Softening The Truth

We are living in an interesting time and place in this world, aren’t we?

With the August elections behind us, the political world has been set ablaze, as if it hasn’t been already, and we are being persuaded to embrace lifestyles that I feel are spiritually harmful and physically destructive.

Anyone else feeling that heaviness recently?

I know topics such as this create a firestorm, but I also believe we are not meant to stay silent, but to stand up for what God has said in Scripture. I don’t need to apologize for what God has said, as what He says, is truth, and in the end, truth wins, and that’s what we as Christians are called to stand up for.

I have heard countless times in culture and even in response to some of my posts that “love is love”. As a Christ-follower, I don’t define love so I can’t say, “my definition of love is…” because I don’t define it. God does. No where in the Bible does it say that phrase, and so in no way can we embrace that way of thinking.

God’s definition of love is best. To find our definition of love, it’s not from within ourselves or a feeling, but from the very character of God Himself. To know love is to know what the Bible says, as God defines love. So what does it say in scripture? Love is between a man and a woman. Love is not self-seeking. Not proud (the opposite of pride), does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. What is truth? What the Bible defines as truth. Not us.

I’ve heard people say that nowhere in the Bible does it say homosexuality is a sin, and I’d like to beg to differ.

Romans 1:26-27 says: “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

As a culture, we are falling into the same trap the devil used to trick Eve by softening truth, when he asked her, “Did God really say…?” When we question what God says or twist His words so they sound “nicer”, we question God’s goodness and His definition of anything, and in doing so, we start to elevate ourselves above God, thinking we know better, and then…best.

My friend, this is dangerous. Anytime we pose a question about what God has said or His character and soften truth, we start to think and then believe, that maybe God doesn’t know best. And when we go down that road, we start to act on those thoughts and beliefs by responding to our own personal feelings, which in the end, will always lead to destruction and disobedience to God.

You see, Satan LOVES when we question God’s truth. Satan LOVES to endorse sin and slowly lead people towards destruction. Any sin will always have a consequence, the biggest being drawing us away from God. And if sin always leads to harmful consequences, why would we willingly choose to stand for things we know will lead someone to pain and destruction? Why would we willingly let someone make that choice?

I know many would say, “But God wouldn’t deny someone “love”, since He is love”! But again, His definition of love is different than ours. In an effort to not rock the boat and be chastised by the world, it’s easy to stay silent when it comes to same-sex relationships and marriages, but that is not what God has called us to do. He has called us to love God, love His truth, while loving the person, and hating the sin. Loving the person isn’t the same thing as loving their sin. We can still love as Christ loved, but not condone sin. Letting sin go, will only lead to more destruction. And that’s why Christ always loved and asked people to turn from their sin. Go and sin no more (John 8:11)

God is love and to know God is to know what love is. His deep, sacrificial, all-encompassing, eternal life-giving love. When we step away from God’s definition and allow our own personal feelings to define what love is, that’s when the slippery slope starts to get faster and faster, and the brakes are harder and harder to pump. Hence why we are where we are today.

Choosing obedience to God’s Word will always lead to life – everlasting life – and let’s ensure that our words and actions always lead those around us to that same Life. Softening the truth will always lead to the slope, but standing firm in GOD’S truth will always lead us toward eternal life with Him!