Easing Their Own Conscience

Mark has an awesome blogpost entitled Dear Dr. Out and Proud and Ms. World up at his Chester Street blog. It would be best to read it before reading this post.

Jesus said that his kingdom is "not of this world" (see Cor. 2:8). I once asked a lesbian friend named Deb (who I met through Mark's blog) whether or not it bothers her that her Christian views are just like the world's view on the subject of homosexuality. I do not recall any answer to that question from her.

Everything that Mark pointed out in his post is true. The reason our opponents on this issue are so angry is because they cannot negate God's Word. They can twist, disregard, attempt to change, and even physically eliminate the verses (by creating their own version of a "homosexual condemnation free" Bible) that offend them. But what they are actually doing is taking out portions of the Bible that speak against homosexuality from God's unchanging Word in order to ease their own conscience about this sin. However, the original intent of the authors (who were led along by the power of the Holy Spirit) cannot ever be destroyed and a remnant of the faithful will see to it by their unwavering commitment to follow God's Word, no matter what.

This is what bothers them, whether they want to admit it or not.

In our last conversation, Deb had told me that she rejected the original view (she was taught) that was held by Biblical Christians that homosexual behavior is a sin that needs to be repented of. She, in fact, blamed those Christians for being hateful, intolerant, wrong, meanspirited etc. because they spoke the truth.

Rejecting the truth does not make it go away. It just leads one on a path to error. Once on that path to error, one inevitably takes others with him/her.

This is why God's Word is so essential to Christian beliefs. People can make errors all day long, but God's Word stands forever. Those verses in Jude that Mark ended his post with, are a direct warning to those who would stray from the truth.

We are told that in the end times, this would be the awful direction that those "of this world" would attempt to lead us.

We are warned that there will be a spirit of anti-Christ in the world which would fool "the very elect; if that were possible."

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

That verse assures us that once born again in Christ Jesus, it is no longer possible to deceive those with the Holy Spirit's indwelling. When someone puts forth an idea and claims that it is a Christian one, we can check it against the TRUTH; that is, God's Word, and RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO ARE DECEIVED!

What is shameful about those who are actively deceiving others on this issue is the fact that those being deceived may not have the wherewithal to know that they are, in fact, being deceived. Without being born again in Christ, and thus having the Holy Spirit's indwelling and leading in their life, they can easily be led astray.

Bible study is essential to growth in your spiritual journey (sanctification) in Jesus Christ. Remember Christ's own warning about this? It can be found in the parable of the seeds.

Mar 4:1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge.

Mar 4:2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:

Mar 4:3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.

Mar 4:4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Mar 4:5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

Mar 4:6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

Mar 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.

Mar 4:8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”

Mar 4:9 Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Mar 4:10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.

Mar 4:11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables

Mar 4:12 so that,



“ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,

and ever hearing but never understanding;

otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’[fn1]”



Mar 4:13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?

Mar 4:14 The farmer sows the word.

Mar 4:15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

Mar 4:16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.

Mar 4:17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Mar 4:18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;

Mar 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Mar 4:20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop–thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

Mar 4:21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?

Mar 4:22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.

Mar 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Mar 4:24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and even more.

Mar 4:25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Matthew Henry's commentary on the entire chapter of Mark 4 is well worth the read. Here, I will focus on, and post this particular portion:

II. It concerns those who hear the word of the gospel, to mark what they hear, and to make a good use of it, because their weal or woe depends upon it; what he had said before he saith again, If any man have ears to hear, let him hear, v. 23. Let him give the gospel of Christ a fair hearing; but that is not enough, it is added (v. 24), Take heed what ye hear, and give a due regard to that which ye do hear; Consider what ye hear, so Dr. Hammond reads it. Note, What we hear, doth us no good, unless we consider it; those especially that are to teach others must themselves be very observant of the things of God; must take notice of the message they are to deliver, that they may be exact. We must likewise take heed what we hear, by proving all things, that we may hold fast that which is good. We must be cautious, and stand upon our guard, lest we be imposed upon. To enforce this caution, consider,

1. As we deal with God, God will deal with us, so Dr. Hammond explains these words, "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you. If ye be faithful servants to him, he will be a faithful Master to you: with the upright he will show himself upright.’’

2. As we improve the talents we are entrusted with, we shall increase them; if we make use of the knowledge we have, for the glory of God and the benefit of others, it shall sensibly grow, as stock in trade doth by being turned; Unto you that hear, shall more be given; to you that have, it shall be given, v. 25. If the disciples deliver that to the church, which they have received of the Lord, they shall be led more into the secret of the Lord. Gifts and graces multiply by being exercised; and God has promised to bless the hand of the diligent.

