Pastor's message: Have faith in God

To the Editor:

For many generations people have wondered what was going to happen next in the world. It has been over 40 years since the Supreme Court declared that abortion was legal in the United States. Many innocent babies have been killed since then. How does God feel about this decision? The United States is still a great country. God has not allowed it to be overthrown. Divorce is everywhere for many and varied reasons. How does God feel about this decision? Recently the Supreme Court decided that same-sex marriage is legal. How does God feel about that decision?

So what will the church do in response to the decision concerning the same-sex marriages? You must realize the Church of Christ has no earthly head. There will be some members and possibly some congregations who will say, with so many of the world, "It is great" to have same-sex marriages. Most will stand by the Bible given by God to rule the church.

"Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." Romans 1:24-27

The sex between those of the same sex is clearly against God's Word. Therefore the church must stand with the Lord.

The only official manual the Church of Christ has is the Bible. We do not have any book written by men which is our official directive. All scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Even the writings of the Apostle Paul are inspired (He wrote the book of Romans). "and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation - as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him has written to you as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the res of the Scriptures." 2 Peter 3:15-16. Considering everything we believe, the whole Bible is inspired by God. Therefore we accept the teaching that homosexuality is a sin.

God condemns this sin as well as all other sins. Sin will separate a person from a right relationship with God. God is willing and able to forgive sin because Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice for those sins. Repentance of sin is necessary to receive God's forgiveness. Homosexuality is a sin which God will forgive. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, no adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified,but you were justified in the name of the Lore Jesus and by the Spirit or our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

We will willingly teach any sinner so they can be forgiven by God and become a Christian. We will not participate in same-sex marriages since this is condemned by God. We will also pray for the leaders of our nation. We will ask God to give them wisdom to rule as He wants. God's people (Christians) do not kill those who oppose them. We believe the gospel will convert sinners to Christians by their obedience to God. The bible teaches: Faith in God, Repentance from past sins, Confession of Jesus as God's Son, and Baptism for the remission of sin are all God's commands for sinners to become Christians. The sinners at Corinth became Christians this way and you can, also.

Vernon Curry

Pastor

Highland Drive

Church of Christ