by Pastor Jerry Marshall, New Community Church

Homosexuality is one of many sinful choices that outwardly express the truth that people are sinners by imputation, nature and practice. Like all people, they are not born homosexuals but sinners. And like all who sin, homosexuals and lesbians need salvation that can only be secured by faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.

In case you were not aware, the 90's were targeted by Gay rights activists as the "Gay Nineties" It was their intent to make that decade the one in which several central objectives would be realized.

The first was to legalize homosexuality and removing all laws against sodomy in our country. Even though many attempts have been made in this decade to legalize homosexual marriages in various states, the majority of citizens in these states have rejected such referendums by large majorities. However, the homosexual community has been successful in some states by having the courts overturn the will of the people.

The second was to make it a criminal offense for churches, schools, businesses, local, state, and federal agencies to refuse to hire homosexuals because of their sexual orientation.

The third objective was to make it a crime for any individual to refuse housing accommodations to homosexual couples.

The fourth was to set precedent by which the homosexual or lesbian sub-culture can legally repeal all sodomy laws governing the age of consent, the allowance of the legal marriage of homosexuals and their ability to adopt children. And in addition, require all public schools to create sex education courses taught by homosexuals to show their lifestyles as moral, healthy and normal alternative to heterosexuality.

The final objective was to get AIDS carriers handicapped status, which has been accomplished. It is now the first disease with civil rights.

Here we are in the final year of the first decade of a new century and it is clear to see that of many of these central objectives have been accomplished. It looks as if the gay community is long on its way to total cultural acceptance of homosexuality as normal and a morally acceptable lifestyle.

Of 76 societies studied by Clellan Ford (Anthropologist) and Frank Beach (Psycho biologist), two thirds consider homosexual activities normal and socially acceptable. Perhaps the most interesting thing is how those who oppose homosexuality on moral grounds have been successfully marginalized and viewed as close minded, antiquated, or homophobic. They are characterized as those who want to remove the rights of gays and make them targets of hate mongers.

How can the church of Jesus Christ effectively minister to homosexuals by demonstrating the love of Christ and presenting to them the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ? We must begin by understanding several significant points of information.

I. The Rationale For the Gay Lifestyle.

Those who are attempting to legitimatize the homosexual lifestyle; state that it is a sexual orientation one is born with. Therefore, it is not a chosen behavior and must not be viewed as immoral. It is not something you choose, it is something you discover about yourself. Moral choice implies that you can choose to initiate and live out a certain behavior pattern that is deemed to be immoral. Since you are born with this orientation, it is not a moral choice. It is thought that such sexual orientation has no necessary connection with sin, sickness or failure. It is like being born with blue eyes, or brown hair. It is like those who are born with a heterosexual orientation. Homosexuality is thought to be a gift from God to be discovered, accepted and celebrated. It is further thought that an enlightened and accepting cultural would celebrate people making such a discovery.

It should be pointed out that no reliable objective authority can be found to substantiate this way of thinking.

The advocates of homosexuality state that to deny homosexuals the right to exercise their sexual orientation is to declare that sexual fulfillment is reserved exclusively for heterosexuals. Those who are not hateful and homophobic will love and accept homosexuals the way they are and would not attempt to change them. Enlightened people are tolerant people who do not make judgments about people's sexual orientations.

It is further reasoned that since this sexual orientation is inborn and natural to some, and since they equal only a minority of our population, those who are homosexuals should be granted the status of a legitimate minority and given special rights of a minority such as those possessed by African Americans and Hispanics. The laws of our land should outlaw any discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, religious conviction or sexual orientation.

Apparently many lawmakers and other influential politicians agree. Today virtually all states have granted homosexuals protection either by legislation or court action. Certainly, the gay community has a dear friend in the White House who would gladly lend the power of his office to the advancement of the gay agenda. He is currently seeking to eliminate the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that has been used to deal with the matter of gays in the military. If eliminated, gays would be able to be very public about their homosexuality without fear of any sort of restrictions placed upon them because of their sexual orientation.

There are some from within the ranks of Christendom that want to show that Christians can be enlightened and tolerant too, and have warmly accepted those who practice the gay lifestyle not only as members of their congregation, but even as their clergy. Some "Christian" denominations have accepted the sexual orientation of homosexuals as natural, normal and similar to heterosexuality.

