bobbykite

I am unsure what "balance" means when it comes to this topic. Plan and simple, homosexuality is a sin unto death for any and all who practice it. Even if the preposterous idea that homosexuality may be genetic were true, I'd say so what. The tendencies of the flesh(ie **** greed gluttony etc) are present in all of us from birth. If we purposely rebel against God in continued willful participation in them, the pursuits of the flesh, we are headed for hell. I do not understand this tone of near reverence when we are addressing this issue (on the part of some). On more than one occassion, God chose to look sinners in the eye and say "brood of vipers". His goal was simple. There should be no waffling on the issue of willful sin against Christ and His dictates. When it comes to the message, we should be clear. When it comes to delivering the message, the target audience should leave the sermon, conversation, debate, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the person delivering God's Word (me, you or any Christian) loves them as Christ loves us.

Pretty much everything has been said about this topic that can be said as far as it relates to Abraham. I do believe something is missing however in the possible application of the lesson we learn about Abraham. Yes, Abraham did not want to present the appearance of being in cahoots with anyone other than God. I feel as though Abraham knew that by taking tribute from the King, he would begin an ungodly relationship that would mutually benefit both himself and the King but would, on the other hand, cause him to do things, or seem to go along with things, that are against God's perfect Will. A very obvious application today would be if the Church (all related physical entities and its leaders), would give up their tax status. The government tells pastors and churches today, talk about anything but.... I beleive that we, the Church should not only give up Her secularly given tax "blessing"(?) as a whole, but that we as individuals should give up our tax benefit by giving to the Church in cash or with a check made out to cash. I heard a pastor one time say that "we'd go broke" referring to the possibility of giving up the tax status.

God has told us in His Word of His expected relationship between His children and wealth (stuff). The new testament speaks more directly and specifically to the dangers which are inherent in the world's possessions and, consequently, our possession of them. From an Americanized point of view many assume that those whose bills are paid on time every time, whose disposable income is sufficient to go on this cruise that cruise or those hunting excursions, whose incomes are more than adequate to send Billy Bob or Sally Sue to the "name brand" (and secular I might add) colleges are those people who have been blessed most by our Lord.....Absolutely not. Is this culture, materialism and the accumulation of wealth is a sign of something, but it is surely not God's Blessing in each and every case. I would feel safe to say that it is a sign of God's blessings in an extreme minority of the cases.