Rebellion Against God's Word

Homosexuality- Alternate Lifestyle or SIN?

When the Church turns its back on the Word of God,

God will allow the Church to wallow in its own mire.
 

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 2Peter 2:21-22

Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11

 
 

Mutiny........ Rebellion Against The Word of God.

It is hard to describe my feelings as I read an article in the American Family Association Journal in the May 2004 edition titled "Mutiny Among The Methodist" reference pages 20 & 21

When I say it's hard to describe my feelings, it's really not. I was angry! One might argue, Christians shouldn't get angry, but the Word of God exhorts us to be angry and sin not, let not the sun go down upon your wrath. (Eph.4:26) I do believe as Christians we can hate sin and still love the sinner, but as Christians we can not discount the Truth of God's Word and allow sin to reign supreme, especially among the Body of Christ. My justification for being angry is that this gross misunderstanding of God's Word is not from the unbelieving, who have blinded eyes and darkened understanding, but from supposedly those that have been born again and as the scripture teaches, should have the mind of Christ that they may know the things of God. If there is anyone that should know the Word of God and it's clear teaching on the moral issues surrounding sodomy (homosexuality), it should be the church. As we consider the events that follow we might conclude that even the Church can be ignorant about the clear teaching of God's Word.

Webster's defines mutiny as willful refusal to obey constituted authority and that the word is synonymous with rebellion. The subtitle of the article reads- "Homosexual activist rebel against Scripture, church law."

For those of you that have not had the opportunity to read the article Mutiny Among The Methodist or are unfamiliar with the events that have transpired, I will take this opportunity to lay the ground-work.

In 2001, Rev. Karen Dammann, a lesbian minister in the UMC's Pacific Northwest Conference, sent a letter to Rev. Elias Galvan, Bishop of the Seattle Area, requesting a new appointment to pastor a church. However in the letter Dammann admitted that she was a lesbian and that she was "living in a partnered, covenanted, homosexual relationship"(1) To this admission, Bishop Galvan had Dammann brought up on charges under the denomination's ecclesiastical laws, set forth in the UMC's Book of Discipline citing "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in the UMC. In the article it stated that Dammann's defense council, Rev. Robert Ward, exhorted the 13 member jury not to elevate " a few, select paragraphs" of the Discipline above other passages that spoke in vague terms of "inclusiveness"(1). In essences, the Book of Discipline became the canon for determining the activities of the church instead of God's Word.

On March 20, 2004 Dammann was acquitted by the 13-member jury of ministers that were taken from her own UMC conference. During the course of the trial the jury said they reached their decision "after many hours of painful and prayerful deliberation, and listening for and to the Word of God..... We depended on the leading of the Holy Spirit".(2) When conservatives within the denomination raised doubts that the Holy Spirit would contradict Holy Writ, the article states Rev. Peggy Gaylord, current spokeswoman for Affirmation, said she believed "a fundamental message of Christ is the church is open to all. We get hung up on doctrine.... the doctrine was not what Jesus was about".(2)

References (1) A FA Journal May 2004 Page 20 : Reference (2) AFA Journal May 2004 Page 21 

In the gospel of Matthew chapter 15:1-9 we find a discourse between the Lord Jesus Christ and the religious leaders of His day. There is an uncanny parallel to the discussion that took place on that day and the issues that are before the United Methodist Church, as well as some other main line denominations. Let's listen to the Word of God.... he that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the church.

In the discussion, the religious leaders posed the question to the Lord, "why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders?" It would help use to understand what the real meaning of the question was. The church had come up with new rules and regulations for guiding the church. In some instances they had established church rules that actually contradicted the written Word of God, which warranted the Lords answer to their question, "why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions?" I think it is important at this juncture of the lesson that we understand that the Word of God (doctrine) took precedence over the so-called Book of Discipline, and yes, Rev. Peggy Gaylord, it does appear that Jesus was hung up on doctrine. That is why as a young pastor, Timothy was exhorted by the Spirit of Truth to "preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and DOCTRINE." ( 2 Timothy 4:2) From this portion of God's Word we see the Spirit of God understands that all scripture (Commandments of God) is God given, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)  Herein lies the foundation of the apostasy mentioned in the scripture, that the church has forsaken the clear teaching of God's Word, forsaking sound doctrine, and after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables (fables were untruths that identified the Gnostic errors of the day). (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

This willful rejection of God's Word to satisfy inherent lust of the flesh is not new. It dates back to the day of Adam & Eve in the garden, when by Satan's wiles Eve was deceived.(1 Timothy 2:14). When she saw the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat. She allowed her own selfish lust to supplant the clear doctrinal commandments of God's Word "thou shalt not eat of it". (Genesis 2:17). Lest we attempt to let Eve shoulder all the blame, where was Adam? Why did he not stand up for the Truth of God's Word? We know the rest of the story, because of their disobedience we are all born dead in trespasses and sin. 

The Apostle Paul writing to the believers in Ephesus (Ephesians 2:1-6) states we have been quickened, made alive through Christ, and are not bound to fulfill the desires and lust of the flesh. We do have the power to thwart the tradition of the elders by standing on God's Word..... Truth. If the leadership in the UMC does not have the ability to discern spiritual truth, a better question is who and what is running the denomination. Christ's own admonition to the Church of Laodicea was to "be zealous therefore and repent; behold I stand at the door and knocks: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with Him and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in His throne. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Revelation 3:19-21

   

 

God Bless

Brother Dennis

 

Scripture

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lust of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen

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. Romans 1: 24-27

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Leviticus 18:22