I used to think I could separate God's honor from my own; when someone blasphemed against God, I would not be personally insulted because they insulted God and not me. We have to understand our royal sonship as Christians, though. God is our Father, and we are identified with Him and His name. The more we love God, the more we will be angry when His name is dishonored.
Thank You, Bro!
Good post! We need more men like Elihu.
Looking forward to the next post!
Amen, brother!
Yes! Praise God for the proclamation of truth.
It's a shame that a woman had to say these things.
Glad you included the link, too. I just downloaded the album. Thanks, Mike.
You've been practicing, my friend!
Sweet and hilarious video Alex. Thanks bro. Adali adds, "Go see Alex?!"
Thanks, Alex, for sparing us a lot of trouble!
He's not talking specifically about fasting, just those times when he's in a more spiritual state--partially explained when he talks about when he has the "clearest notions of things of the gospel, and of another world." It's when his heart is warm to God, when he's been quickened by the Spirit, when God is exceptionally near, etc. Fasting might certainly (hopefully) be one of those times.
One of my favorite pictures of Christ in the Old Testament: when Jacob waters Rachel's flock by rolling the stone away from the mouth of the well.
Genesis 29:1-12
Edwards' resolutions definitely floored me when I read them in high school. So when he says "devout frames", is he talking about times of fasting? (Forgive my ignorance)
Cole, very good post. There's a lot of wisdom in setting down and committing to memory what God has taught you during times of fasting. As I read your post I was reminded of Jonathan Edwards' 18th Resolution:
"Resolved, to live so, at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world."
Edwards wrote his 70 resolutions as a young man (he was 19), and I kept a copy of them by my bed throughout my entire college career.
Mrs. Watkins
You are not opposed to J.M. or others on this blog declaring the truth about homosexuality, sin and judgment. You are opposing God (1 Thessalonians 4:8). On top of that you have accused Him of injustice by insinuating that He created man as a sinner. You have stood in judgment over the creator of the universe saying that His creation does not meet you approval. This is exponentially more aggressive than anything others have said. Mrs. Watkins, the question “Who are you…” is a fitting one, but you are the one needing to answer.
As for how you know that the Bible is true I will have to defend itself. Yes, this would be considered circular logic, but actually it is a strong reminder that God is greater than the logic of His creatures, and that He has proven Himself so that none can deny Him.
“because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse…”
This means that God has made it clear to all men that He is creator of this earth.
“…For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened…”
This is why IU has become confused about what is right and wrong.
“…Professing to be wise, they became fools…Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error” (Romans 1.19-27)
This is also a fitting explanation of where homosexuality comes from. Your friends that claim to be homosexual Christians do not worship Jesus, because they clearly have exchanged the truth in His word for a lie. That lie being that sin does not separate from God and that He approves of the things He has clearly state He disapproves of. They like all men, including those who call Jesus savior and Lord (including myself), have been called to repent of sin and server God.
J.M. and others are simply saying what it is that God has clearly stated in His word. Their hope is that IV will be shamed that they have strayed so far from fidelity to their Lord that they will return to Him with tears over their sin.
IV claims so stand upon the Word of God but has proven by this talk that they desire the approval of students and staff on the campus of IU instead of the approval of God in heaven. IV staff and students, repent for being unfaithful to the word of God and loving the praise of men more than praise of the Father in heaven.
As for the souls of all students at IU (and Mrs. Watkins), I pray they see that God has made His truth clear and come to receive the beautiful gift of forgiveness that He offers to all who repent of sin and believe in His name.
Forest Gafford
I know you are, but what am I?
:)
Mrs Watkins,
Even nature is corrupted by sin. Stealing, murder, and malice are also in nature...are these things okay, too? No, in fact they are all evidence of nature's corruption, evidence of the truth of Scripture:
"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now" (Romans 8:20-22)
"Better Christians"? By what standard do you judge people to be Christians? If you call your drunken, immoral, debaucherous friends Christians, saying that homosexual "Christians" are better than they are means absolutely nothing. They are no different. It is actually quite remarkable that you should compare homosexuals to drunkards and fornicators, scripturally speaking. If you read the verse at the beginning of J.M.'s comment, the Bible actually addresses each of these issues all in one place! "Neither fornicators...nor homosexuals...nor drunkards...will inherit the kingdom of God." You cannot claim allegiance to the Bible's condemnation of drunkenness and "whoring" as sin, and then act as if homosexuality is not. Scripture is amazing isn't it? Sharper than any two-edged sword.
As to the Plato allusion - great example! In creation, we see but shadows of who God is. However, only in His Word, the Bible, do we see a vivid picture of the character and reality of God. Sin is the bond that chains us to the wall.
"Furthermore who are you to say the man on the tracks will be hit by the train at all?"
