Inclusive Christianity

Inclusive ChristianityBlogger Matt Walsh had this article published on TheBlaze.com, which we are excerpting.

By Matt Walsh

I got this email a few days ago insisting Christians need to be more “inclusive” of open homosexuals. It’s a popular notion these days, so I thought I’d share this with you and respond here publicly:

Matt, you put yourself on a pedestal as this “great Christian” but you do more harm to the religion than anyone else. As a gay man I can say I’m happy to see how finally a lot of Christians and different churches are realizing that Christianity has to be INCLUSIVE of the LGBTQ community and other lifestyles. Not judging of them. Gays and trans people have felt alienated by Christianity and now progressive Christians have finally started to pull the religion into the 21st century and reach out to all of us. Jesus preached tolerance for all people and lifestyles not HATE. The prodigal son was WELCOMED back not told to go away! You are still trying to make divisions and tell some of us Christians we are not Christians just because we live differently. You are a truly sh*tty person and you come off as a bad writer and an uneducated idiot. Just stop talking. You make Jesus mad every time you write your garbage.

-A gay man who loves Jesus

Hi. Thanks for writing. A few points.

First, as I’m constantly reminded, the sins of homosexuality and fornication have existed since Biblical times. Still, it was prohibited in the Old and New Testaments (Genesis 19:1-13, Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9) and by every Christian church for the first 20 centuries of Christianity’s existence. Since you are a self-identified Christian who thinks the moral teachings of the Bible should now be suddenly updated, I have to ask: What changed?

What was revealed in the last few years that proved the prophets, the apostles and all Christian denominations until recently wrong? What new piece of information did humanity obtain? What great revelation occurred? You think a 2,000-year-old faith that professes timeless Truths should “keep up” with the whims of modernity, but why? What do we know in our time that the Church didn’t know — that God Himself didn’t know — up to now? Be very careful in how you answer that question.

Second, I have never referred to myself as a “great Christian” — or a “great” anything for that matter — so I’m not sure why you put “great Christian” in quotes. I consider myself a greatly flawed Christian, even a “sh*tty” one, as you so helpfully and compassionately noted.

See, you need to stop reading with your emotions and read with your brain, man. Your emotions tell you that anyone who advocates virtue is automatically claiming to be virtuous, because it’s easier to dismiss a point based on the perceived motivations behind it rather than consider the point on its own merits. It’s like I’m saying two plus two equals four, and you’re countering that I’m not such a brilliant mathematician. Well, right, but I never said I was a brilliant mathematician. I just said two plus two equals four, because it does, and because even a stupid man can see that.

It’s difficult to have grown-up conversations these days, because people like yourself see every mention of moral truth as either a personal attack or a statement of superiority. This is the real damage you cause in the Faith. It’s not that you’re sinful — we all are, to be sure — it’s that you want to be coddled. You want to shut down professions of Truth that are inconvenient or uncomfortable. You want to modify Christian teachings not because you tried them and found them wrong, but because, to paraphrase Chesterton, you found them difficult and don’t want to try them.

I have many sins, but I will not tell you they are not sins. I come to Christ a sick and broken man looking for healing. You apparently come a sick and broken man looking to be assured you were never sick and broken to begin with. That is the only real difference between us. Or I should say, it’s the only real difference between Christians and “progressive Christians.” Both groups are sinful, both groups are weak, both groups need Christ desperately, but one wants — though they may so often fail — to go Christ’s way, and the other wants Christ to go theirs.

Third, I’m tired of hearing this “inclusive” stuff. Yes of course the Faith is made for people like you. It’s made for all people. It’s not a cult or a club. There’s no entrance exam or membership fee. Christianity is for everyone. If that’s what you mean by “inclusive,” fine, but a better word would be “universal.” In any case, that isn’t what you mean, is it?

When you ask for an “inclusive” Christianity, you ask for a Christianity that, rather than calling you to serve it, bends down and serves you. You’re asking to be “included” in the Faith on your own terms. That’s just not how this works, brother. As Christians, we have no authority to “include” you in that way. You must include yourself.

We go out into the world and proclaim the Gospel. We offer an invitation. We extend a greeting. We fight to win souls. But the souls must come of their own accord and must accept the Truth of Christ willingly and in its fullness. You must enter into the Truth. You must be the one who accepts it. You must be the one who “includes” the Truth in your life. Your lifestyle must change to accommodate the Truth, not the other way around.

