#011:Love's Response to Culture

Homosexuality is the hot topic in the nation today, but it's been on a Biblical radar for much longer. In this special seminar with out Texas Bible Institute students Pastor Rachel explains how to respond to this taboo topic and give the biblical answers to cultures greatest questions.

 

Loves Response to Culture

What is culture?

Culture is the characteristics, beliefs, customs, and attitudes of a particular group of people which distinguishes them from someone else

Culture is not right or wrong good or bad, it is just the way we are

We Have to decide our personal convictions

If you truly believe the Word of God is without error then you are a bold bible believer and will base all your decisions off of the written word of God

Dealing with Homosexuality

There is an intentional homosexual agenda

Recognition

Acceptance

Aproval

When a face is put with the sin it is harder to stand on your ground

Jesus perfectly balanced grace and mercy with confrontation and correction

If we respond in hate then we have completely missed the Father’s Love

Christian websites with info on homosexuality

carm.org

probe.org

frc.org

Do not be afraid of attitudes and ideas that are contrary to the word of God

What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

7 references to homosexuality

250 references to how we use our money

300 references about caring for the poor

According to the Word of God it is a sin...all sin separates us from experiencing the Word of God

The father's love is always there we just can't experience it

Eph 4:15 Speak the truth in love

Major on the majors and not on the minors when you are working with people

The seven references to homosexuality: Gen 19:7-11, Judges 19:16-30, Lev. 18:22, Lev. 20:13, Matt 19:4, Mark 10:6 (Jesus defines marriage), Romans 1:26, 1 Cor 1:9-11, 1 Tim. 1:9-11

Like frogs boiling in a pot, the temp of culture is shifting and we don't even know it

Leviticus is divided into three kinds of laws

Civil

Ceremonial

Moral

Moral law is still in effect the others are not (All sexual sin including homosexual sin is located here)

Seven Questions

If christians use Leviticus 18:22 to condemn homosexuality aren't they hypocrites if they go eat fried shrimp and wear jeans?

Are people born gay?

According to science: There is no conclusive evidence. There has been studies of Identical twins that do not have uniformity in sexual orientation and yet they have the exact same gene sequence

Romans 5:12, Ephesians 2:1 states that we are born in sin: Meaning different people may be inclined to a certain kind of sin since they were born

Example: Generational curses such as alcoholism

According to the word of God: We

If I have a same sex attraction am I homosexual?

No, We all have sinful thoughts of different types that we should not dwell on. Whatever you think on too much you will become

The Train Analogy : What ever leads the rest will follow

Thoughts: the Engine

Feelings/Emotions: The next car

Physical Body: the caboose

How should I respond to same sex urges?

The same thing you do when any other temptation comes your way.

Doesn't homosexuality exist in the animal world?

It does but, animals also eat their babies, eat their own feces, etc..

Homosexuality is now normal so whats wrong with it? Isn't this God’s answer for many of the orphans in the world?

There are wonderful loving good people ready to adopt these babies but they can’t just love who they want to love.

Normal means a conforming to the standard of the common type

Homosexuality is not statistically normal, biologically, physiological, evolutionarily

It may be socially accepted but it is not biblically accepted

We can not bend the principals of God word to suit the vocal minority groups

How do I respond to someone that is gay?

We must be accepting, loving, and not look at them as a person who is doing evil but a person who is in a trap

We must be compassionate to a friend who has fallen into this trap

We must step into some new areas and speak the truth in love

Galatians 6:1

Luke 15

Ephesians 4:15

1 Cor 16:13

What relation do I have with this person?

Depending on the relationship you should respond differently

Peer or Friend: talk, listen, spend time with them

Relative: different boundaries

Leadership: be even more clear with your boundaries

When is the right time for excommunicating/avoiding someone?

Romans 16:17 and 1 Cor. 5:9- These scriptures should only be used for when you are in leadership

Only when you are in Leadership and you see that it is having a negative effect on the rest of the group

When confronting someone who believes they are homosexual use the sandwich method: confront, Lots of love, confront

Romans 12:31 do not be overcome by evil

Evil is the judgemental arrogance of christians who do not know how to respond

1 Cor. 16:13-14 “Watch, stand fast in the faith be brave, be strong. let all that you do be done with love”