Alfred’s Comments: Response To Lecrae saying: God is not a Republican or Democrat. God is not a conservative or liberal. America is no more God’s country than South Africa. God doesn’t take sides…He takes over
Lecrae:
God is not a Republican or Democrat. God is not a conservative or liberal. America is no more God’s country than South Africa. God doesn’t take sides…He takes over.
Alfred’s Comment:
Lecrae… Lecrae… Lecrae. What is the meaning of this? What is the meaning of this so great a lie you tell with so much boldness and confidence it amazes me? Have you so fallen away from the holy scriptures and baptized your mind in the liberal swimming pool of wokeness that you cannot see the ridiculousness of the tweets that come out of your mind?
Bruh! The Bible is full of God picking nations & political sides from the book of Genesis down to the book of Revelation. Moreso, because a political side can pick God, thereby making God to be on the side of the politicial group, party or nation that chooses his ways.
A political side can also reject God and even make war against the Church. The scriptures warn us about the Spirit of the Anti-Christ which has been in the world since the days of Apostle Paul.
Even in the old testament we see Satan using politicial power to stop people from worshipping God.
We can see that in the case of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego who where thrown into fire for not bowing down and worshipping the image of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3). Miraclously God saved Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. However there are many for whom that wasn’t the case.
Hebrews 11:35-38 NKJV:
“… Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. [36] Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. [37] They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- [38] of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”
There are numerous instances throughout history from the Pharoahs of Egypt to the Catholic Church in England (in the days of Absolute monarchy) where the ruling political class (or party) determined what the people where allowed to worship and not allowed to worship as well.
Politicians still can choose what religions to ban or allow, and in nations where the Constitution forbids Government interference in religion; politicians can simply introduce legislations that make it difficult or impossible to follow or practice any religion or faith they don’t like.
For example, legislation that makes it discrimination and a hate crime for a Christian Church to refuse to perform a gay wedding. Or legislation that punish Bakers who refuse to bake cakes for Gay weddings.
That is why Apostle Paul said we should pray for leaders in authority.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV:
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, [2] for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
Take note of the line, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
That means politicians and political parties can make it difficult or impossible to peacefully live a Godly or Christian life. It means not all politicians are good, some would use their position to fight against the Church. Not all policial parties are good, some would fight against the Church.
In those days, everyday Christians didn’t have the opportunity to vote who would rule as it wasn’t a Democracy, it was a Monarchy. The Caesar was Caesar. However, today everyday Christians have the opportunity to vote which politicians & politicial party would rule.
So now, not only do we have the responsibility to pray for “all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” we should also vote for the politicians and political party that would ensure that the protection and best interests of the church takes top priority among “all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
The LGBTQ+ crowd only vote for politicians and political parties who look out for your best interest.
Muslims only vote for politicians and political parties who look out for your best interest.
Secular Humanists only vote for politicians and political parties who look out for your best interest.
It is only Christians who foolishly don’t vote for politicians and political parties that look out for their best interest and say that it doesn’t matter; that your being a Christian shouldn’t affect how you vote. That is why Christians are always being persecuted and having their rights infringed upon all around the world. We never unite & vote for politicians who have our best interest then we are surprised that the politicians and politicial parties that get into power keep taking greater and greater steps to persecute the Church. Thus, making it more and more difficult for Christians to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
It is because we disobey the wisdom of God and don’t vote for politicians who would look out for our best interests. We only pray for who ends up in political positions when doing nothing when it comes to using our voting power to protect the Church. That’s Faith without works, which is dead (James 2: 20).
{…TO BE CONTINUED…}
Ada Ehi Moses:
Alfred’s Response to Ada Ehi Moses:
God may not be Republican or Democrat but both the Republican Party and Democrat Party can choose to be either pro – God or anti – God.
Right now, Democrats stand & fight against things the Church stand for like the ending of abortions, while Republicans under President Trump has stopped tax payer funding of Abortions. Democrats give the LGBTQ+ and every other group a platform and listen to them but they never give Christians a platform or listen to them in the Democrat party. They rather paint Evangelicals as the enemy and attack Christian values in any politicial space.
The list goes on.
The Republican Party on the other hand, even though it is not a Christian dream come true and probably has never been that. Under Trump however, it is more pro – God and protective of Christians than the only other Current Alternative.
As for the line “God is not a conservative or liberal.”
Wow! . . . Look! Conservative values are Christian values. Conservative values basically are the synonym for Judeo – Christian values. They are values based on the Bible. Conservative values are a result of Christianity even though they are not a good synonym for the true and authentic Christian life. They are still lifestyle & politicial values that where created by the influence of the Bible. How then can someone say, “God is not a conservative or liberal,” as though politicial & lifestyle values that are from the Bible don’t matter to God and *don’t have to take preference over values that are not bible based?
Liberal values are Progressive Values. They are the values of “everybody has the right to believe whatever they want to believe.”
If it’s Ok! for everyone to believe whatever they want to believe; what is the use of preaching the gospel then?
