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FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
High Court Rules Against God
©FOUNDATION Magazine
Editorial, May-June 2003
The June 26 Supreme Court
ruling
which overturned a Texas sodomy law has virtually legitimized and de-stigmatized
the immoral behavior of homosexuality and lesbianism. Supreme Court justice
Antonin Scalia, passionately opposed to the decision, stated in dissent that the
court had "taken sides in the culture war" and had "largely signed on to the
so-called homosexual agenda." What an extremely insightful observation!
Historically, Western culture has been influenced by principles drawn from the
Bible in defining moral behavior. Canada recently veered from that standard by
clearing the way for same-sex marriages. Now America likewise has abandoned
God's truth.
The "culture war" has heated up drastically in recent years. American
society is being swallowed up by what is often referred to as
"postmodern relativism." Truth is no longer considered to be
absolute—truth for one is not necessarily truth for another. The concept
of absolute truth is rejected; hence, the Bible is roundly ridiculed and
rejected as a legitimate source of light to direct society's actions and
to define moral issues. Justice Scalia has, in essence, stated that the
highest court in our land has now officially voted relativism in, and
God and His Word out. After this ruling, for all practical and legal
purposes, morality according to the standard of God's Word will have no
bearing whatsoever. The implications go far beyond the exuberance
experienced now by the "gay pride" devotee. Our increasingly pagan
culture has won a notable battle.
Today's new definition of "tolerance" mandates that the gay and
lesbian sexual lifestyle be accepted as morally acceptable. This new
definition of "tolerance" in our present culture actually elevates the
practice of homosexuality as being, in and of itself, morally right! In
the past, "tolerance" meant that everyone had a right to be heard, and
others could choose to listen or not to listen, to accept or reject what
was proposed as "right" by any group. But not today! In our
politically-correct environment, "tolerance" requires the acceptance
and approval of any contrary position on an issue concerning what is
right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable. As a result, morality
becomes amoral—there are no absolutes! The culture war is a battle for
the way society thinks.
As Biblical Fundamentalists, we firmly believe that the written Word
of God is absolute truth; it is without error; it is our all-sufficient
authority. Yes, we must speak the truth, God's truth, but we must also
"speak the truth in love" as the Bible commands. Especially is this true
when we speak of matters such as what the Bible has to say regarding the
gay and lesbian movement of our day. God's truth must be proclaimed by
all who call themselves Christians. If a preacher of the Word does not
clearly and accurately proclaim the content of the Word, then he has no
right to call himself a Bible preacher. How God defines and views sin
opens the way for the forgiveness, cleansing and deliverance from the
bondage of that sin through the almighty, transforming power of the
Gospel. Such is true love—God's love!
Historically, Bible believers have universally recognized same-sex
relationships not only as sins about which God's Word warns but also as
that which will inevitably bring God's judgment upon those who refuse to
repent and accept God's forgiveness and cleansing. God's judgment upon
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Lot was thereafter
referred to throughout the Old Testament as an example of God's
chastisement upon these sins. Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry,
also referred to and warned about these same transgressions of the Law
of God. Along with other sins that bring God's judgment, both lesbianism
and homosexuality are specifically described in language which cannot be
misunderstood: "For this cause God gave them up unto vile
affections: for even their women did change the natural use into
that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another
[consenting adults!]; men with men working that which is
unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their
error which was meet" (Rom. 1: 26-27).
Second Peter 2:6 specifically mentions the judgment of God upon Sodom
and Gomorrah, and the entire chapter prophetically reveals the very
situation that exists in the world today: "And turning the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow,
making them an ensample unto those that after should live
ungodly."
Some professed Bible experts have purported that the sin for which
Sodom and Gomorrah were judged by God was that of in hospitality—the
angelic strangers to the city were not properly cared for-rather than
accepting the fact that God's judgment was upon the sin of immorality.
Notice in Jude 7 that the reasons for God's judgment upon Sodom and
Gomorrah included not only "going after strange flesh"
(homosexuality and lesbianism) but also sex outside of marriage
("fornication"): "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities
about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and
going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering
the vengeance of eternal fire. "The end for the one who
refuses God's remedy for sin is certain.
We must deal with those caught in this particular sin's grip with the
same love and compassion we must have for all who need salvation. But
always remember, sin must be acknowledged as sin to God before cleansing
can be afforded in Christ's perfect salvation: "For the love of
Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge [discern the
truth regarding sin and its remedy], that if one died for all,
then were all dead ... Now then we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's
stead, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:14, 20).
Salvation is available for the sinner! The responsibility of the
ambassador for Christ is to make the message known.
When one is born again by the power of God, that same power can
change the life as well. Progressive, daily sanctification (deliverance
from the reign of sin in the life) follows being cleansed and justified
in Christ. Notice in the following verse that any sin, sexual
immorality included, had to be acknowledged as sin before one could be
saved and transformed: "Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And
such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye
are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our
God" (1Cor. 6:9-1 1). Yes, God's amazing grace is able to save and
deliver from all sin.
The vain attempt to remove the stigma of the immorality of an act
that God calls a vile sin only removes the remedy for that sin-salvation
by faith alone in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Paul preached in Acts
20:21 "repentance toward God, " that is, viewing all our sin as God
views it and recognizing that it is worthy of His abiding wrath; and
"faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," that is, the forgiveness secured
through faith which comes after the sin issue is soberly acknowledged.
If we truly love lost souls for whom Christ died, we will accurately
name the disease as well as the cure.
D.W.
Costella
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