Syria/ISIS/Refugees - A Christian Commentary. 17 November 2015.

Lately I've been hearing a lot about ISIS, Syria and the refugee situation. What has astounded me the most is the commentary from those professing themselves to be members of the Christian faith.

This is a pretty hefty topic, so this will probably be a rather hefty article. But I didn't feel like I could keep quiet on this for much longer, and I felt I needed to write a Christian commentary on this for how Christians should respond.

On Muslims & ISIS:

The first thing I've noticed is how much hatred is being shown towards Muslims from members of the Christian faith. They may not believe as we do, but we need to have a spirit of love, tolerance and acceptance of all people, regardless of if they worship the same diety as we do.  People have been quick to stereotype all Muslims as terrorists because of the actions of ISIS, but that is a major fallacy. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. Less than 10,000 of those are members of Al Qaeda (0.000625%), around 36,000 of them are Taliban (0.00225%) and 80,000-100,000 of them are ISIS (0.00625%).  To judge all Muslims by the actions of extremist Muslims is as silly as judging all Christians due to the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church.  In fact, former Republican President George W. Bush said, "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war."

In fact Paul said to avoid offending other religions in 1 Corinthians 10:31-32: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, orwhatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God."  1 Peter 2:17 says, "Show proper respect to everyone".  Luke 6:31 says, "And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them."  The Bible is pretty clear that we are to show respect to others and treat them as we wish to be treated.  This includes people who are of a different belief system than us.

On The Qur'an:

People have been quick to say, "But the Qur'an is a violent book!"  I think many Christians are quick to forget that our Bible is also violent, as well.  There's a lot of stuff in our text about peace, as well as loving and accepting others, but there's also a lot of violence.

Deuteronomy 17:12 says to kill people who don't listen to priests. Leviticus 20:27 says to kill fortune tellers. Leviticus 20:9 says if you curse your parents, you will die. 2 Chronicles 15:12-13 says to kill nonbelievers. Deuteronomy 22:20-21 says to kill women who are not virgins on their wedding night. Exodus 31:12-15 says to kill people who work on the Sabbath. Isaiah 14:21 says to kill the sons of sinners. Exodus 32:26-29 says to kill your neighbors.  I could go on and on, but you get the idea.  Our religious text is just as violent, but most Christians don't live like that, they practice peace, love, tolerance and acceptance.  As do the mass majority of Muslims.  Judging a religion based on parts of their text that they don't act upon is a fool's errand.

On Refugees:

The part of this that astounds me the most is on refugees. I've heard more Christians than I can count saying they don't want to help refugees, or accept people into this country who are fleeing evil. This goes very firmly against Biblical teaching.

Leviticus 19:33-34 says, "When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.  The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

Hebrews 13:16 says, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

Matthew 25:35-40 says, "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."

James 2:14-17 says, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Proverbs 19:17 says, "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed."

John 3:17 says, "But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?"

Philippians 2:4 says, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

The Bible is quite clear that we are to help others in need.  Any attitude that is contrary to that is firmly on the opposition of Biblical teaching.

Every year around the holidays many Christians will find something new to complain about and start throwing around the phrase "We need to put the Christ back in Christmas!"  But I think what matters most is that we need to put the "Christ" back in "Christians". So many people who claim to be Christian are saying and doing so many things that stand in opposition to Christ's teachings. Christ said the two most important things are to love God and to love each other. In Mark 12:31 Christ said we must "love our neighbor as ourself".  He made this statement without exemption or exclusion and lived a spirit of peace and acceptance that we should all strive to live up to.  I pray that any Christian who doesn't understand this will have their heart and mind opened, turn from discrimination and hatred and turn towards Christ's love.

Transforming Christianity. 15 September 2015.

Over the past few years, I've been very active in the LGBT community, not just as a Christian, but as a human being. It's been my personal mission to help other Christians open their hearts and minds and let love in. I want to be clear, it's not my intention or effort to transform the Christian religion. It is my effort to help Christians transform themselves. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"  Through our faith in Christ, we are new creations, called to be Christ-like and to live out our faith. We cannot simply call ourselves Christians if we are not living out our faith. James 2:17 says, "So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."  I firmly believe that this is where our faith is hurting the most:  Christians not being good examples of our faith.  It is the reason our church membership is in decline, and why so many have such a negative view of the church.

I wanted to share a little bit about my background before I launch into this message.  I grew up in a Southern Baptist church.  Where I come from, Southern Baptists don't have the best reputation for love and acceptance.  Granted, not all are like that.  I've met many who are quite open minded.  But this wasn't the case in the church I grew up in.  Hellfire and damnation were more frequent messages than loving others.  I grew up with this mindset and accepted it as "right" because it was what the preacher told me.  However, as I got older, I began to question this form of Christianity.  As I got older and began to open my heart more to God's love, I experienced a transformation.  I began to realize more and more about the true nature of Christianity, and our call to love and accept others.  I began to understand more about our call to be examples of our faith.  Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  We all have the capacity within ourselves to grow and change, we just have to open our hearts and let love in.

A Gallup poll notes this decline.  From 1994, those who identify with the Christian religion have been in decline.  From 94% to 85%.  That is a pretty significant drop!  There are a large number of factors that contribute to this, but I believe a large portion of that is the perception of Christianity.  If people perceive something they believe in, such as religion, to negatively impact the world around them, they will withdraw from religion.  I predict people will continue to withdraw from the church if we, as Christians, don't transform ourselves and make a genuine effort to help transform our fellow Christian brothers and sisters.

