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6 BOCNEWS.COMAUGUST 2015 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him say- ing We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar saying that He Himself is Christ a King. Luke 231-12 NKJV Recently the highest court in our land the Supreme Court handed down a decision that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. This was not a biblical decision. It was not a moral decision. It was not in the opinion of some dissenting judges a constitutional decision. It was in many ways the result of public opinion and practice. Interestingly the decision of the Supreme Court and the direction our country is going has some parallels to the trial and subsequent crucifixion of Christ. Public opinion of the masses the outcry by the masses superseded what Pilate knew to be right but he still caved in to public opinion. When the chief priest and Pharisees arrested and brought Jesus to Pilate according to the gospel of Luke they framed their accusation in terms of the Law rather than in spiritual terms. Pilate was not a spiritual leader and to accuse Jesus in spiritual terms would have been foreign to him as some of the other gospel writers address. He also had no jurisdiction over things of the spiritual over reli- gious matters. John 1831 records that they had an agenda to see Jesus crucified and only the Roman government had the authority to do so. Jesus had to be judged according to Roman law to be crucified. In like manner the issue of immorality as mani- fested in the LGBT community has been transformed into a legal issue. Same-sex marriage has become a human rights issue that in many ways has the support of Christians and non-believers. Although same sex-marriage is something that Christians cannot accept the fact that all people have a right to share their personal resources be beneficiaries on insurance policies be considered as a couple for health benefits with anyone they desire is palatable. Therefore same-sex marriage is a means to legiti- matize the immoral through legal means based on equality. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his dissent- ing vote If you are among the many Americans--of whatever sexual orientation--who favor expanding same-sex marriage by all means celebrate todays decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expres- sion of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it. Associate Justice Samuel Alito stood up for mar- riage as tradition that goes back for millennia saying it was inextricably linked to procreation. He also wrote about religious liberty in his dissent saying for those who maintain a biblical view of marriage there would be persecution. Those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes but if they repeat those views in pub- lic they will risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments employers and schools. Those of us who are of a biblical mindset can see on the horizon the moral decline of our nation the family structure and the negative influences on our children. We can see and smell the smoke of Sodom and Gomorrah off in the distance. Envision the plaques of Egypt. The wrath of God expressed dur- ing the Wilderness wanderings and struggles in the conquest of the Promised Land. The religious rulers the keepers of the Law manipulated the Law for their benefit declaring Jesus guilty according to the law in the hope of elimi- nating the spiritual threat to the authority. What role does the law have in issues of spirituality What was Gods intention by giving us the law THE ORIGIN OF THE LAW. God has ordained government Romans 131. In the Bible the annuals of biblical history we find that moral law or natural law superseded the actual law. People did what was right in their own eyes. The Law as writ- ten though Moses came as a concise definition of sin and defined the regu- lations and penaltiesconsequence of moral corruptionbehavior. Without the Law humanity had no measure of righteousness. However with the Law came the knowledge of sin Romans 79 Romans 320. Laws are reflec- tions of societal norms. Many laws that are on the books are no longer relevant because times have changed Jim Crow. However God is the same yesterday today and forever. His word does not change it is immutable. The Bible stands as the ultimate measure of truth and righteousness. Sin has always and will always be sin. Those of us who adhere to the teaching of the bible will often find ourselves in the minority in opposition to society and in risk of being ostracized as insensitive haters phobics and manipulators. From a biblical standpoint the majority does not rule no matter how much public opinion declares something to be right or best or the thing for the masses to do. The bible clearly defines according to Matthew 713 14 . . . wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it . . . narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it. THE LAW PROVIDES BOUNDARIES. We live in a time where boundaries everywhere are being broken down. However eventually everyone comes to recog- nize the need for boundaries. Jesus placed boundaries around love. Jesus gave his life because he loved us. He said If