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The Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage has fueled plenty of debate on both sides of the issue.
This is the Rev. Richard Helms' perspective.
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I am quite saddened. We have allowed less than 3 percent of this nation to declare how to redefine our moral beliefs.
How did we get to this stage?
My opinion about gay marriage does not matter. What God has written should be the determining factor for all who declare and claim His name.
In Revelation 21:27, we are told, with no uncertainty, that which will not make it into heaven. Note closely this verse: "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life." The scripture is plain that apparently even a lie is capable of holding man out of His Kingdom.
Look up all things that are an abomination before Him. You just may be surprised.
In Jeremiah's time, Judah had some of the same problems we have today. God, in talking with Jeremiah, laid a charge against the nation that is of little surprise if you understand God's desires for us. He did not choose a pet sin to criticize, or a specific people.
Jeremiah 2:13 says, "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns — broken cisterns that can hold no water."
Note His first charge: the nation had forsaken Him.
The second charge?
"Since they have rejected me, they have sought their own selfish attempt at redefining God and His moral demands."
This, too, is America. How did we get this far?
Again, listen to God speaking to Jeremiah in Chapter 2:8: "The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit."
Church, it is our fault. We are the largest voting bloc in America; we vote less; and when we do vote, we vote liberal. We no longer vote according to God's Holy Word, and have no regard toward His will.
We cannot hate those involved in particular sins, but we must hate the sin enough to stand against it and not condone it. By sharing truth and God's love, then and only then can we seek to turn all to Christ.
Abhor the sin, but love the sinner enough to stand against it.
Our job is to warn and to love. God makes the judgment call, and we can prevent those from being judged by Him by loving all enough to not condone sin in our own lives.
Stand up; keep others from the fire. Show the love, and power, of God in your life that they may have hope in theirs.
The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: With gay marriage, God makes the judgment call