One thing that we, as Christians, need to improve on is being Christ-like. We need to show Christ to the world through our actions. 1 John 2:6 says, "Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." 1 Peter 2:21 says, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."  The Bible is very clear on being called to be Christ-like.  We an example not just of our faith, but of our Lord.  A good place to start is with Christ's words and The Great Commandment.  In Matthew 22:35-39, Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."  These are very bold words.  When asked what the most important thing is, Jesus responded with two answers:  love God, and love each other.  It is very important to note that this is not an exclusive statement nor were there exceptions or exemptions placed upon it.  It is an inclusive statement.  Christ very clearly stated that we are to love each other, and he ended that statement with a period, not an "...unless".

But how are we, as Christians, to love others? 1 John 4:8 says, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."  The Bible is very clear that loving others is a foundation of the Christian faith.  It is also a selfless act.  John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."  The Bible is very clear that we are to love without regard for ourselves.  In fact, Philippians 2:4 goes on to say, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."  To truly love with the nature of the Christian faith means to love others unconditionally.

One of the most important things we need to do, as Christians, is to remove a certain phrase from our vocabulary.  I can't tell you how many times a week I hear people stating that the Bible says, "Love the sinner, hate the sin."  This is extraordinarily inaccurate and a horrible representation of our faith.

First, we need to analyze this phrase and debunk it, so that we can fully move away from it.  The phrase "Love the Sinner, Not The Sin" is not in the Bible, it's from St. Augustine. One of his letters, Letter 211 (c. 424), contains the Latin phrase "Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum", which translates to "With love for mankind and hatred of sins." The phrase later appeared as "love the sinner but hate the sin" or "hate the sin and not the sinner" from Gandhi's 1929 autobiography.  But this phrase never appeared in the Bible.

It is crucial that we, as Christians, remove this phrase from our vocabulary. Romans 5:8 says, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Christ did not make exceptions or exclusions from his loving action to redeem us.  He did not separate people when he laid down his life.  Christ loved all, welcomed all and died for all.  The act of "hating the sin" is casting judgment upon other people, which the Bible very clearly tells us not to do.  Matthew 7:1 clearly states, "Judge not, that you be not judged."  "Hating the sin" is a way that many Christians will judge others, as it allows people to form a negative opinion of another person and to judge them.  Therefore, let us not "hate the sin", let us simply love each other, as we are called to do.  Christ loved us without any exception, and to be Christ-like means we should do that with others.

We need to watch the things we say about others. Almost daily I see the most hateful statements coming from my fellow Christian brothers and sisters. James 4:11 says, "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers." James 1:26 says, "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless."  As Christians, we truly need to watch what we say about others.  The Bible very clearly tells us not to speak evil or negative things about other people.

Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  There is no reason for a Christian to speak negative statements about other people.  It is crucial that we are mindful of our words and speak things that will build others up, not tear people down.

We need to recognize that all are equal in God's eyes.  Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."  We need to recognize that we are all one, that we are all equal.  We need to celebrate diversity and love one another regardless of our differences.  It is time to put those differences aside and pull together, not pull apart. Romans 2:11 says, "For God shows no partiality."  As Christians, we should strive to live up to that standard.  To show no partiality, but to realize that despite all the differences between us, we are all one in God's eyes.

As Romans 15:7 says, "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you."  I have lost count how many times I've heard "You can't be _______ and be a Christian."  We need to eliminate this mindset and welcome and show acceptance to all people.  If we can truly recognize diversity and equality and come to embrace other people without exception, we can show a welcoming and accepting nature as Christ did. Luke 15:2 says, "But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." It was no secret, Luke 7:34 mentions that Jesus was "a friend of tax collectors and sinners".  If Jesus showed a spirit of welcome to all people, it is our duty to be Christ-like and show that same spirit to all people, as well.

As Christians, we are the examples of our faith. Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."  As I mentioned earlier, the Christian faith is in decline because of how we, as Christians, have shown our faith to the world.  This is why I am calling upon my fellow Christian brothers and sisters to experience a transformation.  John 13:35 says, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another", and Matthew 7:16 says, "By their fruit you will recognize them."  We are called to be examples of our faith, and to show Christ to the world.  We can not expect to reach people with Christ's message if we don't first show Christ to the world.  We can not expect to see more people share in our Christian faith if we are not acting like Christ.

I truly believe that Christians have it within themselves to fully transform themselves and how they show their faith to the world through selfless love, sacrifice and acceptance.  I pray that more Christians will open their hearts and minds and embrace this and we will see a full transformation.

Kim Davis is not a martyr. 3 September 2015.

Today, Kim Davis, the clerk in Kentucky who has been refusing marriage licenses to same sex couples, was jailed on charges of contempt of court. All over the world of social media I've been seeing people refer to her as a "martyr", and a "modern day Rosa Parks". These statements astound me, to be quite honest, because she is not a martyr.  I want to be clear that it is unfortunate that she is in jail and I'm not making light of the situation or poking fun at her.  However, this is the price you pay when you violate the law.  I want to examine this situation, as well as some common arguments I've heard so we can fully approach the situation and understand it as it actually exists.

"Why couldn't the same sex couples just go to a different county?  Why can't someone else just give them their license?"

This is a two parter, so we'll break it down and discuss each question.

