The Bible Verse No Guy Enjoys Reading

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Deuteronomy 23:1 is painful—but it shows us that God wants to heal the wounds of the masculine soul.

I’d never heard a sermon on Deuteronomy 23:1 until last month, when my Puerto Rican friend Luis Roig had the courage to read the text out loud to a group of men in Florida. When he did, one guy gasped and fell on the floor. Several others laughed nervously, and we all drew our knees together and groaned.

The Holman translation says it this way: “No man whose testicles have been crushed or whose penis has been cut off may enter the Lord’s assembly.”

Ouch!

Please pardon the graphic language, but older translations just aren’t clear. The King James Version says, “He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.” That’s putting it mildly!

Rob Bell Redefines Fidelity, Love, and Who God Is

By Bethany Blankley , CP Op-Ed Contributor

Bethany Blankley writes about
religious, political, and cultural issues
from a biblical perspective and
appears on national television and
radio as a political pundit.

It is troubling that a former evangelical pastor like Rob Bell would endorse same-sex marriage because "the ship has sailed… this is the world that we are living in," and because he is "for love, whether it is a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man."

His reasoning is flawed primarily because he does not hold the Bible as the authoritative word of God.

The Bible cannot be clearer on homosexuality. At every mention it is condemned as a sin (Gen. 19; Lev. 18:22, 20:13; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 1: 8-10; Jude 4 ff among others). Additionally, Jesus indicated that the only alternative to heterosexual marriage was celibacy (Matt 19:10). The bible is also clear on marriage-that God created it as a covenant between himself, one man and one woman (Gen. 1:26; 2:22-24; Matt. 19:4-6; Eph. 5:22-23; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Heb. 13:4-7; Mark 10:6-9).

Why Paul and Jan Crouch Can't Escape Accountability

I was scheduled to be at TBN in Dallas Friday for an exclusive interview with Paul and Jan Crouch about the Trinity Broadcasting Network's 40th anniversary in May. But it won't happen because Jan Crouch canceled at the last minute.

We don't usually cover ministry anniversaries, but TBN is marking the milestone with a big celebration, and they approached me about running an article in Charisma. I agreed only after they agreed to an exclusive interview with Paul and Jan. Their younger son, Matt, the heir apparent, would have been there. Marcus Yoars, editor of Charisma, and I would have tag-teamed with the questions.

I have known Paul and Jan for many years. I respect what they built, and I recognize its value to the Body of Christ. I can identify with them. We have a common Assemblies of God heritage. They began with very little-just as I did-about the same time. I know they love Jesus and are committed to spreading the gospel.

The Queen James Bible and ‘Homophobic’ Interpretations

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The Queen James Bible (queenjamesbible.com)

In case you haven’t heard the news, there is a new edition of the King James Bible that rewrites eight key verses that speak against homosexual practice. It’s called the Queen James Bible (I kid you not), and the editors state that, “We edited those eight verses in a way that makes homophobic interpretations impossible.”

Yes, you can now practice homosexuality and read your Bible without feeling condemned, although you still have to deal with the hundreds of verses affirming only heterosexual marriage and family (including one of the Ten Commandments that says, “Honor your father and mother” rather than, “Honor your father and father”).

Exploring Your Erotic Dreams

Posted by Tamar Love

It doesn't take much imagination to interpret the classic train-rushing-through-tunnel dream: It's about intercourse, folks. The train is the penis; the tunnel is the vagina. But really -- when is the last time you dreamed about rail travel? Our guess: a mighty long time.

But you've probably had dreams featuring water, houses, animals, or food, all in the context of sexual or erotic situations. For example, you may have experienced powerful erotic feelings while riding a powerful dream horse, or feeding a dream lover ripe peaches or mangoes. These images can be a little trickier to interpret -- but not altogether impossible

Sex and the American Man: A Preview

Gentlemen, a show of hands: Who's having enough sex these days? We commissioned a nationwide survey to find out when (and where and why) American men are having sex right now, and the results reveal the expectations, frustrations, proclivities, perversions, and fantasies that define how we're doing it. Let's get started, shall we?

Diana Scheunemann

Osteen Willing to Vote for Candidate of Different Faith

STEFANIE SCHARTEL

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Joel Osteen speaks at A Night of Hope with his wife, Victoria, at Yankee Stadium. (Joel Osteen Ministries )

For televangelist Joel Osteen, faith isn’t the primary determinant when it comes to voting for a president.

