Homosexual Heresies

 
Rusty has done a great job depicting the bending (isogesis) of Scripture done by the sodomite Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in an effort to make its way (sodomy) pleasing to the Lord. So many lost in the bondage of homosexuality seek a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but only on their own terms. They offer the sacrifice of Cain who attempted to approach God in "his own way" rather than offering the sacrifice of Able who approached God in His way. Genesis 4: 1-8.

The anger of Cain burned within him that God would accept Able's offering and not his. It wasn't fair! "Who is God anyway that He gets to make all the rules? And Able, that 'goody two shoes,' self righteous bigot needs to die." Cain killed his brother because his own actions were wrong. That's right! He killed Able rather than repenting of his own sin. He solved his problem by murdering his own brother. Sound familiar?

Homosexuality and Christianity do not walk hand in hand - they are antithetical. One cannot be a practicing homosexual and claim Christianity. Rusty will help you see the agonizing efforts made by MCC to justify, by the twisting of Scripture, its own sinful behavior and approach God in "its own way."

HOMOSEXUAL HERESIES
by Rusty Thomas

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

As promised, this month's newsletter will examine the doctrine of demons being promoted by the homosexual, heretical "church." The Bible, contrary to popular culture, establishes crucial distinctions between that which is evil and that which is good and that which is true and that which is false. Most churches, even conservative Evangelical churches, refuse to highlight those Biblical distinctions today. The trend is unity at all cost. Truth can be sacrificed for the "greater good" of getting along to go along. It has the appearance of God's love externally, but inwardly it allows a wolf in sheep's clothing to devour the souls of men.

The Bible also warns against the practice of heresy. The Apostle Peter states, "...somethings hard to understand, (Paul's writings) which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do the rest of the Scriptures." (2 Peter 2:16b) And no wonder, Satan himself quotes the Scriptures, out of context, of course, to mask his evil and to deceive men unto perdition (Matthew 4:1-11). This is what Flip and I observed at the Metropolitan Community Church meeting in Charlotte, NC as it relates to homosexuality.

The premise of the MCC meeting was to examine what the Bible "really" teaches about homosexuality. It was an attempt to give a "Biblical" defense for the abominable practice of sodomy. They advocated the dangerous position that homosexuality is not a sin, nor a sickness, but a lifestyle to be fully embraced and celebrated as children of God. On their thesis paper, the MCC mission statement was clearly articulated by their three C's of Calling, Confronting, and Creating. "Calling people to new life through the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ...Confronting the injustice of poverty, sexism, racism, and homophobia through Christian social action...Creating a community of healing and reconciliation through faith, hope, and love." Enough Christian terminology to ensnare unsuspecting souls and enough deception to damn all that adhere to this vision statement from hell.

The MCC views the current Christian attitude that condemns sodomy as springing from centuries of tradition as opposed to the clear teaching of Scripture. They promote the slanderous concepts that the orthodox Christian Church demands women to be enslaved by men, discrimination against people of color and the condemnation of homosexuals. The good news, as far as they are concerned, is that MCC has arisen with unprecedented might to right these wrongs, to bring justice against this injustice, and to end discrimination in all its ugly forms. After all, gay men and lesbians need to be accepted and their lifestyle affirmed by the Christian Church. Right? Wrong! Two of the three issues addressed are non-issues, because the true Church doesn't advocate these preposterous practices. As far as the condemnation of homosexuality is concerned, that does not spring from fallible men in history, but from the infallible, inerrant, and inspired word of God.

Under the heading that "New Information Refutes Old Ideas," they claim homosexuals can find better ways to interpret the Scriptures. What are these new grids that can help homosexuals find justification to excuse their perverted behavior? New scientific information, social changes, and personal experience will fit the bill. They are now the new authoritative filters that can determine the true meaning of Scripture. Notice, however, that all three reject the authority of the Scriptures themselves. Thus the homosexuals have stumbled upon the trend that has been taking place for over two hundred years, which is: personal experience, cultural changes, and science determine the meaning of Scriptures. In other words, the Bible must submit and its meaning changed to accommodate our societal evolutions. In fact, when we pressed the sodomite "pastor" on this very point, he admitted that his opinion trumped the authority of Scripture. This places him and every other human being that follows this deadly course in the precarious position as standing as judge over God and His Scriptures. According to pro-gay theology, they are now the Potter and the God of Scriptures is the clay, very dangerous indeed.

