took pictures of the assault and passed them around. Both boys have agreed to a plea bargain that the victim considers a slap on the wrist. So she posted their names on twitter to let people know about the injustice that is happening to her. Now, she faces up to 180 days in jail and a $500 fine. That’s just backwards. Everything seems backwards in America.

There has been an uproar recently over comments made by the President of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy where he said that his company supports the biblical definition of the family unit – traditional marriage between a man and a woman. He’s been accused of being a hater, an anti-gay bigot and a homophobe. He’s being picked on because he supports marriage between a man and a woman? That’s just backwards.

Why should people who believe in God and His definition of marriage be on the defensive? Why do we have to justify ourselves for believing that marriage is between a man and a woman? (I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be here typing this right now if it hadn’t of been for a man and a woman – my father and my mother). It is absolutely crazy to have to stand up for traditional marriage. This most definitely is backwards!

I’m sure that I will lose several friends for this post, but I’m going to say it anyway: Homosexuality is an abomination to God (Leviticus 18:22 and Genesis 19:1-25). You may say well, that was in the Old Testament. Then check out the New Testament. In Romans 1:24-31 the apostle Paul says that it is unnatural for a woman to have sexual relations with a woman and it is unnatural for a man to have sexual relations with a man. You can also read 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 where Paul gives us a list of people who will not enter into Heaven.

But didn’t Jesus tell us that we should love our neighbor as ourselves? Jesus hung around with tax collectors and prostitutes. But please notice that He never condoned their sinful ways. In fact, when Jesus told the woman caught in adultery that He didn’t condemn her, He also told her to go and sin no more (John 8:1-11). Jesus also described marriage as being between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:3-6).

I am not a homophobe or a hater. I am posting this because I love people. I’m concerned about where people will spend eternity. So I don’t want to just talk about homosexuality and how much God abhors it. Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Paul states that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God! He warns people that they shouldn’t be deceived! Included in the list of unrighteous, he names: the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards and swindlers among others.

Folks, this is so much more than a homosexual issue. It is an issue of unrighteousness. It’s about what do you have in your life that you put above God? It’s about His Holiness and His righteousness and how we all fall woefully short of the mark. If you think you’ve made it past the list of unrighteousness in the previous paragraph, then look at Revelation 21:8 where Jesus says that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire.

If you are an unrepentant sinner when you die then please know that Jesus has already warned you about the fate that awaits you. In the Bible He warns us about the unrighteous spending eternity in a very real place called Hell. But God doesn’t want you to go there. That’s why He sent Jesus to walk this earth over 2,000 years ago. Jesus never sinned once. He never lied, lusted, coveted or broke any of the other 10 Commandments. He always put God’s will above His own. Then He suffered horribly and died an excruciating death on the cross. On the third day He rose from the grave. He defeated sin and death.

This is Good News for the people God is drawing to Himself (John 6:44). No matter what your sin of choice is; God offers you hope and relief from the bondage of sin. We are all unrighteous sinners and God cannot tolerate sin. We can’t measure up on our own. None of us can be good enough and we can’t do more good than bad to save ourselves. Please recognize your own sinfulness and cry out to God to save you. Turn away from your sins and put your faith in Jesus (Acts 20:21). Surrender your life completely and fully to Him.

Please, repent and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). Don’t fall for the backward beliefs of so many in society. When you stand before God on Judgment Day (Revelation 6:17), He won’t want to hear about how you were just following the culture. He’s going to want to hear why you rejected His amazing grace through the free gift and sacrifice of His Son. None of us are righteous on our own (Proverbs 20:9). We can only be saved from the wrath of God through the righteousness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). Won’t you receive His righteousness today?