Tag Archives: acceptance
Salvation through Grace, not by Works!
Dress Code Does Good: School Encourages LGBT Acceptance With New Uniforms
God is not afraid of new things,
Pope Francis (pictured yesterday at the Vatican) spoke of the failings of opposing wings of the Church following the end of the Rome synod on family life which left supporters of gay rights and divorcees disappointed.
Pope tells Catholics after his plans to soften church’s attitude towards homosexuals were rejected by Synod
Signs of the “One World Religion”
Christians for Gay Marriage Launch “Not All Like That” Campaign
Commentary By: Gordon King
Well here we go! Hang on to your hats, its going to be a wild ride.
The falling away from the church, spiritual decline, acceptance of what is evil and sin into the church and body of Christ. I say apostasy. Jesus tells us to love everyone, but he does not teach us to love sin. He does not teach us to accept sin or to support it. On the contrary. He teaches us to admonish, rebuke and exhort sin. Not to do what the masses say is right due to political correctness. This is evil and from Satan. Yet that is exactly what we are now seeing in the world, especially here in America.
Galatians 1:8-9
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”
1 Timothy 4:1
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,”
1 Peter 3:17
“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.”
2 Peter 2:1
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”
John Humble / Getty Images
They call themselves the NALT Christians, and Wednesday morning they quietly launched a video campaign with a controversial message: there is nothing anti-Biblical or inherently sinful about being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
NALT stands for “Not All Like That”—Christians who say “We are not all anti-gay”—and the NALT Christian Project aims to give LGBT-affirming Christians a platform to tell the world, and especially young gay people, that you can be a Christian and still support equal rights for gays. Modeled after Dan Savage’s It Gets Better Project, the NALT Project lets anyone upload a video to share why he or she is a Christian and supports gay rights.
Unconditional Love Doesn’t Always Include Unconditional Acceptance
(Photo: Dan Delzell)
“If God really loves me, then He should accept me just the way I am….no matter how I choose to live. After all, everyone is a sinner.” Maybe you have heard someone express that sentiment, or perhaps even felt that way yourself. Let’s think about that theory.
First of all, why should God’s acceptance of our behavior be unconditional….while our acceptance of the behavior of our loved ones is conditional? For instance, look at all the parents who love their children unconditionally….but who do not approve of all of their behaviors. And what about all the wives and husbands who love their spouse dearly, and unconditionally, but who do not approve of certain behaviors of their spouse. Some behaviors actually jeopardize the marriage relationship. We don’t question the love of those parents….or those spouses. Then why is it so easy for people to question God’s unconditional love?
Our problem as sinners is that we tend to think we should be able to do whatever we feel like doing. In that sense, we are like little children. We don’t always understand what is best for us….and we question whether God truly knows what is best for us. If His Word forbids something I feel like doing, then the problem must be with God’s Word, right? At least that is what popular thought tends to say. “It can’t be us. It can’t be me. I am always right….right?”
Try and find one example in the New Testament where Jesus ever suggested that it doesn’t matter how people live….and where he offered unconditional acceptance of anyone’s behavior because of His love for them. He didn’t “love” that way….because He would have had to contradict Himself, as well as His Father, in order to do it. He would have had to go against the truth “in the name of love.” He never did such a thing. In fact, it can’t be done….not by the Lord….and not by us.
Oh we try and do it sometimes. We hear folks talk about “accepting people for who they are.” What they really mean is that “unconditional love should include unconditional acceptance.” That is their theory….and their approach to life. It sounds extremely tolerant….and loving….until you analyze it bit. Then you realize that it doesn’t work. In the end, it allows everyone to do whatever he thinks is best for him….regardless of whether or not God has an issue with it. “Well that’s God’s problem then….or those Christians….it’s their problem….but don’t make it my problem.”