I am baffled at this question. He's standing on train tracks!!! The bells are ringing and the tracks are rumbling.
Mrs Hoad,
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The key point here is that the Bible is not simply the words of man. It is the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is eternally true and applicable to all men, cultures, and generations. No matter how many times you say it was simply written by men, it won't change the truth.
"...take it literally and punish people because..." We are not punishing anyone. We are simply declaring the judgment of God that is to come. That is what love is.
Christ loved people precisely because they were sinners. And then he told them to repent of their sins.
"I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over
one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need
no repentance." (Luke 15:7).
I can assure you, Jake Mentzel has been told of his sin. He has repented (and continues to repent). And because of the joy he has received from God, who saves us from our sins, he wants to see others come to a greater knowledge of God. How else do we share that joy, but to call others to repentance? How? There is no other way, because sin obscures our view of God. Sin is the chain that holds us to the wall in Plato's analogy.
You cannot have picked a worse verse to throw at the end. When you use it, you condemn yourself to the very sin of judgmentalism by judging motives and sin. If you take that verse out of any context (including its surrounding verses and the entire Bible)...nope, it still doesn't really apply. God judges, and love is to declare that judgment to men that they might escape the wrath to come.
What is the Bible? A book based on Chinese Whispers that has been written eons ago, and that none of you today can honestly say hasnt been changed over time.
Who are we to say that every single story, line, verse in the book is the honest thinking and word of God, when in fact it was written by 'man'?
Show me this solid evidence that we can trust every single word that is written in the Bible, just because it is the Bible?
The Bible is based on theoretical faith of what we think is to be the word of God - written by man. I am not saying that is wrong, it is good to have something to believe in, something to have faith in, but that is not to say you can take it literally and punish people because they do not conform to what you believe in.
Tell me why to love someone no matter who they are, what they are, or what gender they are is a bad thing? Please refer to how I can trust the verse you are going to throw at me from the Bible - written by man.
I am not saying the Bible is bad, I am just pointing out the fact that it was written a LONG time ago in a world that is very different to our own. We all have changed from century to century with our fashion, cultures, technology and acceptance, but one thing we have not changed is how we want to tell everyone and show them with verses from an ancient book - written by man, that they are wrong and we are right because we simply don't agree.
The solution, if you think or know you are going to heaven, then leave it at that. Leave people alone because when you talk people down you are in fact hurting them and according to the Bible here is a verse I am going to throw at you:
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7: 1-2)
If I was to take that verse literally, doesn't it mean just leave people alone?
I must say I do not disagree with what Lolly has said, and indeed J.M has put a great many words and assumtions at her door drawn from who knows where.
What worries my is that a great deal of hatred is encouraged with your post against the sinner homosexuals. I for one do not deny that all mankind has sins that need to be forgiven. But I do not believe that homosexuality is one of them.
Was it not man that wrote the Bible? The Qur'an, the Torah? There are hundreds of holy books and you claim yours was written by men free of sin? Who knew what lay in the hearts of these men when they wrote these books. You. Do not know what lies in god's heart. Every one of these books claims different things and every one of them claim to be the one.
Homosexuality is present in nature. God made nature. What more need be said? For you to so chastise people for who God made them is telling God he hath done wrong. We each and every one of us are are learning every day to live in God's love, to strive and pray to be worthy in his light.
Furthermore to bring the devil into something you disagree with just to support your argument is fantastically innovative of you, yet holds no debatable argument. I could just as soon say the same thing. Pizza is evil. The devil is trying to make us eat pizza and thus lead us into obesity. How is that helpful in any regard?
It is not in my nature to be homosexual, but I know many gays who are better Christians than those who are not homosexual. They hold charity rallies and go to confession, while my non homosexual friends drink and whore and booze like teenagers on spring break! Who are you to tell them that they will go to hell for who God made them.
Furthermore who are you to say the man on the tracks will be hit by the train at all? May I remind you of the allegory of Plato's Cave, you may find it in Plato's Republic. In the dialogue, Socrates describes a group of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of a fire behind them, and begin to ascribe forms to these shadows. According to Socrates, the shadows are as close as the prisoners get to viewing reality. Once freed from the chains, the people may discover how their view of life has changed and if they were to describe these to the people back in the cave, those people would surely deny such a thing.
So must you understand that not everyone feels as you do. Speak of sin and damnation to your flock if you must, but the University of Indiana clearly did not feel as you do, and many people in the world are greatful for such leadership, struggling as they are with how God made them.
Homosexuality is not a drug or an addiction or some perversion that you must cleanse. If a man loved a man but never they did engage in coitus. It is much the same love as a man may feel for a woman. Is a man's love for a woman evil? Or is it the sexual act that disturbs you?