In fact, in a nation ruled by liberal values, preaching the gospel would be seen as an attack on people’s right to believe whatever they want to believe and whatever they choose to believe being Ok! Because you see, preaching the gospel is basically telling people whatever they believe is wrong and you are right (because what you are saying in written in a book called the Bible which they probably don’t even believe in at the time).
It is Liberal Values that embrace and push for the normalization of the LGBTQ+ lifestyle which God’s word is clear about. How can someone then say, “God is not a conservative or liberal,” as though God embraces both and doesn’t mind which you are.
Romans 1:26-28,32 NIV:
“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. [27] In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. [28] Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. [32] Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
Verse 32 shows what God thinks of every liberal since they approve of ‘everyone’s right to sin’ in whatever manner pleases them.
A liberal believes in & stands for everyone’s right to live their lives as they please as long as they aren’t hurting others.
That goes against Christianity. It doesn’t matter that gays are not hurting anyone (or so they think), the thing is we can’t give our approval to that lifestyle. Otherwise we would share in their fate (Hell if they don’t repent).
Saying America is no more God’s country than South Africa is not necessarily true. A country doesn’t refer to just the land but the laws of the land & the lifestyle of the people in the land; just like Sodom & Gomorrah. It wasn’t about the land on which Sodom & Gomorrah stood that made Sodom & Gomorrah what Sodom & Gomorrah was. It was about the laws of the land & the lifestyle of the people in the land.
The people in Sodom & Gomorrah where created by God too. Could you say that the city Abraham lived in was no more God’s city than the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah? No! God destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah. He certainly didn’t look as them as God’s (His) cities.
America or South Africa being God’s country is based on the laws of the land & the lifestyle of the people in the land. That is what determines if they’re God’s country or not. Not on sentimentality that everywhere on earth was created by God. America or South Africa being God’s country is dependent on how mightly the word of God grows and prevails in those countries; because that would influence and determine the laws of the land and the lifestyle of the people in the land.
A nation with laws that persecute Christians and kills hundreds of thousands of innocent babies every single year is lying to itself if it called itself God’s country. Much work is still to be done. Much soul winning is still to be done.
Saying “God doesn’t take sides…He takes over” is inaccurate and misleading because God believes in free will. He gives you the freedom to choose.
Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”
@jean_marc_brand:
Amen. I wish pastors won’t use their pastoral platform to spread political agenda for a certain party.
Alfred’s Response to @jean_marc_brand:
So you wish that Reverend Martin Luther King. Jnr the Baptist preacher didn’t use his church and his pulpit to push for Civil Rights and fair politicial policies that gave Blacks equal rights?
Or Billy Graham shouldn’t have used his pulpit and crusades to address politicial policies in South Africa and speak out against Apartheid in South Africa? Billy Graham shouldn’t have opposed segregation in his American crusades in the 60’s forcing both Whites & Blacks to sit together at his crusades which angered a lot of Whites at the time? Billy Graham shouldn’t have given Martin Luther King (MLK) his platform and even pay for MLK’s bail *serval times?
The list goes on.
You believe these things shouldn’t have been done because these men are Preachers, and Preachers shouldn’t be mixed up in politics?
Seriously?!
Austin Harrell:
I hate when people tell me I’m not a Christian because of my politicial party
Alfred’s Response to Austin Harrell:
Well, if your politicial party persecutes the Church and does all it can to take Christianity out of everything in the name of “Separation Of Church and State” or Inclusivity (of everything minus Christianity), you can see how people would think and also say that you’re not a Christian because of your Politicial Party.
Austin Harrell:
It was Ok, because it was more than just a political issue, it was a social issue.
Alfred’s Response to Austin Harrell:
Name a Politicial Issue that concerns Human beings that isn’t a Social Issue. You can’t all of a sudden now change and say that Preachers can address social issues but can’t address Political Issues. Even that still doesn’t make any sense because just like every Social Issue is influenced or linked to a Politicial Issue, the reverse in also the case. Every Politicial Issue affects or influences a Social Issue. In many cases, they are one and the same thing.
Read the other things I have written carefully. It is not one of my hobbies to repeat myself.
Kate Ivey:
Separation of Church and State was a CHRISTIAN ideal of the founding fathers. Google it.
Alfred’s Response to Kate Ivey:
Christian Ideals are defined by The Word Of God not the word of man. Christian Ideals are defined by what God’s word says not what any Founding Father, Pastor, Preacher, or Public Figure in Christianity says.
This is why people are so lost. They have placed the words of Pastors, Preachers, Christian Celebrities & Founding Fathers above the words of the Bible. They have departed from the Bible and are following doctrines of men they have exalted like golden calves which tell them things they want to hear.
Does the Bible say that there should be a separation of Church & State. No! The Bible is against it. In fact, throughout the Old Testament it was the Priest that Anointed whoever would be King. No one could become King without the Priest.
“… Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21), has nothing to do with separation of Church & State. It is just about paying taxes.