If we wrongly assume that we are the starting point….rather than God….then we end up having everything revolve around man’s ideas, and opinions, and preferences. If on the other hand, we begin with God….then we begin at the correct point of “right and wrong.” God is always right. His decrees are always right. Any violation of His decrees are always wrong. Man’s feelings about God’s decrees are way down the list in terms of importance. It’s not that God doesn’t care about our feelings on the matter….but it’s just that they don’t matter one iota in terms of changing right and wrong. And that’s not God’s problem….that is our problem….and our mindset….and our confusion which flows out of the poisoned well of moral relativism and secular humanism.
Moral relativism demonstrates a disgust with God’s Word and His boundaries. It is an “in your face” assault against the notion of “right and wrong.” After all, who are Christians to be able to define right and wrong….even if they are using their so-called holy book. Man, by nature, hates being told what to do. He always has….and he always will. The “he,” by the way, is you….and me.
Without a new heart from the Lord, we would never want to do His will. Even with this new heart, we still struggle with the old desires of the flesh. Boy do we ever need God’s love….and acceptance….and forgiveness. But it definitely doesn’t come easy to us, especially when we are intent on hanging on to control.
Not only that….but we also tend to define “love” wrong. Again, we start with man….and assume that “true love” accepts almost any behavior that seems to be the preference of anyone or any group of people. If we start with God, we see that love is really about Him. “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) God sent His Son to save us from our sin because He loves us. He loves sinners. He loves us for who we are….not for what we have done. We did nothing to earn His love, but He loves us still the same. That is unconditional love. But that does not mean that He accepts all of our preferences….and our choices….and all of our wants and desires.
He is God….and we are not. He invites people to enter His family on His terms….not our terms. By “terms,” I am talking about repentance (turning from sin) and faith in Jesus Christ. (see Mark 1:15) Those are His “terms.” Try and find one place in the New Testament where Jesus ever invited people to come to Him without any terms….and with any attitudes they wanted to embrace….and with any behavior they felt like continuing to pursue. You won’t find that “Jesus” in the New Testament, because the real Jesus always has terms that go along with His unconditional love.
If He didn’t, He would end up accepting those into His family who plan to deliberately commit more evil acts. Now does that sound like a family that God would be interested in calling His own?
So at the end of the day, God is the only Person who is qualified to define “good” and “evil.” Any other definitions are just man’s attempts at trying to make unconditional love always include unconditional acceptance. Man is a pro at that sort of thing. It just comes naturally to us. We want our own way because we assume the world revolves around us. In a nutshell, we’ve all got issues.
Thankfully, God still reaches out to us. God loves everyone, but He does not accept everyone. Those who want to tell God how they plan to live are those who will remain outside His family until they come to terms with the difference between God’s unconditional love….and His conditional acceptance. You don’t have to have your life in order for God to accept you….but you do need to have a willing heart that is ready to pursue those things He calls “good,” and a willingness to flee from those things He calls “evil.” Without that willingness and that desire, why would anyone even want to have a personal relationship with God?
Imagine a husband or wife on their wedding day saying, “I do,” but….”there are several others I plan to marry as well later today.” Huh? Hello? Really? That’s ludicrous….but that is exactly what many of us would attempt to say to God if His unconditional love required unconditional acceptance. “Yea sure, Lord. I want you in my life….that is, as one of many gods I plan to serve and follow.” Boy, wouldn’t that just warm God’s heart to hear that kind of attitude coming from man? And just imagine if God did accept someone with that attitude into His family.
You could end up with a Satanist claiming to be in God’s family. Come to think of it….I suppose they do make that sort of claim. Unfortunately for them, their god already lost to the true God at the cross. (see Colossians 2:15) Satanist or not, anyone can come to Jesus on God’s terms….and receive God’s unconditional love. No human being is beyond His love….but many refuse to submit to the terms Jesus gave us regarding God’s acceptance of sinners. Whenever man seeks to rewrite the terms of God’s offer of salvation, he ends up with “a progressive understanding of the Bible” that is not compatible with biblical Christianity.
So are you ready to reject the lie of moral relativism….and learn the truth about God’s love and acceptance? Right now you may be very close to entering the light….and receiving the unconditional love of God and the free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. That is, if you are able to reconcile God’s unconditional love with His conditional acceptance of sinners. The world really does revolve around Him….and His Word….and not you and me. That’s a good thing, wouldn’t you say?
