RELIGIOUS PIETY THROUGH MORAL CONFORMITY?!?

— Writing my thoughts after listening to commentary from the Christian Worldview Radio broadcast

INTRODUCTION

As I listened to the Christian Worldview Radio Broadcast on 99.5 KKLA-FM the other day, their conversation about the LGBTQ community interested me, of course; because of my landmark manuscript that is not only the most powerfully-written and spirit-filled book I've ever been apart of. It SUPERNATURALLY SPEAKS to all the issues, and brings clarity based upon sound biblical explanations, interpretations and applications.

MORAL SUPERIORITY IS "THE LETTER"

One of the BIGGEST stumbling blocks and gross errors of Christendom towards "the world", is mistakingly attempting to demonstrate "moral superiority" as a way of both defending and differentiating the Christian — CAUSE, COMMITMENT, and CREED of the faith, while also pointing at OURSELVES at any time; instead of referring to and intentionally referencing JESUS CHRIST (The Perfect Substitutionary Sacrifice) as the ONLY LIVING EXAMPLE for Christian's and the world to emulate in regards to Morality, Spirituality and Immortality.

CHRISTIANS are NOT the "moral governors" in the land! Never have been; and never will be! As a counterculture spiritual body totally dependent upon the Grace of Almighty God, our primary role is — consistently challenging the moral depravity in our world, by our words, our walk and our worship! 

Because, our representations of MORAL SUPERIORITY is an endangerment to our witness, which should be a priority of focus for Christian's (for the purpose of) — POINTING PEOPLE TO JESUS, NOT to attempting to EVER convict people of their sin — and definitely NOT representing ourselves as a moral elite-tess or perfectionists; GOD FORBID!!

All the RELIGIOUS CHURCH can do is push THE LETTER!

All the REMNANT CHURCH can do is push THE SPIRIT, through demonstrations of POWER that distinguishes our message from every other!

GOSPEL STANDARDS POINT TO JESUS, NOT US

GOSPEL STANDARDS

Values, Virtues and Standards could all be categorically put together in regard to their similarities, purposes and promises.

— Gospel Standards are a measure or guideline for agreement alignment with the Word of God by grace through faith for every believer. Standards are NOT upheld in the FLESH; but BY THE SPIRIT.

— Gospel Values are the way in which we demonstrate the values which Jesus teaches us through the Gospels. "How we behave towards others."

— Gospel Virtues allow us not only to perform good acts, but to "give the best of yourself."

— Gospel Values are things which we display, and Gospel Virtues are what we develop spiritually.

Believing that we can ARGUE THE LETTER with SINNERS will advance the Kingdom of God is a BIG ERROR.

The parading of MORAL AUTHORITY and SUPERIOR RELIGIOSITY is the biggest impediment to the world invading the church out of genuine hunger for the things of God!

Because as long as the "Good News" keeps being represented as "perfect" performance, obedience, or discipline, and NOT complete surrender and abandonment to Jesus Christ, the world will stay at bay and distant..

GOD ACCEPTS, AFFIRMS and APPROVES

For some reason, the “charismania in Christendom” has REALLY gotten to clergy’s heads — with erroneous thinking that their sanctimonious titles, religious cloaks, and glowing popularity magically gives them some SPECIAL PLACE in the Divine Order of family, community, and individuality that has been the cause of great confusion, rabid corruption, and organized chaos that many called “church”; to the devastation of many wounded people recovering from their “leadership”..

When it comes to LGBTQ children and youth, besides the leadership and guidance of parents, family members and community leaders — under the proper influence of sound biblical doctrine, healthy child development knowledge, as well as practical behavioral application and training; NO ONE ELSE should have anything to do with crossing boundaries and personal lines around IDENTITY, SEXUALITY, and INDIVIDUALITY of these children and youth!

“KEYS” TO EFFECTIVE MINISTRY IN APPLICATION, FOR LGBTQ CHILDREN & YOUTH:

Acceptance (their struggle), Affirmation (their identity) and Approval (their decision) = when these things are NOT done from "authority figures", "family members", or "significant headship", the person will pursue — REBELLION, which is always the natural and spiritual progression of people that carry REJECTION related to trauma, pain and emotional torment.

