On Wednesday, President Obama made an unprecedented stance as a sitting president on homosexual marriage. The national discussion on the issue is verbose. President Obama’s comments have infuriated and alienated believers and conservatives, while rejoicing others.
As the discussion intensifies, believers are forced to make a choice: come into agreement with what God says about homosexual marriage, or agree with man. But what does God say about homosexual marriage, and why is it against His Word?
In order to understand the perversion that homosexual marriage is, we must understand the original intent of marriage. God designed heterosexual marriage for many blessings. Personal benefits aside, marriage acts as a testimony to the Earth of His marriage covenant with mankind.
Ephesians 5 says that heterosexual marriage is a reflection of Christ’s relationship to the Church. I believe it also mirrors how God has made a marriage covenant with mankind through Christ becoming a Man and dying on our behalf. When God became a Man through Jesus Christ, He forever intwined Himself with humanity. Christ has literally become one flesh with mankind.
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Eph 5:31
Homosexual marriage is an attempt to attack the very character of God and His relationship with mankind. It is attempting to redefine that which is to reflect God’s character. This is the most important reason why homosexual marriage should not be a standard in America. When a nation attacks God’s character, He will respond.
When we compromise on our definition of heterosexual marriage as the Bible states it, the building blocks of society, which is family, are destroyed. For instance, the greek word for economy (oikonomia) is deeply rooted in family. It literally means “household (or home) management.” When our families are destroyed, so also is our economy, morals, vision, and purpose.
As believers, we must understand that homosexual marriage is more than a bad redefinition of what love is. It is an attack on the very character and nature of God. He doesn’t give arbitrary commandments to us, but His commandments are to protect us from going against His character and nature.
In Psalm 139 it says God wrote a book for my life before I was born. He dreamed about what I would do, who I would be, and with whom I would spend my life with. He placed me in a family and with friends that He knew would be great for me. Yet my life doesn’t automatically follow the path that God has written for me.
I must choose His ways. I must walk in His path.
There are other paths, sure. I could blaze my own trail if I wanted to. But I know God’s path for my life leads me to places that would fascinate my heart and mind. His path goes by a beautiful canyon with tumultuous rapids and waterfalls. It even weaves through a garden that would put the hanging gardens of Babylon to shame.
His path is perfect; His ways are best. I must walk in His path.
How can I know where His path leads? Sometimes it dark and cloudy, and I can’t see it. How do I know I’m walking in God’s will?
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps. 119:105
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Ps. 32:8
The best way to follow a trail made by someone in a thick forest is to keep up close to them. If you can keep them in your vision –– or better yet, you are right behind them –– you won’t get lost or confused about which way the trail bends. It’s the same with following God. Being close to Him is the best way to know which way He is leading you.
How do you follow God? Keep up close behind Him and never lose sight of which way He turns.
The envelope system is simple: Each envelope is an individual budget for things like groceries, eating out, gas, entertainment, etc. It contains a certain amount of cash which you use only for its intended purpose.
When the money ends, so does your ability to purchase within that category until next month.
In my experience, it is a little difficult for a man to carry around 5 envelopes, so I created these dividers to go in my wallet. These dividers will also work for ladies’ wallets. I recommend printing on cardstock.
Download here: .pdf format, full .psd for creating your own dividers (Photoshop required)
Music is a powerful entity — a force like gravity. It drives both the Christian and secular world. Some people say they live to make and listen to music.
Think about it.
Have you ever heard a song and instantly remembered where you were and how you felt when you first heard it?
Music is one of the only tools that can make you feel emotions without your knowledge. It can change your whole mood, even if it’s just instrumental.
The funny thing is, whenever I want to spend time with God, I am generally the most distracted. And tired. How does that never fail to happen? Sit on the bed, open the Bible…and conk. It’s most definitely spiritual narcolepsy.
But really, if the time we spend with God is the primary way to know God, why wouldn’t the devil do all he can to distract, confuse, or disrupt this time of meeting? And how can we practically fight to keep this time?
Here is a short list of what has helped me:
Take ahold of your time with God and get serious about meeting with Him to know Him and love Him. Don’t just give up when you read a chapter and feel bored. God’s not boring; it’s we who are boring. Take time to let God change your heart to love His Word.
F– Fear of God
E– Endurance
L– Love
Yesterday I sat in a room filled with hundreds of college students and Tallahassee residents listening to Rick Santorum speak from his heart about why he is running for president, and why America needs to change. My heart and mind were moved to agree with his beliefs. It solidified my thoughts that he is the man for president in November.
Here’s why.
I believe the fundamental problem we face in America is not budgetary, and it’s not wars; it’s not healthcare, and not even over-reaching government. These are merely symptoms of a deeper rooted disease: the lack of morality due to the break down of the institution of family. Every single issue our Nation is facing can be rooted back to morals being thrown out the window for the sake of personal desires.
If the problem we face is a moral one, how does a politician fix it?
Simple: He doesn’t. At least, not completely.
What America needs most importantly is for hearts to change and return to morality — the morality found in God’s Word. We need the hearts of the fathers to be turned to their children; we need a revival. This can really only come through prayer, but having the right man in office would help. This understanding of focusing on family and God is what Rick Santorum spoke about yesterday –– it’s what solidified in my mind that he’s the real deal and the candidate who would help steer America where she needs to go in this season.
I appreciate what Senator Santorum said yesterday about the constitution and its original intent being to protect the rights that God Himself gave us. Without God giving us freedom and laws, we’d have no rights or morality.
I understand these points are not conclusive, but I believe they are paramount. At least regarding the elections. I believe Rick Santorum has had a strong and consistent focus on family, God, and life. His focus on the family is the strongest out of the other GOP candidates, especially his fervor to end abortion in America. Rick Santorum and his wife have parented 7 children, and they understand the value of human life.
“The Constitution is there to do one thing, to protect God-given rights. That’s what makes America different than every other country in the world. No other country in the world has its rights based in God-given rights, not government-given rights. If our President believes that rights come to us from the state, then everything government gives you, it can take away ” -Rick Santorum
Allow me to a bit vulnerable in this post. I have lately been fraught with worry, anxiety and fear. I’ve been pondering where this came from (cause it seemingly came out of nowhere), and I’ve spent a good deal of time praying, reading the Word and psychoanalyzing myself. I guess a large part of the fear is simply worrying about ‘tomorrow’ and the thought What on earth am I going to do with my whole life?
“Worry puts question marks where God puts periods.” John R. Rice
But in all the soul-searching that I have done, I have found no solace or understanding, until today.
I started reading a book by Robert J. Morgan called Red Sea Rules which gives 10 scripture-based strategies for difficult times. I’m pretty blown away with the godly perspective I’ve gained about my worries. The Red Sea Rule #1 to making it through a hard season (be it worry, anxiety from situations or just plain bad circumstances) is to “realize that the Lord has either placed us there or allowed us to be there, perhaps for reasons presently known only to Himself.”
The same God who led me in will lead me out. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8). Realizing that God has me right where He wants me brings a great sense of hope. I’m not in this difficult season because the devil has me in a trap that I can’t break free from and God can’t break into. I will rest in the fact that it is God who brought me here, He will keep me here because of His love, and give me grace to be His child (Heb. 12:6, 1 Cor. 10:13). Jesus will turn this trial into a blessing and teach me a lesson about Himself, myself, and life itself.
This poem, which is untitled and unattributed, found in a small volume by V. Raymond Edman, titled The Disciplines of Life, really encouraged me:
When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man,
And skill a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, Watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lights beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out–
God knows what He’s about.
You can check out the book Red Sea Rules here:
