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"...Shepherd the flock of God which is among
you, serving as overseers..." (1 Peter 5:2)
Elders
Morris Bass, Rick Holt , Joe
Price |
"...let them serve as deacons,
being found blameless..." (1 Tim. 3:10)
Deacons
Aaron Bass, Rich Brooks, Mike Finn
John Hague, Dan Head |
"And take...the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
Are You Ready?
What Homosexuals Want
The Great "I Am"
Are You Ready?
Joe R. Price
People expect many different things to
happen at the end of the world. The word of God makes it very clear that
Jesus Christ will return one day, and in that moment this world and
everything in it will be consumed (2 Pet. 3:10). People may scoff at such a
prospect if they wish, but one day the scoffing will end as “every knee
shall bow, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Rom. 14:11). With
Peter we ask, “Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness...”
(2 Pet. 3:11)? Perhaps a brief look at what to expect when Christ returns
and the world ends will help us be more determined to be Christians every
moment of our lives.
When Christ returns, all men can expect: 1)
To be resurrected from the dead (Jno. 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:21-22); 2) A
judgment of one’s life (Heb. 9:27); 3) A reward corresponding with one’s
life (2 Cor. 5:10).
When Christ returns, Christians can expect
to receive: 1) Eternal life (Titus 1:2); 2) An inheritance in heaven (1
Pet. 1:3-4); 3) Glory with Christ (Col. 3:4); 4) Rest (2 Ths. 1:7); 5) A
home with Christ forever (1Ths.4:17).
When Christ returns, those who are not
Christians can expect to receive: 1) Eternal punishment / destruction due
to their sins (2 Ths. 1:8); 2) Vengeance (2 Ths. 1:7); 3) Eternal pain and
sorrow (Matt. 25:30; Mk. 9:43-48).
With these prospects of the future, why
aren’t you a Christian? Why are you convincing yourself that you can live
half-heartedly as a Christian and finally go to heaven when life is over?
God has never deserved nor accepted second best. The glimpses God gives us
into future events should convince us to prepare for death and Christ’s
return. Are you ready to meet Him? Obey the gospel and become a
Christian: “Prepare to meet thy God” (Amos 4:12).
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What Homosexuals Want
Joe R. Price
The Bible
unequivocally describes homosexuality as sin. It is a sin against God (Jude
7), the home (Gen. 2:18-25), self (1 Tim. 1:10) and society (Rom. 1:18-32,
esp. vss. 26-27). The reality of this truth to every Bible-believing person
is too obvious to belabor. Homosexuals, unless they repent, shall not
inherit the kingdom of heaven (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
America is headed in
an entirely different direction concerning homosexuality. All around us,
the “gays and lesbians” are gaining ground in their militant approach to
secure their “rights” in society. A Gallup poll taken in the fall of 1989
showed that 47 percent of all adults believe that homosexual relations
between consenting adults should be legal, up from only 33 percent in 1987.
We have been silent much too long. Many battles have already been lost.
Many souls have already been surrendered to the enemy. We must begin now to
equip ourselves and do battle against Satan (Eph. 6:10-17).
Make no mistake; the
homosexual community has an agenda. The evidence of that agenda is seen
daily in government, the media, the legal system, the arts, and the
schools. We must learn about the approaches being taking in an effort to
“climatize” and “desensitize” society toward homosexuality. We need this
information in order to equip ourselves to battle against it.
The basis for the
homosexual agenda is philosophical saturation. The Humanist Manifesto II
(1973) outlined the basic philosophical thinking which promotes the
homosexual lifestyle:
“In the area of
sexuality, we believe that intolerant attitudes, often cultivated by
orthodox religions and puritanical cultures, unduly repress sexual conduct.
The right of birth control, abortion, and divorce should be recognized.
While we do not approve of exploitive, denigrating forms of sexual
expression, neither do we wish to prohibit, by law or social sanction,
sexual behavior between consenting adults. The many varieties of sexual
exploration should not in themselves be considered “evil.”....Short of
harming others or compelling them to do likewise, individuals should be
permitted to express their sexual proclivities and pursue their life-styles
as they desire....Moral education for children and adults is an important
way of developing awareness and sexual maturity.” (THE HUMANIST MANIFESTO
II, 18-19).
This statement is at the
heart of the homosexual agenda in America. As long as it “doesn’t hurt
others” (and, who decides that?), homosexuality is to be viewed as
acceptable, not “evil.” And, more and more people agree. This humanistic
philosophy is the acid that has stripped away respect for the God-given role
of sex within monogamous, heterosexual marriage (1 Cor. 7:2-5). It is their
goal to indoctrinate “children and adults” to believe there is no harm in a
homosexual relationship – that it is merely another expression of love
between caring adults.
