The Other Side Of God, The Justice Side Of God

I read with interest, Virgil Vaupel's column on gay marriage and the media, in the Jan. 14, 2015, Glasgow Courier, and then the response by Susan Watterson, and Bonnie Davidson, two weeks later. As Bonnie said, she urges people to send in a letter to the editor, and that there should be no gag order on opposing opinions. So here goes.

Much has been said and written about the love and goodness of our God ... all of which is very true. But there is another side of God that many do not want to even know about and that is the justice side of God, which is equally important.

Susan was concerned that gay and lesbian people might get the idea from Mr. Vaupel's article that most people think that they are deviant and not created in the image of God. Yes, we are created in the image of God, but God made them male and female, each having a different function. When that is deferred from, it becomes perversion. Susan did acknowledge that homosexuality is an abomination, which is absolutely correct.

She stated that in the New Testament, Paul doesn't say much about homosexuality, and that he was writing about child pornography. This is totally wrong! In Romans 1, verses 18 through 32, it speaks of God's wrath on unrighteousness, which includes all kinds of sin. But from verse 22 through 28, it speaks of homosexuality specifically, and it is not speaking of children in any way.

In verse 27, “MEN, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, MEN with MEN, committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error, which was due” (NKJ).

Verse 24 and 25 says that “GOD (not the devil), gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature (the devil) rather than the Creator.” Verse 26 says,”Even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.” In the same chapter, verse 32 says that, “ ... those, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death ... and not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.” So it's not only the homosexual who is in danger of hell's fire, but those who give approval to them.

Please understand, I am not trying to be cruel or self-righteous. I am concerned about the souls of men and women. For those who would say that I am judging others, I would refer you to 1 Corinthians 5:9 through 13. As Christians, we are not to judge those outside the church, the unbelievers. But we ARE to judge those inside, who claim to be Christians. God is so passionate about sexual sin specifically, because it is a sin against the body. 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 17, states that our body is God's temple, and it is not to be defiled in any way. Back to 1 Corinthians 5:11 through 13, it says that we are not even to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral (along with a list of other sins), not even to eat with such a person! God judges the unbeliever, but WE are to even put away from ourselves those evil persons. That is so their evil spirit is not spread to others. Please note ... these are not my words, but God's.

I am deeply concerned about homosexuals being allowed to teach Sunday School, or in our schools, or especially behind the pulpit. There is a godly standard for those serving in ministry that has been totally disregarded by many churches today. It's time we get the world out of the church an stop profaning holy things, and make a distinct difference between the clean and unclean (Ezekiel 22:26). Other qualifications for pastors are in 1 Timothy 3 ... one of which is “The husband of one wife” ... not some distorted other version.

If you truly love your gay and lesbian relatives and friends, it is vitally important that you share the truth of God's Word with them, and tell them that Jesus will deliver them and set them free, if they repent. Time is short, and eternity is a long time. The consequences are severe for those who would live in flat defiance of God's authority. Please know ... it's not the sin that God sends to hell, it's the sinner!

Joann Beard lives in Glasgow.