VERSUS

Endorsing (countersigning), Justifying (declaring righteous) and Sanctioning (authorizing and co-authoring) = their actions; when these things are done, the person is EMPOWERED in their choices and may never repent, turn to Christ, or hear any disputing voices without their deepest feelings being heard.

The KEY to being an EFFECTIVE WITNESS for CHRIST, is actually remembering the purpose of "the law"; and allowing GOD's STANDARD to do what it does as a SCHOOLMASTER that clearly convicts sinners that sin!

The NEXT THING that Christian's are supposed to be prepared to share, is pronouncing the Ministry and Word of Reconciliation (GOOD NEWS/GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM) that points to the only logical solution for remedying the penalty that is due for humanity's sins..

DO's & DON'TS (RELIGIOUS CONTROL)

— Attending gay weddings

— attending child adoption of gays

— "cross the rubicon"

— gay/affirming world

— homosexual pastor (Alester Begg?)

— Afffirmation/participation forbidden

— Approval with silence

— No wedding approval

— No wedding gift

— Moral standards

— Introduce an affirming position of the Evangelical Church to gay weddings

"US & THEM THEOLOGY"

— Give them an INCH they'll take a MILE

— Situational ethics

— Liberal playbook

— American fundamentalism

— Anyone that does not HATE? (choose Christ over them; hate behavior NOT people)

LETTER VS SPIRIT — THE LETTER ALONE 'KILLS'

Second Corinthians 3:6 says, "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." With these words, Paul summarizes the key difference between the Old and New Testaments: the first covenant was based on obedience to the written law (the "letter"), but the second covenant is based on the blood of Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

There are two parts to this answer, as we look at both the letter and the Spirit.

First, what does Paul mean by "the letter kills"? Simply that the Old Testament Law, which is good and perfect (Psalm 19:7), reveals all people as law-breakers (Galatians 3:10). The law "kills" in that the penalty for breaking God's law is eternal death in hell (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8). As God told Moses the lawgiver, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book" (Exodus 32:33). Even if you sin only once in your whole life, it's the same as breaking all of God's laws (James 2:10), just as breaking only one link in a chain breaks the whole chain.

The written law—"the letter"—was chiseled in stone by the finger of God and is the unchanging standard by which all are judged. The law cannot give us righteousness or eternal life in heaven (Galatians 2:16). It can only condemn us as sinners, and the sentence is death. Heaven is where perfection is required (Matthew 5:20, 48; 19:16–21), and "the law made nothing perfect" (Hebrews 7:19).

Second, what does Paul mean by "the Spirit gives life"? Simply that the Holy Spirit rescues us from our hopeless situation. God saves us from death and grants us eternal life when we are born again through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (John 3:6), and, later, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are Spirit and they are life" (John 6:63).

The Holy Spirit was active in the Incarnation of our Savior (Luke 1:35). It was through the Holy Spirit that Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to God for our sins (Hebrews 9:14). The Spirit is the cause of the new birth (John 3:3–8). It is the Spirit who lives in believers (John 14:17), seals them (Ephesians 1:13), and sanctifies them (Romans 15:16).

Jesus came to give us an abundant life, or life "to the full" (John 10:10). The Holy Spirit living in believers is how Jesus fulfills that promise. The abundant Christian life is marked by the fruit of the Spirit, which is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22–23). The Old Testament Law could not produce any of that fruit; only the Holy Spirit can, as He lives in us.

The Spirit gives life in that He enables us to reach God's ultimate goal for us, to be transformed into the glorious image of God's own Son (2 Corinthians 3:18; also see Romans 8:28–30). Until the day that we see Christ, the Spirit intercedes with God on our behalf, ensuring our continued forgiveness and preserving the promise of God (Romans 8:26–27).

"The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). Elsewhere, Paul teaches the same truth: "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code" (Romans 7:6). WS-3

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