by Joe R. Price
December 1992

The Bible unequivocally describes homosexuality as sin. It is a sin against God (Jude 7), the home (Genesis 2:18-25), self (I Timothy 1:10) and society (Romans 1:18-32, esp. vss. 26-27). The reality of this truth to every Bible-believing person is too obvious to belabor. Homosexuals, unless they repent, shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

America is headed in an entirely different direction concerning homosexuality. All around us, the “gays and lesbians” are gaining ground in their militant approach to secure their “rights” in society. A Gallup poll taken in the fall of 1989 showed that 47 percent of all adults believe that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal, up from only 33 percent in 1987. We have been silent much too long. Many battles have already been lost. Many souls have already been surrendered to the enemy. We must begin now to equip ourselves and do battle against Satan (Ephesians 6:10-17).

Make no mistake; the homosexual community has an agenda. The evidence of that agenda is seen daily in government, the media, the legal system, the arts, and the schools. We must learn about the approaches being taking in an effort to “climatize” and “desensitize” society toward homosexuality. We need this information in order to equip ourselves to battle against it.

The basis for the homosexual agenda is philosophical saturation. The Humanist Manifesto II (1973) outlined the basic philosophical thinking which promotes the homosexual lifestyle:

“In the area of sexuality, we believe that intolerant attitudes, often cultivated by orthodox religions and puritanical cultures, unduly repress sexual conduct. The right of birth control, abortion, and divorce should be recognized. While we do not approve of exploitive, denigrating forms of sexual expression, neither do we wish to prohibit, by law or social sanction, sexual behavior between consenting adults. The many varieties of sexual exploration should not in themselves be considered “evil.”....Short of harming others or compelling them to do likewise, individuals should be permitted to express their sexual proclivities and pursue their life-styles as they desire....Moral education for children and adults is an important way of developing awareness and sexual maturity.” (THE HUMANIST MANIFESTO II, 18-19).

This statement is at the heart of the homosexual agenda in America. As long as it “doesn’t hurt others” (and, who decides that?), homosexuality is to be viewed as acceptable, not “evil.” And, more and more people agree. This humanistic philosophy is the acid that has stripped away respect for the God-given role of sex within monogamous, heterosexual marriage (I Corinthians 7:2-5). It is their goal to indoctrinate “children and adults” to believe there is no harm in a homosexual relationship – that it is merely another expression of love between caring adults.

This philosophical saturation of society to gain acceptance includes:

1. The media and arts. It is no secret that a large percentage of practicing homosexuals and their sympathizers are in the arts industry. It is also becoming clear that they and their supporters are using the
media to advance their cause. Consider these excerpts from a recent report on homosexuality on prime time TV in 1992:

On CBS’s NORTHERN EXPOSURE, a male couple move into town and take their place on the dance floor with the town’s other lovers, while Cicely itself, we learn, was founded by a lesbian couple.“
On NBC’s L.A. LAW, Amanda Donohoe kisses a female colleague and doesn’t commit suicide.
On NBC’s SEINFELD, Jason Alexander panics after being sexually aroused by another man.
On CBS’s MURPHY BROWN, Grant Shaud has his homosexual panic, inspired by a cute p.r. guy.” (Partial list from The Tennessean, 11 May 1992)

You see, if Hollywood can get you to laugh about homosexuality, or feel sympathetic toward their conduct, it has helped to reshape your mind toward the practice. By making homosexual relations part of society’s entertainment, we are being conditioned not only to tolerate its presence, but to also approve of its practice (cf. Ephesians 5:6-14).

2. Governmental support. Our tax dollars are being spent by our government to further homosexual acceptance:

"...the Labor Department, under its CETA program (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) gave $41,000 to a feminist group to perform in the nude the ‘Leaping Lesbian Follies’” (Walter Williams, The
Washington Dateline).

Williams went on to say that the Los Angeles CETA has given Gay Community Services $640,000 to provide education about gay lifestyles. Public funding for homosexual causes is enormous. In his book, The Homosexual Network: Private Lives and Public Policies, Enrique Rueda notes that “the federal government provides 18.43% of the funding, the state and local governments 27.20%.... The total funding from tax sources amounts to 45.63%.”