Appearing Tuesday night on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, the Lakewood Church pastor said he would have no problem voting for a presidential candidate who holds a different set of beliefs than his own—and that includes Mormon Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

“That would not stop me from voting for somebody,” Osteen said. “I would look at the total candidate though—you know, what's their experience, what's their education, what do they stand for? I don't think I would vote for somebody just because they're a Mormon or anything like that.”

When Morgan asked about backing a Jewish candidate, Osteen didn’t think twice: “Sure, I could vote for a Jewish candidate—that's how our faith was started. They're God's chosen people in Scripture.” But as Morgan posed the hypothetical question of voting for a Muslim candidate, Osteen was a bit more hesitant.

A Healing Journey

Written by Angie Cote

Secret -concealed from general knowledge or view, hidden. (Webster’s Dictionary)

There are different kinds of secrets. Some are things hidden from our understanding, sometimes called the mysteries of life: how they built the pyramids, miracles, unexplained events. There are military secrets – confidential military matters, the CIA and spies. There are the secrets that are methods or formulas based on successes: if you send in your hundred dollars, you can receive a secret blend of tea/cream/pills guaranteed to make your cellulite disappear. Don’t we wish. There are the secrets where others share confidences with you.

Then you have the secrets that are of the personal nature – things that we have done ourselves, or had done to us, or been involved in that we don’t want anybody to know about. Usually it is something that is not socially or morally acceptable.

Joel Osteen Comments on 'Con Artist' Televangelists, Politics and Homosexuality

By Katherine Weber , Christian Post Reporter

June 7, 2012

Pastor Joel Osteen recently shared with a Colorado news station how he believes he stands out from other Christian leaders who solicit donations through television ministries, as well as his views on politics and homosexuality.

While acknowledging in the June 5 interview with news reporter Ron Zappolo that some people are often turned off by evangelism, especially due to televangelists who request money while preaching on TV, the Lakewood Church pastor insisted he was different.

"I try to be just the opposite. I try to be myself. That's why on television, I never ask for money. I try to be the opposite," Osteen said.

The popular pastor and author went on to say that he doesn't ask for money on television "because I realize people are thinking, when they flip you on to begin with, they're thinking 'he's after my money, he's a con artist.' You know, you have to overcome that, but I believe that sincerity comes through when people realize you're just trying to help them live a better life."

Joel Osteen on CNN: Homosexuality Will 'Still Be a Sin in 200 Years'

Joel Osteen, best-selling author and pastor of Lakewood Church in Texas, and his wife Victoria are seen in this file photo, April 6, 2010.

By Ray Downs , Christian Post Reporter

Megachurch preacher and bestselling author Joel Osteen, pressed by CNN’s Piers Morgan on his views regarding homosexuality, said Tuesday during an interview that his stance on the issue is grounded in the Bible, which he said will still present homosexuality as sin, even 200 years from now.

The Houston minister's remarks were in response to a question Morgan asked Osteen, appearing as a guest on "Piers Morgan Tonight," about whether or not he still believes homosexuality is a sin, referring to a January interview with the preacher.

Embracing Femininity: Helping Gender Confused Girls

Chuck Colson

A little girl named Jessica could not remember a time when she did not have crushes on female teachers. She hid her feelings behind a tough, sarcastic persona. When she hit adolescence, Jessica insisted on being called “Jess,” cut her hair short, and hid her developing body under layers of boys’ clothing.

As Dr. Joseph Nicolosi writes in his book, A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality, Jessica was contemptuous of her mother, a delicate, feminine woman subject to depression. Jessica viewed her mother as weak, and had no intention of growing up to be like her.

But Jessica sincerely wanted to understand why she was so conflicted about accepting her gender, and began therapy with Nicolosi. Jessica eventually told him that for years, she had been molested by an uncle.

Manny Pacquiao Uses Bible to Rebuke Obama's Support for Gay Marriage

By Christine Thomasos , Christian Post Reporter




World Boxing Organization welterweight champion and congressman Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines gestures during a press conference in Manila in this March 26, 2012 file photo.

Manny Pacquiao, Christian Filipino boxer and congressman, has reportedly disagreed with President Barack Obama's support of redefining marriage to include same-sex couples, and has insisted people should always put God's word first.

