Matthew 24:3-14 (New King James Version)
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
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It's a delicate balance, to live in society and yet to keep oneself apart from the world. Where does one draw the line between His-Will-Be-Done, and We-Have-To-Stop-This-In-His-Name? To what end do Christian organizations lobby against homosexuality?
Granted, biblical evidence do point towards homosexuality being a sin. Many other forms of sexual immorality, however, also are sins. I don't think God's too pleased with what happens in a club. He probably isn't too thrilled by the thriving enterprises along the seedier alleys of Singapore's favorite supper street. Prostitution's legalized. Perhaps there was a rally against it before its legalization, perhaps not.
Everything that happens, happens because God allows them to happen. Perhaps it's all just leading up to the end days. Maybe it's in His plan for some of His more fervent followers to take up arms and do it in such a contemptible fashion that even more hatred is incited against Christians, such that it would finally come to pass that all Christians are persecuted regardless of the cities or state that we live in.
Then we can all take to the mountains like a certain bearded fellow. That reminds me though; I'm sure some of you caught footage of the "Singaporean Terrorist" speaking Singlish. Kinda, funny, no?
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6 comments:
hmm maybe.
Is this post about God's will or your take on homosexuality?
You should read this post:
http://pastorpeterko.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/does-god-will-evil-and-suffering/
There is no easy answer when we try to work out the balance between free will & God's sovereignty (even Romans 9 seems to give an unsatisfactory answer). The fact that we have free will makes us different from any other creature.
Nothing, good or bad, happens outside God's plan. Like the post says, there's a distinction between God's will in what He desires to happen (e.g. 1 Tim 2:3 that everyone comes to know God), & His prescribed will in what He 'allows' to happen (He is a just God & so those who don't repent won't be saved, Rom 1:24).
Everything He does is true to His nature & character & is perfect. It's oddly unsettling & comforting at the same time.
Jessica, are you familiar with the AWARE saga in Singapore? Can do a quick google on it if you're not.
Some Christians are going all crazy over homosexual promotion. I just think it's hypocritical and unnecessary. Whether or not homosexuality is a sin is besides the point here. Sin's everywhere. As long Christians don't engage in it it should be fine, no? Why fight?
I'm in fact aware of that.
I don't think we should just sit by & be passive about it. How are we as Christians meant to make a difference when we have that mentality? It's almost like saying "As long as we're saved, that's OK. I don't need to tell anyone else they should repent & turn to God." That's how the gospel is preached in the bible before anyone becomes a Christian. Like anything else, we stand up for what we believe in. What you're willing to defend (like your pride or your family) shows what's truly important to you.
I hope I'm not taking this too far out of context but, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight."
This world IS screwed up. The world WILL engage in every possible form of sin. That's precisely why we're told not to be "conformed to his world".
When the church and our core beliefs are being attacked then yes we should make a stand.
Fighting against homosexuality - which is just one of many sins the world is engaged in - is, in my opinion, a futile exercise. The methodology they adopted in fighting it is even more contemptible and reflects a total lack of integrity compensated by what they feel is moral high ground.
Energies might perhaps be better focused on protesting against the presence of Evolution as a science within mainstream education's curriculum. THAT goes against the very foundation of our faith. If everything evolved, then there's no God. But of course, I digress.
I don't approve of the way they went about in reinforcing their beliefs. It reflects quite poorly on Christians.
I think we shouldn't afraid to take a stand & make our beliefs known. There are of course better ways to do it.
It's kind of sad to live in a country where (I feel) our ability to evangelise is compromised for the sake of retaining cultural & racial harmony. In Australia, we've got more freedom to do that. We expect can expect to be persecuted for it & it will definitely stir up strife. But (I feel) it is a blessing if it means that people hear the Truth in the end.
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