Natural?

News outlets like to carry stories that a same sex ‘couple’ have had a baby. Both are quoted as being ‘naturally excited’ after successful IVF treatment. The ‘couple’ may be excited, but no one can say the process is natural. They are not the first to go through this process, and certainly will not be the last. This usually only becomes newsworthy because of the celebrity status of the people involved making some ‘newsy’ contribution on a slow day.

Was intimacy or physical love involved? No. Instead the process will have been intrusive, very unnatural, and certainly not born out of any physical union. Will the ‘father’ or ‘mother’ (if known) be involved in the child’s life? No. Certainly not a desirable outcome.

I understand that this kind of ‘operation’ is becoming more frequent, but by no stretch of the imagination can it be called, natural. We have become so PC that we cannot express an opinion contrary to their decision. After all, they have every right in the law of the land to use this procedure to allow a baby to be born. We do it with normal couples, so why not everyone and anyone? Does our society condone this just because the process is possible, although abnormal? Probably. But does that make it right, or moral, or ethical? No.

The baby, and growing child, will lack either a mum or a dad in their young formative life, and we have been deceived into thinking that children are equally secure and stable in any loving relationship, whether heterosexual, lesbian, or homosexual. We, as a society and community, are on the cusp of finding out the truth of this theory. I for one am glad that I will not be around to see the consequences, but my heart aches for my children and grandchildren. What has my generation done in haste that must be repented at leisure??

Pride

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

There was a grand Pride parade in London, and other cities across the UK recently, and all those who took part were proud of who they are and what they represent. It has been 50 years since homosexuality began to be legally recognised in the UK as ‘normal’ and walls began to fall year after year, until now when we have a hijacked rainbow and a lot of over-proud pride demonstrators. What started as a small movement has grown into a very large, hostile group of people who are still not satisfied. It’s not enough that the LGBTQ community can get married in law, and in many, if not most churches. It’s not enough that primary school children as young as 7 can be taught that it is fully normal to be ‘gay’, or even ‘non-binary’. Yes, that applies to the masses of children who don’t know if they are a boy or a girl, and our NHS is starting to consider providing surgery for teens who don’t like their body, and want to be the opposite gender. You couldn’t make this up.

We certainly have come a long way in 50 years, and for my part it makes me nervous for the generations to come. There is clear evidence within the group that they want to extend the LGBTQ to include ‘P’ for Polyamory which as the name suggests is the acceptance of several sexual partners and ‘N’ for ‘N’on Binary Gender for those who do not know what they are. Right now I am left with the question: Where will it end? LGBTQPN etc etc..

We go through a week of celebration of all things homosexual, gay, and all other deviant sexual acts. The LGBTQ community have never had it so good with free advertising, and even the ad-free BBC have got in on the act. Ordinary folks are only known by one letter, and that is ‘N’ for Normal. There is no acceptable deviation from the ‘Straight’ line, and the natural relationship between one man and one woman for life.

This movement has even set about dividing the church into those who accept and believe the Bible as The Word of God, and those who see it as a book of recommendations with no accountability. This attitude goes right to the top of many denominations, and why? Why would a God fearing, Bible believing community of believers bow to the celebration of any act that is unBiblical, unnatural, and abnormal? Good question, and one I have grappled with recently. Have you seen the TV images of gay pride marches? Do the people taking part look normal to you? No matter what you or I think, they are taking centre stage while ‘N’ormal people stand by, and are making the most of their freedom to be sexually deviant. In a strange way, speaking your mind against this is seen as opinionated, intolerant, unChristian, and downright uneducated. And they say we have freedom of speech? Maybe we should celebrate that freedom, and use it more!

Quoting Bible verses and passages do not help because they can be used and twisted against the obvious truth no matter which version you use. Having said that, one thing is clear from Scripture and that is I must love the one who engages in these sexual acts, and perhaps especially those who celebrate them, and each other. But not ever the sin. Never!