So be aware Mr Jake. Perhaps it is you who are stuck in a cave?
If this is improved, I am curious as to how bad it looked before. This site is extremely amateurish.
I noticed in another comment thread that the comment editor doesn't appear to retain formatting (line breaks, etc.).
So I'm testing it.
Test.
the only problem with this is your forgetting that all who call on the name of the Lord are not our enemies. God does not support homosexuality. I love my friends who are homosexual. But God calls it a sin. And a christian organization has no place to have a man who is living in sin teaching others that this sin is fine. thats blasphemy. This has nothing to do with loving or not loving gay people. it has to do with the connotations behind have a gay man saying that homosexuality and christianity can go hand in hand. God calls us to be above reproach. 1 timothy 3 it talks about the qualifications of an overseer. Because when you are a representation of Christ to large numbers of people your view of Christianity might be the only view someone sees. God calls us to love everyone, but for those in the church God calls us to judge them and in love lead them to the truth (1 Corinthians 5:12-13). This man was not speaking truth.
The devil is waiting for organizations and people like this to come around and speak against the truth found in the bible. the devil is trying to stray people in the wrong direction. 1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." the christian community should not be contributing to the misdirecting of people.
if IV had a drunk man talking about how drunkenness is not a sin people would laugh. But because homosexuality deals with someones "identity" people are afraid to speak the truth, or try and make it not a big deal. I am not saying you cannot struggle with it and still be a christian... but it is a sin, and needs to be addressed accordingly.
Well put, J.M. I'm just wondering what the issue is here: Lolly, do you deny that God will judge men for their sins, as stated clearly in 1 Cor 6:9? Do you deny that the Holy Spirit has the power to change anyone and grant them repentance, as stated in verse 11?
If there's a man standing on the train tracks and a train is coming, you hate him if you do not cry out to him, "Look out! Get off the tracks! There's a train coming!" So we must warn people of God's coming judgement. What Mr. Campbell did last Monday night was to say, "We can stand on the tracks and not get hit by the train. All you people calling out to that poor man are being so judgmental. We need to make him feel accepted where he is." What a wicked thing to do. If Campbell and IV succeed in proclaiming that message, they have sealed that man's death sentence and they have blood on their hands. And all for the sake of tolerance??
Turning away from our sins and putting our faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to escape God's righteous judgement and to be reconciled to Him. Far be it from the Christian to keep silent about that fact for the sake of "accepting everyone for who they are".
1 Cor. 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 Such ****WERE**** some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
'Lolly,'
You err concerning your understanding of the scriptures and it is clear, from a biblical perspective, you err in knowing what "love" is.
What you refer to as love is simply a turning a blind eye and blanket acceptance of active and defiant sin in the face of the perfectly unambiguous teaching of scripture. Such a love is not from Christ but the spirit of this age.
A love that calls nobody to repentance and points no one to their remedy FOR forgiveness not only is unloving, it is outright disdain for the person and their soul and also tramples on the name above all names. What you refer to as "love" would leave all in their unrepentant and defiant state shaking their fist at God and leaving their soul in ruin for all eternity. Your kind of "love" would actively deny the terminally ill man his only avenue for a cure!!
With whom we have to deal is an infinitely Holy God, who is a consuming fire. The bible is clear where the unrepentant and defiant will reside and it is not in the presence of God; it is "where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth." You clearly ignore the entirety of the scriptures that call all men to REPENT.
You also completely deny the transforming power of God in Christ to transform sinful creatures into conformity with his image in purity and holiness, "without which, no one will see the LORD." Jesus said "if you love me you will keep my commandments". This statement is both indicative and a promise.
Yes, we are certainly to love and pray for our enemies and we do. We pray that God would be merciful to them as he has been to us in calling them to repent like we have and for God to change their heart of stone into a heart of flesh. However, this does not exclude, but includes calling men in active sin and rebellion to repent and then they can have rest for their soul; and not until then. Jesus did not tell the woman caught in adultery to "keep up the good work..." He said "go and sin no more."
"There is a saying, 'Love your friends and hate your enemies.' But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much. If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (TLB, Matthew 5:43-48)
I just double checked. It doesn't say: Love your friends unless they are practicing homosexuals. I'll go ahead and pray for your soul, seeing as you are intent on persecuting those striving for God's light.
Here's another that you should perhaps think about:
"For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (NAS, Matthew 6:14-15)
-Lolly
Sweet; I'm super excited! Looks great, Jake.
You'll also notice that the blog is a little messed up. Some pictures and video embeds didn't transfer over. And you'll also notice that I'm now credited as the author of everybody else's past blog posts. Just the way it had to happen.
ClearNote Campus Fellowship is a ministry of ClearNote Church on the campus of Indiana University.