Students of the Word - Training in Godliness

If you want to test your basic knowledge of the Bible, try out this online quiz and see how you do. 

Student: scholar or learner; one who attends a school; one who studies

When we think of "students", typically we think of school, children, homework, quizzes and tests, grades, etc. The truth is, anyone can be a student. It doesn't matter your age or whether or not you go to school. A student is someone who studies a particular body of knowledge. Sometimes the goal is simply to know more, but usually there is some practical application for seeking that knowledge. You might study biology if you want to go into the medical field. You would study mathematics and physics to go into architecture or engineering. You might study history and geology to go into archaeology. In my case, I studied the Bible to go into full-time ministry.

Disciple: a follower, or student, of a teacher, leader, or philosopher

Students study a particular body of knowledge. Disciples study a particular person. 2,000 years ago, disciples would study under their master with the goal of becoming as much like their master as possible. They would study everything about him from his mannerisms to his teachings. Some might go so far as to cut their hair the same way. They wanted to be able to be as much like their master as possible so that when people looked at them, they could see their master.

When Jesus picked out the 12 disciples and said "Come, follow me", this is what He was calling them to. He was saying, "come and study under me, learn from me, so that you can be like me". Today, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become His disciples. We become students of the Word (the Bible) so that we can know more about Jesus and His life, then like disciples we try our best to become like Him in every way.

Our verse today is short and simple:

1 Timothy 4:8 - "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

"For physical training is of some value..."

I played soccer most of my grade school life, up through 11th grade. In that time I spent a lot of time training physically, learning how to pass, shoot, and work together with my teammates. We also ran...a lot. That was part of the training so that we would be able to have the endurance to keep playing through all 4 quarters of the game.

My senior year of high school I decided to change things up a bit by switching to cross country. I was the only guy on the team, and also the only senior. I found out in the first practice that I was not ready for cross country. In competition, you have to run a 5k, which is roughly 3.2 miles. I couldn't run 1 mile. I was out of breath, wheezing, my heart beating out of my chest, legs shaking, side cramping.

What did I need to do?

Train.

Over the next few months I kept coming back and I kept on running. As I did, I found that I was able to go farther before losing my breath. Eventually, I was able to run the full 3.2 miles. Then, as I continued to train, I found that I could go faster. Eventually, I built up my speed to at least not come last in the meets. But it took time and continued effort. It took training to get to that point.

As a result, my body was healthier, my heart was happier - there was definitely value in that physical training. And that's what Paul was talking about in 1 Timothy 4:8. Physical training has clear value. Usually we get to see results when we train physically, whether it be bigger muscles, clearer tone, loss of fat, increased energy or endurance, or even increased happiness. Yes, physical training has been shown to positively impact your mood. Crazy.

But Paul doesn't stop there. He goes on to say that while physical training has some value, godliness has value for all things. He says it holds promise for both the present life and the life to come. In some translations, it even says training in godliness. What do you think that means?

Physical training is when we practice things physically so our bodies can get used to it and get better at it. Taking that into godly training would mean practicing things spiritually so we can get used to being like Jesus and get better at living like Jesus in every way. This requires two basic things: knowing Jesus and putting that knowledge into action. It means being a student of the Word and then training ourselves to be like Jesus every day.

1. Being a Student of the Word

For Christians, this is what we always come back to - because it is so central to our faith. We have to read and know the Bible. The Bible is where we first find out about Jesus and what He did for us on the cross, and it is where we find the full story of God's redemptive plan for us. From the beginning to the future end, the Bible unpacks everything we need to know about God and how He wants us to live in this life. Plus, it tells us what to expect in the next life, which is why training in godliness has value in this life and the life to come. Our bodies, no matter how fit or strong, don't go with us to the next life. But godliness does.

To be a student of the Word means not just reading, but studying the Bible. Seeking to understand it and know it. Then you have to apply it.

2. Training in Godliness

This is where many Christians tend to get lazy. They might have the knowledge, but they don't do anything with it. It is one thing to know what the Bible says, or to know how Jesus lived, but it is another thing to live that way yourself. So, once you know how Jesus lived, and how He wants you to live, find ways to do it! Practice living that way in real life!

Jesus is known to be generous, so you should practice generosity with others. The more you practice, the more easily it will come to you as you train yourself in it.

Jesus is known as a servant to all - He came to serve, not be served. Find ways to serve others, maybe in small ways at first, then in bigger ways. Let service characterize your life like it characterized Jesus' life.

Jesus loved deeply, so much so that He was willing to die on behalf of those He loved (like you and me). Practice loving others with a sacrificial love. Train yourself to start putting the needs of others before your own needs.

Being a disciple of Jesus means more than just being saved. It means studying Jesus and trying to be like Him in every way possible. And this takes time, it doesn't happen overnight. We have to keep going, even when it gets hard (especially when it gets hard). That's what it means to train. So don't give up. If you are a disciple of Jesus, keep going. Study the Word, train in godliness, and be like Jesus. Trust me, if you stick with it you will see the results.