The Internal Revenue Service has also helped the homosexual cause by recognizing homosexual organizations as eligible for tax-exempt, charitable organization status. And President-elect Clinton wants to formally end the ban against homosexuals in the military. Our government has drunk long and deep from the well of the homosexual agenda – and we are financing it!

3. The educational system. The shaping of children’s minds insures the perpetuity of moral standards. So, it is little wonder that humanism has infiltrated our educational system. In New York City the Chancellor of schools, Joseph Fernandez, is trying to persuade school board officials and parents to accept the “Children of the Rainbow” curriculum. It is designed to teach “positive images” of different social groups, including homosexual parents. Two books on the proposed reading list presently causing a furor are Daddy’s Roommate and Heather Has Two Mommies. Furthermore, sex education in the public schools, in places, is being used to validate homosexuality and other forms of fornication.

4. Religious approval. The official stand of the Episcopal Church is to include practicing homosexuals into their priesthood. Many other denominations have been wrestling with whether or not to accept homosexuals into their fellowship. There is even a church founded by and for homosexuals – The Metropolitan Community Church. Founded in 1968 by Troy D. Perry (a homosexual), its membership accepts homosexuality as “a gift from God” (Handbook of Denominations, Mead, 8th ed., 172-173).
Numerous others churches are now following suit.

What can Christians do in the face of humanism and its homosexual agenda?
1) Be informed.
2) Study the Bible about these subjects.
3) Pray.
4) Teach the truth to all who will listen.
5) Take a moral stand.
6) Be vocal (use our rights as a citizens to oppose its intrusion).
7) Be prepared to suffer (II Timothy 3:12).

http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org...exualsWant.htm

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I find this article. What you mind about?

__________________
America voted an African American into office; his father was an immigrant, a muslim father, and his family are still beduin in Kenya. ONLY IN AMERICA; because America listen and do what is right.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. - SUPPORT US-TROUPS! - IN GOD WE TRUST!

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Genesis 19:4-5, 13 "Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally." ... "For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.""

Leviticus 18:22 "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination."

Leviticus 20:13 "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them."

Deuteronomy 23:17-18 "There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel. You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the LORD your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God."

Judges 19:22-24 "As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!" But the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brethren! I beg you, do not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house, do not commit this outrage. Look, here is my virgin daughter and the man's concubine; let me bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them as you please; but to this man do not do such a vile thing!"

1 Kings 14:24 "And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel."

1 Kings 15:12 "And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made."

1 Kings 22:46 "And the rest of the perverted persons, who remained in the days of his father Asa, he banished from the land."

2 Kings 23:7 "Then he tore down the ritual booths of the perverted persons that were in the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the wooden image."

Romans 1:26-27 "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due."

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

1 Timothy 1:9-11 "knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust."

Jude 6-7 "And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org...osexuality.htm

__________________
America voted an African American into office; his father was an immigrant, a muslim father, and his family are still beduin in Kenya. ONLY IN AMERICA; because America listen and do what is right.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. - SUPPORT US-TROUPS! - IN GOD WE TRUST!

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Apostasy in the Christian church

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [Jesus' return] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction," (2 Thess. 2:3, NASB).

Apostasy means to fall away from the truth. Therefore, an apostate is someone who has once believed and then rejected the truth of God. Apostasy is a rebellion against God because it is a rebellion against truth. In the Old Testament God warned the Jewish people about their idolatry and their lack of trust in Him. In the New Testament the epistles warn us about not falling away from the truth. Apostasy is a very real and dangerous threat.

The verse at the top of the page tells us that there will be an apostasy that is associated with the appearance of the Antichrist. Most Christians are looking for the arrival of the Antichrist, but very few are looking for "the apostasy" that must come first. the arrival of the Antichrist cannot occur until sufficient apostasy has happened in the world. The Antichrist, who is the ultimate of liars, cannot abide in a world where the truth of God's word is taught. This is why the Bible says that the apostasy will come first and then the Antichrist will be revealed.

