"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Rom. 12:1-2 ESV)
It’s my prayer and hope that by the time I’m finished with this lesson you’ll understand why I started with the above scripture reading. Notice that Paul says there that we are not to be "conformed to this world." The word "conformed" simply means that we’re not to be "fashioned" or "guided" by the world’s wisdom.
Rather, he says for us to be "transformed" which means to be "changed in mind." Instead of following the world’s wisdom, follow God’s wisdom. Or better said, in keeping with the scripture there, to follow that "worship" which is "acceptable" to Him. And I submit to your consideration that anything in the way of the world’s idea of worshiping God or any doctrine/teaching of man that differs from God’s Word, is "not acceptable."
Now you’re probably wondering what might have directed my thoughts to this subject matter today and in case you are - here’s where my inspiration originated. Basically, that subject will be a lesson on departing from God’s wisdom and man’s insertion of his own wisdom. I’ll do that by using a particular issue prevalent in the world today - homosexuality and God’s condemnation of it.
Romans 1:24-28 shows us, pretty plainly I might add, what God thinks of those who practice such behavior. If you read those verses you’ll see that He describes that behavior as being "unclean" in verse 24 and then says that such conduct is "vile affections" in verse 26. Then in verse 28 we find a description that really fits those deviant souls as having a "reprobate mind." Romans was written in Greek and in that language the word "reprobate" means "unapproved" or "rejected."
Probably serving to give us a better idea of how God views this sin is what we read in Lev. 18:22 He calls such behavior as being an "abomination" (something abhorrent). And, in helping us to understand how God sees this sin, let us not overlook what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah which was directly attributable to that sin. You can read the account in Gen. 19 but let me also refer you to Jude 7 where it says: "Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire."
Nope, I have no trouble understanding what God thinks about the practice of homosexuality because He tells us His views, as we just read. Now here is what "directed" my mind towards this lesson topic of man inserting his belief/teaching/wisdom into "religion" with that teaching being opposed to God’s.
And, keep in mind a truism that I’ve mentioned in past lessons. "It takes as much authority to change a law as it does to make the law." Anyone doing such a thing is placing themselves on an equal level with God. How blasphemous can a person be who does that?
In early March of this year I was listening to an interview between a news’ show host and the leader of a particular homosexual group. The subject under discussion was regarding a recent statement made by the Pope indicating a change in the Catholic church’s attitude towards "gay marriage."
Asked by the host what he (the group leader) thought about the Pope’s statement, the leader replied that he was "glad to see that the Pope has changed from trying to get society to fit the church. That now he’s going to do the opposite." Meaning, to my understanding of his reply, that the church is going to "fit" itself to "society."
Let me ask you - isn’t that the motivation of many "religious leaders" today? IE: the teaching, regardless of what behavior the subject matter is, that religion will have to "change to fit" the ever-changing mores of society. We even see some in the Lord’s Church advocating that society is different today than it was when the Gospel was first given. That’s just another way of saying that it’s "old fashioned." Therefore, it’s seen as being adaptable by man to fit the times.
It’s my humble opinion that those who promote this belief are no different than the Pope in Rome and his conforming to society. By this promotion, they are giving up God’s precept of man changing to "fit the church" into man’s precept of "fitting the church" to society. I read in some publications where those doing the promoting of "updating the Gospel" (my phrase) are referred to as "Change Agents." Sounds like an apt title to me.
I believe as the apostle Paul did, that anyone, Pope, preacher, elder or even "an angel from heaven" that advocates the doctrine of "fitting the church" to society - "let him be accursed." (Gal. 1:8-9)
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Covey
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