There is a "Christian" homosexual denomination called the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches with approximately 170 churches in their fellowship. They believe that the only kind of homosexuality that is condemned in the Bible is with multiple partners, just like the bible condemns multiple partners in heterosexual relationships. They contend that you can be truly born again and live the homosexual lifestyle without the need to repent or to renounce it as sinful, as long as you are in a monogamous relationship.

Robert Williams, an ordained homosexual Episcopal priest, has stated that Jesus was a homosexual. His sexual partners were the apostle John and his friend Lazarus. Still others have stated that David and Jonathan had a homosexual relationship. In addition, some churches who have organized their church services in such a way so as to cultivating a "non-threatening environment" for the unsaved to come and investigate the claims of Christ, say little or absolutely nothing about this subject for fear of offending the lost.

II. The Biblical Response To The Gay Lifestyle

First and foremost we want to begin by understanding the origin of such reasoning mentioned in the first point of this study. It is essential that we comprehend that man in his fallen condition has a propensity, an orientation, to develop a philosophical, theological and moral rationale that enables him to indulge in sin so as to escape the sting of the conscience. Paul refers to this as the mind set on the flesh.

Romans 8:5-6 (NIV)
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

Phronee, the verb behind "set their minds", refers to the basic orientation, bent, and thought patterns of the mind, rather than to the mind or intellect itself (Greek "nous"). It includes a person's affections and will as well as his reasoning.

From a biblical perspective, people enter this world with a sexual orientation which is heterosexual and this sexuality can be freely exercised in the context of a committed marriage relationship between a man and a women. All other types of sexual activities are clearly beyond the scope of the moral will of God and are subject to His condemnation (1 Corinthians 7: 1-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).

The Scriptures stand in opposition to the notion that homosexuality is something you are born with and later discover about yourself. The Bible does not affirm the idea that homosexuality is a gift of God. It would however condemn such activity as a willful sinful choice which is subject to the righteous judgment of God (cf. Leviticus 18:22-23, 29; 20:13).

Those who enter into homosexuality are not enjoying a gift from God, but the judgment of God. Because they have abandoned him in order to indulge in their sinful passions, God has given them over to their degrading passions and all the backwash of such sinful activity (Romans 1:26-27). According to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, those who practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God. The word "effeminate" is a translation of the Greek word; malakos which not only describes a male who has taken on the characteristics of a female, but the word also describes the male partner in homosexual intercourse. It frequently described those young males who sold themselves in the context of temple prostitution.

God's attitude toward such behavior is further manifested in the fact that He destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as an act of His divine judgment against the men of those cities who were impassioned to have sex with the two angels who had been sent in order to rescue Lot and his family members (Genesis 191-11, 23-29) Jude in commenting on this situation said that it serves as evidence of the certainty and severity of God's judgment on such sinful activity (Jude 5-7).

The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy that one of the main purposes of the Law of God is to awaken in the human heart, the consciousness of our sinfulness and our need for deliverance from such a condition. Once a person has acknowledged their sin and come to Christ in Faith for the salvation of their soul, the law has completed its task. But the law also serves to identify and underline the utter sinfulness of sin (1 Timothy 1:8-10; Romans 3:19-20).

III. True Liberation From the Gay Lifestyle

The Gay community would say that there is a need for true liberation for the gay lifestyle in our culture. It is thought that such liberty will come when our society undergoes a complete change of attitude about homosexuality, when their sexual orientation is recognized as natural, normal and acceptable. This is quickly becoming the majority view throughout western culture.

It is thought that true liberation will come for those who are homosexual or lesbian when such lifestyle choices are given a rightful place in the mainstream; when gay marriage and cohabitation are thought to be equal and equivalent to that of heterosexual marriages and relationships. Liberation will come when gay couples reap the same social benefits that straight couples do and when the national laws are in place that protect them as a minority. True liberty will be experienced by homosexuals and lesbians when government, driven by compassion for them, will provide the necessary funds in order to find a cure of AIDS.

From a Biblical perspective, what homosexuals need is true liberation from the gay lifestyle. Like all sinners, what is needed is freedom from the curse and bondage of sin (John 8:31-34; Romans 6: 15-23; I Corinthians 6:9-11). This is the freedom that comes about from turning to the Gospel message with repentance and faith and becoming a new creation in Christ (I Corinthians 15: 1-4; 2Corinthians 5: 17).

