Struggling vs Mocking

I was listening to a bunch of James Cleveland music this morning while I worked on the other blog. I ran across some YouTube footage of his funeral and it got me to thinking. There were always rumors about Rev. Cleveland being homosexual. When I'd first heard about this, I was really shocked, but then I realized that Cleveland was from the old school of gospel music. That's probably why I was shocked. It does not surprise me even a little bit to hear the things I do about Bobby Jones or Kirk Franklin and other "new school" gospel folk - but James Cleveland? Wow.

Anyway, I got to thinking about the whole gay/lesbian issue that is going on in the churches. I will say right out and right here that I do NOT think that you can be an unrepentant gay/lesbian person and claim to be Christian. Just like you cannot be unrepentant in ANY kind of sin and claim to be a child of Jesus. Period.

Because I don't know whether people are "born that way" or not, and because I don't know a lot about what gay/lesbian people suffer through, what I have settled on is that sin is sin & God will not be mocked. If you are a sinner (and we all are) and you are mocking the Lord with your sin while pretending to be His child, then you are in serious trouble. But if you are struggling with that sin and really depending on God's love and forgiveness to see you through, then you are just like every other Christian - no matter what your most troubling sin is.

My sin happens to be a difficulty to forgive. I also smoke (which is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but I feel convicted of the sin of damaging the body God gave me) and I will let my temper get the best of me at times. Those are my struggles - especially the forgiveness thing. God warns me about not being forgiving. I know about that warning even as I struggle with it, even when I am sitting in church, praying for more strength in that area.

Just like I struggle with my sin of a sometimes hard heart, someone out there is struggling with their sexual sin. I no longer will take sides on the issue. I'll just say that "God will not be mocked." And I will keep right on working on my temper and anger issues.

Peace
--Free