Wednesday 28 April 2010

Trusting God

I have been challenged in many ways and many fronts in the last few weeks.  Prayer gives peace for the moment but there’s always that, “God, am I doing the right thing?” thought going through my mind.  Often I feel like a deer caught in the headlights and become immobilized.

Last night I had just crawled into bed and, while waiting for Wendy to join me, grabbed the Bible on my bedside table.  It was the Amplified Bible that belonged to Wendy’s mom, Eunice.  As I randomly opened it the ‘God, won’t you speak to me?’ thought went through my mind.  It opened at Psalm 139 with one of the many little notes left by Eunice.  It read: “If one trusts in God to guide him, God can be relied upon to close doors which one might by mistaken convictions try to enter.  Sometimes circumstances may force the Christian to make some sort of move even though he is unsure about it.  But as long as the Christian is moving, trying to find the proper way, the Lord can actively guide him, opening a door here, closing a door there, until he arrives at the proper place.”  A tear came to my eye as once again I realized how much God cares for me.  I thanked Him, read Psalm 139 and went to sleep.

Thursday 1 April 2010

I am not a bigot and I am not homophobic! I am a forgiven sinner.

In the past 48-hours a lot of [mostly unprintable] vitriol has been sent in my/our direction.  The two words most commonly used have been homophobe and bigot.  I vociferously deny being either. It has become all too apparent that the word 'liberal' (in respecting other's opinions) has become a one-word oxymoron!

From Wikipedia:

A phobia (from the Greek: φόβος, phóbos, meaning "fear" or "morbid fear") is an intense and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, animals, or people. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive and unreasonable desire to avoid the feared stimulus. When the fear is beyond one's control, and if the fear is interfering with daily life, then a diagnosis under one of the anxiety disorders can be made.


I/we do not have a fear of homosexual individuals.  That we do not condone their lifestyle does not make one homophobic.

The word Homophobia first appeared in print in 1969 has become a word exploited by those with who have an explicit pro-gay agenda to attack anyone who is in disagreement with them [rather than using it in the true meaning of the word].  Their typical use of the word is, in fact, bigotry.

Again, from Wikipedia:

A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices. The correct use of the term requires the elements of obstinacy, irrationality, and animosity toward those of differing devotion. The origin of the word bigot and bigoterie in English dates back to at least 1598, via Middle French, and started with the sense of "religious hypocrite". Forms of bigotry may have a related ideology or world views.

I/we are neither obstinate nor intolerant.  Simple belief, expression of opinion or disagreement with others does not constitute bigotry.  That I believe the Bible is the Word of God, that Jesus is the Son of God and that all men and women sin (self included) does not make me a bigot.

Finally, from the great resources of Wikipedia:

In religion, sin is the concept of acts that violate a moral rule. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Commonly, the moral code of conduct is decreed by a divine entity, i.e. Divine law.

The word ‘sin’ is an olde English archery term meaning to fall short of the target.  In the Bible this means to fall short of God’s perfect standard.  As such, throughout all history ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’  And that, thankfully, is just where Jesus comes into the picture... and why I constantly live in the wonder of grace.