First, people have asked why the same sex couples couldn't just go to another county.  The couples who live in Rowan County are taxpayers.  Part of the money they pay in taxes to the county funds the county clerk's office and pays the salary of Kim Davis.  It would be silly for them to have to pay taxes to one county clerk's office and then drive to another county for services.

Next, people ask why another member of the staff couldn't just give them a license.  Today it came to light that deputy clerks in Rowan County would issue the marriage licenses, but they were afraid of their boss.  Aside from that, as the overseer of the Rowan County Clerk's Office, Kim Davis was not allowing anyone to issue marriage licenses.  So that wasn't even an option to same sex couples in Rowan County.

"Kim Davis went to jail for exercising her rights to religious freedom!"

This one is a little easier to explain.  We have to look at it in two parts, however.

First - Kim Davis is free to worship however she sees fit, in whatever church she sees fit, to whatever deity she sees fit.  This is protected by the First Amendment's "Free Exercise Clause".

Next, Kim Davis is an elected official who took an oath to uphold the law.  The law of the land is that same sex marriage is legal.  People have said, "But we voted against same sex marriage in Kentucky!"  This is irrelevant, however, as the Supreme Court held that same sex marriage is legal based on the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution states that Constitution trumps state law.  Kim Davis was allowing her personal beliefs to affect her job, and her job is to uphold the Constitution, not the Bible.

Kim Davis went to jail because she violated a court order.  She was ordered by the court to issue marriage licenses, an order she ignored and was subsequently jailed for. In Kentucky law, she is guilty under law 403.760 - which is "Contempt of Court". She is not going to jail over a violation of her religion, she is going to jail for breaking the law.

"She's a modern day Rosa Parks!"

Of all the things I've read today, this is the most ridiculous.  Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat to a white man on a full bus in 1955.  This eventually led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.  Rosa Parks was standing up to racial discrimination and is a true hero in the fight for equal civil rights.

Kim Davis used her position to discriminate against U.S. Citizens based on her personal prejudice.  There is a drastic difference between a civil rights hero and a woman who used her personal prejudice to discriminate and deny equal rights to couples.  One fought for equal rights, one denied them.  There's really no comparison between the two.

"She's a martyr!"

This is one that I've hear the most today, and this is one that is farthest from the truth.  I'm a Catholic, and I have a deep respect for martyrs of our faith.  A martyr is someone who suffers persecution or death over their faith.  People are saying because she was jailed over her Christian faith she's a martyr, and that she is being persecuted.  However, that couldn't be farther from the truth.

Kim Davis is not standing up for the Christian faith.  She is discriminating based on personal prejudice.  There are over 600 things listed as sins in the Bible, and she has never turned anyone away over any of those things.  I've written in the past on how I do not believe homosexuality is a sin, and many scholars and theologians hold a similar view.  If Kim Davis were truly standing up for her faith, she would be turning everyone away, because we all sin.  We are all guilty of something.  Someone is not a martyr if they use the Christian faith as a weapon to hurt, discriminate and/or demean another of God's children.

"How should Christians respond?"

I can't speak for all Christians, but I am going to pray for Kim Davis.  It is my prayer that God will open her heart and her mind, and she will grow to love all people.  Discrimination is not a Christian tenant, and I do not know where or how she came to believe that it was, but I am going to pray for her.  It is my hope that during her incarceration she will reflect on this through prayer, and God will speak to her heart and help her understand that all people are equal in God's eyes, and that there is no need to discriminate against anyone.

Kim Davis - Bigotry or "Religious Freedom"? 29 August 2015.

I have no doubt that everyone is aware of Kim Davis the clerk from Kentucky who is refusing to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples on the grounds of her "religious beliefs". In the past, I've written on the issue of how the Bible did not oppose homosexuality in the original texts, but I did want to draw attention to the obvious hypocrisy of Kim Davis using the Bible as an excuse not to grant same sex marriage licenses on her belief that they are "sinning". This is a clear cut case of cherry picking the Bible because she is prejudiced against the LGBT community. I know that's a bold statement, but follow me, I'm going to explain. This situation begs the question, "If Kim Davis is denying marriage licenses to people she beliefs are sinning, does she deny them to anyone who sins?" I'm going to list some things that most people do or have done that the Bible considers to be sins and ask the question, "Would she deny marriage licenses to people who do these things?" Romans 6:23 states that "...the wages of sin are death", and does not differentiate between sins; the verse puts all sin in the same category. Let's look at some common sins that most people have committed or commit in their day to day life.

Eating
Eating turtle/lizard/snail: Leviticus 11:28-29
Eating Pork: Leviticus 11:4
Eating Beef: Leviticus 3:17
Eating fat: Leviticus 3:17
Eating birds: Leviticus 11:13-20
Overeating: Proverbs 23:2
Having a mixed garden: Leviicus 19:19
Eating seafood: Leviticus 10-11

Clothing/Fashion
Women dressing without “modesty/decency”: 1 Timothy 2:9
Wearing Jewelry: 1 Timothy 2:9
Trimming Bears: Leviticus 19:27
Round haircuts: Leviticus 19:27
Tearing clothes/ripped jeans: Leviticus 10:6
Having tattoos: Leviticus 19:28
Wearing fabric blends: Leviticus 19:19
Women leaving their hair uncovered: 1 Corinthians 11:5-6