If Jesus wanted Separation of Church and State, Paul would have told every politicial leader he preached to not to use their position to protect the church and advance the gospel since there should be a separation of Church and State.
Acts 26:28-32 KJV: “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. [29] And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. [30] And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: [31] And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. [32] Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.”
Apostle Paul wanted to win King Agrippa and all the other politicians to Christ. If that happened would they have allowed chains to be put on anybody just for following Jesus? No, they wouldn’t. They would have used their political power to protect the Church in every region under their rule or within their influence. They would have also used their position to tell the entire nation about the Christian life they now live and do things to make it easier for Christians in their nation to worship God by using their political position. Where is separation of Church & State then?
Apostle Paul had his sights set on Caesar. Imagine if the stood before Caesar, preached to Caesar, and convinced Caesar to become a Christian. Imagine what would have happened. All the persecution of Christians would have stopped.
Caesar would have used his political power as Emperor to end Christian persecution and push Christianity forward. (Note that, that later happened under a different Emperor after so many years of intense Christian persecution. Thus, the Roman Catholic Church).
So you see, Apostle Paul and all the other Apostles did not believe in Separation of Church and State.
BTW, this is besides the point but you have your so called facts twisted. If the founding fathers wanted Separation of Church and State the way it is used today (by people who want to kick any sign or reference to God away from Government and every Public space whom you support otherwise you wouldn’t have posted what you posted) they wouldn’t have put words like “God”, or “In The Year Of Our Lord”, or some other references to the Christian Faith on every single official document they signed or touched?
Why was the Bible and the 10 Commandments used to clearly to form the very foundation of the first set of laws the crafted if they wanted a Separation of Church and State?
Why did the Founding Fathers hang the 10 Commandments in the highest court in the land if the wanted a Separation of Church & State?
Not to mention that the Separation of Church and State was a private letter not an official document. It was written by only one Founding Father not all of them. Therefore, not only does it not reflect the views of all Founding Fathers, it was never even pushed to be a politicial mandate.
It was a personal letter from one Founding Father to another to express concerns about the Catholic Church or any other Church or Group controlling American politics the way the Catholic Church controlled England. Catholic priests had their own politicial influence and positions in England that didn’t answer to the people of England but answered to the Pope.
That was what that was about. He didn’t want that for America.
So get your so – called facts straight.
Christian Ideals are based on the Bible not on what man says.
I suggest you give your life you Jesus Christ if you haven’t done so. Google “Salvation Prayer” and pray the Salvation Prayer. Then join a good Bible believing church. God Bless You.
Kate Ivey:
I actually completely agree. I should have said that Separation of Church and State was a Christian Ideal I’d the founding fathers and the founding fathers’ ideals are often what I see Republican Christians point to. I’m really struggling with how to engage in politics when both Republicans and Democrats do not seem to hold biblical values in their policies or rhetoric. I really appreciate you backing up your statements with scripture. Republicanism has become white Christian nationalism to me lately and as believers we are called to uplift the oppressed, help the immigrant and widow that was who Jesus was the most concerned with. The church in Acts was not a capitalist church everyone sold what they had and shared resources to take care of one another. That’s not the message of Republicans. And then of course I cannot support Abortion but I do support social programs that helps mothers and fathers who need help supporting the babies they have chosen to have when abortion may have seemed easier. I don’t believe anyone becomes less Gay just because there’s laws against Gay marriage and that all peoples deserve freedoms and protections from discrimination even if we don’t agree with their choices. Because I can’t share the sweet message of Jesus with someone I hate them because I fired them for being gay. I appreciate your scriptures because they show that the Bible need to inform our politics, and our politics shouldn’t be informing our faith.
Alfred’s Response to Kate Ivey:
Thank You for your kind response. It is important that brothers and sisters in Christ know we are family first. Each individual member making up a vital part of the body which is the church whose head is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12 AMPC:
“For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”
Too often when a Christian points out something to another Christian that differs from their opinion or understanding of Christianity it is taken as a challenge or an insult or a call to a debate. It is often not taken a love as a member of the same body trying to admonish or strengthen another member of the same body so that all would be well with the entire body and the entire body wouldn’t be compromised. Sadly, ego or lies from the devil make a helping hand look like an attacking hand. However, it is not so with you. I thank God for you.
I’m writing this comment so in my own little way, by God’s grace I may address some very important concerns that you brought up.
You are not alone in your struggle with how to engage in politics as both Republicans and Democrats do not seem to hold biblical values in their policies or rhetoric.
Many Christians feel that way, but I have found that when confused and not sure of which way to go; the answer we seek can be pointed out to us in the word of God. Directly or Indirectly. Sometimes it just takes the Holy Spirit to show us, and even the Indirect becomes more Direct as God gives us deeper understanding of the scriptures.
Jesus said, I would not leave you helpless or orphans.
John 14:15-18 NKJV:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- [17] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. [18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
He has sent us the Holy Spirit to be with us to teach us the scriptures and guide us into all Truth.
