The One Where I Use Socks

Written in my iPhone while camping. 

So yesterday I read another article about Phil Robertson preaching on I Corinthians 6.  Sigh 😞 

Yes I agree this is in the bible. Yes I agree with Paul. I'm not offended by the bible or that particular passage.   I have a biblical world view. I believe Jesus is the Son of God, came into the world as a human, lived as a human among the lost & broken, performed miracles, healed the sick, raised the dead, drank of the cup (he prayed to have taken from him), sweat blood, was sold out for 30 peices of silver, beaten, bruised, crucified, sin of the world on him, buried in a borrowed tomb, rose from the dead by the power of God three days later! 

Appeared to the disciples and then 500, and then thousands.  Ascended to heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father and interceeds for us. 

This is the Jesus I know. This is the grace that draws me to Him. This is the heart of Christ for the world. 

So when I hear Mr. Robertson and others condemning entire groups of society, I take offense.  And have grown tired of the constant finger pointing. 

If you feel that homosexuals are sinning, living in sin, outside of the church, how do you also consider them brothers? 

To me it seems like some want it both ways.  

1. Outside the church, in the world, not under 'the church' 'Christian moral code, values'.  Therefore outside of the 'if your brother sins against you' 'if your brother is in sin confront him'  OR 

2. Inside the church. Like the Corinthians, who that letter was written to.  To the Church at Corinth.  People who are saved & sanctified.  Covered under grace. 

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV)

I'm not quoting the scriptures for the above, I'm on my phone, I don't know the exact verses off the top of my head... Maybe that means I'm not saved. (Cue the sarcasm) 

So if it's 1.  These people are outside the jurisdiction of the church, of the moral code, values.  Their life is honestly none of your business. They are not your brother, they are your neighbor. 

And if it's 2.  They are saved by grace. Should their sin be confronted? Yes. And so should they confront yours. In person, with love, with another brother. With compassion. Treating you the same way they would want to be treated.  How do you respond to finger wagging & accusation?  

Me? Not so well.

It's outside of my scope and ability to convict. That's the job of the Holy Spirit. 

I can trust Jesus to go into the temple with a whip & turn over the tables & not damage the people involved. Me, not so much.  

And with that I say: put a sock in all this us & them mentality!  

As well as, back to camping & fishing & hiking & family. Much less technology & tweeting. Unless it's pictures!! :)