MONDAY MADNESS - #43

The following post is a response to those that I have argued with over my stand on homosexuality. There are many who come and view my blog, but never leave a comment, however some of them will send me emails lambasting me for my stand. I am sorry, but I will not compromise my beliefs or the teachings of the Church.

WHEN DOES LOVING THE SINNER END

AND AIDING AND ABETTING THE SINNER BEGIN?

First, I must emphatically state and stress that being against homosexuality, “same-sex marriages” and /or “civil unions” for same-sex couples, does not make one a so-called “HOMOPHOBE”, nor does it make one a hater of homosexuals. Jesus Christ taught us to love the sinner but hate the sin. As a priest, I cannot turn any sinner away from the Church as long as they are truly repentant, but by the same token, I cannot support any sinner in their sin, to do so would make me a partaker in their sin. I don’t know of any place in the New Testament where Jesus supported or encouraged any sinner in the committing of their sin. On the contrary, Jesus admonished: “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.”

I have heard many “educated” religious teachers (and this includes priests and bishops) put forth their interpretation that Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed because of the lack of hospitality and not because of homosexuality. This idea is just plain ludicrous, especially if one were to read the ENTIRE account in Genesis. Others teach that it was not homosexuality but the sin of sodomy that was the reason behind the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and that sodomy can be practiced between heterosexual as well as between same-sex couples. Yes, this is true, but what they don’t seem to want to mention are the other references in Holy Scripture (both in the Old and New Testaments) that state very plainly that. . . . “if a man lies with a man as he would with a woman, it is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.” Even St. Paul, in 1 Cor., 6:9-10 says: “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 homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists will inherit the kingdom of God.” Paul also continues in Romans, 1: 21-32: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 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; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

The Church teaches that those who advocate abortions, those who assist at an abortion, those who perform abortions and those who have abortions are equally guilty in the eyes of God. Then, by the same token, if Holy Scripture teaches that homosexuality (not the tendencies, but the acting on those tendencies) is a sin, an abomination in the eyes of God, then would it not make sense that if anyone (even non-homosexuals) were to advocate for same-sex civil unions they would be just as guilty in the eyes of God, for aiding and abetting homosexuals and lesbians in acting on their tendencies? Would this not be showing that we have “pleasure in them that do them”? (Taking pleasure in those who commit homosexual acts).

Also, by pushing for same-sex civil unions, we are cheapening and dishonoring marriage, which God, His Son Jesus Christ, the Church and most of human society holds in high esteem. Jesus did not establish his Church nor the Apostolic succession, nor the priesthood, for the Church to pick and choose what we will or will not accept and believe. For the Church or for individual priests to work toward and advocate for same-sex civil unions and to push for the same rights for same-sex couples as those of married heterosexual couples, is to say that Jesus, the Apostles and the early Church Fathers did not know what they were talking about, so therefore we don’t have to accept what they had to say. To use the argument that same-sex couples or homosexuals in general are living a non-violent life, and as long as they commit their lives to each other in a loving relationship, it makes it ok, is a rather foolish argument. Do you think that God will consider it ok for us to continue to commit fornication, adultery, stealing, dishonoring our parents, etc., just as long as we do it in a non-violent manner? Do you think that as long as two men or two women live together in a loving relationship that God will dispense with His natural law and reason for creating male and female or that such a loving relationship will make it any less of an abomination in His eyes? I hardly think so.

Yes, as Christians and especially as priests, we are to hate sin but love the sinner, and we are to welcome all into the Church (the hospital for sick souls), but we are NOT supposed to aid and abet sinners in the commission of their sins. We are to preach repentance which means a turning away from sin. Tolerance, political correctness, inclusiveness, or any other type of Marxist Theology or New Age “feel good” teaching has no place in the Church, as they are of the Anti-Christ. The job of the priests, bishops, monks, nuns and other Church leaders and workers, as well as the faithful, is to lead souls to Jesus Christ and to use the Church as a true hospital for sick souls by doing all we can to heal such souls through the preaching of repentance. Having stated that, every bishop, every priest, every Church leader has the right, nay, has the duty to put out from the Church any individual who refuses to repent and who insist on advocating for actions or life-styles that are unnatural, morally repulsive and in direct opposition to the Word of God, or those who continue to engage in such activities. To allow such to remain in the Church is to allow sin and abominations into the house of God, and like a cancer it will spread through out the Body of Christ bringing nothing but spiritual pain and death. And any priest or minister of Christ Jesus who performs a same-sex marriage or who blesses a same-sex union is committing a blatant act of blasphemy because they are calling upon the Holy Spirit to bless an act that God the Father declares to be an abomination in His sight.

Contrary to what many so-called “Christians” seem to think today, the Church, the Body of Christ is not a cafeteria, it is not a buffet or a smorgasbord, where you can pick and choose out of the Holy Scriptures what each individual wishes to accept or believe. Jesus Christ founded the Church, the Body of Christ, not the Old Country Buffet. When Jesus said “Follow Me”, he was asking his followers to give their all and follow him 100% and that means accepting all of the teachings from Holy Scripture. Sure, you can argue that the Bible was written by men, but bear in mind, their words were inspired by the Holy Spirit. There can be no place in the Church for lukewarm Christians, you are either with Jesus Christ all the way or you are against him.