John 16:13 NKJV:
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
So we cannot remain confused or be stuck in any dilemma. The Spirit of God would show us what to do using the word of God.
Life on earth is like an exam, and the Bible is the textbook for the exam. There’s no problem we would see in this exam called life that the answer is not in the textbook (the Bible), and an amazing thing is according to the rules we are not only allowed to take the textbook (the Bible) with us into the exam hall of life but we are actually expected to. It’s a different kind of exam where we are tested on our ability to use the textbook (the Bible) to answer the questions on the exam sheet (the problems & trails of life).
Republicans and Democrats not seeming to hold biblical values in their policies or rhetoric is a result of Christians being silent too long. It is a result of Christians avoiding to engage in politics as Christians in unison for so long in America.
The policies and rhetoric of the Republican and Democrat party are formed by the people who ran for office in the parties as well as the interest groups who made demands of both parties in exchange for their vote for years.
Since Christians as a group have never been any one of these interest groups that formed the parties for centuries, it is not surprising nether party mirror Christian interests to the letter.
We seem to be stuck with the game of playing “lesser of the two devils” and picking the lesser devil.
This is a predicament we Christians have brought upon ourselves by ignoring active participation in politics as a group.
The LGBTQ+ are one of the somewhat new interest groups. They have formed a Power Bloc and have even gone beyond making it very clear that if you want our vote you have to push our LGBTQ+ presence & beliefs in every area of society from LGBTQ+ Education for toddlers to LGBTQ+ bathrooms.
They have made it such that both parties have to support LGBTQ+otherwise they are committing the crime of discrimination.
Christians need to form our own Power Bloc, for the advancement of the gospel and also to ensure that we would always be able to lead “a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2), because the devil has already started using other Power Bloc’s to take that freedom away from us.
At this point we should even be thinking of our own Christian political party being formed. Not Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Then hoping we can be given more space within any of the three, but rather Democrats, Republicans, and Christians.
Then as the gospel expands, the Christian ideologies would spread into and dominate all parties.
Other groups (eg. The LGBTQ+ folks) are seeing to it that their ideologies are in both parties and every future party that might be formed anywhere all around the world. They have done this by transforming their ideologies into Civil Rights issues and theyby calling for Civil Rights laws to be made to protect their ideologies from ever being violated by any country anywhere in the world.
The debate of Homosexuality being a choice ended when they made it a hate crime to even mention or suggest that it’s a choice. So it became something that some people are born as so that any opposition to Homosexuality would be a violation of the human rights of people who are born that way; born different.
In spite of the fact that there is no scientific evidence that people are born Gay, the medical and educational community got behind it as a result of the planning and dedication of the LGBTQ+ community to their message, which Christians clearly lack with regards to protecting & spreading the Christian message.
What people think is Science on the Subject Matter of whether people could be born Gay or not was changed forever just because a Power Bloc wanted opposition to their ideology to be illegal and make those who disagree subject to criminal persecution in the name of human rights violation.
Note that they are different Power Blocs, from socialist Power Blocs like the Bernie Sanders crowd to smaller Power Blocs like the Minister Farrakhan crowd. However, one thing is for sure; nobody is looking out for Christian interests. It would have to be Christians looking out for Christian interests.
Also, regarding the policies and rhetoric of Republicans and Democrats, I hope you are aware that the media lies and lies and lies.
You would have to cut out the middle man to get to the truth. Cut out News Reporters from the equation of how you receive your news.
Create a separate Twitter, Instagram, and Social Media accounts then follow politicians on both sides. Also follow key political organizations that have power and see what they are saying for themselves.
If a relative of yours wants to tell you, “I love you,” won’t you rather hear it from their mouth than from a third party’s mouth?
It’s best to hear what someone says from the person’s own mouth.
A third party would add their own interpretation to the message as they pass it along.
They are a lot of people who don’t follow President Donald Trump on Twitter and say it is toxic to do so. Yet they listen to MSNBC, CNN, etc give their own interpretation on everything President Trump says on Twitter all day.
That is dangerous.
Imagine somebody never listening to you when you talk to them. They walk out but then go and listen to someone else tell them what you said about them. Imagine the creative freedom to invent lies that person now has.
That is the situation that someone who doesn’t follow President Trump on Twitter but listens to CNN is in.
The Media lies a lot. Cut out the middleman.
Also follow Project Veritas; they release secret recordings of politicians, tech company executives, etc. Sometimes they wear a wire and spend months becoming friends of powerful people to get them to say how they really feel about certain things or what they’re already doing.
Some other times, it’s long time employees of companies or politicians who wear the wire when they want the public to know about something that has been going on.
So you’re hearing what the person being recorded really thinks. Straight from the horse’s mouth. It’s like having someone place listening devices in the houses of politicians and tech execs for you, but they’re not directly working for you.
Now, your saying “Republicanism has become white Christian nationalism to me lately” would probably have a very different perspective when you cut out the middleman and get your information straight from the source.