Conclusion

What should be the churches response to the growing acceptance in our culture of what the Word of God clearly presents as sinful and a clear violation of the moral will of God?

Why is it significant to remain mindful of our pre-conversion spiritual condition when ministering to those who are captured in this sort of sin (Titus 3:1-3)?

It is necessary not to forget our assignment. We are to make disciples by the preaching of the Gospel and nurture those who come to faith in Jesus Christ so that they may become, more Christlike in their thinking and the conduct of their lives. Our job is not to moralize our culture. Our job is to evangelize the world.

Don't forget our Lord who welcomed all people, but not all flesh driven systems of morality or flawed and fallen theology. His desire was to draw all men unto himself. We must share that same passion.

by Pastor Jerry Marshall, New Community Church

Illegal immigration is not just an issue for our Nation. Over the years, it has become a world-wide problem because of many countries that have oppressed their citizenry with policies that have led to financial ruin, social injustice and even massive death and destruction. Because of these things, many people have fled their home countries in order to escape the tyranny of self serving megalomaniacs, religious and political persecution, inept governments and other social and financial dynamics that have made it near impossible to survive and to feed their families.

James Hoffmeier in his book titled, "The Immigration Crisis" wrote the following in the first chapter:

"Illegal immigration has become the major social and legal challenge facing the western world in the twenty-first century. By the middle of 2006, over eight thousand West Africans had sailed in small boats to the Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco, hoping to settle in Spain. On June 20, 2006, a group of Afghan asylum-seekers took sanctuary in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin and began a hunger strike to draw attention to their demands, threatening suicide if the police tried to remove them. Neighboring Britain believes there are more than a halfmillion illegal immigrants within their borders. And in Germany reports indicate there are more than one million "illegal's." Even distant Australia is experiencing what CNN called "a tide" of illegal immigrants.

But in America, the numbers are even more staggering. An estimated twelve to fifteen million (some reports are as high as twenty million) now reside illegally in the USA. In Arizona, a border state, it is estimated that 10 percent of the population is now made up of illegal aliens."

In frustration with the inability of our government to deal with this situation, the legislators of Arizona, along with the approval of the governor have recently passed a law to deal with illegal immigration. This law has caused a fire storm of debate, anger and charges of racism and insensitivity to the plight of those who have illegally crossed the borders. Arizona however has been impacted by the enormous costs and other social problems associated with a flood of illegal immigrants and fear that the state may be on the precipice of bankruptcy in part because of this issue. In addition, they have taken an oath to protect the citizens of their state and thought it necessary to pass and enforce this law in order to uphold their promise.

From a biblical and practical perspective, how should pastors, church leaders and church members respond to this matter of "illegal immigration?" The following considerations are offered with the intent of guiding those who profess to be disciples of Jesus to think biblically and to respond in a Christlike manner to this emotionally charged issue.

1. All true believers are aliens or strangers in this world.

By virtue of the miracle of conversion, all true believers in Jesus Christ who are citizens of this country are foreigners, strangers' or aliens in this world (John 17:12-17; 15:18-21).

John 17:12-17 (NASB95)

12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition (Jesus), so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.13 But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

John 15:18-21 (NASB95)

18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.

Peter described our identity in Christ in the following manner:

1 Peter 2:9-12 (NASB95)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

The word alien in verse 11 is a translation of the Greek word parokios which refers to being a resident foreigner. In this case, we are resident foreigners in this world because our citizenship is in heaven and we are subjects of the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 2:19 (NASB95)

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,

Philippians 3:20-21 (NASB95)

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

The word stranger comes from the Greek word, parepidemos which describes a person who for a period of time lives in a place which is not his normal residence-he is a temporary resident. ¹

This word certainly captures the status of a genuine believer. They are temporary residents of this world. Their permanent home is a heavenly one with a heavenly city described as the New Jerusalem (cf. Hebrews 11:13-16 12:18-24; Revelation 21).

The writer of Hebrews, speaking of those hero's of faith that he exemplifies in the eleventh chapter, shows us that the status of foreigners and strangers in this world has been and will always be true of all genuine believers.