you love me you will keep my commandments John 145. Love cannot blossom in a do whatever feels good society or relationship. It must have boundaries. Every per- son has the right to choose whom he or she will love. The question appears to be more of how they love is expressed. Intimacy of necessity must have bound- aries or it degrades to a mere sexual act prostitu- tion pornography etc. Those who advocate for samesex marriage will eventually come to the point of having to establish boundaries because there is no way to have a mean- ingful relationship without boundaries. What will be the foundation of the establishing of boundaries Monogamy is the common link for all relationships and monogamy has its roots in the bible begin- ning with the worship of God and God alone. The Law defined and defines the limits of intimacy to be between a man and a woman within the context of a monogamous marital relationship. Marriage whether it is heterosexual or same sex must have parameters in order to have authentic relationships. The foundation for the setting of those boundaries is controversial but in order to have an authentic relationship a boundary must exist. Heterosexuals and those of the LGBTQ persuasion recognize the significance of a personal and complete commitment to another person. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAW AND TRUTH. People are born with inclinations towards a number of behaviors which are deemed by society as vices. The proper practice of life bids us to not give in or respond to contrary feel- ings lying stealing incest etc. Our psychological environmental and spiritual bent leads us down a road to the fulfilment or denial of certain behaviours. How is the church to respond seemingly in an age of moral error and degradation As it always has with the truth. The truth is not restricted to any specific ethnic- ity gender religion or society. The truth is always true not matter what light you may shine on it. What is truth It is popular for people to say that what is good or bad for you may not be good or bad for me. In the minds of those people everything is relative. Simply put truth is that which is not false. Truth is that which is void of error. Jesus never said the Word would make us free. It is the truth of the Word that makes us free. It is our taking and applying it to our daily lives that causes a release from the bondage of error. Jesus said If you continue in My Word you shall now the truth and the truth shall make you free. Where does the truth lead you To the Son. The truth will emancipate you. Truth can set your mind free from its bondage under ignorance and prejudice and evil habit. Truth gives true freedom. Evil has its stronghold in darkness the light of truth destroys it. The religious rulers stated their case against Jesus and they stated it in legal terms that the Roman government might have reason and authority to act. They founded their complaint against Jesus in legal terms to effect a spiritual outcome. Jesus was guilty according to the law. It was a sinister way of accom- plishing their spiritual purpose to have Jesus cruci- fied. Advocates of same-sex marriage in our society have learned this technique and have shaped their case and cause in the covering of the law. They have wrapped their case in the genderless legal blanket of freedom justice and equality. However we must not be deceived its root branch and tree is immoral and we need to recognize the fruit for what it is. Not everything legal leads to freedom. Not everything legal is beneficial 1 Corinthians 612. As we see with the legalization of marijuana some things can be legal but not be beneficial not righteous. So if the Bible history psychology and nature all argue for marriage being between a man and a woman why is the gay rights movement so aggres- sively pushing for same-sex marriage when most people religious and non-religious are supportive of or at least far less opposed to gay couples hav- ing all the same legal rights as married couples with some form of civil union The answer according to the Bible is that every- one inherently knows that homosexuality is immoral and unnatural. The vehemence and anger expressed by many in the gay rights movement to any who oppose them is in fact an indication that they know their position is indefensible. The only way to sup- press this inherent knowledge is by normalizing homosexuality and attacking all opposition to it. The best way to normalize homosexuality is by plac- ing gay marriagesame-sex marriage on an equal plane with traditional opposite-gender marriage. The proper expression for intimacy in biblical terms is marriage the marriage bed is undefiled between a man and a woman. Therefore marriage is seen as a way to legitimize homosexual relationships. In their minds if marriage is legal it is also moral. How is the William T. Golson Guilty According To The Law By Pastor William T. Golson SERMON It is the truth of the Word that makes us free. It is our taking and applying it to our daily lives that causes a release from the bondage of error. Jesus said If you continue in My Word you shall now the truth and the truth shall make you free. Where does the truth lead you Continued on Page 12