Speaking Truth in Love

"but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—" Ephesians 4:15

Before speaking the truth in love, I must first acknowledge that I have violated all Ten Commandments of God, and am grateful for His overwhelming mercy and grace (James 2:10).  It is with great love that I say these things.

Many a congregation within Christ's Church is off-course today.  These congregations have allowed fear and all manner of the world's ways to gain strongholds.  These strongholds have grown enormous tentacles, embracing the ways of hell and even suggesting that hell does not exist, a subject Jesus spoke much about while He walked the earth (Matt 5:22, 23, 29; Matt 10:28; Matt 18:9; Matt 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5).  You may be asking, "What are some of these strongholds that have crept in?"  It is important that we call them out for the avoidance of any doubt and to unite the followers of Jesus in the truth He taught us.

1.  Homosexuality is sin and there will be no unrepentant practicing homosexuals in heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10), nor any other unrepentant souls, for that matter.  Scripture is clear.  As followers of Jesus, we cannot hold on to pet sins.  This breaks the first and greatest commandment of God, that we are to have "no other gods" before Him (Exodus 20:3).

2. Premarital and extramarital sex, pornography, and all such behaviors are also sin.  These sins carry an even greater consequence than other sins because they directly impact your own body (1 Corinthians 6:18).  I have heard men say that these things are not sin because they are not listed in the Ten Commandments.  My friend, they are.  The word adultery in Hebrew is the idea of breaking wedlock.  To be wed is to be "in covenant bond with one individual of the opposite sex."  All of the aforementioned behaviors break that bond.  Jesus took it even a step further, adding lust to the adultery definition (Matthew 5:28).

3.  Cross-dressing and transgender behavior is an abomination to God.  Deuteronomy 22:5 states, "A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God."  You may say that this is in the Old Testament rather than the New Testament, but Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."

These are but three common misconceptions that the Church has failed to root out and it is a great evil.

God has called all Christians to follow Him in unity, and to make disciples.  The disciples are to be copies of Him—not us (Matt 28:18-20).  This task He has given us is not an easy road, but I can think of no better way in all the world.  The many and various denominations are tools of the devil to divide the followers of Jesus.  We are called, as Christians, to be courageous and recognize these things for what they are, rising above them.  We should not be surprised, but rather devastated and brokenhearted, that our own children are practicing these things.  It is because of OUR sin and WE will be held accountable.

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:14-19).

Are you on your knees yet?

Goodnight, Runners.