This morning our pastor spent time speaking on the Church’s history with its teachings on sex and gender. God’s position is made very well known in the Scripture. Thus the church has an historic position, which is laid out and should not change since God is unchanging. The mission of the church is to be intertwined in a given methodology: “Speak the truth in love.” This phrase itself that I have put in quotes you will not actually find in scripture. Yet, what you will find is Jesus (who is God and thus He is both Love and truth) and He is speaking to men in order to teach us.
I want to suggest to you that though it would be impossible for Jesus to speak anything but the truth out of the depths of His love for the hearer, even so, it was and is possible that the hearer of His words may not understand or feel His love .
There are a myriad of instances for this misunderstanding to occur in the Gospels. One example is with Peter: here Jesus said “Get thee behind me Satan .” We are not told of Peters feelings when this was stated. He could have felt hurt. He could have felt confusion. He could have felt conviction.
And then there is this encounter:
Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. (NASB1995)
So how do I apply truth without also appearing to be judgmental even as Jesus likely appeared to some here? He, obviously said what He said out of His love. The truth is that we will not be perceived any differently than our Lord.
Jesus said do not fear those who can destroy the body, but fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
I’m meditating: I’m thinking about all of this. I’ve been challenged by others for being too judgmental. Satan is called by Jesus, the destroyer, and the deceiver of your thinking and of life itself. Yet He is not the one to fear, nor is man who has either purposely or innocently followed him. Why is this? — because he is not the one who will be the judge concerning your or my eternal status.
God’s word is clear concerning the issues surrounding LGBTQ. Jesus was clear concerning whom we should fear: would it be Satan and the men following him or would it be God.
If we do not speak truth to these men and women involved in the LGBTQ community, and also to there Adherents; and if we do not do that out of our love for their souls; then we are pleasing Satan, while potentially sending them and possibly ourselves and or our loved ones to hell. Would you not rather be pleasing God as you attempt to salvage some from hell.
Can you be used of God, without being persecuted as was Jesus?
And Then Messiah Shall Come 
” Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution…” Not may but will.
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”
Eph. 4:15
We grow as individuals and as a body by speaking the truth in love. They who avoid “speaking the truth” avoid growing and maturing in Christ…
Keep on!
BT
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Thanks for God’s truth through you brother
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You ever consider that possibly you’re an a A hole and that’s why people don’t like and come against you?
I’ve read the bible numerous times, especially the Gospels and I see no resemblance between you and Christ.
Why do you believe yourself to be Christ like? There is no resemblance between you and Jesus.
I can see Jesus in Brian from time to time, but never in you Jerry.
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You are partly correct in what you say Stephen. I’m not like Jesus. I’m a work in progress. Not perfect as He is. I may even be at times an “A hole” as you claim. But on the other hand you prove Jesus to be my Savior and the Holy Spirit my guide every time that you attack me for what I write about Him and His word.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (KJV)
Stephen you never share anything about the Lord or his word, but you get your kicks from criticizing His people.
Why don’t you enlighten the reader about what you do believe about Jesus and His word. You have informed no one of anything when you tell them that I cannot live up to being like Jesus. No one can, including yourself.
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I’m not the one condemning everyone to hell Jerry.
Jesus and the bible should never be used to excuse being an A hole but here you are again using Him and it to justify yourself.
I share plenty about how Jesus is faithful on almost a daily basis when I see people face to face. I’m not interested in persuading people to believe as I do, but to put peoples hand into the hand of Jesus Christ.
There’s no hope, no joy in most of what you write. Just a bitter, self righteous, self entitled man. You seem to have no understanding of the mercy and grace you have received from God. As far as your concerned, you’ve worked and earned everything good thing that has come your way. There’s no Grace in that Jerry.
Now once again, people come up against you not because you’re a Christian, but because you act like an A hole from time to time.
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Stephen, you claim not to believe in the Bible other than Jesus, yet He is the Word of God made flesh, and His teachings are where most of the understanding of hell come from. He is every man’s judge I’m not. Neither are you, for all that you and I should be grateful. I am very grateful for His Mercy and Grace.
But I take it that you personally did not like my last post. And may be a likely reason why you don’t like the rest of the word of God, because it supports what I have presented here. Sorry I will not knowingly twist or apologize for God’s word. If that makes me an A hole to you so be it, but His word is there to make us think. Love you man. That’s why I allow everyone including you on this site. So long as you don’t curse the Father.
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You trying to tell me that Jesus is the bible?
1. In the beginning was the Bible, and the Bible was with God, and the Bible was God.
2.. The Bible was with God in the beginning.
3. Through the bible all things were made; without bible nothing was made that has been made.
4. In the bible was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome a it.
You make no sense Jerry.
Jesus IS the Word of God, the bible is a book written and compiled by men.
Most of the “understandings” of hell come from Dantes inferno.
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Stephen, you are correct the word of God is more than the Bible, but you cannot even begin to know Jesus without knowing the this book. He is the Word who came to men and spoke to them straight from God in the Old, and He is The word of God made flesh who came and fulfilled every prophecy that He had spoken of Himself in the Old Testament, and yes even quoted from it. Then He gave us His Holy Spirit, who inspired His chosen Apostles to write all that they did concerning Him and what you need to know of Him, because you were not there with Him to learn of Him.
Your claim to possess the Holy Spirit and thus to know Jesus and His desires for you only strengthens the value of Scripture to the believer, because He inspired those men to Wright what they had seen and heard. Any Spirit could speak to you including the deceiver and you would have no basis upon which to test the words of that spirit, because you do not believe the Word of God, which Word Jesus is. And yes He has more words to tell us, but you will never know if they be true, because you have not believed His only written Word to you. You only show what you do not know of God when you speak of hell’s origin. Jesus speaks more of hell, than any other in His own words quoted by His chosen apostles for the purpose of making you and me His disciples. If you wish to not be deceived in these last days then you must study to show yourself approved. If you only want to read and believe in the red letter words in the gospels and the Revelation; then think on these Words in read: Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (KJV)
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I see, so believe God to be powerless without a bible. You don’t actually believe in a Living sovereign God, just a weak god that’s beholden to a book written and compiled by fallible men.
I can see why you’re so lost and concerned with what the gay community does.
You quote Matthew 24 but there’s nothing in there about a bible to lead us.
As a matter of fact, Jesus promises His spirit and not a book.
I’ll trust Jesus on this one and reject your anti Christ message.
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Just how would you know Matthew 24 if you didn’t have the Bible?
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Probably from the mouth of God if it was something He wanted me to know. If I felt it was important, I’d probably share it with people.
Now, you show me in the bible where Jesus promises a book or religion to lead us into all truth.
You care nothing about saving others, you’re only interested in confirming or grooming others to your anti Christ beliefs.
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Sorry, I’m confused by your first sentence. Are you saying that all scripture is from the mouth of God? Or what is the Bible to God?
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Ok, I’ve reread this and I understand what you are implying with your first sentence. So are you saying that even if you didn’t have the Bible, that you would know Matthew 24, and I guess everything else that you now believe that Jesus said? So does what you believe that Jesus said, match what the gospels say that he said?
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Take a nap Jerry, you seem very confused.
You’ve been groomed to believe many lies and now perpetuate the lies you’ve been groomed to believe.
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You believe what you want Stephen but the Bible has worked for Christians for 20 centuries and it still works for me and most believers in Jesus the Messiah.
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