May 15, 2016 - "Quit Trying To 'Normalize' Sin"

Chaplain’s Corner

May 15, 2016

Quit Trying To "Normalize" Sin

Good Morning Patriots!

This morning, I posted an article on my Facebook page about the struggle the United Methodist Church is undergoing, as well as other Churches, over the whole LGBT movement. I had a couple of responses, including a well-thought out response from our own sister, Dee. As I read her response, I was moved to make a stand on the subject, and a simple reply became yet another one of my wordy diatribes. I can only hope that in the abundance of words, my heartfelt meaning can shine through. Some people say I am too wordy in my posts, which I probably am, but I also see that when I try to be brief, it is too easy for people to read into my words what they want to, and can easily twist my intent. So, pour a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy the ride:

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"I agree with you, Gail Denise Tracy. I am an Ordained Minister. I do not Pastor a church, but I do evangelize and spread the Gospel of Truth. If I was asked to Pastor a church, do you not think that I should reflect the qualities in life that reflect obedience to God? Would I be considered for a Pastor's position if I were a drunk? How about if I were a pedophile? How about if I were a constant adulterer? How about if I were a "player" who is constantly clubbing and sleeping around? How about a thief? A serial liar? Seriously, what if I were simply living with a girlfriend, and not consummating the relationship through marriage? All of these are sins, and though they may be common in the populous, we cannot expect anyone to take a leader in the faith seriously if he/she is a constant and daily participant in obvious and outright sinful conduct. Anyone who tries to rationalize sinful behavior and make it out to be okay is blaspheming the Word of God. Normal sex relations between a man and a woman were created by God as a way to fill the earth with people, and as an extra gift, God even made the private act to be enjoyable between a husband and his wife. However, as natural and beautiful as the sex act is between a man and a woman, there are still moral restrictions on the implementation of it. It is not to be enjoyed outside the confines of marriage. It is to be between a husband and his wife, a man and a woman, who love each other and have covenanted their relationship before God and agreed to be wholly and completely true to each other, in a monogamous and lifelong relationship, before God. Sure, it is very common to see people sleeping around today. It is very common to see people living together today without benefit of marriage. But the simple fact that it is "common" does not make it right or moral. The same can be said for homosexuality. We love the sinners, but abhor the sin. If a person acknowledges that homosexuality is aberrant behavior, and accepts that they are sinful in the practice thereof, and want to leave that life behind them and seek God's blessing in trying to leave that life behind, then the Church will embrace that person and offer counseling, support, and real love. However, those seeking to destroy the very fabric of morality in the Church by preaching that such activities and lifestyles are "okay" and simply "different" and acceptable to our Holy God... those people are blasphemers and should be looked upon and dealt with as such. Anyone who encourages and supports outright sin (of any kind) in the Body of Christ, should be cast out, and should be barred from fellowship. They are a cancer in our midst, and embracing them and their lifestyle and calling what is bad, good, will only cause the spread of the cancer and the withholding of God's Spirit from among us. I am not saying that we should be judges of people or their hearts. Only God can do that. However, He has given us some very real, understandable boundaries in life, and our over-stepping those boundaries will grieve the Holy Spirit, and so we need to be careful of what we embrace in our midst. Attitude is everything. A broken, remorseful sinner is a beautiful thing in the eyes of God, and we should embrace that person and pray over them and work to support them in a healing that God will do in their lives as long as they submit to Him and His Spirit and His standards. However, an outright blasphemer in our midst, promoting the very kind of sinful life that is prohibited in Scripture, is a person to withdraw from, and keep our distance from, as that person can and will corrupt our senses and can lead to God's disfavor in our lives and in our fellowships. Any person that is actively engaged in outright sin, and is not ashamed of it, and holds it up as being good, is in a seriously dangerous position before God, and has no business leading God's people in worship of the True, Righteous, and Perfect God."

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I hope this hits home with many of you, and you understand that my purpose is not to divide us, but to bind us together in a concerted effort to reflect on ourselves and our lives and ask the hard questions, and seek to be the best individuals that we can be, in the face of a loving God, Who wants all of us to approach Him with a broken heart, so He can heal us, repair our hearts, and build us up in His love. Have a real, working relationship with him daily. I would truly appreciate any and all responses to this and my other Blog posts so that I can get a handle on how and what I need to do to best accomplish my job as Chaplain to the group. I am receiving zero input, and I am concerned that my words are either falling on deaf ears or what I am saying and trying to accomplish is not what the group as a whole wants or needs from a Chaplain. I want to be an asset to this group, and I want to fill a void in the lives of our brothers and sisters. Please let me know if you are enjoying or benefiting from these Blog posts, or if you have any constructive criticism. This is all for you, brothers and sisters. Without your input, I can't react and adjust my message or my intent to help you where help may be needed or wanted...

God Bless You, every one, and:
God Bless America!
Stephen King
Chaplain@3upi.com