Saved and Gay

By Pastor Randy Morgan

How To View the “Bible”

How we view the Bible is of the utmost im-portance as Christians. The Bible is the absolute "INSPIRED WORD OF GOD." Understanding the word "inspired" is very important in properly interpreting the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 says, "from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be com-plete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

In this passage, we are told that scriptures first make us wise for salvation, which is in Jesus. Scriptures should always be utilized to get closer to the Lord, not justify abstract theologies or condemn people. The Word of God is inspired to point us more clearly to the One who loves us most, Jesus. He is the doctrine, He is our corrector, He is our righteousness, He is our completion. And most important - He is the LIVING WORD (John 1).

The Bible is “Inspired” not “Dictated”
understanding the difference between “principles in the Word” and the “Letter of the Law”

The word "inspired" is the Greek word - theopneustos, which means, "God Breathed." If I were to take a piece of paper and blow on it, and the paper moved, and then I asked several to write about what they saw - then one may say, "Pastor Randy blew on a piece of Paper, it fluttered and then moved." Another may say, "Pastor Randy's breath caused the paper to move quickly across the table." Etc. The event could be expressed in multiple ways. Though the words might differ somewhat, the principle would be the same, breath moved the paper. The Word was written by a multitude of individuals who saw what they saw in a specific context and culture - at the very least 2,000 years ago. The writers were seeing very specific events around them, and when God would "inspire" them to avoid connecting with those events, often the writers would focus on what they saw. For example, Paul said, "Nature teaches us that women should have long hair, and men should have short hair" (1 Cor. 11:14-16). Does nature teach us this? How many women reading this have cut their hair for convenience sake? Nature didn't teach us this; however, culturally, Paul was looking at the covenantal women of God and the majority of them had long hair, while the Corinthian women were cutting their hair and worshipping false gods. The principle here is not about hair, the passage was discussing submission to God's true authority and an authentic worship of the One, True God through Jesus Christ.

Another example of reading the Bible in light of principle rather than the “letter of the law” is "Husbands love your wives; Wives submit to your husbands" (Eph 5:21-33). The “letter of the law” could be interpreted to make it sound like a woman should submit at all times regardless of the circumstances, and that a man is not responsible for hearing his wife's needs, but is rather supposed to rule over her in the name of love. That kind of interpretation is incorrect. Marriage isn't about a man ruling over a woman and a woman submitting regardless of the circumstance. THE PRINCIPLE - Marriage is love and submission one to another - period.

How To Read and ancient book Facing Modern Concepts and Understandings
Discovering God’s Plans about everything in our lives

Today, we have many modern, cultural activities that Paul and Peter, and all the other disciples could not have grasped - what car should I buy? Which internet, long-distance, cell phone, etc company should I go with? Which Bible Should I Buy? Should I take Delta or AirTran? No matter which concordance you go to, you will not find "Internet," "Car," "Plane," you won't even find "Bible" for finding the best translation of the scriptures.  These are all modern concepts; however, the principles still apply to the modern ideas. You can find principles for using your funds economically, you can find principles about using your possessions for holiness and for honoring God. You can find the principle that you should study the Word, though you won't find which translation to buy. Bottom line - when it comes to modern ideas and concepts, we must depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance and then line our activities up with the principles of the Word.

Issues of women's equality, abolition of slavery, and homosexuality (as a natural orientation versus the behaviors of ancient temple orgies, catamites, and prostitutes) are all fairly modern concepts; therefore, we must look past the letter of the law because the letter does justify some negative activities (1 Cor 14:34, Titus 2:9, Col 3:22), and we must see the overall principle of the Word, which is Liberty for the Captives and Freedom in The Spirit through Jesus Christ.

The Homosexual “Orientation” is a Modern Understanding and there is still education and scientific discovery in this area

Now, tying all this together, when we go to the Word of God to evaluate “homosexual”, we must know that the word homosexual didn't exist until 1892, some time after the Inspired Word of God's Canon had been set. The ancient writers of the scriptures would have been primarily aware of same-sex activities in temple prostitution and other forms of sexual slavery and common prostitution - catamites and pederasty. The principle seen in scripture would point toward the avoidance of these practices - idol worship and sexual slavery and prostitution. Since the idea of a sexual identity that is created by God toward those of the same gender, and the possibility of two individuals who honor God with their bodies and then live in a covenantal marriage is a fairly modern idea, then we must look for the principles of the Word and apply them to our homes:

Marriage is first and foremost about companionship and compatibility (Genesis 2:18)

Marriage is love and submission (Eph 5:21-33)

Marriage is monogamy (1 Cor. 7)

Gender, the Bible, God’s Plans, and Marriage

Since gender isn’t an issue in the spirit (Gal. 3:28), and we walk in the spirit and don't mind (or focus on) the things of the flesh (Romans 8:5), then marriage goes beyond gender and becomes a matter of the soul and spirit - two becoming one. See the Principle (Spirit) of the Word Versus the "Letter of the Law" (2 Cor. 3:6). This is at the heart of understanding how "Inspiration Versus Dictation." The Bible was inspired; pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you see what He was saying; He inspired it; therefore, He can best give you the principle behind the words.
II. Gender Issues.

How does God view Gender? Well, honestly - He Doesn't View Gender!!! (Galatians 3:28, 1 Samuel 16:7, Acts 10:34, and Genesis 1:27-both male and female are created in the image and likeness of God - has nothing to do with genitalia). To speak frankly – Jehovah God, the Creator of the Universe and Supreme Lord is not limited by penises and vaginas… That may sound utterly ridiculous, but it must be understood that many Christians today believe that God is limited to just such biological issues.  How sad.

Jesus made it very clear that in the spirit, when the power of God is truly understood, male, female issues, etc don't truly mean anything (Matthew 22:29-30).
Therefore, if God doesn't view gender any more than he views race, then what's the problem with us? Why do we say, "marriage must be between people who have opposite genitalia." God doesn't base any other Kingdom decision upon that, why should the marriage covenant be any different? There are laws in the scriptures that forbid interracial marriage, is God concerned about different races marrying?  No, Marriage is about love... who do you love? Honor them with the Principles of the Word, and you'll find favor in the eyes of God.  God had a reason in the specific time and place that He “inspired” those laws to be written, but those specific times and seasons no longer apply under the Covenant that God has with us through Jesus Christ.  For more information, see the websites referred to in the next section…
 
Absolute Bottom Line on this Issue
Being Saved, Born-Again, or in even simpler terms, having a relationship with God is as simple as saying, "Jesus, I need you" and meaning it (Romans 10:13). You don't have to change your orientation any more than you have to change your eye color. Allow the Holy Spirit to rise up in you and teach you how to live, and don't believe the lie that you can't live freely and happily with someone who is your match.

Let God arise and scatter the lies of the enemy - in Jesus' Name.

If you want to read about the following topics, please go to http://www.cebiaz.com/book.pdf - this is Dr. Joseph Pearson's on-line book - "Christianity and Homosexuality Reconciled."

Or please visit our website – www.SavedAndGay.com