Christians and the Call for Encouragement

    Have you ever been feeling down, and then someone says just the right thing to cheer you up? I feel like this usually happens with people who know you well, because those are the people who tend to know what you need to hear.

    Have you ever been in a tight spot, then someone seems to come out of nowhere and help you out? For a short person, this could be as small an act as a tall person coming into your aisle at the grocery store and reaching the top shelf for you. Or it could be if you're lost on your first day at a new school and a random student notices and helps you find where you're supposed to go. Or perhaps you've tripped and fallen running from zombies in the zombie apocalypse (someone always trips) and a stranger rushes in to help you escape the clutches of the undead.

    How do you feel after these experiences? Relieved? Sure, I know I would be in that last situation. But I think you know the word we're looking for here: encouraged. When someone lifts your spirits, or steps in to help or support you, it encourages you.

    While it is awesome to be on the receiving end of this, as Christians we are called to be an encouragement to others. Encouragement is defined as "the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope". This can take the form of words, actions, or sometimes just being present. 

    We're going to be looking at the example of a man from the early church who was so known for his encouragement skills that he literally earned the nickname "Son of Encouragement". His birth name is Joseph, and he is a Jewish man from a place called Cyprus.

Acts 4:32-37 - "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet."

    A couple of things are going on here: the early church was made up of wealthy and not-so-wealthy people, but their community was so strong and connected that everyone shared what they had with everyone else. This made it so that no one in the Christian community went hungry or without a place to stay. The apostles, those who were Jesus' disciples during His earthly ministry and had witnessed His resurrection, were testifying to the truth of the gospel, and as they did this they made sure that the shared possessions and money from the people got distributed properly to everyone who had need. Could you imagine a community like this? It sounds like they were a real family, with everyone taking care of the needs of everyone else.

    Joseph, called Barnabas, was one of those wealthier members of the community and he participated in sharing what he had to make sure everyone was taken care of. This is our introduction to this man. It was the apostles who called him a "son of encouragement", which tells us that his generosity and support of other believers was above and beyond most of the others in the community.

Now, in this first example, what did Barnabas say or do to be an encouragement to his fellow believers?

    We aren't told that he said anything, only that he sold a field and gave the money from the sale to the apostles to give to whoever needed it. His actions were an encouragement because he was providing for needs. This could be like if you sold your PS5 to help a friend pay for summer camp, or if you offered to pay for a friend's lunch, or in that early example, if you were the tall person who stepped in to help a short person reach something on the top shelf in the grocery store. It's the idea of stepping in to offer help to someone in need. And Barnabas earned his nickname because he was so good at doing this.

Acts 11:19-24 - "Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord."

    In case you are unfamiliar with the history of the early church, after Jesus rose from the dead He spent about 40 days with His disciples before ascending into Heaven. Shortly after He ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit down to fill His disciples and empower them for ministry, so that they would be able to spread the good news of His resurrection and the salvation He offers to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and ultimately to the ends of the earth. Acts chapter 2 shows the coming of the Holy Spirit and Peter's first sermon - in Jerusalem. Literally thousands of people hear his message and believe in Jesus, and that's when the church really kicked off. Unfortunately, the news about Jesus was offensive to the religious leaders of that time, and they started to persecute the church. It started with imprisonments, but eventually escalated to executions by stoning (a large crowd surrounding someone and throwing big stones at them until they were unalived). Stephen, who is mentioned at the start of the last passage, was the first Christian to get stoned to death, and the persecution of the church got really bad after that.

    The persecution forced Christians to spread out away from Jerusalem, which brought the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the areas around Jerusalem (Judea and Samaria), but as we see above, they were only preaching to other Jews. That is, until some of them decided to start preaching to non-Jews (the Hellenists / Greeks / Gentiles), and those non-Jews GOT SAVED! This is where Jesus' plan for the gospel to reach the ends of the earth gets some traction.

    If you recall, Barnabas is originally from Cyprus, right next to Antioch where this is going down. The church catches wind of these non-Jews coming to faith, and they decide to send Barnabas there to check it out. He shows up, his heart leaps as he sees more and more people coming to faith in the Lord. He was encouraged by what God was doing. Having been encouraged by God, he steps in to encourage the new believers.

    How does he do it this time? This time he's not using money. This time he uses his words. The word used above is "exhort", which means to "strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something". So Barnabas strongly encouraged the new believers to remain faithful to the Lord. Likely, he taught them more about Jesus and how to live by the Spirit, and his encouragement served to point them toward the next step in their relationship with Jesus through faith. For us this might be talking to a friend about their faith, what they believe and why they believe it. It might be urging them to trust in God when they're feeling persecuted or down. Or it might be as simple as sharing a Bible verse with someone who just seems a little off. The goal is to lift their spirits and point them to Jesus.

Acts 14:19-23 - "But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed."

    We haven't talked about Paul yet in this post, but I'm sure you know at least a little bit about him. He has written almost half of the New Testament, and he is a major player in the book of Acts. In this passage he and Barnabas are traveling together on their first missionary journey, spreading the gospel to as many cities as they can. Unfortunately, that persecution we were talking about before was still happening, and we see that Paul gets stoned for his preaching. Unlike Stephen, however, he survived the stoning, and we are told that he gets up and goes back into the city.