BYW, you said that, “The church in Acts was not a capitalist church everyone sold what they had and shared resources to take care of one another.”
Actually, Capitalism & Socialism has to do with the system of Government of a nation or Kingdom. You cannot practice Socialism in a Capitalist system, and you cannot practice Socialism in a Capitalist system.
One has to go, for the other to operate.
No individual or group of citizens can decide to practice Socialism in a Capitalist country and vice versa, because Socialism or Capitalism has to be decided by the state.
By definition Capitalism is a system of Government where the rights & decision of what to produce and how to produce is given to the individuals. In this system of Government people are allowed to own property & capital and to increase their property & capital Without Limits.
Investopedia defines it as, “Capitalism is an economic system in which private individuals or businesses own capital goods. The production of goods and services is based on supply and demand in the general market”
Socialism on the other hand is a system of Government where the Rights and decision of what to produce and how to produce is held only by the State. There is no private ownership of property or businesses allowed. Theoretically, they say all property belongs to everybody, but in reality that just means nobody owns any property and assets. All property and assets are owned by the Government and the Government just allows you to use it as it sees fit.
Everybody works for the Government and the Government takes care of everybody.
According to Investopedia, “Socialism is a populist economic and political system based on public ownership (also known as collective or common ownership) of the means of production. Those means include the machinery, tools, and factories used to produce goods that aim to directly satisfy human needs. Communism and socialism are umbrella terms referring to two left-wing schools of economic thought; both oppose capitalism, but socialism predates the “Communist Manifesto,” an 1848 pamphlet by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, by a few decades.
In a purely socialist system, all legal production and distribution decisions are made by the government, and individuals rely on the state for everything from food to healthcare. The government determines the output and pricing levels of these goods and services.
Socialists contend that shared ownership of resources and central planning provide a more equal distribution of goods and services and a more equitable society.”
So put simply, individuals don’t own anything.
In the days of the first century church, even though the terms “Capitalism” and “Socialism” weren’t invented yet, Rome operated more of a Capitalist system of Government. As citizens and those they colonized where given the freedom to own property and go into any business they want.
There’s the story of the Rich man Jesus spoke to in Matthew 19:16-22. The man was a Jew. His country was a Colony of Rome at the time yet he had great properties.
Matthew 19:22 NKJV
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Note those words “great possessions.”
Having “great possessions” would not have been possible under Socialism.
Also remember the story of Ananias & Sapphira.
Acts 5:1-5 NKJV: “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. [2] And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. [3] But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? [4] While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” [5] Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.”
They both owned property, you can see that in verse one of Acts chapter five.
Ananias & Sapphira also had the Rights to sell their property. So clearly, it was a Capitalist system the nation they where in lived under.
I have explained why Socialism cannot be practised by a group within a Capitalist nation because it is about the Government giving people the Right to own property and the Right to produce they want.
However, let’s examine how the Christians then lived.
They owned property and could share what they had with others. So that’s basically what we would call Philanthropy today.
Your bringing money or not bringing was your choice and how much you brought was also your choice. You could see that in what Peter said:
Acts 5:3-4 NKJV:
“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? [4] While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Since giving was a Choice and how much you brought was a Choice. That was Philanthropy in a Capitalist system of Government. It wasn’t Socialism or Communism or Democratic Socialism.
Note that this Philanthropy, doesn’t mean that you have to wait to have millions in your account before you start giving to others in need. It’s giving as long as it meets someone’s need. It’s not about the size of what you give. Even if you have little and the little would help someone, give.
James 2:15-17 NKJV:
“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? [17] Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
It was Capitalism & Philanthropy working together.
Note that Jesus wants us to have a lifestyle of Philanthropy.
The truth about tithes and offerings is that. In the Old Testament you gave to God by bringing your offerings to the temple where the Priest would offer burnt sacrifices, etc.
However, in the New Testament all of that has been done away with.
Hebrews 10:8-12 NKJV: “Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), [9] then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. [10] By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,”
So after Jesus died on the cross, the old testament way of offering sacrifices to God for sin or even thanksgiving (like David often did) was cancelled. In the New Testament, you give to God by giving to Christians in need.
Matthew 25:35-40 NKJV:
“for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; [36] I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ [37] “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? [38] When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? [39] Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ [40] And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'”
So you see the new way of giving to God, is by giving to Christians in need.
Note it is not giving to Charity in general that is giving to Jesus. In as much as that is noble and God would bless you for it (Luke 6: 38). What is giving to God is giving to a Christian.
Notice the pharse “to one of the least of these My brethren.” He specified what we do to “his brethren”. They have to belong to Jesus. They have to be followers of Jesus.
Whatever you do to a Christian you are doing to Jesus. Remember when Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus he said “Saul… Saul why are you persecuting me,” he didn’t say, “Saul … Saul why are you persecuting my disciples.” To Jesus the two are one and the same thing. Persecuting his disciples and Persecuting him are the same thing to Jesus.