After Obama vocalized that he was in support of gay marriage earlier this week, Pacquiao was adamant that the president had got it wrong. In an interview with the National Conservative Examiner while training in Los Angeles, Calif., Pacquiao spoke about the need for society to put "God's words first."

Black Christians in an 'Adulterous' Relationship With Obama, Says Evangelical Pastor

By Paul Stanley , Christian Post Reporter

An influential African-American evangelical pastor says that many black Christians are in an "adulterous" relationship with President Obama over the issue of same-sex marriage and that if the issue is not addressed soon, it will negatively impact the president's desire for a second term in November.

(Photo: The Christian Post/ Stephanie Samuel)

Bishop Harry Jackson Jr. and other community group leaders gathered in WAshington, D.C. Wednesdrday to announce the launch of the grassroots group, E Plubribus Unum. The group plans to rally minorities around conservative ideas during the 2012 election season.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., who is the senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in Baltimore, Md., and one of the nation's most outspoken black pastors, maintains that Obama has drawn a hard line on major theological issues such as same-sex marriage and expects black Christians to compromise their beliefs.

Americans Split on Whether Being Homosexual is a Sin

DAVID ROACH/LIFEWAY

Joel Osteen on April 30 said he believes the Scripture says that being gay is a sin, and is opposed to gay marriage.

Do you think homosexuality is a sin? Americans are split on the question—and many do not appreciate if a church teaches that homosexuality is sinful. So says a recent LifeWay Research survey. 

Forty-four percent believe homosexuality is a sin and 43 percent say it is not. Thirteen percent are not sure.

The Evolution of the Views of a President

Published on May 10, 2012 in Current Issues in the World.

Well, it was all over the news yesterday and seen in headlines this morning in our newspapers:  “Obama: ‘I Think Same-Sex Couples Should Be Able to Get Married.’”

In an ABC TV news article, we read, “In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, the president described his thought process as an ‘evolution’ that led him to this decision, based on conversations with his staff members, openly gay and lesbian service members, and his wife and daughters” (emphasis and link in the original).

Also, see this video clip AiG staff member Tim Chaffey sent me to help show you how the president’s view has changed:

Evolution's End? President Obama Calls for Same-Sex Marriage

By R. Albert Mohler, Jr. , Christian Post Guest Columnist

May 10, 2012

Is President Obama's "evolution" on same sex marriage finally complete? His call for the legalization of same-sex marriage yesterday is an historic and tragic milestone. An incumbent President of the United States has now called for a transformation of civilization's central institution. And yet, no observer of this President could be surprised. The arrival of this announcement was only a matter of time.

The White House confirmed this within hours of the President's announcement. As The New York Times reported on May 10, "Advisers say now that Mr. Obama had intended since early this year to define his position sometime before Democrats nominate him for re-election in September."

44 Percent of Americans Believe Homosexuality Is a Sin, Survey Says

By Katherine Weber , Christian Post Reporter
May 10, 2012|5:24 pm

A new survey conducted by LifeWay Research finds that 44 percent of Americans believe homosexuality is a sin. Meanwhile, 43 percent believe it is not, and 13 percent are not sure.

The survey, conducted among a random sampling of 2,144 adult Americans, asked the question: ""Do you believe homosexual behavior is a sin?" Results indicate that gender, education, church attendance, and religious affiliation affect one's views.

According to the survey, 47 percent of men believe homosexuality is a sin while 40 percent of women believe the same.

Seventy-one percent of those who attend a church service once weekly or more believe it is a sin, compared to a mere 8 percent who never attend a church service.

“The cross itself was not the point.”

The Daily Beast : Andrew Sullivan: Christianity in Crisis

Popular blogger says of Jesus: “The cross itself was not the point.”

A British-born writer and prominent blogger, whose views tend to straddle a curious fence between conservative and liberal, is featured in Newsweek’s cover story “Forget the Church, Follow Jesus” (see cover, right) diagnosing the crisis in the Christian church. Andrew Sullivan, who lives with his “husband” in Massachusetts, combines truth and error and leaves Jesus Christ resembling Buddha more than the Christ of the Scriptures.

By citing the reprehensible actions of many who have misused and misinterpreted the Bible throughout history to gain power and persecute others, Sullivan offers the reactionary solution that Christians should be apolitical. He says “the issues that Christianity obsesses over today” are absent from “the original New Testament.” Indeed, he says those issues would “baffle Jesus of Nazareth.” Sullivan, however, considers the “original New Testament” to be only the quotations Thomas Jefferson selected for his personal collection of Christ’s sayings. Sullivan claims the rest of the New Testament was a compilation of fallible recollections and misinterpretations recorded by people who didn’t understand anything Jesus had taught them in the first place.

