INSIDE OUT

I know, I know. You think I'm REALLY stretching the limits on this one. Well, hear me out first. I don't have time to go through all of the scriptures right now to prove my case in a fashion that may or may not be convincing to you. However, I want to throw the thought out there and give you something to think about that you may not have thought about before. Okay, so here are some of my thoughts: We see, in the bible, that many things were done in the Old Testament for specific reasons for that time. Women, for instance, were considered "unclean" after giving birth to a boy. Interestingly enough, if you gave birth to a girl, you were DOUBLY "unclean" and needed to be in seclusion for double the amount of time than if you had given birth to a boy. Crazy isn't it? I believe that there were cleanliness issues surrounding these laws. I believe it was for safety that some of these laws were in place. The difference between the "uncleanliness" after having a girl compared to a boy puzzles me. But here's an example of a common held belief back in this culture. Another example is in regards to braided hair and wearing jewelry... (1 Peter 3:3 - NIV). It was thought that women shouldn't "adorn" themselves in this way. This was obviously a cultural belief, whereby braided hair was considered too "sexy" or even worn only by prostitutes of that day. So, it was fitting for women not to wear those things in fear of being considered "immodest". I agree with Peter, that women don't need to find their beauty in outward apparel. But, it seems that Peter was being quite specific on what he considered to be immodest.

Now also read 1 Timothy 2:11-15 (NIV): 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. So do we practice this today? Do we feel that just because the bible "says" it then it must be so today? I hope not. I think we realize that what happened, in one culture or another, does not necessarily extend to today's cultures or traditions. And what if the woman cannot bear children? Does this mean she cannot be "saved", as verse 15 indicates? Oh, I could go on about that... but, let's try to stick to the topic. What stands out to you after reading the following verse: 1 Corinthians 6:9 (NLV) Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders. Since we're talking about it, I suppose the part of "homosexual offenders" grabs your attention. But, what about the adulterer? I can talk about how we do not judge the sexually immoral (including those who are dating and have sexual relations) as harshly or as equal as those who practice homosexuality. But, I won't. Not now anyways. What I will talk about is our culture's justification surrounding the definition of adultery. The bible is very clear on who can leave a marriage and marry another. Only, it says, those whose spouses cheat on them can be free. However, what if a woman is being beaten? Would we tell a woman that she needs to stay in that marriage? Some might say that she can leave but she will have to remain alone for the rest of her days? I don't think we believe this anymore do we? Do we really think that adultery does not extend to other types of unfaithfulness? I think if you were honest with yourself and a best friend were showing up at your door with bruises on her face, you would not tell her that it was her fault! That the fault of another human being, whom she trusted, should cause her to stay lonely for the rest of her life! But, onto something else I've noticed. Please read the verse right after verse 9 (NIV): 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. What!? Homosexuals are just as in danger of not inheriting the kingdom of God as a thief, someone greedy, a drunkard, a slanderer and a swindler!!! Man am I in trouble!! Boy, can I be greedy sometimes. You give me an inch and I'll want a mile! A thief!?!? Darn! I better not download any more songs/movies or even borrow in order that I "steal" the potential dollar from Blockbuster and the WHOLE movie industry!! I also better bring back that toy my son snuck into my grocery cart and I was too tired to lug three small kids back to the store to return it. According to those of you who judge the person who is homosexual to death in hell, I also, will not be inheriting the kingdom of heaven anytime soon. But wait... check out what happens as you read even further: 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. What is this saying? It seems to me that these guilty parties were washed!! They were sanctified. JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God!!! It seems to me that the guilty in this verse had not yet changed, but rather, they came the way they were. Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic. I know some alcoholics. It truly is a disease. I know they can follow Christ. I refuse to believe that they cannot be a child of God because they have become a victim of this disease. Is this saying that some people "were" that but now they are not? Here is my most convicted thought as of recent: Do you see that what once was relevant throughout the Old Testament does not have its relevance in today? Do we kill today? Do we send women in tents? Do we allow women to be leaders and not merely "silent"? When God first made man and women in His image, it was quite important to populate the Earth. It was even so to the degree of "not spilling your 'seed' on the ground." This was in order that the Earth would be populated. BUT, I think we have covered that don't you? I think our Earth is becoming about as populated as we can hold. So, do you think that the rules God gave surrounding the "population" of the Earth back then, would be so important today? How many of you men feel guilty about spilling your seed? I bet you don't give it two thoughts. What about wasting your 'seed' by using birth control, even if it is via the "timing" method? Couldn't avoiding pregnancy, by avoiding that "time of month", be spilling your seed? Are you not just "mentally" avoiding the populating of the Earth? Don't you see? We, in our culture can justify so many "changes" we make in this bible! Is it not possible that being a practicing homosexual does not go against the original plans of the bible anymore? That we do not need to "populate" the Earth anymore than we already have? If you don't believe that, then I hope you are in the plans of having 16 children because that is what the bible would have you do. If you talk about how homosexuals cannot possibly be in a loving one-on-one relationship, you better go talk with some of them. Popular media would give you the impression that they are all a bunch of sexual animals. If you analyze most statistics, you would find that us non-homosexuals aren't doing such a great job of this "sanctity" in marriage thing either. But, even if homosexual couples DID want to stay within the confines of marriage, we, up until recently would not allow them the privilege. So for them, they were caught in a catch 22 weren't they? Even if they DID want to be in a sacred relationship, we would not let them! So here we are. Judging the outcome of those who are no different than some of us, including myself. So I invite them. I invite them to join with me on this crazy journey. A friend of my teacher's, who was homosexual, was struggling with what to do as a homosexual and a Christ follower. My teacher did not have any answers. But, he did not tell him he needed to come to the same convictions, even if he would disagree with someone like me. As my teacher put it to this friend... and I hope we can also extend the love of Jesus to those who we come into contact with, "keep going on this path. You belong here."