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Obama Inauguration Committee to Replace Louie Giglio With Pro-Gay Pastor
www.christianpost.com – By Paul Stanley
Soon after the Rev. Louie Giglio announced he would no longer deliver the benediction at President Obama’s second inauguration later this month as to avoid controversy over a past sermon on homosexuality, an inaugural committee spokesperson said the evangelical pastor would be replaced with someone who has pro-homosexual beliefs.
“We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural,” inaugural committee spokeswoman Addie Whisenant said in a statement Thursday.
“Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part for his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.”
The controversy began on Wednesday when Think Progress, a liberal blog, posted a sermon Giglio gave in the mid-1990s explaining how Christians should “lovingly but firmly respond to the aggressive agenda of not all, but of many in the homosexual community.”
The post created a firestorm that prompted Giglio to send a letter to the president on Thursday, removing himself from the inauguration ceremony.
A Christian woman in Atlanta who asked not to be identified and who regularly attends Sunday evening services at Passion City Church in Roswell, Ga., says she was disappointed that Giglio removed himself and that his sermons rarely if ever focus on social issues.
“I believe Pastor Giglio is a fine man and his work in the areas of human trafficking has helped millions worldwide. I think he is exactly the type of person we need leading a benediction for our nation and just because he believes that homosexuality is a sin should not disqualify him. I mean, there are millions of Christians who feel the same way while recognizing we should love everyone.”
Giglio’s letter opened a floodgate of comments from gay rights activists.
In an email to The Christian Post, Gregory T. Angelo of the Liberty Education Forum, an arm of the Log Cabin Republicans, responded to Giglio’s announcement.
“While Giglio should be commended for his humanitarian work, his decision to step down was the right thing to do and is a testament to his humility,” said Angelo. “Going forward we would welcome an open dialogue with the minister on issues of gay acceptance and love of all of God’s children.”
Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign offered similar sentiments, saying, “It was the right decision. Participants in the Inaugural festivities should unite rather than divide. Choosing an affirming and fair-minded voice as his replacement would be in keeping with the tone the president wants to set for his Inaugural.”
But one question Christians may be asking Obama and his committee is does a person who participates in administration festivities or is appointed by the president to a government position need to share the president’s personal beliefs?
Others such as Sarah Posner, author of God’s Profits: Faith, Fraud and the Republican Crusade for Values, questioned why the committee would select someone like Giglio in the first place.
“One has to wonder why, given the thousands of clergy in the United States Obama couldn’t simply pick someone who didn’t have a high profile at all, someone who would deliver a pleasing ecumenical prayer, someone who didn’t appear to have been picked so that Obama could reach a particular constituency, or whose selection insults another,” Posner wrote in Religion Dispatches on Wednesday.
“Although I said I wasn’t surprised that a blogger found Giglio delivered an anti-gay sermon, it wouldn’t be hard to find a clergyperson who never had.”
Penny Nance, who heads up the pro-family group Concerned Women for American, feels the public is seeing the true intent of the Obama administration and that is to profile and segregate Christians who believe homosexuality is wrong and believe what the Bible teaches.
“I don’t think this is anything new. This administration has very thoughtfully and carefully weeded out anyone who does not share their views,” Nance told The Christian Post. “And their views are the most leftist in U.S. history. It’s dangerous and it is unhealthy for any administration not to allow a counterbalance of beliefs.”
Nance also pointed out that gay rights groups were constantly calling on President George W. Bush to appoint homosexuals to government positions and now that they have a president who has endorsed same-sex marriage, the reverse is unlikely to happen.
“Does President Obama go through is administration and fire people who do not share his beliefs? I would certainly hope that would never be the case.”
Obama was also criticized over choosing Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his first inaugural because of the pastor’s evangelical views.
The Obama Inaugural Committee has tapped Richard Blanco, an openly gay poet, to read a poem he has written for the occasion. They have not yet announced a replacement for Giglio.
End Time Bible Prophecy 
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