Acts 9:3-5 NKJV: “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. [4] Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” [5] And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
Whatever you do to a Christian you are doing it to Jesus. So if you feed a hungry Christian you are feeding Jesus when he’s hungry.
That is not to say giving to the poor who are not Christians should not be done. It should, but it is just not giving to Jesus.
In fact, what we are told to give to non – Christians who are poor is the gospel.
Luke 4:18 NKJV: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;”
Notice the “He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor.”
That’s what the poor needs more than material things. However like James 2:15-17 tells us, don’t just give the poor the gospel and let them go in hunger. Feed them as well.
Now about your saying, “I don’t believe anyone becomes less Gay just because there’s laws against Gay marriage and that all peoples deserve freedoms and protections from discrimination even if we don’t agree with their choices.”
That’s very interesting.
You see, Laws against Crime also do not stop people from having criminal impulses but we still must have those laws. We can’t say Laws against stealing wouldn’t
stop people from stealing so let’s not have laws against stealing.
Just for the record, there were always laws against Gay marriage for centuries.
Even Sodom & Gomorrah didn’t have Gay marriage. They had Homosexual Sex and probably even things I’ll rather not write. However, even they didn’t think the “Marriage” part in “Gay Marriage” made any sense.
There is no mention of “Gay Marriage” in the story Sodom & Gomorrah. Just Gay Sex.
Genesis 19:4-5 NKJV:
“Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. [5] And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”
Being Gay is a choice. According to the Bible you can stop being Gay. It is a choice. Homosexuality is something someone can repent from.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV:
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Notice verse 11 which said, “And such were some of you.”
That means some of them where Homosexuals, but they where set free from Homosexuality. They choose to walk away from it. They choose Christ. They choose to be free from Homosexuality forever.
How? … How where they set free?
Look at the rest of verse 11, “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
So you see! Anyone can decide to walk away from it and get washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Let’s walk through the word of God and see what steps one should take to walk away from Homosexuality and get washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
1) Firstly, The Person Must Stop Having Gay Or Lesbian Sex.
2) Then Regarding The Urges, The Person Must Believe In The Power Of The Name Of Jesus And DECLARE That The Habit Is Broken In The Name Of Jesus.
Mark 11:23-24 NKJV:
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. [24] Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
You can speak to mountains. You can make declarations that bad habits are broken in the name of Jesus, but you have to believe it in your heart and confess it with your mouth.
Romans 10:10 NKJV:
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
3) You Also Have To Believe That It Is Possible To Live Without The Urges. You Have To Believe That God Can Set You Free From The Urges.
Matthew 5:48 KJV: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 AMPC: “You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
So you need to believe perfection is possible. Not only should you strive for perfection, you can also achieve perfection and God expects you to achieve it because he has given you the ability to be perfect thanks to his Spirit which lives in you.
God would never ask you to do something he hasn’t given you the ability to do. He would never let you face more than you can bear.
If he lets you face it, you can overcome it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV:
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
4) You Also Need To Renew Your Mind With The Word Of God. Reprogram Your Mind With God’s Word.
Mediating on the word of God rewires your thinking. It will take away the old way of thinking and replace it with a new way of thinking. That way of thinking that makes those homosexual urges possible can be replaced with a new way of thinking when you take up the new habit of constantly mediating on the word of God.
Romans 12:2 KJV: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2 AMPC: “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
The word of God cleanses you. The word of God can cleanse your mind and take away impure thoughts and urges.
John 15:3 AMPC: “You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].”
So you see God’s word can clean you and also cut out impurities from your heart and mind. God’s word is sharper than a two edged sword.
Hebrews 4:12 KJV: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Consistent, Continuous, and Repeated exposure to the word of God cuts away impurities from your life. It cuts away ungodly desires including homosexual desires.
5) Start Seeing Homosexuality As A Sin.
The reason why a lot of people are tempted to commit sin is because they don’t see Sin as Sin. They may classified it as Sin in their minds but they don’t see it as Sin.
Let me explain.
If you saw a very deadly & poisonous snake you wouldn’t go to pick it up and play with it. You see it for what it is. You see it is not something you should be playing with. You do not see it as a toy or a shining jewel, you see it for what it is. You see it is a dangerous and poisonous creature.
People who are tempted by sin. People who are tempted to commit adultery, or to look, at porn, or think homosexual thoughts are seeing a dangerous & poisonous snake as a string of pearls.
When a man looks at porn for example and he likes it, it because he’s seeing the shinny string of pearls not the poisonous snake.
He’s seeing porn (or whatever the Sin maybe) as something pleasurable not as his destruction wrapped up in a deceitful packaging.
Imagine a man watching Porn in his room. He feels he’s just can’t bring himself to stop. He feels he can’t pull himself away from it, he just has to watch it. What happens when he hears his wife’s footsteps or his wife’s voice coming closer to the door, all of a sudden he has the strength to pull himself away from watching Porn in an instant and he closes the web browser or laptop.