    If I were to get surrounded by a crowd of people and stoned half to death, I don't think I would have the guts to go back into the same city and keep preaching. If I did, that would have to be the power of God at work within me. And I think that is what Paul had going for him here. The Holy Spirit empowered Paul to keep going.

    Then we are told that he and Barnabas moved on to the next city and continued to preach the gospel, making many disciples, and then returned to the places where people had just tried to stone them to the death. The passage says that they returned, "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith". We know that there was teaching and words being shared here, but I think there is a more important element at play in their encouragement to the disciples. It was their presence and their perseverance in the face of persecution.

    Paul and Barnabas were unphased by the stoning. They didn't let it stop them from spreading the gospel and they didn't let it affect their faith in the Lord. They set an example for the other believers to see and follow. And then they urged them to remain faithful in the Lord, and appointed leaders in the churches to make sure they would have the leadership they needed to persevere in the face of persecution.

    Words and actions can go a long way to encourage someone, but sometimes all you need is to be present with them. When someone is sad, perhaps mourning the loss of a pet or a family member, sitting with them can mean much more than anything you could say or do. Just being there is the encouragement, so they know they are not alone.

    Spoiler alert if you haven't seen "A Bug's Life", but there is a scene toward the end where Flik stands up to Hopper. He gets beaten down and tossed around, but he refuses to back down. He challenges Hopper, and in so doing inspires the other ants to follow his lead. He realizes that together, the ants are actually stronger than the grasshoppers (because of their numbers). In the scene, it's a combination of his words, his actions, and his presence that encourages the other ants.

Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

    Encouragement isn't just for some Christians. Barnabas may have been known for his encouragement, but he was not the only Christian offering encouragement to others. We are all called to be encouragers, and particularly toward each other. With the way our culture is leaning, it is going to become tougher to be a Christian in America than it was even a few years ago. We will face more persecution and more rejection, and that can really take a toll on our faith. Now more than ever we need to encourage each other in the faith, spurring each other on to love and good works.

We can do this through our words, sharing God's Word and what He has done in our lives with others.

We can do this through our actions, stepping in to help when others need it and doing our best to meet the needs of others.

We can do this through our presence, just being there for people when they need support.

You are called to encourage.

So, is there someone in your life right now who needs to make the next step in their faith?

What could you do to meet their needs and move them closer to Jesus?

Do Not Conform to the Pattern of the World

     Take a moment and think about a few of your favorite TV shows. If you don't watch much television, what about movies? Even your favorite music.

    What did you come up with? Some of my favorite TV shows are The Walking Dead (questionable, I know), Scrubs, and Parenthood. Add your favorites to my list, then answer this: what do all these shows/movies/music have in common?

    There are a couple of answers, but the one I want to focus on today is that they all have a message. Sometimes it's obvious, like in the show "The Resident" they consistently and blatantly call out corruption in the medical industry. Sometimes the dialogue is just commentary on the state of the current medical industry in America. Sometimes it is not so obvious, or even purposefully hidden. Almost every modern TV show has some level of endorsement (or promotion) of the LGBTQ+ agenda (representation, typically in a positive light), sexual freedom (normalized outside of a marriage relationship), and even a distortion of the role of marriage in the family unit.

    Without realizing it, many of us have probably internalized these ideas into the way we think about life and what is right or true. Even though the above things directly conflict with what God says is right and true, those ideas have become so entangled in our minds that it can be hard to figure out what's really true and what's not.

    I'm going to teach you a new word for this post: Extricate. According to Merriam-Webster, to extricate is "to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty". The idea is disentangling. Imagine you're fishing and you go to use a net to pull the fish you've caught out of the water and into the boat. Only, it turns out to not be a fish, but an eel. I've done this, and it's gross. The eel writhes in the nets and becomes completely entangled, to the point where it's easier to just cut the net than try to get it out. Well, if you want to keep the net, you're going to have extricate the eel from the net. You have to untangle it and remove it from the net.

    So, how do we extricate ourselves from the messages we're receiving from the world? Well, in the example above, the truth is the eel, and the world is the net we're trying to extricate ourselves from. We have to identify the truth (which is found in God's Word) and separate it from the lies of the world.

Romans 12:1-2 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

    Paul, the author of Romans, urges us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice - that means we surrender everything over to God, including our minds. He says this is true and proper worship. And if we have offered our bodies as a living sacrifice, then we have to stop conforming to the pattern of the world. Conforming means that we change ourselves (our beliefs, our behaviors, etc.) to fit in with the way of the world. Conforming to the patter of the world means we are allowing our beliefs to be molded by the world. And Paul says STOP! STOP doing this! You have received God's mercy! You have been made new in Christ, with a new identity and a new mind! Stop letting it get molded to fit in with the world!

    INSTEAD, let it be transformed and renewed so you can see and follow the will of God. Conforming means you change/mold something to fit in. Transforming means it becomes something else entirely. Rather than twist ourselves to fit in with the world, Paul says we need to be completely changed to be with God. How we go about doing this is simple:

Romans 8:5 - "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit."