Divorce
Getting remarried after divorce: Mark 10:11-12
Divorce: 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

Sexual
Masturbating: 1 Corinthians 6:18
Watching Porn: Matthew 5:28
“Pulling Out”: Genesis 38:9
Sex before marriage: Deuteronomy 22:20-21
Adultery: Leviticus 20:10
Not being circumcised: Genesis 17:14

Conduct
Gossipping: Leviticus 19:16
Women speaking in church: 1 Corinthians 14:34
Bearing Grudges: Leviticus 19:18
Children cursing at parents: Exodus 21:17
Not standing around the elderly: Leviticus 19:32
Mistreating foreigners: Leviticus 19:33-34
Working on Saturdays: Exodus 31:14-15
Wives helping husbands in a fight: Deuteronomy 25:11-12
Lying: Leviticus 19:11
Cheating: Leviticus 19:11
Cussing: Ephesians 5:4

Sports
Playing football: Leviticus 11:7-8

Misc
Consulting Psychics: Leviticus 19:31
Touching anything dead: Leviticus 5:2

It's fairly easy to see that Kim Davis doesn't turn away people who sin by doing any of the things above. Though I personally do not believe homosexuality to be a sin, it's interesting to see all the things the Bible says are sins that Mrs. Davis probably does not deny marriage licenses on the basis of. This is not a case of "religious freedom", this is a case of bigotry, pure and simple. She is denying marriage licenses because she is prejudiced against people who are gay, not because it is against her religion. If she were truly standing up for her religious beliefs, she would be turning people away left and right because they ate shellfish at Red Lobster last Thursday, because they shave, because they wear mixed fabrics, and so on and so on. It's a shame to see someone making a mockery of our faith because they do not support equality. Reasons such as this are why our faith is losing members in large numbers. It is my hope that in time Christians will begin to act more Christlike and quit with this bigotry nonsense.

Regarding Steve King's "Anti-Marriage Equality Resolution". 14 July 2015.

Now that marriage equality is the law of the land, we are seeing a rebellion against equality by those who oppose equal rights. This is to be expected, as people fought interracial marriage after it was legalized. Though 33 percent of Americans do not support marriage equality, an all time high of 61 percent of Americans do support marriage equality.  Steve King, a representative from Iowa, has introduced an Anti-Marriage Equality Resolution and I wanted to look at the historical and Constitutional fallacies that he has seemed to have forgotten or avoided when drafting such legislation.

This is what the bill proposes and I want to look at each one of these statements and how they are inherently wrong and invalid:

• “the traditional definition of marriage is a union between one man and one woman"

Invalid.  This seems to be motivated by religion, but even the Christian religion didn't traditionally define marriage as "one man and one woman". Monogamy wasn’t adopted by the Jewish and Christian faith until around the 7th to the 10th century. The “one man one woman” belief when it comes to marriage didn’t even appear until the 19th and 20th centuries.

• "the majority opinion in Obergefell unconstitutionally and indefensibly distorts the definition of marriage"

Invalid.  Same Sex Marriage is protected by the 14th Amendment.

• "the States may refuse to be bound by the holding in Obergefell"

Invalid.  States may not violate the Constitution.  The Supreme Court was established by Article III in 1789 and the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution states that the Constitution is the law of the land.  The Supreme Court interpreted the 14th Amendment as Constitutionally protecting same sex marriages and that interpretation cannot be violated.

• "the States are not required to license same-sex marriage or recognize same-sex marriages performed in other States"

Invalid.  The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution states that states may not violate the Constitution, and Same Sex Marriage is protected by the 14th Amendment.

• "individuals, businesses, churches, religious groups, and other faith-based organizations are encouraged, empowered, and protected to exercise their faith without fear of legal or government interference.”

Invalid.   If this were allowed, we would still have racially segregated restaurants, as people used "religious beliefs" to justify racial discrimination.  By the government siding with Christians when they discriminate, it violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.

What does The Bible say about the government? 25 June 2015.

Recently, Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee announced that he would ignore the Supreme Court's ruling on same sex marriage. He also signed a pledge and asked other Christian leaders to ignore the ruling, as well. The problem with that, and the reason for this blog post, is that ignoring the government's orders and working against those in power is also against the Bible. Mr. Huckabee knows should be well aware of that, because he is an ordained minister of God's Word.  One thing that my fellow Christian brothers and sisters don't seem to pay much attention to is what the Bible says about those in power and respecting the authority of our government.

It's important for Christians to remember where exactly power comes from and how people are placed in office. God is very clear on it in his word.

Daniel 2:21
"God removes kings and sets up kings."

Proverbs 8:15
"By me, kings reign."

Daniel 4:17
"The Most High has power over human kingdoms. He gives them to whomever he wishes."

God places leaders in office by his will.  The Supreme Court has been assembled by the will of God and their decision is a result of that assembly.

The Bible is very clear about how we are to respond to the law. We are to obey the law, and not to speak ill of the law or those who place it into effect.

Romans 13:1
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."

Titus 3:1
"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient."

1 Peter 2:13-17
"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for The Lord's sake…Honour the king."

Ecclesiastes 10:20
"Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter."

Titus 3:1-2
"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men."

Lest we forget, everything that happens on Earth happens according to God's will.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.”

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you.”

It's fairly easy to see what the Bible says about the government.  God places people in power in accordance with his will.  We are to be subject to those and power and submit to the laws they have passed down.  Everything that happens on this Earth happens because it is God's will that it happens.