Does Sullivan include the Old Testament in his “pro-Jesus” anti-biblical assertions? Well, he definitely sets aside biblical young-earth creationism as being among those doctrines that would “baffle” Jesus. He writes, “Still others insist that the earth is merely 6,000 years old—something we now know by the light of reason and science is simply untrue.” As we’ve already mentioned in today’s column, observational science has done no such thing. And as we’ve also already discussed today, Jesus’ own words—which Sullivan claims to revere—confirm the Creation and the Flood described in Genesis 1–11.

Sullivan does acknowledge that many have turned from “organized Christianity” to “embrace materialistic self-help” or atheism, seeing those choices as inadequate and destructive. And he recognizes “The thirst for God is still there. How could it not be, when the profoundest human questions—Why does the universe exist rather than nothing? How did humanity come to be on this remote blue speck of a planet? What happens to us after death?—remain as pressing and mysterious as they’ve always been?” But what does Sullivan suggest to satisfy our thirst for God? He exhorts Christians to follow the example of Christ and St. Francis of Assisi by living lives of selfless surrender, to gain a “vision of holiness” and to “truly transcend our world and be with God.” Sullivan tells his readers, “The cross itself was not the point.”

Sullivan is the one who misses the point. He misses the point of Christ’s death on the Cross because he rejects the overwhelming majority of the inspired Word of God. The need for Christ’s sacrificial death on the Cross is rooted in the corruption of man as recorded in Genesis 3. Christ died for man’s sin, but Sullivan’s Christ apparently never heard of guilt or judgment. Jesus Christ—whose example we are indeed to follow—told us He came to seek and to save the lost, to give His life a ransom for many. The concept of being lost, the fact that humanity needs to be ransomed, is explained in the fall of Adam, the rebellion of the first man that brought death into the world.

Sullivan denies the authority of the Bible even as he offers his own diagnosis of the church’s problems. Sullivan himself is a practicing homosexual involved in a same-sex “marriage,” so it is not surprising that he finds much of the Bible offensive. Jesus Himself explained in John 3:19 that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Sullivan mixes truth and error in many ways, such as suggesting the followers of Christ misunderstood His teachings—which they at times did initially—and ignores the promise of Christ in John 16 that the Holy Spirit would guide the Gospel writers to understand all truth correctly.

While there is much that is wrong in the church today, the cure is not to reject the foundational truths of the Word of God and just distill some out-of-context words of Christ into a personally appealing but powerless message. Christians who read Sullivan’s popular blog need to be very careful not to drink in the political rhetoric that might appeal to them and ignorantly imbibe the dangerous errors souring the mix.

For more information:

• News to Note, February 25, 2012
• News to Note, December 17, 2011
• The Crucifixion
• Trading Truth for Tolerance?
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2012/04/07/news-to-note-04072012#one

Where Did AIDS Come From?

AIDS suddenly appeared about 25 years ago and quickly spread around the world. Today there are about 33 million cases of AIDS worldwide.

What Is AIDS?
AIDS (an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a deficiency in the immune system caused by HIV (an acronym for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus). Because of this deficiency there is inadequate resistance to various diseases which then cause sickness and death.
AIDS suddenly appeared about 25 years ago and quickly spread around the world. Today there are about 33 million cases of AIDS worldwide.1 But where did HIV come from? Did God suddenly create it or has it always been around? And if so, why didn’t it erupt as an epidemic until relatively recently?

Origin Of HIV
We can say that the Lord created it, because He has created everything: “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made” (Jn. 1:3 NIV). And the “all things” includes viruses and microorganisms. Scripture does not tell us why He created them, but some of them are absolutely necessary for our health. For example, we need germs in our bowels for their proper functioning; and much of the vitamin K we need for blood clotting is produced by intestinal germs. Scripture does not say that He created germs to cause sickness and death!
We should note that the Lord rebuked the pharisaical attitude of those who automatically consider calamities to be punishment for sin. He said, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way ... or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them - do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no!” (Lk. 13:1-5).
God protects His creatures from disease! He gave mankind and animals their amazing immune systems to protect them from microorganism-caused diseases. If these immune systems worked “perfectly” we would never get sick. In fact, it is quite possible for people to be “carriers” of a load of disease-causing microorganisms and be symptom free. For example, ninety percent of the people infected with the tuberculosis-causing germ will never have tuberculosis!2 Could HIV then have been around for ages in carriers? Yes, but the carriers have not been human.

