I was reading an article yesterday about some of the current
social turmoil in our country regarding same sex marriage, in which the
headline said (in part) "The Theologian said". Now according to my
dictionary, a "theologian" is a person who is an expert in religious
faith and practices, or an expert in understanding God.
Well, I guess I am not a Theologian according to the world's
standards. The reason being is that this "Theologian" who was quoted
in this national publication, said that God nowhere condemns certain lifestyle
choices. She even quoted out of context a few Old Testament passages, while
completely ignoring clear statements to the contrary throughout God's Word in
both the Old and New Testaments.
Our world likes titles! It loves people who have letters
behind their names, supposedly proving they have achieved some higher level of
understanding. That is the problem we see when we begin to heap respect and
recognition on men and women because they have a title of some kind. The words
they utter, the stances they take are accepted by many, just because they claim
to be an "expert" is some area (perhaps a theologian). Many say,
"Everyone has a right to their own beliefs," and that's true, as long
as you are willing to accept the consequences of your decisions.
Jesus had some very clear words for people like this in Luke 11:52: "What
sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge
from the people. You don't enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others
from entering."
Now I don't claim to be an expert, but I have read my bible
through from front to back every year for over 25 years. I do put a fair amount
of study into trying to understand God's will for us today. What that makes me
is a disciple of Christ, an ongoing learner, one who walks by faith and accepts
God Word as true even if it different from what is "Socially
accepted," or "politically correct. It makes me a Christian who says
that God is in charge telling our world what is right or what is wrong. It
makes me one who believes that "God judges the living and the dead," (1 Peter 4:5),
and that we are all accountable to Him for our choices here on this earth.
Yes, people in our world want to believe what they want is
right and nothing else matters. That's not a new desire, the thought was
planted in the mind of Eve in the Garden of Eden by Satan in the very beginning
and he continues to spread the same lie. Jesus however did not agree, in fact
he condemned the idea in Matthew 7:21. Notice his words (another clear
proclamation of Jesus which the many "theologians" reject). "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven."
You may not agree with my thoughts and that's your privilege
to disagree. After all I'm no Theologian, I'm just an old country preacher who
keeps on reading his bible and listening to God and trying his best to do
"the will of my Father who is in heaven".
