It's not about you

As a Christian man who struggles with homosexuality, it hard to not get caught up with the “mind set” of the world. I guess that’s true for all Christians regardless of what we struggle with. God isn’t too concerned about what our struggles are, but He is concerned about what we do with them.

Jesus was odd. His teachings go against everything we are taught by the world. We are taught to be true to ourselves, stop denying who we are, to live and let live. But Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 if we want to follow Him, we have to deny ourselves. What does Jesus mean? Am I supposed to deny who I am? No, not at all, but if I want to follow Him, there are things that I must deny myself of and things I am not to participate in.

As humans, we naturally desire to please ourselves. If it feels good or right, we do it. Our goals are to be successful, have a big house, a fancy car, to be comfortable in life and to be able to afford the things we want. Our focus is on here and now. Our hero’s and those we look up to are usually the rich and famous. Some of them may even be Pastors, Authors and Leaders. Because they are influential in this world and to us, we accept the things that they say as truth. They say things that make us feel good about who we are and what we do. Many of their thoughts and ideas are merely their own opinions or things based on their experiences in life.

1 Corinthians 3:18-19 says, “ Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.”

Too often, we see people who claim to be Christians doing the same things that the world does. They are no different. They talk the same, act the same, and go to the same places. The only way we know they are Christians is because they say they are. I know I have been guilty of that more than I like to admit.

Christians get divorced, have abortions, get drunk, have pre-marital sex, go to bars, watch pornography, live homosexual lives, and curse. The list goes on. We aren’t any different.

This was the same problem Paul experienced with the Church of Corinth. The Church was allowing these things to take place right in their midst. Not only were they allowing the sin, they were proud of it. The Church became a place of immorality, and so it has become today.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13: “I told you not to have anything to do with immoral people. But I wasn't talking about the people of this world. You would have to leave this world to get away from everyone who is immoral or greedy or who cheats or worships idols. I was talking about your own people who are immoral or greedy or worship idols or curse others or get drunk or cheat. Don't even eat with them! Why should I judge outsiders? Aren't we supposed to judge only church members? God judges everyone else. The Scriptures say, "Chase away any of your own people who are evil."

Paul made it very clear that we are not supposed to judge the world for their immorality, but we are to look within our own Church and judge them. But we do just the opposite. We judge the world and neglect our own sins.

Sure, you are going to have many people in Church who struggle with immorality. If we are honest with ourselves, we all would have to admit we are guilty of some immorality in our lives. Jesus said the Church was a hospital for those who are sick, for sinners who need help. It isn’t a country club for the self righteous.

I think a lot of people go to Church for the wrong reason. Some go just because it is something they always did, so they go. Some go to socialize. Some go because they think it will get them to Heaven. There are many reasons people go to Church. But how many go because they know they are a sinner? How many go because they know they are caught in a sin and need help? How many go because Jesus said it was a Hospital for their soul? And how many get turned away because they go for all the right reasons?

Some people believe that those who live immoral lives could not be saved at all. That is not true. Keep in mind that Paul was speaking to and about Christians. Paul instructed the Church in verse 5 to “hand that man over to Satan.” Paul continues to say, “His body will be destroyed, but his spirit will be saved.”

This of course is not saying that Christians who are caught up in immorality should be cast out. As Christians, we are to “gently and humbly” lead people onto the right path.” Jesus said about Himself in Matthew 11, “for I am gentle and humble in heart.” He is gentle and humble in heart for those who seek after Him, who what to find the truth and live in obedience to Him. Many people only view God as loving, forgiving, gentle and accepting of everyone. But, there is a side of God no one wants to see. Ephesians 5:5-6 says, “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”

We can try to justify what we do. We can twist and interpret the Bible to say anything we want it to say. We do this to make what we do seem right and justified. We create God to be who we want Him to be or what we think He should be like. The Fear of God is no longer in our vocabulary. Proverbs 3:7 says, “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 14:2, “Those who follow the right path fear the Lord; those who take the wrong path despise him.” Jesus Himself said in Luke 12:4-5, “My friends, don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do. God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear!”

We often hear people say, “this is my body, I can do what I want with it.” But that is not true. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says, “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

I know many in the gay community that do not believe that homosexuality is a sin. I agree that being homosexual, or having same sex attractions, is not a sin, it is a temptation, a struggle. However, being sexually involved is a sin.

God understands sin, that’s why He came and gave His life. When He met the woman who was caught in adultery, He didn’t condemn her, but He did tell her to “go and sin no more.”

God doesn’t require any more from someone struggling with homosexuality then he does with someone who is heterosexual. Sex outside of marriage is a sin. 1 Corinthians 6:13, “Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord.”

Some may say, heterosexuals have an option to get married, but homosexuals do not. Or what happens if homosexuals are allowed to get married as is the case in some States? Doesn’t the Bible say we are to obey our Government? Romans 13:1-2 says, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted.”

Does this mean if a law is passed, and homosexuals can legally get married that it is of God? Peter tells us in Acts 5:29 that we are to obey God over man. Just because our Government passes something into Law, doesn’t mean God’s Laws are void. The Government passed a Law making it legal to have abortions. Does that make abortion acceptable to God? Science says a fetus isn’t a life. But God said in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” What man says or passes into law does not change what God says, He is the final authority.

You hear so many times from the gay community that Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, therefore He didn’t see it as a sin. No, Jesus never used the word homosexual, but this is what He did say, “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Matthew 19:4-6.

See how easy it is to overlook what Jesus didn’t say, and ignore what He did say? Jesus didn’t address the issue of homosexuality because it wasn’t an option. Just because He did not use the word homosexual doesn’t mean it was acceptable to Him. He didn’t address abortion, drug use, or pornography either, does that mean it was okay?

Throughout the scriptures, you will find one thing about Jesus that is very different than us. We focus on the pleasures and desires of this world. But Jesus always focuses on our soul and our eternity. He said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Matthew 16:26

Our focus is on us, what we want, what we can get, how we feel. But God created us for His glory, Isaiah 43:7. We were created to do good works for Christ, Ephesians 2:10. We were created to worship, honor and glorify God, Revelations 4:11.

We got it all wrong, life is not about me and you. It’s all about Him.