Colossians 3:1-4 - "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Philippians 4:4-9 - "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about such things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

    Did you notice a pattern throughout? Paul wrote all of these, and the message is clear: set your minds on the things of God. If you want to have a transformed and renewed mind, you have to set it on the things of God. You have to think about those things, meditate on those things (go read Psalm 1), and live out those things. It all comes to down to focus. The people of the world are going to have their minds set on worldly things: pleasures, gratification, wealth, health, success ,power, etc. That's the pattern of the world, and all their ideas and worldviews are going to center around the pursuit of those things.

    Paul says we are not to conform to that pattern. We have to think differently. Those who are in Christ are called to think like Christ. How do we do that? By setting our minds on the things that are above. By setting our minds on the things of God.

Paul even gives a little summary of the kinds of things we should be setting our minds on. Things that are:

True

Honorable

Just

Pure

Lovely

Commendable

Excellent

Praiseworthy

    All of these are to be understood within the context of the Bible. The Bible is where we find God's established and enduring truth. He sets the standard here, which is why in all things we have to set our minds on Him.

    And Paul doesn't stop at thinking about these things. He says we should practice them. If we know what's true, we should speak it and live by it. If we know what is honorable, we should do it. If we know what is just, we should uphold it. If we know what is pure, we should seek it. If we know what is lovely, we should admire and protect it. If we know what is commendable, we should go and do likewise. If we know what is excellent, we should strive for it in everything we do. If we know what is praiseworthy, or rather, who is praiseworthy, we should should praise Him.

    It's not enough to come to youth group or go to church on a Sunday and hear a message from the Word. It's not even enough to read the Bible at home or in a quiet time. It's not enough to join a Bible study or talk about the Bible in Family groups. If you are reading the Bible, or hearing messages from it, but not living it out as a result, then you've missed the point. God doesn't want you to just have some head knowledge about Him, He wants you to offer your life as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him. He wants you to live according to His Word.

    In Romans 12:1-2 Paul gives us the reason why we should have our minds be transformed and renewed: so that we will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will. What is the point of knowing God's will if we are not going to follow it. As we take in more and more of the truth of God's Word, it should completely and radically change the way we live and approach the world. As we focus on the things of God, the things that don't match up will become more and more obvious to us.

If you want to extricate yourself from the lies of the world, you need to focus on the truth.

    The world throws its ideas and agendas at you every day through the media, TV, movies, social media, music, and even school curriculum. You are being bombarded on a daily basis with the pattern of the world. The only way to be extricated and safeguard against this bombardment is by setting your mind on the things above. Read the Word of God, focus on the truth, and live by it. Allow God to transform and renew your mind so that you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.

    A good exercise for you would be to observe the next TV show you watch (or movie, or the next song you listen to, etc.). Ask yourself, "What is this show/movie/song trying to say? And is it true?"

    Sometimes it will be obvious, but most of the time it won't be. Practice discernment - identifying what is true and what is not - and allow God to transform you.

Questions? Post them in the comments below.

How to Speak the Truth in Love

 Ephesians 4:15 says, "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." Then, in 1 Peter 3:15 the author writes, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect". Throughout the New Testament, Christians are given the command to go out and speak the truth to the world. And every time, Christians are called to do this in a loving way, with gentleness and respect. So the question for today is: how do we speak the truth in love?

Whenever we ask this question, we have to consider who it is that we are speaking to. How we go about speaking the truth in love will be different if we are speaking to fellow Christians versus speaking to non-Christians.

Christians:

Let's first look at how we are to speak the truth in love with fellow believers. To do this, let's take a deeper look into Ephesians 4. For the sake of space, I was going to ask you to go read the chapter for yourself then come back, but then I figured I might as well just share it here:

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,

    he took many captives

    and gave gifts to his people.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 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. 15 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. 16 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.

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 Whew, that's a lot. Let's break it down.

Those who are "in Christ" (Christians) are called to live together in unity and maturity, and we accomplish this by being humble, gentle, patient, and loving toward each other. We are able to be this way with each other because we are all one in Jesus Christ - we hope in the same salvation, follow the same God, and live by the same Spirit which allows us to look past our differences. And we all have a role to fulfill within the community which, when everyone is doing their part, brings us together in unity and helps us all to grow in maturity.

When this is all done well, we are able to constantly look back to the Bible for answers and truth, and call each other out when we start to go astray - which prevents false teaching and wrong ideas from gaining a foothold in the church. This is why it is so important for each of us to read and know the Bible, so that we can point ourselves and others to the truth.

In order for this kind of community and life to be firmly established, each person in the community has to choose to put aside the ways and the thinking of the world. Instead, we choose to follow Jesus and His Word (the Bible). Anyone who claims to be a Christian is making the claim that they have made this choice. "Christian" means "little Christ" and we use the term to designate those who choose to follow Him.

