Once a week I like to set aside a day and stop talking about Lindsay Lohan's hair and David Beckham's abs to share what's really on my heart. I call it "Deep Sundays." I know it's not for everybody, but it's a time for me to show you who I really am and what I believe.
Soon, people all over the nation will be going to the polls and electing our next President. However, there are other ballot issues that will effect peoples lives in monumental ways. Specifically votes to amend states' constitutions to ban same-sex marriages, therefore defining marriage between a man and a woman.
Those in favor of such amendments usually claim it is because that is the Bible's way of defining marriage. I respectfully disagree with their premise. Nowhere in Scripture is marriage defined as such.
Marriage is a covenant between two people who love each other and want to legally join their lives together. God loves love. He is Love. I agree the Bible teaches fornication and promiscuity and prostitution are sinful. No one is arguing to include those as part of civil marriage.
Do I believe the Old Testament condemns homosexuality? Yes, it condemns many things. The Old Testament contains physical pictures of spiritual truths. I believe, the Jews had to define marriage as a man and a woman to show the relationship of Christ as the husband of the Church. Do I believe I am under the Law? No, I do not.
Does Jesus condemn homosexuality? No, he never mentions it. Does the New Testament condemn homosexuality? No. However, the Greek text does condemn: prostitution, temple prostitution, child molestation, same-sex affairs among married men, and sex-slavery. Am I advocating for any of those? No, of course not.
Nowhere in scripture is a committed same-gender relationship condemned. In fact it's the opposite, because loves Love in all it's forms. "The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." (1Samuel chapters 18-20).
Condemnation (whether it is coming from others or from inside our own minds) is NOT from God. God is not the Damner! He is the Blesser! (John 10:10.)
The Bible describes Satan as the accuser and condemner! Sadly, condemnation has slipped into the Church, and become the norm. But, I've got GOOD NEWS! There is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ! The Spirit of Life has set us free from the Law of sin and death and made us alive in Christ Jesus! There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, MALE nor FEMALE, but ALL are one in Christ! (Romans 8 & Galatians 3:28).
God doesn't look at our outsides, (including what gender we are or the gender of the one we love). Gender is irrelevant to Him. He looks at our hearts! What's important is: Do you LOVE the LORD with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength? Do you LOVE your NEIGHBOR as YOURSELF?
Remember, God is the one who said, "It's not right for man to be alone."
So, I teach people to say, "I am loved by God. I am accepted by God. I am approved by God. I love myself. I accept myself. I approve of myself."
I don't let others' opinions of me rule my life. But I decided to share this private part of my life to answer any questions may have about my stance on this issue. The Bible is not a weapon to be used against people. (It's a weapon against evil spirits, not God's people.) It is meant to edify. That's what I do.
Grace is a free gift, given to whosoever will believe it. We don't do anything to earn it. The only condition to experiencing it is "whosoever believes." Faith pleases God, the rest was paid for by Jesus' sacrifice.
That's all I know.
Biblical Definition of Marriage