By the way, Jesus never uttered the word “lifestyle,” much less did He preach that they all ought to be tolerated. Recently, we’ve started referring to sins as “lifestyles” and pretending that this rhetorical maneuver somehow changes the morality of the issue. It doesn’t. A sin is still a sin, and He instructs us all to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11), which often means dramatically altering our lifestyles.

Indeed, when people came to follow Him in Scripture, He told them to first leave their earthly pleasures behind and then continue along the road (Luke 18:22). He made it very clear that there is in fact a correct lifestyle, a correct way to live, and that way is narrow. Matthew 7:13 tells us the broad and “inclusive” road is the one that leads to damnation. You must choose, then, to walk through the right path, the narrow path, but it will be difficult and demanding, and it will not and cannot be widened to include you.

We all struggle with sin. But struggle is the keyword. Struggle. Fight back. Plead with God in agony to help you defeat these demons. Go to Christ begging that He help you overcome your temptations and live with chastity and temperance. Don’t demand that your sin be allowed to accompany you into Heaven. It can’t. We can accompany our sins into Hell, or ditch the whole ugly package on the side of the road and come Home.

In “The Great Divorce,” C.S. Lewis said, “If we insist on keeping Hell, we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven, we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell.”

That’s our choice, in a nutshell.

You can finish the article here.

Inclusive Christianity

1 Peter Sunday Sermon

1 Peter 2:7  “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.” 1 Peter Sunday Sermon

The Apostle is speaking of Jesus Christ, the dear dying friend of poor lost sinners, who pitied us when we had no pity on ourselves; and died for us when otherwise we must have been cast into hell.

Now, if you believe this, that your sins would have damned you if Christ had not taken them on Himself; and that you must have been cursed forever, if Christ had not been made a curse for you: if you feel in your hearts a humble assurance of pardon purchased by his blood; and if you can consider Him as saying to you in the Gospel, what He said to the poor sinful woman, “Go in peace, thy sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48, 50); then Christ is precious to you; you love Him above all things.

You love to think of Him, you love to hear of Him, you love to talk of Him; whatever He has commanded, you desire to do; and what He has forbidden, you will not willingly do, to gain the whole world. You are now become a new creature.

You cannot live as you once lived. You are born again. Old things are passed away, and all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17). The things which you once hated, such as prayer, praise, hearing and reading God’s Word, you now love; and the things you once loved, such as vain, sinful conversation, and trifling amusements, you now hate.

You cannot now go to bed at night without thanking your precious and adorable Jesus for the mercies of the day; or without committing yourself to His protection for the night, and trusting your soul in His hands, that if you die before morning, He may receive you unto Himself: and when you rise in the morning, you cannot go out into the world about your lawful business, without begging Him to keep you from the snares of the world and the temptations of Satan.

Your one object is to please your beloved Savior, and above all things you fear to offend Him. You desire, that “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). “The love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Cor. 5:14).

1 Peter Sunday Sermon

Tisha B’AV 5775

Tisha B'AV 5775
A depiction of the First Temple of Jerusalem

Tisha B’AV which means the 9th of Av as per the Hebrew calendar  started last night, July 25, at sundown and ends at nightfall today.

It commemorates numerous disasters that befell the Jewish people, which in a rather strange coincidence all have happened on the 9th of Av. They include the destruction of the First Temple which occurred at 587 BCE, the destruction of the Second Temple which occurred in the Year 70; the expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290 and the formal approval of the Nazi Final Solution in 1941.

Observance of this day by the devout include a 25-hour fast and the singing of lamentations and dirges.

Hat tip Tom Conigliaro

 


Tisha B’AV 5775

 

Concerning Hell And A Loving God

It’s a slow day and this is from a recent internet discussion concerning Pope Francis

If God has made peace with all, then why send people to Hell? I don’t think God sends people to Hell. The broad road leads to Hell, the narrow one doesn’t. He sends people on the narrow one and tells them not to use the broad one. Concerning Hell And A Loving God

Why is there a Hell? What else can you do with those who insist they are the center of the universe? If one can’t be loyal to the one who loves you more than anything; if one insists on tormenting and demeaning his other children despite all exhortations to change, if one insists on following monsters, you certainly can’t let him into the Kingdom.