Finally, at the end of the chapter, Paul gets specific with the kinds of behaviors we should or should not have toward each other. Speak truth, work diligently, be generous, speak only what is going to build others up. Get rid of unwholesome talk, bitterness, anger, rage, brawling, slander, and every form of malice. Instead, be kind and compassionate, and forgive each other in the same way that Jesus has forgiven you.

All of this is directed at those who believe in Jesus as they interact with others who also believe in Jesus. This is for those who are within the church, that we should hold each other accountable in a loving way. When people claim to be Christians but go against what the Bible teaches, we are called to challenge them on it. Why? Because in claiming to be a Christian, they are claiming to follow His Word (a.k.a. the Bible). Our challenge is meant to bring them back to the Bible, and show them how what they're doing or teaching goes against what the Bible says.

For example, we have been talking about biblical sexuality and identity in the last two posts (go read them if you haven't already). We have established that in the Bible, God instituted that sex is to be between a man and a woman in marriage. That is what He ordained when He created the world. Any deviation from God's design, from His order, is sin.

So, when someone comes along claiming to be a Christian and also claiming that homosexuality is not sinful, we are called to challenge them on it. Why are we called to do this? Because they claim to follow Jesus but also teach against what the Bible says. There is a disconnect between what they claim to believe and what they're teaching. Now, how do we challenge them?

First, we have a private conversation with them. We take them aside, asking questions to make sure we understand what they're saying. Then we point them to the Bible, like the passages I talked about in the post "Biblical Sexuality: Setting the Foundation". The goal is to show them the truth as found in the Bible, and the disconnect with what they're teaching. If, after this conversation, they refuse to accept what the Bible teaches, then we go and bring someone else with us, preferably someone with higher authority (like an Elder or Pastor). If they still won't listen, then we bring it to the church as a whole. Again, the goal in each of these conversations is to show them the truth of God's Word, and how they have gone away from that truth. If, after all of this, they still will not listen or accept the Bible's teaching, we are called to exclude them from the church.

Why is this? Some kind of punishment? No, net really. Essentially, what they have done is claimed to follow Jesus but rejected His teaching. That doesn't work, logically. You can't both follow and reject Jesus. The purpose of excluding them from the church is to demonstrate how serious this matter is: a Christian who will not submit to God's Word has a serious heart issue, and until they are able to recognize that and humble themselves and submit to God, their continued participation in worship and fellowship with other believers will cause a lot of damage. Not to mention that their beliefs will open up a pathway for false teaching to enter the church. This cannot be allowed to happen, which is why we are called to remove them from the church.

But, remember how Paul says we are to go about this: with love and gentleness, without unwholesome speech, slander, or rage. That means we don't yell, put them down, or curse them at any point in these conversations. Even at the point where we need to exclude someone from our fellowship, we aren't supposed to do it with violence or malice. Our goal, even in exclusion, is to bring them to a knowledge and acceptance of the truth.

Non-Christians:

But what about those who don't believe? What about people who are not Christians?

Romans 10:9-17:

“⁹ If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ ¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’ ¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

Those who are outside the faith are not going to accept Jesus' teaching until they have accepted Jesus.

Read that again.

Our goal, first and foremost, is to share the gospel with non-believers. That's the truth they need to hear. If they haven't heard the gospel or haven't put their faith in Jesus, then nothing else the Bible says will mean anything to them. So, what is the gospel?

There is a God who created the whole universe, including you and me.

He established everything perfect and good.

But we rebelled against Him. This rebellion is called sin. We are sinners.

Sin separates us from God and will ultimately bring us death. There is nothing we can do to fix this problem on our own.

God loves us, even though we are sinners. He came to the earth as a man, Jesus Christ, and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

He took our deaths on Himself, so that by believing in Him, we could have eternal life and be reunited with God forever.

This is where Paul's statement comes in - anyone who declares with their mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead will be saved. Everyone who follows Jesus will be forgiven for their sin and made right with God.

Our mission, as given to us directly by Jesus, is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything that Jesus taught. We "make disciples" by sharing the gospel with people and calling them to repent (turn from their sin) and believe in Him as their Lord and Savior. When someone comes to Christ, they cast off who they used to be and become made new in Jesus. They are called to let go of their old way of thinking and grab hold of the truth of God's Word.

People need to know that they are sinners, and they need to know that salvation can be found in Jesus Christ. Too often we see the church spreading a message of hate toward the LGBTQ+ community, focusing so heavily on the fact that they are sinners that we forget to share the good news - that Jesus has paid for their sin on the cross, just as He paid for our sin.

But, as Paul asked in Romans, how are they going to call on the name of Jesus if no one has proclaimed the good news of the gospel to them?

Now, not everyone is going to believe. Paul mentions how some of the people of Israel rejected Jesus. As we go about this, sharing the gospel, we have to expect that people are going to reject Jesus, and, consequently, reject us. But we still have to tell them about Jesus, because if we won't, who will? Each of you reading this have friends or coworkers who don't know Jesus. If you don't tell them about Him, who will?

The most important truth non-believers need to hear is that Jesus Christ came and died for their sin, and that He rose again to bring them eternal life with God. Everything else comes after that essential truth. If they won't accept that, they won't accept anything else God has to say through the Bible.