Equality Supporters Are NOT "Anti-Christian". 7 June 2015.

An alarming thing came across my Facebook news feed this morning. One of our local politicians, Jason Rapert, went on (yet another) anti-equality rant. This is nothing new, he has a strange obsession with homosexuality, but this one included something that inspired me to write a reflection on what he was saying.  I take issue with quite a lot of what he is saying in this post, so I do want to touch on a few key areas of what he is saying.  I am a straight, white male Catholic.  According to stereotype, I should be standing on the other side of the fence.  However, today I will be walking in the parade proudly carrying the Arkansans For Equality banner with a few other members who serve on the board of AfE.

Jason Rapert, in his post, calls those who are supporters of equality "Anti-Christian".  That was the first thing I took issue with.  As a self professed Christian, Mr. Rapert should know that only God knows what is on man's heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  I took particular offense with this statement because I do not believe Mr. Rapert has the authority to judge who has a relationship with the Lord and who does not.

Next, Mr. Rapert went on to say, "...they understand that the lifestyle they are glorifying on our streets is considered sin by every Bible-believing Christian...".  He may or may not be aware that the "homosexuality is a sin" belief is not universally agreed upon by every Bible believing Christian.  I've gone into this in detail in the past in an article I wrote, "Yes, You Can Be A Christian And Support Marriage Equality."  The original Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible did not oppose homosexuality.  This common held misconception came about in later translations of the Bible.  So no, not all Bible believing Christians agree upon that, Mr. Rapert.

Also, Mr. Rapert made another baseless statement, saying "I submit that the same-sex marriage agenda that came before the U.S. Supreme Court warrants the same response from all Americans - remind the 9 justices that 96.2% of Americans should not be forced to affirm the confusion of 3.8% who demand our full attention."  I'm not sure he's seen the latest polls, but a majority of Americans support marriage equality. 61% support marriage equality and 35% oppose.

Mr. Rapert, I choose to stand beside the LGBT community and proudly march in Conway's Pride Parade today.  I'm proud to do it as a Catholic, and to stand up for what Christ stood for when he was on this Earth.  In Mark 12:31, Christ says "Love your neighbor as yourself."  He did not place exceptions or exclusions on this statement.  He did not say, "...unless they're gay." Corinthians 13:4-8 states, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." The Bible is very clear on what love is and how we are to love. I choose to live by what the Bible says rather than follow the more "hateful" form of Christianity.

We should also look at Christ’s behavior on this Earth when it came to people viewed as sinners. Everywhere Jesus went, he conversed and spent time with people viewed as sinners, and he did it unconditionally. He didn’t have a “love the sinner, hate the sin” mentality. He made friendships and welcomed these people to his table. Also, this wasn’t only Christians. If you read Matthew 9:10-11 and 9:13, he extended friendship to people who had no interest in the gospel, his teachings or repenting. Jesus loved unconditionally, period. He associated with all people, no strings attached!

What does the Bible say about the transgender/transexual individual? 7 March 2015.

This is a topic I've been wanting to write on for quite some time. I get the question quite often, "What does the Bible say about being transgender/transexual?" A lot of it is relatively misunderstood, and before we go into what the Bible says about it, we must first look, scientifically, at what Gender Identity Disorder is. To keep it relatively simple, Gender Identity Disorder is when somebody doesn’t feel their biological gender matches their gender identity, or the gender they internally identify with.  With an understanding that Gender Identity Disorder is a very real issue that many suffer from, we can then examine the Biblical text honestly.

Deuteronomy 22:5

Deuteronomy 22:5 is the chief argument that comes up the majority of the time as opposition to being transgender/transexual. The verse states, “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.”

What’s important to note about this verse is context. At this time, the Israelite people were in the land of the Canaanites who believed in multiple gods and had many rituals for those gods. One such ritual would have men dress as one of these goddesses and act as prostitutes in the temple. The prohibition in Deuteronomy 22:5 is a prohibition of this behavior and against the pagan worship ritual. When you look at the context of the verse you can see that it has nothing to do with transgender individuals. Also, as we discussed before, “abomination” in the original text comes from the Hebrew term “toevah”, which doesn’t mean sin, but different culture.

Mark 10:6

Another verse that comes up is Mark 10:6, “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’.” This verse can be applied to this conversation, however, this verse does not differentiate from physical gender and gender identity. It can be reasoned that God forms people in the womb with a gender identity of male or female, but many can be born with the birth defect of being born the opposite sex of their gender identity. It has been established, Biblically, that God allows birth defects to show his works. God allows us to be tested.

Jeremiah 1:5

A lot of folks like to mention a few verses to state that nobody is born transgender and God doesn’t “make mistakes”, but to say such a thing it stands to reason we are looking at the situation the wrong way. Jeremiah 1:5 is a common verse that comes up. The verse states “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” This does not conflict with someone being born with a gender identity that is alternate to their physical identity at birth. This just states that God knew the person from their conception in the womb.

Does God make mistakes?