Non-human Carriers
HIV apparently has been present in chimpanzees for thousands of years,3 and evidence has just been announced2,4 which confirms what has long been suspected, namely, that the virus came originally from chimpanzees living in Central Africa where AIDS got its start in humans.1,3 Most interestingly, HIV would never have gotten into humans and spread so rapidly if Old Testament regulations were heeded and New Testament sexual morals were practiced.

How Did HIV Enter Humans?
Viruses like HIV can easily mutate (change) into different strains, and they often do. When this happens, viruses that live in animals without infecting humans may produce strains that can cause human disease when they jump into people. Thus, “swine flu” resulted when a mutated virus jumped from pigs into people and produced a new “flu” against which the old vaccine was ineffective.
The evidence is that a mutated virus in chimpanzees jumped into humans at least three times.1,3 There is also a plausible mode of transmission. In Central Africa chimpanzees are hunted for food, and blood from the carcasses could easily have entered the hunters’ bodies through superficial wounds.1 The continued practice of hunting chimpanzees may possibly introduce new viral strains into the human population!

God’s Protection Plan
God gave Israel a variety of seemingly arbitrary food and health laws to protect them. Specifically, He commanded, “You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean ... Do not defile yourself by any animal or bird ... those which I have set apart as unclean for you” (Lev. 20:25). For example, a monkey was forbidden food and its carcass defiling (Lev. 11). Even touching a carcass made the person unclean (Lev. 5:2; 11:27). Therefore, a law-abiding Israelite would never dress a monkey for food and would never run the risk of coming into contact with blood from an infected animal.
Note that God’s so-called “arbitrary” laws also protected His people from other viruses, such as the Ebola virus. A few years ago this mysterious disease appeared. It caused death from massive hemorrhaging while physicians watched helplessly. It threatened to become a dangerous epidemic, but was stopped when it was recognized that the disease was caused by the Ebola virus. This virus was spread by contact with the bodies of the victims. A quarantine was established, and the spread of the virus was stopped. God protected His people from disease present in dead bodies by commanding, “Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. He must purify himself with water” (Num. 19:11-12).

Why The Sudden Spread?
For years HIV did not spread. Travel was difficult, people stayed where they lived, and tribal customs regulated sexual contact - the primary mode of transmission. Then came roads, rails, and airplanes - and travel increased. People moved around, moved into cities where tribal influences were lost, and promiscuous sex became much easier.
In Africa AIDS is a heterosexual disease. However, because it was introduced into the United States by homosexuals, many perceive of it primarily as a homosexuals’ disease - but this is wrong. As people carrying the virus travel and engage in promiscuous homosexual and heterosexual sex, the disease is being spread rapidly around the world.

What Can We Do?
Not widely known is the fact that the greater the opportunity for transmission of an infectious agent, the greater its virulence (deadliness). Thus, today’s widespread sexual promiscuity is playing a big part in the deadliness of AIDS. As scientists explain in Scientific American: “Theory predicts that ... safe sex will do more than save numerous individuals from HIV infection. If humanity’s behavior itself slows HIV transmission rates, strains that do not soon kill their hosts ... then die with their hosts, denied the opportunity to spread.”4 In other words, if people were to heed the scriptural admonition to “flee from sexual immorality” (1 Cor. 6:18), not only would they avoid AIDS themselves but their “collective choices (would) change the very nature of HIV.”4 God is not responsible for the deadliness of HIV, we are!

Listen To God!
The more we learn about sanitation and disease, the better we appreciate the wisdom and love which God showed in the seemingly arbitrary regulations He gave to His people. They were told to “observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations” (Dt. 4:6). They were told they would have good health if they obeyed, and disease if they disobeyed (Ex. 15:26; Dt. 28:58-61).
The principles underlying His commandments are as valid today as they ever were. The origin and spread of AIDS is dramatic proof!

Grace & Truth Magazine February 2000

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT... DIVORCE?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT...

