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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 3, NUMBER 21, JUNE 22, 2003 DENOUNCED! For the past several weeks a Presbyterian minister has been in the local news. This gentleman was censured by the Presbyterian denomination for performing “same sex marriages”, a contradiction in terms if ever there was one. The censure proved to be no deterrent to this man, for he continued his practice of marrying homosexuals. His defiance of Presbyterian church law resulted in his being “denounced”, which means he can no longer function officially as a minister in that denomination. Every newscast related to this fellow that I saw made a point of showing his supporters and giving them the opportunity to state the basis of their support. As you can well imagine most of them spoke of the love of Christ and that the love extended to all people, no matter what. We where informed by these individuals that Christianity is all about love, not hate or fear; and if two people of the same sex are committed to living together in a loving, physical relationship that is a beautiful thing. I was a little bit surprised that the Presbyterian synod decided to denounce this man. I am glad that they did. However, they did it because he was violating “church law”, not because homosexuality is clearly condemned in the scriptures. This is a denomination that “ordains” homosexual ministers. In Louisville, the Presbyterian seminary was the main body behind “Ministers For Fairness”, an organization of religious workers that was fighting to get the “Fairness Ordinance” passed in the city. So, while they did “denounce” this individual, it was because he had the audacity to defy church law, not because the very idea was in violation of God’s Law. We must be very careful and proceed with our eyes wide open in the area of homosexuality. The bible is clear. The practice of homosexuality is a sin. In Leviticus 18:22, we find, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” In Leviticus 20:13, we are told, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them.” While many will deny it, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for the sin of homosexuality in Genesis 19. This is where the word “Sodomite” and “sodomy” came from and everyone used to recognize that. Now, because of the persuasive power of the homosexual movement, people are denying what is obviously true. I recognize that we are not under the Old Law any longer, but quite frankly, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were not under the Law of Moses either. What they were guilty of was a violation of the very order of things that God ordained with the first man and woman. In the New Testament the same truth is forcefully taught. In Romans 1:26-27, we read, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.” In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, we find, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” There can be no question for those who are truly interested in what God’s word has to say that the practice of homosexuality is wrong and sinful and if it continues in the life of an individual with no repentance taking place, it will result in eternal condemnation. We, as faithful children of God, must stand up and be counted. The voice of the homosexual movement has been much louder and more influential lately. Recently the city of Covington passed a “Fairness Ordinance”. Last weekend, with government and corporate sponsorship, the play “Corpus Christi” was presented in Cincinnati, in a denominational church building. It presented Jesus and His apostles as homosexuals. Two weeks ago the Tony awards were broadcast on CBS. It featured two men kissing on stage and declaring their love for each other to thunderous applause. Several awards went to a play about a homosexual baseball player and several of the actors who won other awards were homosexual and freely spoke about it. There has been no other movement in recent history that has been as vocal and as successful as the homosexual movement in changing the perception of people. Parents, if we are not careful are children will grow up being taught by the various forms of media and in school, that they are to be tolerant of differences and the homosexuals have succeeded in having their peculiar sin accepted now as simply a “different orientation.” They must be taught the truth and the only place they are going to hear it is from us. Are we to teach hate? No, we are to teach love. Homosexuals are not to be hated, but their sin is. “Gay bashing” and name calling are as sinful as the practice of homosexuality itself. However, it is not love to turn a blind eye to the sins of the world and to allow those involved in them to live in a sense of false security. They may not want to hear the truth and they may react very angrily when the truth is presented, but our job is to present the truth. LET’S STAND UP AND BE COUNTED! Greg Litmer
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