So you give him what he wants, an existence without you. You might think that sounds like a mild punishment but God is the ONLY source of good. Without God’s protection you would be subject to every torment you can imagine and all the one’s you can’t for that matter. And without ever any chance of making an appeal to God again. That’s how I look at it.

God is not a sadist. He’s not cruel. He’s going to forget about the people in Hell. He’s going to set it up so He never has to hear them again or have THEM inflict pain on HIM again. Yes, we cause pain to God.

And yes, they will suffer forever just as people without God suffer on earth except magnified infinitely.

How do you view God? As jolly old St. Nick? I view Him as Jesus, my best friend. How do you view God?

Concerning Hell And A Loving God

Selma Envy Motivates Gay Marriage Movement

Lutheran pastor Hans Fiene has maybe the best explanation of the Gay marriage movement and the outrage about Indiana’s religious liberty law that we have seen.

He says in part:

The answer is “social studies.” My generation engages in straw men, misinformation, and lies because, in every year of social studies class, we studied the civil-rights movement not as history, but as hagiography. We didn’t just learn what events happened on American soil, we were encouraged to mimic the segregation-defeating holy ones and merit for ourselves a place alongside them in glory. Combining that admonition with our general aversion to hard work, we concluded that the only thing necessary to be as righteous as the saints who fought racial injustice was to decry an injustice that no one else was. And we became so desperate to find that injustice, we lost our minds in the process.Selma Envy Motivates Gay Marriage Movement

It’s a long article and you can read it  at The Federalist.

Selma Envy Motivates

Obama Christianity Debate

Obama Christianity Debate
President Obama and the mysterious Mark of Dubya that appears on his forehead when stressed

Propagandists masquerading a journalists threw a gotcha question at Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a potential GOP presidential nominee.

“Is President Obama a Christian,” he was asked?

“I don’t know,” the Governor said.

Reader Tom Coniglia points out that according to the Bible you judge the tree by the fruit it bears.

While a profession of the divinity of Jesus Christ is not, nor should it ever be, a requirement for the presidency or any public office, there should be an expectation that one is honest about where one is coming from.

Biden 2015.

Say what you want about Joe, you know where he’s coming from albeit he may not be as certain at times.

Obama Christianity Debate

God Says — An Off The Internet

This Off the Internet is courtesy of PinkPoodleMaconga.com

You say: “It’s impossible” God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: “I’m too tired” God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: “Nobody really loves me” God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: “I can’t go on” God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: “I can’t figure things out” God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: “I can’t do it” God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: “I’m not able” God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: “It’s not worth it” God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )

You say: “I can’t forgive myself” God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: “I can’t manage” God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: “I’m afraid” God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated” God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: “I’m not smart enough” God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: “I feel all alone” God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

God determines who walks into your life….it’s up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.”

Father, God bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may need this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as they seek to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

God Says — An Off The Internet

God Says -- An Off The Internet

 

Honk If You Love Jesus

This off the internet is courtesy of Cathy Craddock

 

Dear Grand-daughter,

The other day I went up to our local Christian book store and saw a ‘Honk if you love Jesus’ bumper sticker .

I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting..

So, I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper. Boy, am I glad I did; what an uplifting experience that followed.

I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good he is, and I didn’t notice that the light had changed.

It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn’t honked, I’d never have noticed.

I found that lots of people love Jesus!

While I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, ‘For the love of God!’ ‘Go! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, GO!’

What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus!

Everyone started honking!

I just leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people.

I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!

There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach.

I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.

I asked my young teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant.

He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.

Well, I have never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back.

My grandson burst out laughing.

Why even he was enjoying this religious experience!!

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me.

I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed.

So, grinning, I waved at all my brothers and sisters, and drove on through the intersection.

I noticed that I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared.

So I slowed the car down leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away. Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!!

Will write again soon,

Grandma

Honk If You Love Jesus

 

American Ebola Patients Released

Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, the two Christian Missionaries who contracted ebola after treating patients in Liberia have been released from Emory University Hospital it has been announced.

“We are tremendously pleased with Dr. Brantly and Mrs. Writebol’s recovery,” said Dr. Bruce Ribner, director of Emory’s Infectious Disease Unit. He noted that the hospital is confident their discharges pose no public health threat.

Nearly half the patients receiving medical care in the current outbreak in West Africa are surviving, CNN reported.

For Dr. Brantly’s comments visit here.

American Ebola Patients Released

American Ebola Patients Released