It was Hilary of Poitiers, 300-367 A.D. who gave this insightful quote that pinpoints the deceptive, homosexual heresies that we are contending with today. Hilary states, "Such is their error, such their pestilent teaching; to support it they borrow the words of Scripture, perverting its meaning and using the ignorance of men as their opportunity of gaining credence for their lies." This borrowing of the Scriptures and the willful ignorance of men were in abundant supply at that fateful meeting in Charlotte. The mere use of Scriptures, however, does not guarantee the right use of Scriptures. This I hope to clarify as we examine the Scriptures they twisted in order to call good, evil and evil, good.

The sodomite "pastor" in his introduction presented two important theological terms that can determine true and false meanings when studying the Scriptures. The first one was isogesis and the second was exegesis. Exegesis basically means "the process of interpreting the Bible." The specific techniques employed in the exegesis of Scripture are usually referred to as "hermeneutics." Exegesis is to draw out, extracting what is in the text the way it was written. Finding the true meaning and explain the passages of Scripture from their context. In other words, Scripture is to interpret Scripture. We must be careful, however, not to set one passage of Scripture against another passage. Each text must be understood in the light of its immediate context and in the context of the whole of Scripture.

Isogesis refers to reading into a text what isn't there. Interpreting it by different rules than a consistent understanding from the Bible. Using a presupposition to arrive at the meaning, by ignoring the language and culture it was used in. Isogesis promotes what is known as proof texting. This occurs when one comes to the Scriptures with a preconceived concept and then tries to twist the Scriptures to support one's erroneous ideas. The "pastor" then proceeded with great vigor to isogete and proof text the Scriptures to "find" what isn't there in support of homosexuality.

During his presentation, the "pastor" came up with an hypothetical situation. He asked me personally that if I had to choose between the law and the prophets of the Old Testament, the words of Jesus in the New Testament, or the apostolic epistles in the New Testament, which one would I choose to be the ultimate authority of Scripture? He was seeking to bait me into saying "the words of Jesus." My response was, that it is an invalid choice for "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."(2 Tim. 3:16)

His purpose was to exalt the words of our Lord as superior to the rest of the word of God for the simple reason that Jesus Christ never mentioned homosexuality in the Gospels. Whereas both the Old Testament law and prophets and the apostolic epistles, outright condemn its practice. Inadvertently, by taking this approach he was admitting the Old Testament and the epistles uphold the truth that homosexuality is a sin that must be repented of. Sadly, he then went on to contradict his own argument by disputing those same Scriptures. He cannot have it both ways.

The only way Biblically for the words of Jesus to be considered superior, is if they indeed change or make obsolete precepts of God in the Old Testament. On the other hand, they should not be considered superior, if they affirm or allow the teachings of the Old Testament to pass through the cross unaltered. The homosexual "church" to rightly use this argument must find in the words of Jesus a passage that countermands the Old Testament abhorrence to homosexuality. Jesus would have to say, in effect, that which was spoken in times past against homosexuality is no longer binding today. "I, the Lord, remove its prohibition and demand its practice to be accepted and enjoyed." The Lord would have had to curtail the writings of the Apostle Paul as well to make sure he didn't denounce homosexuality in his epistles. Obviously, our Lord never rescinded the teaching in the Old Testament nor muzzled the Apostle Paul in the New. Therefore the truth stands and they cannot make straight what God has called crooked.

Besides, Jesus was silent on the sexual sins of incest and bestiality. According to their convoluted interpretation, these wicked practices need to flourish today under the blessings of Jesus Christ as well. BLASPHEMY in the highest order!!! When our Lord did speak indirectly on this subject, He upheld the creative order that was established in the book of Genesis, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh" (Mark 10:7-9). Notice Jesus just affirms one man and one woman becoming one flesh, not a man joining to another man, nor a woman cleaving to another women to become one flesh.

The Scriptures twisted at this meeting were the account of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:1-25, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, and 1 Timothy 1:10. Every Christian needs to know these Scriptures by heart. They are the passages under assault by the same one who whispered long ago, "Has God indeed said?" (Genesis 3:1) According to Sodomite theology, the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah that invoked God's judgment upon them was not homosexuality, but the breaking of the law of hospitality. That's right, the reason that God reduced those cities to ashes was the gross violation of not receiving the angels according to the ancient hospitality rules.

Two immediate errors must be addressed. First, Lot as a representative of Sodom did welcome them and showed them hospitality. So where is the violation? The second contradiction centers on the Hebrew word yadah, which is translated as know. The men, both young and old, desired to know the angelic visitors. The MCC interprets this word to know as simply a desire to "have a thorough knowledge of." The men's intentions, according to MCC, was to just check on the angel's credentials. MCC does admit the word know can also imply sexual intercourse, but only on the rarest occasions. And even if that is the case here, the sin would not be homosexuality, but gang rape. We see this same mentality today when it comes to the abuse of young boys by both Catholic and Protestant clergy. The offense is not portrayed as homosexuality, but pedophilia. If it was the former, which the men of Sodom just wanted to familiarize themselves with the visitors, why offer Lot's daughters? Did they not know Lot and his family?

