God Always the Same
Letter to the Editor of The Bellevue Gazette - Tuesday, December 23, 2003
From Pastor David L. Arp, Trinity Baptist Church, Bellevue
To the Editor:
As another Christian clergy in the Bellevue area, I am also disappointed in some of what I have read in the Bellevue Gazette recently. However, instead of being dismayed and disappointed you chose to give space to Ralph Flynn's article, I found myself being thankful to have a hometown paper with enough courage and integrity to allow for a thorough, though recently unpopular, look at a newly accepted and embraced lifestyle.
First I was dismayed and disappointed at the obvious encouragement to censor a differing opinion. It is not hate, but love that warns of impending doom or judgment. It is hate, not love that suppresses the whole truth in favor of "bits and bites" of informational truth.
As far as Ralph Flynn being hateful, I can only say, in my opinion, anyone who thinks he is a man filled with hate has never had a three minute conversation with him. He is one of the most gentle and kind-hearted individuals I know.
Another reason I am disappointed, is ant discussion of the topic is needed at all. It was not that many years ago, when the pastors who wrote to express their disappointment regarding Ralph Flynn's article, as well as almost all other pastors, would have stood where the Holy Spirit led the Apostle Paul and consequently Brother Flynn, myself and numerous others to be standing now.
The world, the flesh and the devil continue their relentless attack on the body of Christ trying to destroy the very foundations of the faith and of our society. This is simply another brick in the wall which the enemy (Satan) is trying to demolish. (Psalms 11:3) "If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" As our homes and churches continue to drift away from God and His Word we should not be surprised at the broken lives, homes and scenes of debauchery which litter our country.
God is the same as He has ever been (Hebrews 13:8) "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever." And his word remains the same as well. (Psalms 119:89) "For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven." (I Peter 1:23 and 25) "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever for ever. {25} But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
God's opinion of homosexuality has not changed any more than his opinion of drunkenness, immorality, rebellion, gluttony, witchcraft, idolatry, unthankfulness, disobedience or any number of other "social issues" of our day have changed. God calls then sin and he bids us repent. (Matthew 4:17) "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Luke 13:3) "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Modern man may choose to call getting drunk and high "partying," he may call homosexuality an "alternative lifestyle," he may stuff his gluttonous face full of food until he can hardly waddle away from the "buffet," and he is free in our society to practice those behaviors (sins) to his hearts' content. But, a faithful pastor will point out to him there is a judgment day coming. (Ecclesiastes 11:9). "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee unto judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
While it is very true Jesus Christ, the God I love and serve, is a God of love, and he did accept those he found in sin, he did not leave them wondering about what they were to do if they had truly received him as their Lord and Savior. (II Corinthians 5:17) "Therefore if many man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,all things are become new."
After he had healed the man who had been lying at the pool for 38 years unable to walk, we read in (John 5:15) "Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee."
When a woman was brought to him having been taken in the very act of adultery, he did not condone her sin or tell her to go sleep with all the men she wanted to sleep with, rather he told her in (John 811b) "Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more." He insisted on a changed life and provided strength and grace for the repented sinner to live differently.
In order to provide the balanced views which the "disappointed" pastors call for, it is only fair to let people in addition to being a God of love and forgiveness, he is also a God who is just, holy, pure, unchanging and among other things clearly taught in scripture, the judge of the whole world. (John 5:22) "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son;" (Romans 14:11-12) "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. {12} So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (II Timothy 4:1) "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom."
Another reason I was disappointed, was the misrepresentation of just what Jesus' mission was in coming to earth. It was not "to be a corrective reaction to the rule/law mentality of his day" as was stated. But in his words he said in (Matthew 18:11), "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." (Mark 10:45) "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Luke 19:10) "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (John 3:17-18) "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. {18} He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 10:10) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
In addition to speaking much about compassion, he also had much to say about the coming judgment of unrepentant sinners in a place he chose to call hell, which he prepared for the devil and his angels.
Another thing at which I was dismayed, was the seeming unwillingness to use God's Holy Word to explain and defend a belief which is supposed to be built upon that word. What of any substance do we have to offer to a lost and dying world other than God's word?
All of our opinions, mine included, are only that, our opinions. In reality, God's opinion is the only one that matters and we must learn what his opinion is from the very word of God itself. (I Thessalonians 2:13) "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
Finally, I was disappointed at the inference those of us preach against sin and warn of judgment to come do not value or would not want those who are stilled enslaved to sin to attend our church and hear a clear answer to the question the Philippian jailer asked when he said in (Acts 16:30b) "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Jesus came to die for sinners. It is through the preaching of the gospel that people get born again and receive eternal life. (Romans 1:16) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
No amount of good works, however well intentioned, will bring salvation from sin. (Ephesians 2:8-9) "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast."
To infer however that the unrepentant heart can worship God in a way that is acceptable to him, flies in the face of why Cain rose up and slew his brother Abel. Cain was bound and determined to worship God his own way and God rejected that worship. Cain then in hatred and jealously, attacked that one who truly was worshipping in spirit in spirit and truth.
Sincerity and hard work is not enough in worshipping God. God says in John 4:23-24) "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. {24} God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
We must be willing to honestly evaluate ourselves in light of all of God's revealed word. It is by comparing Scripture with Scripture that we get a balanced view of God, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, His willingness to save, His mercy, grace and forgiveness of the sins of repentant sinners and the sure, awaiting judgment of those who would continue in their own rebellious ways, regardless of what they are.
In evaluating and answering life's difficult questions, it is imperative we, as pastors, share with people, more of the Bible and less of our own or the public's opinion, regardless of how popular or unpopular it may be to do so. (II Timothy 3:16) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (Galatians 1:10) "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of God."