Minefield

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:14-16 NIV

We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

1 Timothy 1:9-11 NIV

Steve Chalke, the well known Baptist pastor, who is often seen on religious UK TV chat and discussion shows with celebrities, has recently written a paper called “A Matter of Integrity” which explores the subject of same sex relationships in the church, and in the eyes of Scripture, as he sees it. Basically, Steve has opened up a can of worms, because his interpretation of Bible passages does not go along with any mainstream thinking. In fact, he sees long lasting and committed homosexual relationships as equal to heterosexual couples in all aspects in the church, but also in the eyes of God. Basically, he rewrites all scriptural and fundamental theology on the subject, saying we have it all wrong and he is right in his reading of the scriptures on the subject. I am not a lettered theologian, but I know what I read in the Bible, plainly and simply. I don’t see the subject as complicated, although there are those who would have us think so. Steve is well known and has a platform for his statement, and has taken a great risk in using it.

Steve does a bit of juggling and Biblical somersaults in his interpretation. At the moment he is a lone evangelical voice when he talks about “homosexual Christians”, but the debate is open and the upcoming Government changes to ‘upgrade’ the definition of marriage to include any combination of men and women will ensure we will not be ignorant of the ramifications of change. Steve Chalke has successfully set himself up in the vanguard of a move to downgrade sin as described in the Bible. Undoubtedly the homosexual lobby group Stonewall will be delighted, and will be happy to welcome this new convert to their ranks.

This running sore will not go away anytime soon, and we will have to take a personal stand on the subject while we can. I trust we can speak the truth in love, while recognising the Biblical definition of sin when it is clearly stated, no matter the celebrity status of anyone else who speaks with apparent authority. While Steve Chalke speaks in support of homosexual marriage, other equally sincere pastors have moved out of their parishes, and in fact some have been moved out involuntarily because they took a stand against same sex marriage. This hot topic is certainly a can of worms, or a minefield. Either way, churches, pastors, and members will have to make some tough decisions about the definition of sin, while speaking the truth in love, and that my friends will not be easy!

Reckoning

“One of the most controversial issues to face the Church of Scotland is due to be debated at its General Assembly. A gay minister was appointed to an Aberdeen church in 2009, a move which threatened to split the Kirk. Commissioners are being asked whether to continue an indefinite ban on the ordination of gay ministers until a report next year. Another option is to lift the ban but await a separate report which would be published in two years.

For two years, since it confirmed the Reverend Scott Rennie's appointment to Queen's Cross Church, the Kirk has been consulting widely with its officials and congregations on the issue of the ordination of gay ministers. One in five members of Kirk sessions have said they would leave if it is agreed that gay ministers can be ordained, while one in 10 have said they would leave if the Kirk rules they can not be ordained.” - Source BBC.

In this world, there are times of reckoning for all of us. These times are always tough, and not always caused by own own hand. However, the times when we have to do the hardest thinking is when we realise we have allowed something to happen, in the hope that it will 'sort itself out' in due course. It always seems to get out of control. The question then becomes, how do we cope with it without losing face?

The Church of Scotland is in such a place. Two years ago, in 2009, the leaders allowed an actively and openly gay man (sorry but I must fall short of calling him a Reverend, or a Minister) to lead a Church in Aberdeen. Effectively, the problem was kicked into the long grass, but the question will be raised again this week, at the 'General Assembly'. Take a careful look above, at the wording of the two choices facing the voters. “Commissioners are being asked whether to continue an indefinite ban on the ordination of gay ministers until a report next year. Another option is to lift the ban but await a separate report which would be published in two years.” Either way, the Church of Scotland is still hiding from making a decision! The long grass is getting longer. Maybe they are hoping the issue will be lost out of sight in the jungle they are creating, or maybe they should have addressed the problem back in 2009, instead of letting it fester. It would appear that whatever they decide, churches will lose people, and the wider, watching world will laugh. Strangely enough, the ordinary non church going, but moral people already know what the right answer is!

As a wee reminder of what the Scripture says about the issue, here are some verses to think about:

I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18 (KJV)

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexual in the NIV), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor 6:9-11 (KJV)

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife(!), vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach. 1 Tim 3:2 (KJV)