MCC then "reveals" the real sin of Sodom by quoting Ezekiel 16:49,50. "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me: therefore I took them away as I saw good." MCC correctly sees some of the problems associated with Sodom.

They were a people, like many today in America who had an abundance, were materialistic in their worldview, proud, and failed to care for those who were less fortunate. MCC will also admit Sodom was inundated with the plague of idolatry. What they fail to see is this pathetic condition leads to the seed bed and creates the atmosphere that is conducive to grow the weeds of lustful, sinful behavior, such as homosexuality.

Regardless, God still declared in the Ezekiel passage that Sodom committed an abomination before Him. What abomination is the Lord speaking of? Jude 7 gives us a clue, "As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Is not America materialistic, has not greed become a virtue, has she not turned her back upon the Lord Jesus Christ publicly and assimilated the idols and false religions of pagan lands? Are we not seeing the proliferation of sexual immorality and homosexuality as a result?

In fact, even the pagan Greek philosopher, Aristotle, agrees with this Biblical and historical pattern. Aristotle, commenting on injustice in his book called "The Art of Rhetoric" stated, "Rather it is the property of the poor to have an appetite for money because of their lack of it, and of the wealthy, because of their riches, to have an appetite for unnecessary pleasures." Notice that Aristotle makes a connection between materialistic wealth, divorced from God's purposes, produces a people who will pursue unnecessary, and I would add sinful, lustful pleasures. In this, the old adage is fulfilled, "idle hands and an idle mind are the Devil's workshop."

The next Scripture addressed was Lev.18:22. This one was a doozy. That may not be proper English, but oh, the incredible theological gymnastics performed on this passage. The text clearly reads, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." The "pastor" offered some nonsensical spin relating this clear condemnation of homosexuality to Israel's dietary laws. Upon further reading of MCC's materials on this Scripture, they bypass the plain prohibition by regulating it to the Holiness Code of Leviticus. In their minds(and that is the only place where you can find this) this was only assigned to the priesthood in Israel's ritual manual. The prohibition is not against homosexual sex itself, according to MCC, but a prohibition against male cult prostitution. In other words, God blesses homosexual sex in His church, but God help you if you have homosexual sex under the banner of idolatry and false religion. The "pastor" went behind his chalk board to illustrate this novel "revelation." When he was in front of the chalk board in "church," homosexuality is not an abomination. When he went behind the chalk board illustrating having sex with a male prostitute then that practice is an abomination to God.

At this point, Flip Benham rebuked the "pastor" for his overt attempt to isogete the Scripture. He reminded them that there was nothing in the text that even hinted that this declaration was regulated solely for the priesthood in Israel. Neither had it anything to do with dietary or ceremonial law. The entire text was addressed to the children of Israel to teach them what God considers immoral sexual activity that would be punished if they committed the acts (Lev. 18:1,2). The "congregation" became agitated at this point and one desperate homosexual man attempted to give his illuminated opinion on this passage. He explained that the prohibition against homosexual sex at that point in Israel's history had to do with the fact that Israel was a fledgling nation. God knew He needed Israel to be only heterosexual at that critical juncture, so they can procreate to build up the nation. Once the nation had gained enough population, God magically changed His mind and now homosexuality is permissible. No comment necessary!

The next passage molested by MCC was Rom. 1:24-27, which states, "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour 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 recompence of their error which was meet."

MCC correctly recognizes the Apostle Paul as the only New Testament writer that has "negative statements" regarding same-sex acts. The "negative statements" must be understood, however, in the MCC broader perspective. Does this passage refer to all homosexual acts or is it just certain homosexual acts reminiscent of the male prostitute idolatry of the Old Testament? I'm sure you know where the MCC stands on this issue. The key for them, in this passage, centers on the word natural. When the Apostle mentions women who "change the natural use" or men "leaving the natural use," MCC believes this should imply actions that contradict one's own nature. For instance, if a heterosexual performed homosexual acts that would be against his nature and therefore sinful. If however, a homosexual would attempt to live a heterosexual lifestyle that would be against his nature and therefore sinful as well.

It is this Scripture probably more than any other that drives the homosexual agenda to turn to junk science and psycho-babble. They must find the missing link, the homosexual gene, and any evidence whatsoever that proves it's God's fault for making them this way; some proof that they are not responsible for their behavior and destructive choices; some documentation that promotes the idea that homosexuality is an inherent trait, like being black or left handed; and some new journal that demonstrates once and for all that homosexuality is impossible to change.

