I Kings 2:28-30 Joab had little enough religion, yet he flies to the altar when he is pursued by the sword. Many people run for external religion when death threatens them. Then, they go to greater lengths than the Bible prescribes. They not only run to the tabernacle, but they must cling to the altar. First, we see the outward use of ordinances, which doesn't provide salvation. If a man rests in external rites, he'll die there. We see people who rely upon Sacraments. In health or sickness they don't bring salvation. They are intended for the saved and will harm the unsaved.
1 Cor 11:26-29 We see people turn to ministers. Some dying people look upon them with foolish reverence. In the hour of death they resort to bedside prayers. Great importance is attached to funeral sermons and ceremonials. We also see people rely upon feelings. Many people have relied upon feelings as grounds for hope. This is all futile. A drowning man may well not feel like swimming. How terrible it would be to perish with your hand on the altar! Now let us look at the spiritual turn to the true altar that brings salvation. We'll use Joab's case as an illustration. First, let's examine his act. He "caught hold on the horns of the altar." We do this by flying from the sword of justice to the Person of Jesus, taking hold of His great atoning work and through faith uniting us to His plan. Now there were fierce demands from his adversary. "Thus saith the king, Come forth." Today we have the demands of unbelieving Pharisees teaching salvation by works. These are the ones who teach that if a gay doesn't become straight that he can't be saved. We see man's accusing conscience saying that you don't deserve forgiveness. The mainstream church tells us that we don't deserve forgiveness unless we give up what is normal and natural to us. How would they feel if they were told that they couldn't be saved unless they loved someone of the same sex? Then, the devil falsely quotes Holy Scripture. He gets plenty of cooperation from the mainstream church. They pull out the scriptures that support their personal feelings and ignore the scriptures that give us our support and hope. The devil doesn't want one gay or lesbian to ever be saved. He thinks that by turning the mainstream church against us that he has us locked up and ready for hell. Isn't it a shame that the church cooperates with the devil like this? Look at the desperate resolve of Joab. "Nay, but I will die here." This was a wise resolution because we:
We have been assured security.
John 3:36
If you perished not trusting in Jesus, your ruin would:
Therefore, come now and grip the horns of the altar. Don't let the mainstream church stop you from receiving what God has promise YOU! You know, when a thirsty man to the well, he doesn't quench his thirst by going. It gets worse the closer he gets. He can begin to hear the refreshing splashes. But what he draws out of the well satisfies his thirst. Just so, trying forms and ordinances and forms of what other people consider godliness doesn't bring true peace. You must come and dip out the Living Water and drink for yourself. Copyright © 2001 by the author All Rights Reserved
|
No Exceptions: A Gay Christian's Guide Victoria M. St. Christopher Our Tribe: Queer Folks, God, Jesus & the Bible (Millennium Edition) Nancy Wilson
Or search Amazon.com for books related to GLBT people and Christianity.
Also In This Issue:
If I Keep My Eyes on Jesus, I Can Walk on Water
|