But again, how are we to do this? With love, gentleness, patience, kindness, compassion and respect. Without yelling, anger, slander, malice or cursing.

Anytime we are going to speak the truth to someone, here are some basic guidelines to make sure we are going about it the right way and with the right motives:

1. Listen before you speak. Try to understand where they're coming from as best as you can - don't just assume you know their perspective. Ask questions, let them clarify, and seek to understand.

2. Check yourself. Make sure your intentions are good - are you starting this conversation for their benefit or is there some other motivation under the surface?

3. Watch your words. Keep it simple and calm. Remember, you can't "unsay" anything. Your words can either bring them to a knowledge and understanding of the truth or they can tear them down and cause lasting damage to their life and faith.

4. Pray before, during, and after the conversation. Ultimately, God is the one who is going to work in their lives, so ask Him for guidance throughout the whole situation.

5. Trust in God. Trust that His Word is true, trust that He will help you, and trust that He will care for this other person.

Christian or non-Christian, we are called to speak the truth in love to others. This takes intentionality, it takes practice, and it takes trusting God in everything we say and do. Ultimately, our goal is always to bring people closer to God and to His Word.

Gender and Identity

 What is "identity"? Google defines it as "The fact of being who a person is." It's a "fact" of "being". So according to Google, identity is based on fact, not opinion.

People may identify us a certain way, or by certain distinctions (like skin color, religious beliefs, academic accomplishments, popularity, physical ability, etc.), but how they identify us is not the same as who we are. Who I am is not defined by what other people think of me, because those are opinions. I may identify as "male" or as "white" or as "Christian", but those identifications are not the same as an identity. Identity is based on facts, but who establishes those facts? We'll come back to this in a moment.

What is "gender identity"? Once again, Google defines this as "An individual's personal sense of having a particular gender." Unlike "Identity", this seems to be more subjective - its a "personal sense" as it relates to gender. So unlike "Identity", "gender identity" is based on personal opinion.

This terms gets used a lot in our culture right now. The movement surrounding it has separated gender from biological sex so that it has become something you choose rather than something you are born as. Within this movement, gender "no longer means only male or female. Instead, gender now takes into account identity and expression." Previously, gender and biological sex were the same thing - it was what you were born as. But now, its based on your opinion and how you want to express yourself.

This causes a lot of confusion for people - both within the movement and outside it. You might hear terms like "Gender Dysphoria", which is "a clinical term for unease or dissatisfaction. Gender Dysphoria is the feeling that your emotional and psychological identity doesn't match the biological sex you were born with." What this means is that gender is based more on opinion (or feelings) than on fact. What happens when we allow our feelings to dictate who we are? Well, usually this means that "who we are" changes whenever our feelings change. This is hardly a healthy way to live. It means that we can never really be sure of who we are, even in terms of gender, because it is based in something that changes (our feelings).

This becomes even more of a problem when it comes to the transgender movement. If we base our gender identity on how we feel about ourselves, and then surgically change our bodies to fit that feeling, what happens when our feelings change? What happens if surgery doesn't fix the dysphoria? What happens when we want to change back (if we want to change back)? This is one of the major dangers of the movement: it teaches that how you feel about who you are is more important than how you were born. From there it pushes you to physically alter your body to match your mind. The consideration that it is your mind that needs to be changed is rejected altogether. Why? Because the movement teaches that your opinion trumps reality.

I have interacted with a few people who have been a part of this movement (they have since left). One woman expressed that complications in the transition process forced her to stop. She took time to reflect on her options at that point, and as she thought about herself, she slowly came to realize that her dysphoria was not a confusion of being born with a man's brain into a woman's body. In reality, she was confused because she did not fit into the stereotypes that our society put on women. And because she did not fit those stereotypes, she felt as though she should have been a man - hence why she tried to transition. She has since done a lot of research into the movement and found that much of what is taught about gender identity and transgender ideology isn't based in fact at all. And its causing a lot more harm than it need to by pushing people as it does.

Let's bring this discussion back to identity. We discussed in last week's post that biblical sexuality is strictly binary: there is male and there is female. The Bible points to sex and marriage being between a man and a woman. The two are made one flesh; they are whole, complete. Deviations from this “norm” are sin, and an abomination to the LORD (if you have questions about this, I would recommend reading the post and asking questions there). One of the problems faced with this rise in gender identification is that people usually identify themselves AS their gender. That is WHO THEY ARE. So if someone identifies as gay, or lesbian, or transgender, and then I come along and share that the Bible says homosexuality is sinful, I am not just condemning their behavior, I’m condemning them (from their perspective). I’m saying that they are a sin. Not that they are a sinner (someone who sins) but that they ARE a sin. So they feel attacked, and naturally get defensive. This is particularly so for people who claim to be a Christian while also claiming to be gay, or lesbian, or queer, or transgender. What's really happening in those cases is that these people are claiming to have two identities. On the one hand, their identity is in Christ as a child of God, and on the other hand they are gay/lesbian/queer/etc. This mixes reality with opinion, and those things don't go together.