Therefore, we must, as Christians, ask this question, "Is there an apostasy occurring in the Christian church today?" Some would say no and others yes. But, as we look for the arrival of the Antichrist, should we not also be looking for the arrival of apostasy? And where else should we first look but in our own house for the Bible tells us that judgment will begin in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17).

If there is indeed an apostasy occurring in the Christian Church, we would not know it unless we first examined the Bible closely and then compared the Church to the Word of God. It is only after truth is established that we would then have a measuring rod by which apostasy can be detected. Therefore, I propose the following list of biblical truths as a sample of essential Christian and non-essential doctrines by which we might compare other teachings and phenomena. Note this is not absolute and the nuances of several can be debated as not all will agree with the categorization of all points.

1. Primary Essentials (Nature and work of Christ) - Cannot deny and be Christian since they are explicitly stated as required in scripture.
1. Jesus is both God and man (John 1:1,14;8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4).
2. Jesus rose from the dead physically (John 2:19-21).
3. Salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 5:1-5).
4. The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9).
5. There is only one God (Exodus 20:1-3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,
2. Secondary Essentials - (Nature of God) Cannot deny and be Christian.
1. God exists as a Trinity of persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (See Trinity)
2. Virgin Birth of Jesus - relates to incarnation of Christ as God and man.
3. Primary Non-Essentials (Bible, Church ordinances, and practice) - Denial does not void salvation, yet principles are clearly taught in scripture. Denial suggests apostasy.
1. Male eldership and pastorate
2. Fidelity in marriage in heterosexual relationships
3. The condemnation of homosexuality
4. Inerrancy of Scripture
4. Secondary Non-Essentials - does not affect one's salvation relationship with God. Debated within Christianity. Denial or acceptance does not suggest apostasy.
1. Baptism for adults or infants
2. Predestination, election, and free will
3. Communion every week, monthly, or quarterly, etc.
4. Saturday or Sunday Worship
5. Worship with or without instruments, traditional or contemporary.
6. Pretribulation rapture, midtribulation rapture, posttribulation rapture.
7. Premillennialism, amillennialism, and post millennialism.
8. Continuation or cessation of the charismatic gifts
9. Etc.

Of course, the non-essentials are debatable (which unfortunately leads to denominational fragmentation). But by way of explanation, the Primary Essentials, are those doctrines that the Bible states if they are denied, (*)(*)(*)(*)ation follows. I have written on this in Essential Doctrines. For brevity, the Bible states that if you deny Jesus is God, you are dead in your sins (John 8:24,58 cf. Exodus 3:14); that if you deny Jesus' physical resurrection, your faith is in vain (1 Cor. 15:14, cf. John 2:19-21); that if you add works to salvation, you are not in Christ (Gal. 3:1-3; 5:1-4); and that if you preach a gospel contrary to what the apostles preached, you are accursed (Gal. 1:8-9, cf., 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Therefore, to deny any of these doctrines, according to scripture, is to be outside the camp of Christ, and invited eternal (*)(*)(*)(*)ation. This would obviously be apostasy.

The Secondary Essentials are essentials that further clarify orthodoxy, but there is no explicitly scriptural statement regarding each (that I am aware of) which states that denying them results in (*)(*)(*)(*)ation the way the Primary Essentials do. The Secondary Essentials deal with the nature of God, primarily. The fact that there is one God who is a Trinity, is clearly essential to Christian orthodoxy, but there is no scriptural statement stating that to believe in the Trinity is necessary for salvation. However, that does not mean that denial of the Trinity is acceptable. A person can be saved without knowing about the Trinity. But, since the Trinity is a biblical truth, and the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit who bears witness of truth, a true Christian will not openly denounce the Trinity once he has been taught it from scripture. So, it could be said that the Secondary Essentials are essentials to the faith as well as the Primary Essentials are.