DIVORCE?

by Betty Miller

What are the spiritual consequences of divorce? Is there scriptural precedence for a divorced person to ever remarry? Can a divorced person fill a place in ministry? How are we to deal with those who have suffered in this area? With so many extremes being taught on this subject, it is difficult to have the proper perspective of this problem in the church. In this teaching we will examine how to deal with these complicated issues, in a spirit of both righteousness and mercy.

In today's society, divorce is a fast way out of an unpleasant situation. In the United States, roughly half of all marriages now end in divorce. This statistic is almost as high in the church as it is the world. What are we to make of this flood of broken covenants that wash across our land? Many are drowning in its tide, beaten by their own broken words and failure. Some are dying under a flood of guilt, while others sail merrily along, unaware that their boat is rotting and will soon sink under the waves. Is there a cure for this marital epidemic of broken promises, blame, guilt, unforgiveness, discontent and wounded children? Can God truly heal even the most broken of marriages?

Although God hates divorce, He loves the divorcee and will help all who call upon Him. He wants to teach us how to love the way He loves. The definition of true love is "God is Love." Unless God is brought into a marriage they will never experience true love. People can experience an emotional feeling we call "love", however this is only one aspect of love in a marriage. The kind of love that is needed for any marriage to be successful is the the God kind of love because this love is not a selfish love. God's kind of love, loves even when that love is not reciprocated. One attribute of love is faithfulness and loyalty. A Christian marriage is based on trust in God and each other.

LOVE IS A CHOICE

Another thing we must understand about love is that it is a choice. True love is not something we trip into and out of easily. God's love for us endures all things and does not change, even when we do. He doesn't love us for measuring up to a certain standard. He loves us because He is love Himself. There is not one thing He does that is not motivated by love. When we fail, He does not reject us, but in compassion reaches out to restore us. Though He sees the hardness, blindness and hypocrisy in our hearts, He still loves us. He loves us enough to not overlook these things, because He knows they will destroy us. He loves us with a consuming, passionate, holy, jealous and gentle love. He loves us so much that he continually offers us forgiveness, comfort, encouragement, peace and joy. Finally, Jesus showed that He loves us more than His own life when he laid down His life for us.

Because He loves us in this way, so we also are to love each other. Nowhere is God's love for us better illustrated than in marriage.

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things--that she might be holy and faultless. Even so husbands should love their wives as (being in a sense) their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church. Because we are members (parts) of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning (the relation of) Christ and the church. However, let each man of you (without exception) love his wife (being in a sense) his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband--that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him and loves and admires him exceedingly" (Ephesians 5: 25-33, Amplified Bible).

In this verse we see that the union between man and woman is a portrayal of the divine romance between Christ and the Church. The only reason man and woman are attracted to each other and desire to build a life together, is because this principal is true in a spiritual sense. The natural realm is an illustration of the spiritual realm, and all spiritual truths existed long before the natural ones were manifested. In the same that way men and women seek each other to become one, so our spirits are also seeking oneness with God--and He with us.

Just as Eve was brought forth from Adam's side, so the church was brought forth from the wounded side of Jesus. We are "bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh." God is a "family man" seeking to establish a union of love between His son Jesus and His Bride, who is the church. Together, they will rule His creation and bring forth many offspring, just as Adam and Ever were originally commissioned to do.

God hates divorce because it is a perversion of the holy picture of the His Son and the Church. This is also why He hates homosexuality, sexual promiscuity and other sexual and gender-related sins. All of these have their source with the Evil One who seeks to pervert all of God's truths until they are a twisted lifeless shamble of what they once were. When God's truths are twisted, instead of being instruments of life and freedom, they become tools of death and destruction. What can bring us the greatest happiness can also bring us the greatest sorrow. God took a great risk when He put so much power in love. He knew it could both heal--and hurt--us more deeply than anything else He created. Yet, if this is true for us, it is even more true for God Himself. He also, is deeply touched and wounded by love. Yet, because He is willing to risk His very heart for the sake of love, so we must be willing to take that risk as well. He is our example. God's love alone has the deepest power to fulfill us. However, it can only fulfill us to the extent that we use and understand it properly--and we cannot know true love unless we know God.

The most basic principal of true, godly love is this: Love lays down its life for others. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

This "laying down of our life" can be manifested in many ways. Basically, it includes loving others more than ourselves, thinking of their welfare, honoring them, forgiving them, wanting the best for them, etc. This is to be practiced for both those who love us and those who hate us. Furthermore, this is to be a way of life--not an occasional mood, when we are feeling benevolent towards the world! Love is a deliberate choice.