This philosophical
saturation of society to gain acceptance includes:
1. The media and arts.
It is no secret that a large percentage of practicing homosexuals and their
sympathizers are in the arts industry. It is also becoming clear that they
and their supporters are using the media to advance their cause. Consider
these excerpts from a recent report on homosexuality on prime time TV in
1992:
“On CBS’s NORTHERN
EXPOSURE, a male couple move into town and take their place on the dance
floor with the town’s other lovers, while Cicely itself, we learn, was
founded by a lesbian couple.
“On NBC’s L.A. LAW,
Amanda Donohoe kisses a female colleague and doesn’t commit suicide.
“On NBC’s SEINFELD,
Jason Alexander panics after being sexually aroused by another man.
“On CBS’s MURPHY
BROWN, Grant Shaud has his homosexual panic, inspired by a cute p.r. guy.”
(Partial list from the Tennessean, 11 May 1992)
You see, if Hollywood can
get you to laugh about homosexuality, or feel sympathetic toward their
conduct, it has helped to reshape your mind toward the practice. By making
homosexual relations part of society’s entertainment, we are being
conditioned not only to tolerate its presence, but to also approve of its
practice (cf. Eph. 5:6-14).
2. Governmental
support. Our tax dollars are being spent by our government to further
homosexual acceptance:
“...the Labor Department,
under its CETA program (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) gave
$41,000 to a feminist group to perform in the nude the ‘Leaping Lesbian
Follies’” (Walter Williams, The Washington Dateline).
Williams went on to say
that the Los Angeles CETA has given Gay Community Services $640,000 to
provide education about gay lifestyles. Public funding for homosexual
causes is enormous. In his book, The Homosexual Network: Private Lives and
Public Policies, Enrique Rueda notes that “the federal government provides
18.43% of the funding, the state and local governments 27.20%.... The total
funding from tax sources amounts to 45.63%.”
The Internal Revenue
Service has also helped the homosexual cause by recognizing homosexual
organizations as eligible for tax-exempt, charitable organization status.
And President-elect Clinton wants to formally end the ban against
homosexuals in the military. Our government has drunk long and deep from
the well of the homosexual agenda – and we are financing it!
3. The educational
system. The shaping of children’s minds insures the perpetuity of moral
standards. So, it is little wonder that humanism has infiltrated our
educational system. In New York City the Chancellor of schools, Joseph
Fernandez, is trying to persuade school board officials and parents to
accept the “Children of the Rainbow” curriculum. It is designed to teach
“positive images” of different social groups, including homosexual parents.
Two books on the proposed reading list presently causing a furor are Daddy’s
Roommate and Heather Has Two Mommies. Furthermore, sex education in the
public schools, in places, is being used to validate homosexuality and other
forms of fornication.
4. Religious approval.
The official stand of the Episcopal Church is to include practicing
homosexuals into their priesthood. Many other denominations have been
wrestling with whether or not to accept homosexuals into their fellowship.
There is even a church founded by and for homosexuals – The Metropolitan
Community Church. Founded in 1968 by Troy D. Perry (a homosexual), its
membership accepts homosexuality as “a gift from God” (Handbook of
Denominations, Mead, 8th ed., 172-173). Numerous others churches are now
following suit.
What can Christians do in
the face of humanism and its homosexual agenda? 1) Be informed. 2) Study
the Bible about these subjects. 3) Pray. 4) Teach the truth to all who
will listen. 5) Take a moral stand. 6) Be vocal (use our rights as a
citizens to oppose its intrusion). 7) Be prepared to suffer (2 Tim. 3:12).
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The Great "I Am"
Joe R. Price
“Therefore I said to you that you will die in
your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your
sins.” (John 8:24)
The book penned by the
apostle John presents sufficient evidence for men to believe that Jesus of
Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God. Eternal life is the aim of such
faith (Jno. 20:30-31).
John portrays Jesus in a
series of “I Am” statements, as sufficient meet man’s every need. The
following are among the reasons to put your faith in Jesus and do His will
in your life.
1. I am the bread of life
(Jno. 6:35, 48). Jesus gives the food that sustains eternal life – His
words (Jno. 6:27, 63).
2. I am the light of the
world (Jno. 8:12; 9:5). Jesus illuminates the sinner’s walk in this dark
world of sin.
3. I am the door (Jno.
10:7, 9). Jesus is our access to spiritual salvation and safety.
4. I am the good shepherd
(Jno. 10:11, 14). Jesus guards and leads His sheep.
5. I am the resurrection
and the life (Jno. 11:25). Jesus is the source of eternal life.
6. I am the way, the
truth and the life (Jno. 14:6). Jesus is the only way to come to the Father.
7. I am the true vine
(Jno. 15:1). Jesus is the life source of His disciples.
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