The Primary Non-Essentials are biblical teachings that if denied do not affect one's salvation. But, because the Bible teaches then, denying them is a sign of apostasy. The Secondary Non-Essentials do not affect ones position with God nor do they affirm or deny biblical teaching since they are debatable. Having differing beliefs in these is not a sign of apostasy, just differences of opinion. Again, I am aware that the categorization of the non-essentials is debatable, but I must draw the line somewhere. Sadly, it is in Secondary non-essential doctrines that most denominational fragmentation occurs. This is a sad display that most division occurs over that which is least important. Furthermore, I believe that it is in the area of the Non-Essentials that apostasy can first be detected.

http://www.carm.org/church/apostacy.htm

__________________
America voted an African American into office; his father was an immigrant, a muslim father, and his family are still beduin in Kenya. ONLY IN AMERICA; because America listen and do what is right.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. - SUPPORT US-TROUPS! - IN GOD WE TRUST!

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2 Thessalonians 2
As quoted above, there is a prophecy in 2 Thessalonians about a coming apostasy that is associated with the disclosure of the anti-Christ.

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [Jesus' return] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction," (2 Thess. 2:3, NASB).

Have you been looking for the coming of the anti-Christ? Are you waiting for him to pop up on the world scene? If you are, are you also looking for the related apostasy? Most Christians are looking for the anti-Christ but are not looking for signs of apostasy.

The Bible is God's word and it tells us what is right and wrong. To the degree that anyone disagrees with the truths of God's word, to that same degree they are falling away from it. What, then, might be some of the signs of apostasy? I've compiled a representative list of issues. You may or may not agree with all of these, but I provide them as food for thought.

1. Denial of basic Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the deity of the Holy Spirit, salvation by grace, and moral absolutes as found in the Bible.
1. God's word is true. Deviation from the basics of its truth is surely apostasy.
2. Countless denominational divisions that contradict John 13:35 and 1 Cor. 1:10.
1. Of course, there are bound to be divisions in the body of Christ and differences of opinions are permitted (Rom. 14:1-12). But, the amount of divisions in the Church is ridiculous and contrary to Col. 3:14.
3. Ordination of homosexuals
1. Homosexuality is clearly condemned in God's word (Lev. 18:22; 1 Cor. 6:9). To ordain homosexuals into ministry is clearly contrary to biblical truth and clearly apostasy.
4. Women elders and pastors
1. Whether people like it or not in this politically correct environment, the Bible does not support women as elders or as pastors (1 Tim. 2:12-14; 3:2; Titus 1:5-7). Men are called to be leaders in the church. The fact that women elders and pastors exist is a sign that men are not doing their God-given job.
2. Also, if you believe in women pastors and elders, do not dismiss this article. you must always examine yourself to see if what you believe is biblical.
5. Not preaching the gospel per 1 Cor. 15:1-4.
1. The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our sins. It is not a message of convenience or embarrassment. Do not be ashamed of the gospel (Rom. 1:16).
6. Using the Lord's name in vain, something a surprising number of Christians do.
1. God's name and title are to be used only by Christians in a reverent and respectful manner, never in casual exclamation. Just because the sinners do it, does not mean it is okay for the Christians.
7. Not sending out or failing to support missionaries (or cutting back unnecessarily) in violation of Matt. 28:18-20.
1. Carrying out the Great Commission is the command of Jesus. Any church that is able to support missionary work and does not, is in direct violation of Christ's command in the Great Commission.
8. Marketing and merchandising
1. Those in ministry should make a living from their labor. Churches should seek to spread the gospel best they can and selling things to do it is acceptable. But, how many trinkets and bobbles are offered in the name of Christ that do not honor God but are merely for the purpose of financial gain? Is the duty of the church business or the gospel? Remember how Jesus cleansed the temple?
9. Pastors who are more concerned with growing a church than preaching the truth.
1. Whoever and wherever they are, they need to repent. Pastors must stand on the truth of God's word, even if it costs them financially and materially.
10. Pastors who don't pray and seek God's face
1. Of course, this should be rare. But, any pastor who does not seek God's face in humility is seeking to do a job, not a ministry, under his own power.
11. Pastors who cave in to pressures from the church in contradiction to the word of God.
1. Any pastor who does this should repent now or step down from the pulpit. Pastors are to stand upon and for God's word, no matter what the obstacles or the cost.
12. Pastors who fail to equip their congregations according to God's word.
1. Pastors are called to equip the Christian for the work of the ministry in all aspects of life (Eph. 4:11): apologetics, evangelism, missionary work, prayer, service, love, etc. Far too many congregations are not being equipped with even the basics of Christianity and are instead being taught political correctness.
13. Pastors who don't teach (*)(*)(*)(*)ation.
1. We are not saying that you must preach fire and brimstone all the time. But the fact is, the gospel that offends no one is not the gospel of the Bible. the truth of the gospel is that people will face (*)(*)(*)(*)ation. This is part of the Christian message and it should be part of Christian preaching.
14. Christians gathering teachers to themselves to make them feel good
1. Is comfort or truth the primary objective for the Christians? Are we divine in nature or sinners saved by grace? Do we deserve to be saved or are we saved by God's free choice? Christians who want merely to be entertained and comforted from the pulpit are still children. They should be challenged to grow and take risks.
15. Evolution
1. Denominations that either adopt evolutionary principles or refuse to take a stand on evolution.

