Galatians 4:1-12
This passage speaks to the ways in which we act and remain under guardianship until the proper time, when we gain maturity and wisdom. This is a case I have argued for quite some time.
Do you believe in mesons and bosons? This is heavy physics for sure but they do exist. I am sure God has known all about this stuff, after all it was from his mind that it was all created. We are still trying to figure it out (as best we can). If, as the literalists suggest, the Bible is the actual words of God, why didn't he speak of mesons and bosons, the fact that the earth revolves around the sun and that it really isn't quite a "dome" that sits over the land as if we are living on a silver platter and about to be revealed as today's speacialite du jour. No, God did not present the world that way when he inspired the Biblical authors (plural) to set down on paper, rocks or papyrus the story of His love for us and our devotion to him (or her as the case could very easily be). What good would it have done if he relayed such in depth information to us? Could we possibly have understood? If God told Og (the caveman) anything other than a grunt, would Og have understood? Why is it that our Savior appears in our history thousands of years after recorded history begins?
Let me ask you another question., why didn't you give your son a brand new car on the day he was born? Perhaps such a gift would be inappropriate. He wasn't ready for it.
God reveals himself all the time. The Spirit of our living God is around us, helping us to see and understand truths that we not have been able to understand or have not been ready for. And so there is a story of creation (2 actually in Genesis) in terms we could understand at the time. We thought the sun revolved around the earth and we eventually grew up a bit more and understood that it just isn't so. Then too, we realized that Bible was not condoning slavery. The Spirit of God prevailed and recognized the dignity and freedom for all men and women. Even the dignity of women was not always a recognized right. Unfortunately, slavery and women's rights are still not universal across the globe. There was a time in the late 1800's that the Pope said that suspension bridges were 'of the devil'. We know better I think.
What I am going for here is the recognition that the time has come, inspired by the Spirit, guided by correct interpretation of scripture and principle of law, that God given rights to love, and live committed rights also belong to the LGBTQ community. It seems that not too many years ago we cowered in the corners, closeted and fearful. It is amazing what happens when you step into the light of day. It is even more amazing to me what happens in your life when you step into the light of Christ.
Gay people are not better or no worse than anyone else. If there is a propensity to sin in any way it is no more prevalent in the gay community than in any other. If you think otherwise, I would consult the statistics on divorce, infidelity or hang outside a singles bar to see how straight people really act. I am not indicting straight people, simpling noting behavior, good or bad, might be considered universal.
The time has come when we can now understand more than we ever did. I pray for the time we can all realize that we do not need to fight wars. I pray we can realize the rights and privileges of all God's creations. Perhaps that even means ALL animals, maybe one day we'll all be vegetarians, who knows. I want to to be open to the Spirit. Right now I am praising God and thanking Him for the Spirit that is helping us realize that yeah, he created Gay people who are part of his created world and are worth the same love and respect as everyone else.
God reveals himself all the time. The Spirit of our living God is around us, helping us to see and understand truths that we not have been able to understand or have not been ready for. And so there is a story of creation (2 actually in Genesis) in terms we could understand at the time. We thought the sun revolved around the earth and we eventually grew up a bit more and understood that it just isn't so. Then too, we realized that Bible was not condoning slavery. The Spirit of God prevailed and recognized the dignity and freedom for all men and women. Even the dignity of women was not always a recognized right. Unfortunately, slavery and women's rights are still not universal across the globe. There was a time in the late 1800's that the Pope said that suspension bridges were 'of the devil'. We know better I think.
What I am going for here is the recognition that the time has come, inspired by the Spirit, guided by correct interpretation of scripture and principle of law, that God given rights to love, and live committed rights also belong to the LGBTQ community. It seems that not too many years ago we cowered in the corners, closeted and fearful. It is amazing what happens when you step into the light of day. It is even more amazing to me what happens in your life when you step into the light of Christ.
Gay people are not better or no worse than anyone else. If there is a propensity to sin in any way it is no more prevalent in the gay community than in any other. If you think otherwise, I would consult the statistics on divorce, infidelity or hang outside a singles bar to see how straight people really act. I am not indicting straight people, simpling noting behavior, good or bad, might be considered universal.
The time has come when we can now understand more than we ever did. I pray for the time we can all realize that we do not need to fight wars. I pray we can realize the rights and privileges of all God's creations. Perhaps that even means ALL animals, maybe one day we'll all be vegetarians, who knows. I want to to be open to the Spirit. Right now I am praising God and thanking Him for the Spirit that is helping us realize that yeah, he created Gay people who are part of his created world and are worth the same love and respect as everyone else.
4
My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; 2but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits* of the world. 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our* hearts, crying, ‘Abba!* Father!’ 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.*
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods. 9Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits?* How can you want to be enslaved to them again? 10You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years. 11I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.
12 Friends,* I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong.
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