Where did the strength come from? Why wasn’t he able to pull away from watching the Porn on his own?
His fear of his wife catching him is greater than his fear of God knowing what he’s doing in secret.
His fear of his wife catching him is greater than his fear of doing what God said he should not do.
He sees his wife finding out and the repercussions of her finding out as more dangerous & harmful than watching Porn itself is and what the repercussions of watching Porn is according to the word of God.
The danger of his wife finding out is more real to him than the danger the word of God says that watching Porn is. Sad!
Matthew 5:28 KJV:
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
Not all that glitters is gold.
Sin is death wrapped in a shinny packaging that looks like gold.
Romans 6:23 KJV:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
See things through the eyes of God’s word. That way you are seeing things through the eyes of Truth (for God’s word is truth). Every other view is a lie.
John 14:6 KJV:
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus is Truth. Jesus is Reality.
John 1:1 KJV:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
So Jesus is the Word, and since the Jesus is Truth it means the Word is Truth. Anything that goes against God’s Word is a lie. Reality is defined by what the word of God says that it is.
See things as what the word of God says that it is. No matter how beautiful it is, if the word of God says that it is dangerous and it is death. See it as death no matter how beautiful it may look to the natural eyes or how it may appeal to the natural mind.
For example, if you have in your hand something that feels and looks like a smartphone, but the word of God says that it is a cup. Then believe it is a cup and see it as a cup.
Begin to place what God says things are above what the thing may seem like to your natural senses.
You don’t know better than God.
Romans 3:4 KJV:
“God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”
If you see Porn as Sin (death). If you see Porn as a heap of garbage. If you see Porn as a serpent masquerading as a string of pearls; you would want nothing to do with it.
Begin to see things as what God’s word says that they are.
6) Hate Sin. Hate Homosexuality
You have to actively and consciously cultivate a hatred for sin. You have to consciously develop a hatred for sin.
Psalm 97:10 KJV:
“Ye that love the Lord, Hate Evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.”
Romans 12:9 AMPC:
“[Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); Hate What Is Evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.”
We are to “Hate what is evil.” We are to genuinely hate sin. We are to genuinely hate Homosexuality.
Note you can love the Sinner but hate the Sin.
Romans 5:8 AMPC:
“But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.”
So God loves the Sinner, but he clearly hates Sin.
7) Understand The Principle Of Starving A Habit.
One of the ways to kill something is by starving it to death. You can kill homosexual desires by starving it to death. In other words, don’t feed it. Don’t play the back and forth game with it. Kick it out and let it stay out. Don’t tempt temptation. Don’t keep the friends from that lifestyle around. Don’t keep the Gay Club membership card. Don’t say to yourself every once in a while let me check out that Gay website for only 2 minutes after I’ll repent and God would receive me. Yes! God would receive you when you repent for it is written;
1 John 2:1 KJV:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
But notice the pharse “My little children.”
You are keeping yourself or demoting yourself to being a spiritual baby. To being in little child in your spiritual growth, when you should perhaps even be an elder in spiritual maturity.
James 5:14 KJV:
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:”
Being an Elder is not about age it’s about spiritual maturity. That’s why they’re different stages of maturity given in the Bible.
1 John 2:13 KJV:
“I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.”
Note the different stages of spiritual maturity in that verse; Fathers, Young Men, and Little Children. As well as the characteristics that makes one fall into one class of spiritual maturity or the other.
That particular verse doesn’t mention Elders but James 5:14 mentions Elders and the features of an Elder; one of which is the ability to heal any sick person they pray for.
An Elder is above a Father in maturity.
Anyway, when you play the back-and-forth game with Sin, not only are you dwarfing your own spiritual growth the more you play the back-and-forth game with Sin, the more you make it difficult for you to overcome Sin and live a life that is above Sin. Especially when the Sin is Homosexuality.
Romans 1:26-28 KJV:
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. [28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”
You see God gave them over to a reprobate mind. It’s like tasting the forbidden fruit out of your own free will then God turning his back on you and thereby withdrawing his presence and mindset from you, which leaves you open and vulnerable for your mind to be taken over by another mind; a reprobate mind. A mind that desires Homosexuality.
So you started going in the wrong way by yourself and it results in the withdrawal of what could have kept you from continuing down the wrong path.
It’s like you have a huge strong friend who tells you not to pick a fight with a Gang, but you go behind his back and pick a fight with the Gang. Now you expect him to help you with the fight but he’s mad you disobeyed him and you now have to fight the entire Gang you picked a fight with all by yourself.
You shouldn’t taste the forbidden fruit, and you certainly shouldn’t keep returning to taste it expecting God to save you everytime.
Romans 6:1-2 KJV:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
You have to run away from Sin. Don’t play the back and forth game with Sin.
James 4:7 KJV:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Note that the more you fill your heart and mind with the word of God; the less canal things can appeal to you.