What does it mean to have our identity in Christ? Well, I don't have a Google definition for you this time. Instead, let's look to the Bible for some answers.

John 1:12 - "Yet to all who did receive [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

So those who are in Christ as children of God. That is how God views them.

Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Colossians 3:1-4 - "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

When we come to Christ in faith, our old self dies alongside him in his crucifixion on the cross. Then we are raised to life with him with a new self, the new creation. Essentially, who we used to be before coming to Christ dies. It is gone. It is done away with. We are then given a new self, a new identity in Christ.

The problem with the current LGBTQ+ and gender identity movement is that it emphasizes our personal experience and our own ideas about who we are over God's declaration of who we are. When we come to Christ, we put our old selves to death. However we identified ourselves before coming to Christ dies. Every desire, every fantasy, every aspect of who we were (as sinners worthy of eternal damnation) is done away with and become new in Christ. The apostle Paul writes about this in his letter to the church in Ephesus. He says that if they want to become fully unified and mature in Christ, this is what needs to happen.

Ephesians 4:17-24 - "So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles [non-believers] do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

The life of the Christian is in direct contrast to the way of living of the people around them. Romans 12:2 says it like this: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."

When we become Christians, we surrender ourselves, our whole selves, over to God. We die to who we used to be and become new in our identity as children of God. He changes us, transforms us, and renews us. Over the course of our lives He makes us more like Jesus. That means our identity is not found in our gender, in our orientation, in our skin color, or anything else. Those things do not define us. Our identity is in Christ, and who HE says that we are.

So as you're thinking about identity, are you going to base who you are on feelings, or on the reality of who God says that you are? I know we focused on gender in this post, but this topic goes beyond that. We allow lot of things to affect how we think about ourselves. We allow so many influences to dictate who we are. This should not be. If you are in Christ, then you are who God says you are. Period. Base your identity on that reality, and not on feelings, opinions, or anything that the world says about you.

If you are experiencing confusion about your identity, whether it be related to gender, sexuality, or something else, please reach out and talk about it. Don't try to find the answers all by yourself. Look to the Word of God as your source of truth, and talk to someone who can help you discover who God says you are. Amen.

Biblical Sexuality: Setting the Foundation

 This is a touchy subject in our culture today. Over the last two decades we have seen a massive shift in the cultural understanding of sexuality and gender identity. This shift has taken our culture very far from the biblical view of sex, marriage, and identity, and it has caused a lot of arguments within the church - to the point that many professing Christians have either walked away from the church or changed their beliefs to conform to the culture around them.

Before we get into what the Bible says on this topic, let me first say that whatever you choose to believe, I can guarantee that a quick internet search will find plenty of people who agree with you. It doesn't matter what stance you take, there are people out there who believe the same. Some of them even have nice-sounding arguments to back them up. Some point to science, some point to the Bible, some point to other religious texts, and some stick with feelings as their "proof". But as Christians (if you call yourself a Christian), we find our primary source of truth in the Bible, and we have to do everything we can to make sure we are reading and understanding it properly.

In this post I am going to go through some Old Testament passages that will show us God's original design of sexuality and marriage as well as some of the things God specifically condemned as wrong and immoral. From there we will look at the New Testament and see if there is continuity in what is taught there, or if God's plan for sexuality changed. Let's get started:

Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..."

This is a critical passage for the entire Bible. It establishes God's existence before the creation of the world, as well as His power and ability to create all things. It also establishes God's sovereignty over everything - that He is allowed to make the rules and decide what is good or not because He is the maker of it all.

Genesis 1:26-27 - "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"

Here we find that God specifically created mankind differently from all the other creatures of the earth - in His image. We call this the "Imago Dei". The verse follows with "so that they may rule..." which tells us that the Imago Dei gives us some kind of authority over the rest of creation. We are higher than them. Additionally, we see that God specifically makes them "male and female". They are commanded to be fruitful, which means to have productive work (as opposed to be lazy and not doing anything), and increase in number, meaning to procreate, and finally to fill and subdue the earth. So mankind is given this mission to work faithfully, grow the population and act as stewards over God's creation, and all of this they are to do as male and female. Its not like its just "men's work" or "women's work". They are to work together toward these goals.

In Genesis 2 we get a more elaborate picture of God's creation of mankind. God made Adam first ("Adam" means "man" and also could mean "ground", which is interesting because God forms Adam out of dust from the ground), and as Adam was working in the Garden of Eden, God noticed that it was not good for Adam to be alone. PLEASE notice, this is before sin enters the world, and God is saying that already something is not good - Adam's aloneness. So, God goes about searching for a suitable partner for him.

Genesis 2:20-24 - "So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.' That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."

"Suitable helper" is not the same thing as a sidekick, let's get that out of the way. The woman was made as a complement to the man. Adam was incomplete without Eve, and they were made to work together, alongside each other, in the commands God had given to them (be fruitful, increase in number, subdue the earth). If we lived in an all-male society, we would be incomplete. If we lived in an all-female society, that would also be incomplete. The biblical foundation for marriage and sexuality, at the beginning, was between a man and a woman, a male and a female. Their union as "one flesh" describes the original design of marriage - that a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam started out as one flesh, then woman was made from his rib, so that in marriage man is made whole again through unity with his wife.