We, then, must ask the question - does God make mistakes? Absolutely not. But, does God allow things to happen to us; does God test us? Of course. Job is a fantastic example of this. Many people are born with conditions they did not ask for. For example, a man who was born blind. Matthew 9:1-3 is an example. “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? “ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” People who are transgender suffer from Gender Dysphoria, which is also known as Gender Identity Disorder - a condition that is established from birth, much the same as being blind. In this sense, it is the same way as someone being born blind - it is a test to show the works of God, much as with Job, or the person who was born blind. If you had a child who was born with a birth defect, would you not do everything possible to help fix it? The same applies to being born with a physical gender that is alternate to your gender identity. Being born with Gender Identity Disorder is not a choice anymore than being born blind is.

"For you are all one in Christ Jesus."

There are two verses that I think really show how God views people, particularly the transgender individual. Galatians 3:26-28 and I Samuel 16:7. Galatians 3:26-29 says, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The Bible does not say “….except the transgender/transexual individual.” The Bible plainly states “For you are all one in Christ Jesus

"The Lord looks at the heart."

I Samuel 16:7 says, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This is a very important verse, because it shows that people may judge the transgender/transexual individual, especially during their transition phase, but God knows them. God looks on their heart and does not judge them. This is an important reflection for us to ponder, as we are inspired to be Christ-like, should we also not view people the same way?

Explaining Bible Mistranslations - 6 March 2015.

I want to be very clear - the original text of the Bible is God-inspired and God-breathed.  Mistranslations are the work of man who attempted to further their agenda.  What I'm about to say is not against God in any way, shape, or form, but it is against men who have perverted the text of the Bible.  

The original Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible do not oppose homosexuality. The Old Testament and The New Testament both mention homosexuality, but they cite it as a different culture - but nowhere is it mentioned to be wrong or a "sin". This is a common misconception. The 1611 King James Bible was pushed to have a more Conservative translation, so many words were mistranslated and changed to fit that agenda. Old Testament and New Testament scholars as well as experts in Hebrew and Greek both agree on this. So no, the Bible doesn't say homosexuality is wrong at all. That just comes from mistranslations in the text. In fact, if you reference the Leningrad Codex (which is from as early as 1000 AD and is one of the earliest and most accurate and complete Hebrew texts of the Bible) or the Codex Sinaiticus (from as early as 330-360 AD, and one of the most complete and accurate early Greek texts of the Bible) they are vastly different from modern Biblical text.

First, let’s look at the Bible text prior to the KJV. Prior to 1611, Latin was the only remotely scholarly language used in Europe. The Latin Vulgate translation by Jerome, which was based on an Alexandrian Text was the official text and translation used by most churches. When it came to the KJV, the Protestant translators didn’t have access to the entire Received Greek Official Text. They were familiar with the Vulgate, but without that access they often inserted words that were not there in the original Greek. Most of this is due to the shoddy work of Erasmus, who edited the Greek New Testament prior to the KJV. He was rushed to get the text to press and his work suffered due to that.

Next, to understand more about the modern Bible, it’s important to look at the King James Bible and it’s important that we look at the history of the King James Bible. As most know, King James I hand picked 54 men to translate the Bible. Unfortunately, they ended up modifying the Bible to fit a more Protestant point of view. King James himself gave rules to the translators. He did not allow honest translations of certain words. Many critical words were forced to be translated in accordance with the Episcopalian view of the Church of England. The KJV contained mistranslations on purpose to help further the agenda of the established church. In fact, at the Hampton Court Conference in 1604, King James himself said he would make people conform, or he would force them off their land.

It’s also important to note the revisions of the King James Bible. Since it’s creation in 1611 it has undergone three revisions which have incorporated over 100,000 changes. 300 words in the King James Bible no longer have the same meaning. Many scholars have noted that not only is the English used in the King James Bible no longer understood, but it has been documented to be twisted, perverted and in error numerous times.

Next, we need to turn our attention to the New International Version as well. The NIV was first published in 1978. The translators are Evangelical Christians who showed even more bias than the 54 “scholars” who translated the KJV. They were locked in to believing a certain way, and that bias showed in their translation. When something challenged their way of thinking, they would simply change the text of the Bible. In fact, the publishers of the NIV even stated on record that their purpose was not to preserve the original text of the Bible, but to make a translation that was non-offensive. They eliminated hundreds of words, phrases, and entire Bible verses. In total, 64,576 words were removed with the New International Version.

Now, I want to explain why I bring this up.  It's important to realize that men have intentionally mistranslated important parts of the Bible to further their agenda.  When it comes to important issues like homosexuality, it is important to realize that the original text of the Bible was not against homosexuality - in fact, the Greek or Hebrew words for homosexuality never appeared in the original Bible - they weren't added until 1946!  I always ask people to research their opinions further than just the face level.  Reading the NIV or KJV can't give you the full picture of important topics like homosexuality, it's crucial to look at the original text, as well, to fully understand them.  Our faith and our God is not against the LGBT community, but that commonly held misconception has been created by Conservative men who want us to think that.

Further Reading:
https://bible.org/article/why-i-do-not-think-king-james-bible-best-translation-available-today

http://www.catholicapologetics.info/scripture/translations/kjversion.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/graphic1designer/errors.html

http://www.wordofhisgrace.org/kjvnomore.htm

https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/articles-and-resources/deliberate-mistranslation-in-the-new-international-version-niv/

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Bible/NIV/why.htm

The Truth Behind Sodom And Gomorrah - 6 March 2015.

