God blesses the union of marriage.
Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” Matthew 22: 29-30.
Questions of sexual behavior are always a good bet to get human eyes off the main thing. In the above verses, Jesus was concluding an argument with the Sadducees about the resurrection. As usual, when a political entity desires to change the focus of any discussion, the Sadducees brought up the matter of sex.
What they wanted to know was what would some poor woman do if she had been passed from brother to brother during her lifetime and then was so unfortunate as to be resurrected to face this whole mess yet again? Resort to human logic about human behavior and slide the resurrection to the side for a moment while we sort this whole thing out.
Political tactics like this one are no new thing. All the way back in Genesis 6, God instructed Noah to build an ark because the world was about to be destroyed, “The sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful, and they took wives of them of all whom they chose” Genesis 6:2. Sexual misbehavior was taking place among those who were not supposed to come together. No new thing.
Over and over in Scripture, sexual misconduct results in pain, death, and destruction, even reaching as high as the destruction of nations who engage in or condone such behaviors.
But let’s keep the main thing the main thing.
What they wanted to know was what would some poor woman do if she had been passed from brother to brother during her lifetime and then was so unfortunate as to be resurrected to face this whole mess yet again? Resort to human logic about human behavior and slide the resurrection to the side for a moment while we sort this whole thing out.
Political tactics like this one are no new thing. All the way back in Genesis 6, God instructed Noah to build an ark because the world was about to be destroyed, “The sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful, and they took wives of them of all whom they chose” Genesis 6:2. Sexual misbehavior was taking place among those who were not supposed to come together. No new thing.
Over and over in Scripture, sexual misconduct results in pain, death, and destruction, even reaching as high as the destruction of nations who engage in or condone such behaviors.
But let’s keep the main thing the main thing.
Let's keep the main thing the main thing
There is only ONE acceptable form of sexual behavior among those who believe the Word of God and try to live by it. Like the Sadducees, the Pharisees had their political pandering for Jesus. The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” Jesus explained the finer points of the two becoming one flesh, male and female. Both the Pharisees and Sadducees were masters of manipulating the Law, just as men have always done, just as they do now.
The Constitution of the United States is a great and wonderful document, framed by men who believed in God and sought His protection for the citizens of the new country they created. We should, as Christians, defend it to the best of our ability and courage. But let us remember that document is not Scripture.
Marriage is God’s visible pattern to humanity of Christ and His Church. “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.” Ephesians 5:32. What mystery? The mystery of salvation, of unity, of redemption.
Political entities through the ages have stood opposed to Christ and His church and it is certain they will continue to do so. Defend the Constitution? Yes. Stand opposed to laws that contradict Scripture and endanger the rights of the citizens of this nation? Every day. But let’s keep the main thing the main thing.
The day is coming when it will not matter what my sexual orientation was, nor my political affiliation might have been. In that day it will not matter if I defended the Constitution or if I used the morning after pill. ALL that will matter on that day will be my relationship with Jesus Christ. While we remain in the political arena, defending and speaking out for basic rights of American citizens, let us also remember God’s agenda.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9
___________________________________________________________________________________
Special thanks to Lee Jasper, Christian writer, for this blog contribution.
The Constitution of the United States is a great and wonderful document, framed by men who believed in God and sought His protection for the citizens of the new country they created. We should, as Christians, defend it to the best of our ability and courage. But let us remember that document is not Scripture.
Marriage is God’s visible pattern to humanity of Christ and His Church. “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.” Ephesians 5:32. What mystery? The mystery of salvation, of unity, of redemption.
Political entities through the ages have stood opposed to Christ and His church and it is certain they will continue to do so. Defend the Constitution? Yes. Stand opposed to laws that contradict Scripture and endanger the rights of the citizens of this nation? Every day. But let’s keep the main thing the main thing.
The day is coming when it will not matter what my sexual orientation was, nor my political affiliation might have been. In that day it will not matter if I defended the Constitution or if I used the morning after pill. ALL that will matter on that day will be my relationship with Jesus Christ. While we remain in the political arena, defending and speaking out for basic rights of American citizens, let us also remember God’s agenda.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9
___________________________________________________________________________________
Special thanks to Lee Jasper, Christian writer, for this blog contribution.
RSS Feed