"'The Telling' RAT on a Wheel in a Cage with a Maze"
Recently I have been treated like a rat! I picture a rat on a stationary wheel (remember the gerbil?) in a cage but with a maze attached that I cannot get out of. It is a strange comparison but it is telling.
The Rat: past of a relatively short season of sexual confusion/homosexual sin as a teen.
The stationary wheel: The “dead religion” (not living or extending the Gospel) inside some of the Christian churches and Body toward me.
The cage: society’s view of watching the church and supposed believers hedge ourselves in an cage by "boxing God in" by legalism: limiting ourselves from the greatness of the Gospel and its true power. (Having the key to enter God’s kingdom Gospel living but instead live by legalism and not using the key to Freedom IN CHRIST and blocking others from entering!)
The maze: looking for the door in my practical life to take me out, to be fully released from this failed system: find the way out of these traps and lifestyles of “religion” and to live FREE IN THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF GOOD NEWS: JESUS CHRIST’s SALVATION and KINGDOM...
Homosexuality seems the “RAT” of the Bible. (Treated as the worst of the worst sins.) Yet THE GOSPEL does transform and offers NEW LIFE and full grace and forgiveness and mercy. Do we believe this?
Churches and pastors may speak the Truth of the Bible regarding homosexuality as sin and even share current threats to the church like pastors or laypeople being arrested for proclaiming Bible truths about homosexuality. That is all fine but if these “facts” are not given in the context of LOVE and instead have tones of condemnation, hopelessness, contempt mixed in toward those struggling, is this not brutality and an opposition to the true Gospel and Bible? The Gospel must be extended to all people!
Christ died for our sins while we were sinners and calls us to love as He loved us.
Truth without love is brutality is a quote from a Bible commentary of Warren Weisbe.
The culture tells us “some are born this way” and it is not sin. Many are in conflict over what to believe. Heaping shame and its tactics often is the thing that leads people away from Jesus and His grace and truth.
Those struggling with their sexuality are often "ME TOO’s". Statistically, over 70% of "Me Too’s" turn to homosexuality. Many do not yet know Christ as Savior or many do know Christ but are in strongholds based on past trauma and when going for help in churches sadly many get stampeded with shame and condemnation and very little help, if any! I know, I have been there! Many have not been loved well by the church and thus do not know God’s Word well or do not know the power of love in community or of the gift of true prayer warriors and this support. Many are at risk of taking their lives. Suicide because of confused sexuality and past abuse is very huge risk and a tragic reality!
The problem of having others shame strugglers is so huge that laws are being past to prevent even parents from talking to their own child about their sexuality. My experience and opinion: The church is failing to be a hospital for the sin sick in this area of struggle. THE GOSPEL IS NOT TRULY BEING EXTENDED TO THESE!
CASE IN POINT: This week I received the following message in an email:
"Now, please PRAY and take note of these very important prayer requests along with the call to action:
· "PLEASE SHOW UP THURSDAY, JUNE 7TH!!!
A precedent has been set in Tampa because Robert Vazzo(A Florida Licensed Therapist) and Richard Mast(A lawyer with the Liberty Counsel) have filed an injunction against the City of Tampa to stand against the ordinance that was voted into law last year prohibiting help for minors dealing with Same-Sex Attraction. This action totally denied parents the right to make decisions based on their best interest in their children’s well being and also broke a state law which states that municipalities do not have the jurisdiction to pass ordinances dealing with mental health issues.
THEY HAVE REQUESTED THAT AS MANY AS POSSIBLE SHOW UP IN THE GALLERY ON THURSDAY, JUNE 7TH
TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. NO ONE WILL BE REQUIRED TO SPEAK. DETAILS FOLLOW. It is anticipated that the gallery will be filled with many pro-gay folks. Sad but true, numbers impact decisions!
What: Hearing to consider the injunction mentioned above.
When: Thursday, June 7th, 2018, 8:30 A.M.(Proceedings are expected to start at 9 A.M.)
Where: Sam Gibbons Court House- Courtroom 10B
801 N. Florida Ave.
Tampa, FL 33602
PLEASE PLAN NOW TO TAKE A HALF DAY OFF WORK IF NECESSARY TO ATTEND. Bring like-minded Christian friends and colleagues. WE MUST SACRIFICE FOR OUR FAITH!! THE LIGHT MUST SHINE IN THE DARKNESS!! PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOU PLAN TO ATTEND”.
IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR, THANK YOU! I welcome you to contact me with your thoughts. Please share the free audio version of the first half of the book. Please let’s live the GOSPEL TO ONE ANOTHER and share it with others.
IN PASSION FOR CHRIST and HIS GOSPEL GOODNESS TO BRING REVIVAL,
Deborah Ann Saint pen