3. If we do not use, we lose, what we have; From him that hath not, that doeth no good with what he hath, and so hath it in vain, is as if he had it not, shall be taken even that which he hath. Burying a talent is the betraying of a trust, and amounts to a forfeiture; and gifts and graces rust for want of wearing.

III. The good seed of the gospel sown in the world, and sown in the heart, doth by degrees produce wonderful effects, but without noise (v. 26, etc.); So is the kingdom of God; so is the gospel, when it is sown, and received, as seed in good ground.

1. It will come up; though it seem lost and buried under the clods, it will find or make its way through them. The seed cast into the ground will spring. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself, as the wisdom from above doth in a good conversation. After a field is sown with corn, how soon is the surface of it altered! How gay and pleasant doth it look, when it is covered with green!

2. The husbandman cannot describe how it comes up; it is one of the mysteries of nature; It springs and grows up, he knows not how, v. 27. He sees it has grown, but he cannot tell in what manner it grew, or what was the cause and method of its growth. Thus we know not how the Spirit by the word makes a change in the heart, any more than we can account for the blowing of the wind, which we hear the sound of, but cannot tell whence it comes, or whither it goes. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness; how God manifested in the flesh came to be believed on in the world, 1 Tim. 3:16.

3. The husbandman, when he hath sown the seed, doth nothing toward the springing of it up; He sleeps, and rises, night and day; goes to sleep at night, gets up in the morning, and perhaps never so much as thinks of the corn he hath sown, or ever looks upon it, but follows his pleasures or other business, and yet the earth brings forth fruit of itself, according to the ordinary course of nature, and by the concurring power of the God of nature. Thus the word of grace, when it is received in faith, is in the heart a work of grace, and the preachers contribute nothing to it. The Spirit of God is carrying it on when they sleep, and can do no business (Job 33:15, 16), or when they rise to go about other business. The prophets do not live for ever; but the word which they preached, is doing its work, when they are in their graves, Zec. 1:5, 6. The dew by which the seed is brought up tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men, Mic. 5:7.

4. It grows gradually; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear, v. 28. When it is sprung up, it will go forward; nature will have its course, and so will grace. Christ’s interest, both in the world and in the heart, is, and will be, a growing interest; and though the beginning be small, the latter end will greatly increase. Though thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, yet God will give to every seed its own body; though at first it is but a tender blade, which the frost may nip, or the foot may crush, yet it will increase to the ear, to the full corn in the ear. Natura nil facit per saltum—Nature does nothing abruptly. God carries on his work insensibly and without noise, but insuperably and without fail.
5. It comes to perfection at last (v. 29); When the fruit is brought forth, that is, when it is ripe, and ready to be delivered into the owner’s hand; then he puts in the sickle. This intimates, (1.) That Christ now accepts the services which are done to him by an honest heart from a good principle; from the fruit of the gospel taking place and working in the soul, Christ gathers in a harvest of honour to himself. See Jn. 4:35. (2.) That he will reward them in eternal life. When those that receive the gospel aright, have finished their course, the harvest comes, when they shall be gathered as wheat into God’s barn (Mt. 13:30), as a shock of corn in his season.

(bold mine)

Recognize this fact. On ANY subject matter, if what others are saying doesn't match up with what is already written in Scripture, then we know that they are not sharing the truth, as proclaimed by God through the prophets and Holy Spirit led apostles and writers of the Bible. The absolute truth of God's Word is our godly wisdom "measuring rod" that must always be considered paramount and trustworthy before giving consideration to the fallible wisdom of men.

God's "standard of measurement" is revealed all throughout Scripture. 2 Corinthians presents good arguments for not living by the standards of this world; demolishing arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ; and boasting about nothing other than to boast for the Lord.

NIV Version:
2Cr 10:1
By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you–I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away!
2Cr 10:2
I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
2Cr 10:3
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
2Cr 10:4
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
2Cr 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2Cr 10:6
And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
2Cr 10:7
You are looking only on the surface of things.[fn1] If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he.
2Cr 10:8
For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
2Cr 10:9
I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.
2Cr 10:10
For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”
2Cr 10:11
Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
2Cr 10:12
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
2Cr 10:13
We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.
2Cr 10:14
We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.
2Cr 10:15
Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.[fn2] Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand,
2Cr 10:16
so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory.
2Cr 10:17
But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”[fn3]
2Cr 10:18
For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Footnotes:
10:7
Or Look at the obvious facts
10:13-15
Or 13 We, however, will not boast about things that cannot be measured, but we will boast according to the standard of measurement that the God of measure has assigned us–a measurement that relates even to you. 14 … 15 Neither do we boast about things that cannot be measured in regard to the work done by others.
10:17
Jer. 9:

(bold mine)