Apostasy is all around us in varying degrees. As Christians, we need to be very sure that we are clinging to the truth of God's word and resisting the inclusion of liberalism, moral relativism, and the oncoming secularism that is all around us. We need to stand on the word of God and never be ashamed of the truth of the Gospel:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek," (Rom. 1:16).

http://www.carm.org/church/apostacy.htm

__________________
America voted an African American into office; his father was an immigrant, a muslim father, and his family are still beduin in Kenya. ONLY IN AMERICA; because America listen and do what is right.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. - SUPPORT US-TROUPS! - IN GOD WE TRUST!

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blahblahblahblah bible quote blahblahblahblah right wing blog blahblahblah

No offense, dude, but nobody that doesn't agree with you is going to read that much text, especially because you didn't write more than three sentences of it.

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Member, Politicalforum Pro-Nuclear Coalition

Obama/Biden 2008

I am curious - A homosexual falls in love, finds the partner of their dreams, decides to spend the rest of their life together being a couple and all that romantic good stuff

And I am going to be punished?

How, other than killing some one, can I stop a homosexual being a homosexual. To kill a homosexual I breach Gods law, though shalt not kill. But to not kill a homosexual, I am breaking another of God's law.

And because I cant, I am going to be punished?

Why doesn't God threaten to punish me for every murderer on the planet

Or every rapist

If we had evidence that people just wake and say - Wow I am going to be a homosexual, just to upset God, I might even give you some passing cudos.

In most parts of the world we have moved on from this sort of bigotry. Homosexuality is just a thing. The same sort of thing that makes some men like big girls, not so big girls, small girls. It is the same sort thing as women who like tall dark and handsome. Short fat and bald

Rather than worry about the differences of man. I would rather concentrate on the things that bring us together as humanity.

A nice comment, thanks!
Except the personal attacs you can't say one argument against my post.

Where are your arguments?

Nothing except insult. I suppose that in your homosexual society only Tresha alone is enough educated for discussions about serios matters.

I win. You lost.

__________________
America voted an African American into office; his father was an immigrant, a muslim father, and his family are still beduin in Kenya. ONLY IN AMERICA; because America listen and do what is right.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. - SUPPORT US-TROUPS! - IN GOD WE TRUST!

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You didn't say anything. Either make an argument or stop trying.

You will not convince anyone with recycled material.

__________________
Member, Politicalforum Pro-Nuclear Coalition

Obama/Biden 2008

A realy good post. I'm against every violence or bushing of homosexuals but we have to discuss about the Bibles point of view.

Maybe in twenty years we - who today is still not homosexual - will be sentenced to prison because we all should becam homosexual.

You can see that today there are a agression from homosexuals to heterosexual and not opposite.

__________________
America voted an African American into office; his father was an immigrant, a muslim father, and his family are still beduin in Kenya. ONLY IN AMERICA; because America listen and do what is right.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. - SUPPORT US-TROUPS! - IN GOD WE TRUST!

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=9ETrr-...eature=related

What insult?