Hebrews 11:13 (NASB95)

13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

I must point out that genuine believers are not illegal immigrants in this world. (A believer who is born in this country or one who has followed and completed the legal requirements for citizenship are legal citizens according to the laws of this land). But when you were born the first time, you entered this world as a citizen of this world. When you were born again, you became a citizen of the kingdom of heaven and you are now in this world but not of this world (John 17:16). Disciples of Jesus are temporary residents in this world.

I point this out because it has been the bent of people in various nations to point to and accuse those who are foreigners in their land to be the source of all the troubles that a country may encounter. World history has substantiated this tendency. When this has occurred, innocent people have been hurt and unjustly victimized by those who have been poisoned by this sort of mind-set. This is going on in our country and in other nations in Europe.

This is beginning to percolate in our culture with some animosity being directed toward Bible believing and bible teaching followers of Jesus. There are those who look at us as being a hindrance to social progress that began in the sixties. They see us, and rightly so, as being unwilling to adopt their post-modern world view with its perverted morality, theology and ethics. Some in our culture view us as an obstacle to further enlightenment and greater personal freedoms. We are described by some as being judgmental hypocrites or are homophobic and closed minded.

Many who are followers of radical Islam have become increasingly militant and view bible believing Christians as infidels who stand in the way of the conversion of the world to the Islamic faith. In countries that are ruled by the laws of Islam, many believers have suffered severely and many have been martyred for their faith.

In the final days of the final days of this world as we know it, the Antichrist will convince the world that the people of God are the cause for all the calamities and ecological destruction that will take place during the Great Tribulation. And they will wage war against the people of God; those foreigners and strangers who are not of this world.

All that has been written thus far hopefully will serve as a reminder that we must not point the blame solely at illegal immigrants for the raising debt of our nation's budget or the taxing of the social resources of our cities. Much of the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of those American citizens who vote continuously for politicians who promise them new or expanded entitlements in exchange for their vote. For many of the illegals, these entitlement programs are attractive and easily accessible. Also at fault are those politicians whose votes are not squarely based on noble principles but on purchasing the votes of the citizenry or even illegal immigrants (if they are ever granted amnesty and citizenship).

In addition, some of the blame must be borne by those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants to gain financial advantage. Generally speaking, immigrants, illegal or otherwise, are hard workers accustomed to long hours of labor for low paying jobs.

Hopefully, being mindful of the truth that we are strangers in this world will cultivate in us a greater empathy for those who are residents in a foreign land.

Believers who are citizens of this nation must never use their vote for what politiCians may promise to give them in exchange for it. We are told to do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others (Philippians 2:3-4). The principles of this passage should govern our right to vote in this country.

2. True believers are to be loving and compassionate toward all people regardless of their social status.

One of the great truths about our God is that He is not a respecter of persons. He does not show favoritism. This truth is highlighted in both the OT and the NT.

We see this manifested in the exercise of God's judgment and in His gracious provisions to all people whether they know and worship Him or not (Note Deuteronomy 10:17-19; Job 34:19; Romans 2:11; Matthew 5:43-48). This truth is clearly manifested in the exercise of God's loving provision of salvation (Romans 3:27-30; Revelation 5:6- 10).

Peter came to understand this truth more fully when under the providential direction of the Lord, he was brought to the household of Cornelius, a Gentile Roman military man, in order to preach the Gospel to them and to witness their conversion first hand (Acts 10:24-48).

The nation of Israel, functioning under the rule of the Lord, was commanded to love aliens and foreigners.

Leviticus 19:34 (NASB95)

34 'The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.

Although the church is not the nation of Israel, and therefore not under the law, we do get the sense of God's heart in this verse regarding His desired treatment of those who were strangers and aliens in the nation of Israel.

Paul told the churches in Galatia that they were to do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith (Galatians 6: 10). This requires that we emulate our heavenly Father and pursue what is best for all people, expending our resources if need be in order to meet their most basic needs. In addition, we must remain committed to love them even if we receive nothing in return. We must do good to those who are immigrants illegal or otherwise. At the same time, it is important to discern whether our expressions of compassion and love might unintentionally not achieve what is best for others.

The practical implication of this treatment of strangers and aliens compels us to denounce any notion or perspective that would oppose immigration illegal or otherwise on racist or prejudicial grounds. As believers in Jesus Christ, we affirm that all people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This truth demands that all people should be respected because they are image bearers of God of all creation. And those who are immigrants and in Christ, must be given full fellowship in the church. God's Word informs us that we all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross. All who are redeemed are equal in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:11-22; Revelation 5:9-10).