Genesis 1:31 - "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day."

God looks over all of creation, including Adam and Eve and their union, and He declares that it is all very good. This is the natural order of things as instituted by God.

Moving forward, a lot happens between the Fall of man (chapter 3 of Genesis) the giving of the Law of Moses at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19-20). Adam and Eve sin and are kicked out of the Garden of Eden, bringing both sin and death into the world - corrupting everything. People become totally depraved and wicked and God brings judgment against them with the Flood. He saves Noah's family in the Ark, along with the animals. He makes a covenant with Abram (Abraham) and his son (Isaac) and grandson (Jacob/Israel) to make a great nation from which will come salvation for the world. Jacob's descendants become enslaved in Egypt for 400 years, after which God delivers them to Mt. Sinai where He gives the Law to Moses to pass on to them, that they should live by these laws and decrees.

Most of us know the 10 commandments pretty well, but there were a lot of other commands regarding a wide variety of issues. In Leviticus 18 we see a long list of sexual sins that God found utterly detestable, including adultery.

Leviticus 18:22-25 - "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion. Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants."

The practices listed there, as well as the other listed earlier in the chapter, were common in the nations that lived in Canaan (the Promised Land that later became Israel). These nations saw nothing wrong with these actions, and they probably taught that they were good and acceptable. Yet we see that God finds them to be an abomination - one of the strongest words for condemnation found in the Old Testament. God judged these nations and drove them out of the land because of their sin and wickedness in practicing these things, and He says that these actions were not only wrong, but they defiled the people and even the land.

Two chapters later, in Leviticus 20, we find the consequences for those who practice these things. The ones mentioned in the verses above brought death to the practitioners. That shows the seriousness of these commands. God wasn't kidding around, He took sexuality and marriage very seriously. Perverting His design was not tolerated.

Every part of the Old Testament teaches that God's norm was for there to be men and women, and that marriage relationships was to be between a man and a woman. Whenever there was a deviation from this norm, there were problems that resulted. Abraham had to deal with Sarah's jealousy. Jacob had issues between Leah and Rachel. Samuel's mom felt neglected and outcast because her husband's other wife had many kids and she didn't. David was led to murder and adultery because of his lust for a woman other than his first wife, and the children he had from different wives caused a lot of trouble for the whole nation. Solomon's many wives led him away from God and into idolatry, which caused judgment on the whole nation. Whenever people deviated from God's design, it ended poorly and caused major problems. Did God outright condemn them for these choices? No. But they certainly faced consequences for deviating from God's design, and that is clear throughout the Old Testament.

Now let's move into the New Testament. Jesus, being the Son of God as well as a Rabbi, ought to have a similar idea about sexuality as we see in the Old Testament, right? He does.

Mark 10:2-9 - "And the Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?' He answered them, 'What did Moses command you?' They said, 'Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.' And Jesus said to them, 'Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.'"

This teaching is dealing primarily with the idea of divorce, but it nevertheless gives us insight into Jesus' perspective on marriage and sexuality. He even takes us directly back to the Mosaic Law AND creation! He points back to the Law of Moses to show that divorce was permitted only because of the hardness of peoples' hearts. Then He takes it back to the beginning when God first created male and female. His teaching clearly shows that a godly marriage relationship is between a man and a woman, as ordained by God at creation. The way He talks about marriage, being between a man and his wife, also demonstrates that this was the "norm". There is never a positive mention of same-sex relationships, in official marriage or otherwise. So we have male, and female, and them uniting together to form one flesh.

Finally, let's look at one of the major contributors to the New Testament, the apostle Paul. In the fifth chapter of his letter to the Ephesians, we get a clear understanding of his views of marriage. This is already a long post so I won't go through the whole chapter here, but I encourage you to go and read it. At the end of the chapter he says this: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

Paul also reaffirms God's original design for sexuality and marriage. There is a continuity throughout the whole Bible that the natural order of creation, the original design, was for sex and marriage to be between a man and a woman. Deviations from this design go against God and result in judgment. This includes things like incest, adultery, sex outside of marriage, looking at porn (lust), bestiality, and homosexuality.

My goal in this post was to establish a biblical view of sexuality - how God originally designed it. Over the next few posts we will look more specifically at what the Bible has to say about homosexuality and gender identity, how that affects us, and how we should interact with the world in light of this truth. It is important that we learn how to accept the the truth of God's written Word and share it with others without being hateful or judgmental (because it is not our place or our job to judge those outside the church). Instead, we need to learn how to speak the truth in love and with gentleness.

If any or all of this message has challenged you, upset you, or sparked questions for you, please share in the comments below and we can discuss it. Those of you who know me personally can also text, call, or message me on social media to discuss this further.

This is a huge issue in our culture right now, and the Bible teaches something that goes directly against what our culture believes. That means you are left with a choice - there is no middle ground - are you going to believe the Bible, or the culture?

God bless and His peace be with you all.