Generally, the farther away one is from us, the easier it is to love them. We can love them in a broad way. The closer we get to someone however, the more they are magnified to us. We see both their faults and strengths more clearly. It is here that love must become a choice. Will we continue to love them despite their failures, or will we back off? Because marriages are the closest of all relationships, they are also tested the most. If we have found that we are peering at our mate continually through a magnifying glass, it may be time to step back a bit and refocus on the "big picture." Likewise, if all we see is the "big picture" we can lose the intimacy in the foundation of marriage. When we peer closely at our loved ones, their faults are magnified, but so is their beauty as well. We need to continually seek the Lord for His perspective, so we can see the loved one through His eyes of love and mercy. After all, He sees us closer than anyone, and yet still loves us!

By studying God's love for us, we can learn that love takes work, patience, commitment, faithfulness, and the willingness to take a risk. How different from the way the world tells us love is--an effortless, easy emotion! Emotions are a beautiful part of love, but nonetheless, they are only a part. They are the frosting on the cake, the harmony on the melody, the bloom on the flower. They cannot stand on their own, but rest on and grow from something else entirely.

THE SPIRIT OF DIVISION

There is a rampant spirit of division in the earth today that is seeking to destroy not only marriages, but all of our relationships. We must recognize this attack of the enemy and resist it. Satan especially seeks to destroy and belittle marriage, because of its spiritual parallel between Christ and the Church. It is our responsibility to recognize that the real enemy is not each other, but the devil and our own sin. Blaming each other or even our own inability, is the easy way out. Through Christ, we can do all things. He makes us strong where we are weak. He gives us the Holy Spirit to empower us. He gives us tools to overcome the enemy. In short, He gives us all we need. Every time we overcome the spirit of division with love and forgiveness, we bind the enemy and grow stronger ourselves. The following verse is an excellent list of spiritual tools that will overcome any attack of division:

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing: knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (I Peter 3:7-12).

It is understandable how those outside of Christ end up with broken homes, but how sad it is that now Satan is even destroying the homes of God's holy people. Perhaps it is because we have not been taught how to overcome the enemy or die to self. Whatever the reasons, there are many who are on the brink of, or have already suffered the trauma of divorce.

Those in bad marriages should not use divorce as an escape just because they are in an unpleasant situation, but should seek God for the healing of their relationship. The Lord desires to use such circumstances for redemptive purposes. He wants to heal and deliver the partner that is not committed to Him. This is perfect soil for the growth of the fruits of long-suffering (patience), faith and love to take place in the mate who is hurting due to lack of love in the marriage. God's kind of love can overcome in the situation, and a mighty miracle of healing can come to that marriage and home.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN DIVORCED?

First we must call divorce what it is--sin. Then we must look to God's Word to see how He deals with this, or any other sin. Divorce causes one to commit the sin of adultery.

"It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery" (Matthew 5:31-32).

Now let us look at a case concerning a woman who was caught in the act of adultery and see how the Lord deals with her.

"They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him, But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more" (John 8:4-11).

From this account we see the Lord extending mercy to this woman and forgiving her of her sin. We also notice that He made an important statement, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone."

The Lord treats all sins alike as far as redemption is concerned; sin is sin. The answer to every sin problem is the acceptance of Jesus and His sacrifice that cleanses us from sin. If we turn to Jesus, no matter what sin we commit, we will find forgiveness and mercy. The Lord did not say she had not sinned, but forgave her and admonished her to "sin no more." The sin of divorce is not the unpardonable sin. No matter what sin we have committed in our lives, whether it be lying, cheating, stealing, murder or divorce, Jesus made a way for us to cleansed and forgiven. When the Lord forgives sin, He also ceases to remember it. God's love and forgiveness is so different from man's. Hebrews 10:17 says, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."

WHAT ABOUT REMARRIAGE?

Yes, divorce is a sin. We can plainly see the damage it does to the lives of all involved. It is straight from the pit of hell. Yet, there is hope and forgiveness for the divorcee. Satan often lies and tells people that God is doing the separating, but it is not God. God is not the author of divorce. However, His Word does give instructions to those whose unbelieving mates desire a divorce.

"And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace" (I Corinthians 7:13-15).

If this happens, the mate that is left is not under any bondage to this marriage. He is free to remarry should the Lord lead him to do so.