3. True believers are mandated to live in submission to the laws of human government.

God has established the principle of authority and submission for the purpose of achieving order, justice and the accomplishment of noble objectives. Our submission to this principle is to be found in the family (i.e. Ephesians 5:22-6:4), in the church (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17) and in our role as citizens of a particular nation (Romans 13:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-17; cf. Titus 3:1).

We are to remain obedient to the laws of the land unless or until the government issues a law that is beyond the will of the ultimate authority, who is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. That is the only exception to this general rule (Daniel 3:16-18; 6:1-10; Acts 5:29).

Nothing in the current U.S. immigration laws requires Christians to disobey God; thus, U.s. immigration laws are to be obeyed by all true believers.

The Elders of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley California, who deal with this issue on a regular basis, have stated the following:

"If a believer is illegally residing in the United States, he should take active steps to rectify that situation. This may involve seeking legal residency through whatever means are available to him (for which we would recommend consultation with an immigration lawyer), or it may necessitate leaving the United States until such a time as immigration can legally take place … In light of the biblical commands noted above, Christians who reside in the US illegally should understand that doing so constitutes sin and that such sin remains until their law-breaking status is resolved. Remaining an illegal resident also brings with it additional temptations – to lie and deceive {about one's statusJ to steal {by avoiding taxes and other fees cf Romans 13:7J to worry (about getting caught), and so on. When known sin continues without repentance, the believer's relationship to God is seriously hindered (Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 28:9). (Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong, Harvest House Pub; page 170)

The Bible does not endorse the idea of churches providing sanctuary for illegal aliens. Hoffmeier states in his interview on Justin Taylor's blog, "The OT law is very clear about the practice of sanctuary or accessing the cities of refuge. The former was for those living in proximity to the Tabernacle or Temple, while the city of refuge were scattered throughout Israel for easier access. The purpose of sanctuary was not to avoid the law or one's sentence, but to get a fair trial in the case and only in the case of accidental death (cf. Exodus 21:12-14; Numbers 35:11-15; 22-29; Joshua 20:1-9).

So when American cities offer their cities as sanctuary from federal law, or when churches offer their facilities as a refuge for illegal immigrants who have been tried and order deported, they are neither following the letter or spirit of the OT law. An example of this was the case of Elvira Arellano, a woman who had been ordered deported by a judge because of her undocumented status. She was given sanctuary in a United Methodist church in Chicago for more than a year. In my view, such a practice neither follows the letter or the spirit of the biblical law regarding sanctuary."

The Elders of Grace Community Church have provided some addition helpful instruction to those who are Christian employers regarding the issue of illegal immigrants:

"It must be stated that Christian employers should order their business in accordance with the laws and regulations of this land having but one exception as mentioned above. They should comply with all state and federal regulations regarding the employment of illegal immigrants. Employers sin if they knowingly violate the law, and may also be subject to legal penalties. Though submitting to government requirements may cost more economically (due to higher wages and taxes), employers who do so should trust in the Lord for the results. They can likewise rest in knowing that God is pleased when they do what is right."

4. True believers are defined by the priority of proclaiming the Gospel message and our advancement toward christlikeness.

We, who know and understand that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, need to exercise special care to make sure that the mission of the church does not get blurred by allowing political issues to overshadow the priorities established for us by the Lord of the church. We are to be gospel-centered, proclaiming the whole Gospel to the whole world. We are to engage in the mutual edification of the body of Christ. Our chief ambition must be to glorify the Lord in all that we do (Ephesians 3:20-21).

We must take special care to remember that we are first citizens of heaven before we are citizens of earth (John 18:36; Philippians 3:20). We are not to be defined by political agendas, but rather by our unwavering commitment to God's Word and the proclamation of His Gospel. Maintaining the priority commitments of the church does not exclude exercising kindness, compassion and sharing our resources with those who are in need of assistance, or some expression of Christlike love. Indeed, such things are a manifestation of the transformation that God has made in our lives. At the same time, we must never model or encourage an attitude of insubordination or contempt toward the government (Romans 13:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-15). Churches and ministers that do so because they believe that this· nations laws regarding legal or illegal immigration are unfair or unjust, violate one of God's clearly stated commands in the name of achieving their view of what is just and unjust.

¹ Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament,' Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (132). New York: United Bible societies.