The only thing about homosexuality that is inherent, however, is the sinful nature every human being has received because of the fall of Adam and the subsequent advent of original sin. Homosexuality is simply one of the many actual sins that flows from the polluted well of original sin that springs from within every human heart. Why do dogs bark? Because they are dogs. Why do people sin? Because they are sinners. Homosexuality is simply one of the many sinful expressions man chooses that reveals our depraved nature, alienation from God and our need to know God's great salvation.

God would not be just to create someone one way and then turn around and condemn them for acting out what He has made them to be. Besides, tens of thousands of former homosexuals have already been delivered out of the bondage of the gay deathstyle through the saving grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The good news is, homosexuals can change and become attracted to the opposite sex, get married, and have children. I personally know some who have been transformed by God's redeeming power in just that way. Stephen Bennett is one that God has delivered and raised up for such a time like this to help others escape the hellish fires of homosexual lust. To those of you who may be ensnared and struggling, visit his website for help. It is www.sbministries.org.

This leads us to the last Scripture that MCC distorts to further their destructive heresies. It is 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, which declares, "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 extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And 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 by the Spirit of our God." How does MCC live in a state of denial concerning this blatant text that declares homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God? One way is to teach the social context of Paul's ministry in the Greco-Roman culture. According to MCC, Paul wasn't addressing healthy, monogamous, loving homosexuals, but those male prostitute scoundrels again along with wicked pedophiles who prey upon young boys. Isn't it interesting that the homosexual agenda demands tolerance and a cessation of judgment against them, but turn around and condemn other sexual, deviant, perversions.

The last part of the 1 Corinthian passage should bring great encouragement to those of you who may be shackled and imprisoned by the sin of homosexuality. It mercifully states, "And 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 by the Spirit of God." MCC would have you believe this Scripture is a lie and their personal experience is the truth. They will tell you deliverance is not possible. Thus they are forced to advocate the lying notion that Christianity and homosexuality are compatible and can walk together in perfect harmony. The truth is homosexuality and Biblical Christianity are mutually exclusive. MCC has ceased to fight against the perverted temptations that seek to master them and have brought a peace offering to appease this abomination that rages in their tormented souls. That is why they are so driven to excuse and justify their wicked behavior, even to the point of distorting the Scriptures. This posture is dangerous and deadly. It will eventually lead them to reprobation with no hope of repentance or the acknowledging of the truth that could have saved their eternal souls.

I know the culture, the media, and some segments of the apostate church, like MCC, have conspired to encourage you to just accept homosexuality in order to find peace and cease the struggle. They will deceptively tell you that your deliverance is found in that acceptance, tolerance, and celebration. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Your deliverance, as all mankind's, is found in repentance, by turning away from this grave evil to receive the abundant grace found in Jesus Christ. He alone has the power to liberate you from the depression, the self-hate, the nagging thoughts of suicide, the drugs, the alcoholism, and the diseases that are epidemic amongst gays. Like I said before, there are literally tens of thousands of ex-homosexuals who can testify and confirm this truth.

I know deep down you're also craving love, but it must be rooted in the truth that sets you free and not in a lie that reinforces you in this sinful destructive lifestyle. The Bible says in Proverbs 27:6, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Sure, the true Church in America can agree with your gay lifestyle, like the MCC, and then watch you perish in an eternity without experiencing the true salvation of Jesus Christ. Is that love, my friend, or is that hate?

When real Christians cry out to warn you to repent and be reconciled back to God that is not hate calling you, it is love. Real love that is empowered by truth that can fulfill the deepest longings of your heart as you are accepted by the one who matters most, the God who created you, the Savior who died for you. You will never find that kind of love in the arms of another man if you're a homosexual male, nor in the arms of another woman, if you are a lesbian.

My homosexual friend, regardless of what MCC teaches, always remember this, Jesus did not die on a cross, suffer an agonizing death, and shed His blood to enable you in your sin with all its severe consequences. He died to set you free from your sin. That's why the Bible, speaking specifically to homosexuals, declares the good news, "and such were some of you." Yes, you were once enslaved, just like all sinners, but now you can be delivered. That old man with all its tyrannical lust can lose its dominion and a new man who has a heart after God will surely emerge. This is my prayer for you today, that you will experience these soul-liberating truths as you call upon the name of Jesus, confess, and forsake your sins. Only then will you receive the mercy that will flood your soul with the love of God (Proverbs 28:13). Open your heart, be not afraid, agree with God about the sin of homosexuality, cry our for deliverance, and receive the abundant pardon that comes from God's amazing grace.