8) Stay Away From Triggers Like Gay Friends, Gay Movies, Gay Literature, Gay Events, etc Anything That Would Trigger A Gay Thought Needs To Be Kicked Out From Your Life And Avoided.
Psalm 1:1 KJV:
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
Stay away from people, places, situations that would pull you back into Sin. Notice “…nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” in Psalm 1:1.
Let the following scripture be a guide and filter for the kind of things you allow around you;
Philippians 4:8 KJV:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Don’t say, I’ll allow so and so, I’m strong I know I won’t be influenced. Don’t do that.
1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV:
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
9) Receive The Holy Ghost & Submit To The Leading Of The Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8 NKJV:
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit gives you power to do what you couldn’t do before. What is difficult for man to do now becomes possible with you because God is with you and in you.
Luke 18:26-27 NKJV:
“And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” [27] But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
When you receive the Holy Spirit and submit to his Will, he would make you do God’s Will.
Remember God is a gentleman. He won’t control you against your will. It’s only the Devil that does that with demonic possession. With God on the other hand, you’ll have to summit to his Will for him to work through you. You can give or withdraw your permission for God to use you at any time.
Philippians 2:13 KJV:
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Ezekiel 36:27 AMPC:
“And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them.”
10) Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh
Galatians 5:16-17a NKJV:
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh”
The question is how do you walk in the Spirit.
You walk in the Spirit by walking in the light of God’s word. That means obeying everything you see in the Bible.
When you read the Bible, you let what you read change you.
If you see “you a new creature” (2nd Corinthians 5:17), you believe that you are a new creature without walking out and forgetting that the word said “you a new creature.” You see yourself as a new creature from then on.
James 1:23-25 KJV:
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: [24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. [25] But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Walk in the truth of everything the word of God says. If read and you see “we are more than conquerors” (Romans 8: 37). Believe it! After you’re through reading, don’t later say things like “these problems are killing me” or “I can’t make it” when things are going tough. Still say “I am more than a conqueror.”
That’s how you walk in the Spirit.
The more you read the word of God and act on the word, the more the word of God transforms you into the image that you see in the word of God.
2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV:
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
That’s how you walk by the Spirit.
You have to see by the Spirit (see through the eyes of the word of God). You have to hear by the Spirit (always be alert to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit). You have to speak by the Spirit (speak the word of God). You have to hunger for the things of the Spirit (hunger and thirst after Godly things).
That’s how you walk by the Spirit.
Note: You may feel withdrawal anxiety
Like someone who is trying to break an addiction, you may feel withdrawal anxiety for the first few days, weeks, or months.
Note it’s not compulsory that you’d feel withdrawal since you’re breaking the habit by the spirit and God and you’re using the name of Jesus. In fact, if you wholeheartedly believe and act on the 10 Steps I’ve given, you would not feel any withdrawal. It would be easy for you. It won’t be difficult. The Spirit of God would make it easy.
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
I’m just addressing Withdrawal here because of the babies in Christ and those who are completely new in the faith and haven’t even gotten used to handling the milk of the word of God.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 KJV:
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”
1 Peter 2:2 KJV:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
Brothers & Sisters, If you do feel withdrawal, hold on. Hang in there. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Philippians 1:6 KJV:
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
Finally, to address your saying; “Because I can’t share the sweet message of Jesus with someone I hate them because I fired them for being gay.”
Why would you fire them for being Gay? Or why would you not want to hire someone for being Gay? It’s easier to influence them when you’re their boss.
Just tell them about Jesus whenever it’s appropriate (that means not when either of you are supposed to be working).
Don’t bring up homosexuality. Just talk about Jesus.
Get them to believe Jesus died for us all, and get them to say the Salvation Prayer.
Invite them to be a part of the church or fellowship you’re a part of. As the begin their walk with God they’ll learn more about living the life that God has called us to; which is a life that doesn’t include Homosexuality.
Besides, if you love them that’s all the more reason why you should preach to them. If you don’t preach to them and they die homosexuals; they’ll go to Hell and they’ll despise you every second of eternity they are in Hell because you knew the truth and didn’t warn them.
Luke 16:23-31 KJV:
“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. [27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: [28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. [29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. [31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
The Rich man had Moses and the prophets when he was on earth but he did not listen to them.
At least Moses and the prophets spoke.
If you on the other hand, have homosexuals or sinners in your world that you don’t speak to about Jesus, you are the “Moses and the prophets” that has been sent into their lives but you kept quiet. You did not speak.
You are neglecting your responsibility to speak, and should they die without at least hearing the gospel. Their blood is on your hands.
Ezekiel 3:18-19 KJV:
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. [19] Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”
It’s one thing if you tell them and they refuse, but it is your responsibility to tell them.
If they refuse the gospel, don’t continuously bug them with it. Just intercede for them while working together with them on the job with love just like you would do with any other non-believer.
1 Timothy 2:1 KJV:
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”
Hebrews 7:25 KJV:
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
References:
Lecrae. (2020, June 30th). Retrieved from: Instagram.