One of the arguments and statements that comes up the most when it comes to homosexuality is "Remember Sodom and Gomorrah?". Unfortunately, that argument doesn't hold much weight as Sodom and Gomorrah had nothing to do with homosexuality. I've written on it in the past, but I wanted to go into more detail about what really happened at Sodom and Gomorrah.  For this explanation, we're going to use Genesis 19 and Jude 7 to evaluate the Biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Genesis 19 Account
One night, Lot welcomed two strangers into his house.  The inhabitants of the city came to Lot and said, "Bring them out, so that we may know them."  Later translations (such as the NIV) have mistakenly turned this into "Bring them out, so that we may have sex with them," but it's important to note this is a blatant error in translation. The original Hebrew word used for "know them" was "yãdhà". This word has two meanings - one is to examine, and one is to engage in sexual activity. That word is used 943 times in the Old Testament, and only ten times is it used to reference sexual intercourse, and every one of those activities is heterosexual.  Not one time in the Bible has the word "sodom" or "sodomy" been used to describe homosexuality activity.

It is interesting, and important, to note that for 1800 years after the story of Sodom took place, Jewish prophets in the Bible and many Jewish authors who were outside of the Bible universally understood the sin of Sodom to be the sin of being inhospitable, not homosexual activity or relations. That commonly held misbelief is relatively new, and something that is used to bash homosexuality. Sodom is mentioned 48 times in the Bible outside of the original story in Genesis and in no accounts of the story is homosexuality mentioned as the cause of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In fact, Jesus Christ himself judges Sodom for being inhospitable, not for being homosexual. (Matthew 10:12-15 and Luke 10:8-12) The Son of God did not mention Sodom and Gomorrah for being homosexual, but rather for being inhospitable, and that should send across a pretty clear message.  In Ezekiel 16:48-50, the sins of Sodom are listed very clearly as, "pride, plenty, laziness, uncaring for needy, haughty and worshipping idols", but not one of them is listed as homosexuality.  So the Bible is pretty clear that the sin of Sodom was not homosexuality, but rather being inhospitable.

The Jude 1:7 Account
Next, let's turn our attention to Jude 7 for a better explanation of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the events in question. The text states, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”  I want to turn your attention to the word "strange", as many have said that implies homosexuality.  But in fact, the Greek word for strange used in the original text was "heteros", not "homios", meaning the "strange" flesh the men of the city went after was heterosexual, and not related to homosexuality.  Also, the text of Jude 1:7 not only says that it was not a homosexual act, it also states that the "strange" flesh the men were attempting to have sex with was "angelic" flesh.  Not men attempting to have sex with men, but men attempting to have sex with angels.

Explaining The Word "Sodomy"
So why, many may ask, is the word “sodomy” used to equate to anal penetration and male homosexuality. This one is a little easier to explain. This word has been connected to that due to the common misunderstanding that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed over homosexuality, when in reality, that isn’t the case. The modern word “sodomy” comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin “peccatum Sodomiticum”, or “sin of Sodom” - and the sin of Sodom was being inhospitable.  Now you know, if your state has sodomy laws on the books - you better start being hospitable to strangers!

I hope this helps explain this topic further.  I know it's a common held misconception that Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed over homosexuality, when in fact, that couldn't be farther from the truth! 

Further references:
http://www.libchrist.com/other/homosexual/sodom.html

http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.org/biblical_evidence/sodom_and_gomorrah.html

http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2015/01/08/in-the-bible-sodomy-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/35709
https://bible.org/article/homosexual-theology

SB202 - Why The "Right To Discriminate" Is Not Christian. 22 February 2015.

Recently, Arkansas passed SB202, or as most equality advocates are calling it, "The Right To Discriminate". Many "Christians" are praising this as a victory, while many in the equality community are saying this is a violation of equal protection and creates a protection of the religious class, but not the LGBT community.  Even the Governor of Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson, has decided to take the road of cowardice and neither veto nor sign SB202 and has stated he will allow it to become law.  He has stated that, in regards to SB202, he is "concerned about the loss of local control."  None of this is news, most in our state are well aware of SB202 and what the implications of it are. Many organizations are vowing to stand up against discrimination.  One such group is Arkansans For Equality.  There are also groups on Facebook such as LGBT Business Equality In Arkansas which are supplying lists of businesses in Arkansas that do not discriminate and encouraging people to show with their wallet that they will not support businesses that discriminate.

But while many "Christians" are looking at SB202 as a victory, it's important to note that Arkansas "Right To Discriminate" law is in no way Christian or in step with what most Christians believe.  It's important to take note of who exactly Jesus spent his time with when he was on this Earth.  Jesus hung out with sinners.  He opposed the norm, and things that the populace would view as "politically correct". In Mark 2:17, Jesus said "I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me."  The religious folks of the day took note of this, for example Luke 15:2:  "But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." It was no secret, Luke 7:34 mentions that Jesus was "a friend of tax collectors and sinners".  I could go on and on, but the point I want to drive home is that Jesus, while completely God and completely man, did not think of himself as better than anyone else and did not condemn people, rather, he welcomed them at his table.  SB202 is an example of how this violates Christ's teachings.  SB202 sets out to create a protected religious class that discriminates against other people.  This is very much so against the teachings of Christ, as he would not discriminate against others, rather, he would welcome them at his table.

