In this mornings sermon, I asked the congregation to follow me in repeating the subject of the lesson: My Pastor is GAY and Theres A Good Chance I Am Too! - I John 2:26-28 (NRSV). As you can imagine, there were guffaws aplenty, gasps for the very air we breathe, clutched pearls (real and imaginary), fear, trepidation, shock, awe, and awkwardly nervous laughter. And after a monumental pause, I began the lesson. The ensuing silence, at times, was deafening. The reactions, at times, were defensive, offended, dismissive, and of conviction. The point was to emphasize that no single person is perfect, no single sin is worse than any other, that the indwelling Spirit of Love should usurp and overtake anything that looks like hate and condemnation. Quit messing with people when theres so much mess in your own yard. The Gospel message will not and should not tickle our ears. It should pierce our hearts and cause us to wrestle with our own salvation, instead of worrying about someone elses. It will not please everyone at all times. And, it will often leave the messenger alone, out on a limb, taking the calculated risk that someones heart will be changed, even with the clear understanding that personal injury will be inflicted on him/her when the dust clears. And, so, we take the risk. . . . Some will get it. Some wont. Others wont care. Many more will disagree. And, yet, it is what it is. . . Not to bore you any further, nor belabor the already excessive point: I am G.A.Y. and theres a good chance you are you are too, because: 1. God Assembled You. - Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them, make and female he created them. 2. God Anointed You. - Jeremiah 1:5a&b Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; 3. God Appointed You. _ Jeremiah 1:5c ... I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. 4. God Abides in You. - I John 2:27 As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. 5. God Adopted You. - Romans 8:15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received Gods Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Abba, Father. 6. God Acquitted You. - Isaiah 53 (emphasis & all) 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. -- Pastor ARM
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 03:45:21 +0000
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