Much conflict about Christians remarrying has arisen in the church because of Jesus' words in Matthew 19:3-9:

"The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Hath ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh? What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."

The Lord points out that those who divorce their mates have "hard hearts." God did not mean for divorce to happen. In the beginning His perfect will was for man and woman to remain married their entire lifetimes.

Does this statement of Jesus leave no room for remarriage? This verse has brought much bondage on those who have not looked at this Scripture in the light of the entire Word of God. First of all we must understand that the Pharisees here were attempting to trick Jesus into disagreeing with the Mosaic law so they could discount His ministry. Jesus knew this. Because the question asked here was in regard to divorce, Jesus quoted the perfect law concerning it. He, being perfect, could do no less.

Had the Pharisees asked him, "Master, is it permissible to lie or steal?" He would have quoted the perfect law in regard to these sins. Exodus 20:15-16, "Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." Jesus also knew that man was not perfect and that man would fail, so other portions of His Word deal with the problem of sin. Man could not keep the perfect law; he failed. But the perfect God made a way for imperfect man to be forgiven of his sins through the blood of Jesus. Therefore, no matter what sins we have committed, we can find forgiveness and cleansing through Christ. He not only forgives the sin of divorce, but because of His perfect forgiveness, He forgets the sin and it becomes as if we had never committed it as far as He is concerned. Praise God! We have a new start in Christ as the old is wiped away.

However, emotional healings are still needed for all who come out of split homes. In divorces, children suffer as much (or more) than their parents. God is healing and restoring those who seek His way. Those who continue in the world will only suffer more heartache until they allow the Lord to completely rule in their lives. God alone can "pick up the pieces" and put them together in a second marriage. Without God, a second marriage will only compound the existing problems. Men and women should seek God diligently in regard to this important step in their lives. Only by following God's plan and His Word will marriage be the fulfilling and beautiful relationship it was meant to be, regardless if it is a first or second marriage.

The Lord has a compassionate heart and He wishes us to have the same attitude toward those who have committed this sin. In fact, the Word of God deals with any transgression of the law as a serious offense. It matters not how big or little we might consider the sin to be. In God's eyes, sin is sin, and all sin must have the same remedy of Christ's cleansing. If we point our finger at other's sins without dealing with our own, we are bringing judgment upon ourselves.

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment" (James 2:10-13).

From this Scripture we see that if we commit that least sin (one point), we are still guilty of the whole law (murder, adultery, etc.) Therefore we should not judge those involved in the sins of divorce and adultery without mercy, or else we will be judged the same way. We could be judging others critically in this area while committing the same sin in our hearts.

One can commit adultery without divorcing his mate, as this sin can be committed in the heart.

"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

We are to minister to others compassionately in the area of divorce, for we have all sinned and fallen short of His perfection in many areas of our lives.

CAN DIVORCED PEOPLE MINISTER?

To ban people from ministering because they have suffered a divorce or to deny them the privilege of a Christian marriage is not in accordance with God's nature. If people have repented of their sin of divorce, then in God's eyes their sins are gone and forgotten. The true church should have the same compassion and understanding in its heart.

Some use the Scripture in I Timothy 3:2 to disqualify those who have been married before from ever becoming an elder or bishop. "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach." The reason for the specification of "one wife" here was that in Christ's day some were still practicing polygamy. Christ's teaching was calling people back to God's original plan of one man for one woman. In the Old Testament, polygamy had been introduced to God's people by the nations around them. The Lord had to purge His people from this evil as well as one of "divorce for every cause." The hardness of man's heart had led him a long way from the intended purposes of God.

However, we are warned in Scripture that we are not to use our liberty as a license to sin. "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). Divorce is never God's highest and best. Those in ministry who would lightly seek a divorce and desire to continue ministering, need to examine their hearts. Any obvious sin such as divorce can definitely weaken our testimony. If we are recently divorced, or in the in the process of one, or having marital problems, it would be good for a season to step down from any and all positions of leadership within the church. We can do very little good in our public life if our personal one is in shambles.

However, because God makes all things new, there is a new day of ministry, even for those who have been divorced. He can restore the worst of marriages and restore the worst of sinners. The question He asks of us is, "Are you willing?"

If we are willing to believe and submit to God, nothing shall be impossible! Amen!

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13: 13).

Excerpt from the book Neither Male Nor Female by Betty Miller. Betty has written several books on other topics as well. To view titles or purchase those books click here: http://store.bible.com/

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