For many years there have been many people to speak out against equality and use our faith to justify it. When it came to Slavery, Jefferson Davis said, "[Slavery] was established by decree of Almighty God. . . . It is sanctioned in the Bible, in both Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation. . . . It has existed in all ages, has been found among the people of the highest civilization, and in nations of the highest proficiency in the arts." When it came to Women's Right To Vote, Justin Fulton said, "Who demand the ballot for woman? They are not the lovers of God, nor are they believers in Christ, as a class. There may be exceptions, but the majority prefer an infidel's cheer to the favor of God and the love of the Christian community. It is because of this tendency that the majority of those who contend for the ballot for woman cut loose from the legislation of Heaven, from the enjoyments of home, and drift to infidelity and ruin." When it came to Interracial Marriage, a judge in Virginia said, "Almighty God created the races, white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages."  We once again, as Christians, find ourselves at another controversial issue when it comes to discrimination/equality and the LGBT community.  It is our obligation as Christians to live as Christ commanded and live out what he told us to do, to love our neighbors as ourselves.  We are not going to win people to our faith if we continue to work against the teachings of the Christian faith.  The Bible is very clear on how we are to treat others.

In the book of Mark, one of the teachers of the law came to Jesus and asked him what the greatest of the commandments was. Jesus responded that the first was to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30). Next, he went on to say that the second was to "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:31)  It's crucial to examine the importance of the second statement.  When Christ said to love your neighbor as yourself, he did not place conditions on it.  He did not attach the word "unless".  He very simply stated to love your neighbor as yourself.  Corinthians 13:4-8 states, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."  The Bible is very clear on what love is and how we are to love.  SB202 is in direct violation of this, even though some "Christians" show support of it.  Christ very clearly stated to love our neighbor as ourselves, and the New Testament goes on to speak of how we are to love and what love is.  Christ was very clear on his teachings, and it is crucial that we live out those teachings.  That we do not advocate or support laws that embrace discrimination, and that we as Christians rise up against any laws that attempt to demean a minority class, or deny people of equality under the law.  Supporting any such law is in direct violation of our Christian faith.  

Does Homosexuality Cause Societies To Fall? 17 January 2015.

Something I hear often is “If gay marriage is legalized, our country will fall like other countries and empires of the past!” It’s pretty interesting that people actually believe this, but it’s a result of lack of research. Most people who assert this like to point to the Greco-Roman world as evidence. However, such claims are factually inaccurate. I’m going to look at three points people bring up when this is discussed - Rome, Greece and Sodom & Gomorrah.

First, let’s look at Rome. It’s interesting to note that homosexuality in Rome was widely practiced, out in the open, and accepted. Rome was a thriving empire when homosexuality was common. Why did Rome actually fall? About 300 years after it’s peak, Christian emperors forced religion onto the citizens of Rome. Constantine brought in anti-religion laws banning the traditional beliefs of the Romans, along with anti-sexuality laws. The citizens of Rome grew dissatisfied with the government over this. One could draw the conclusion that homophobia was a bigger factor in the fall of Rome than homosexuality. Most modern historians will not even embrace the idea that homosexuality caused the fall of the Roman empire as it is factually inaccurate. The Roman empire only made it another 173-260 years after outlawing homosexuality.

If you examine ancient Greece, it’s interesting to note that Ancient Greece was at the height of it’s power under Alexander the Great, who openly had a male lover. Greece fell over problems fighting between their city states and due to conquerers from surrounding countries. Phillip II of Macedon eventually gained control of the city states through diplomacy, but also military action. Homosexuality was not a factor at all in the fall of Greece.

People also like to list Sodom and Gomorrah as having fallen due to homosexuality, however, this is also factually inaccurate according to ancient Biblical texts. If you look at the translation, when the Bible mentions “sexual immorality”, it specifies lack of hospitality, pride, idolatry, greed and gluttony.  Primarily lack of hospitality and greed.  In none of these is there a single word about homosexuality.  In fact, the closest the Bible comes is Jude 1:7.   “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after STRANGE flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” The Greek word translated in the KJV as ‘strange’ was heteros, which actually implies the immorality was HETEROsexual.  The Biblical story of Sodom in Genesis 19 never mentions a homosexual act, a same sex relationship nor does it say the inhabitants of Sodom were homosexuals. Scripture also never says the city was destroyed over homosexuality. There is nothing in the passage that relates to consensual homosexual sexual relations. The oppression of the stranger is the main point of the sodom story. The traditional word “sodomy” in Genesis originally translated to “oppression of the weak and helpless”.

Additional Sources and Further Reading:
"Did Homosexuality Cause The Fall of Rome? - GAY, EXPLAINED." GAY EXPLAINED. 12 Jan. 2011. Web. <http://www.gayexplained.com/homosexuality-fall-rome/>.
"Was Rome Felled by Gays or Christianity?" Bilerico Project RSS. Web.  <http://www.bilerico.com/2011/05/was_rome_felled_by_gays_or_christianity.php>.
"A Global Historical Survey: Does Accepting Homosexuality Lead to Civilizational Ruin?" Applied Sentience. 19 July 2013. Web. <http://appliedsentience.com/2013/07/19/a-global-historical-survey-does-accepting-homosexuality-lead-to-civilizational-ruin/>.
"What Harm Would It Do to Legalize Gay “marriage”?" LifeSiteNews. Web. <https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/what-harm-would-it-do-to-legalize-gay-marriage>.
"Rebutting "Every Civilization That Accepted Homosexuality Failed"" Boing Boing BBS. Web. <http://bbs.boingboing.net/t/rebutting-every-civilization-that-accepted-homosexuality-failed/41820/25>.