ARE YOU FEELING THE RIGHT THING ABOUT THIS?

So the men turned from there, and went towards Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham came near and said, Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Genesis 18:18:22-23

Some time ago in the city of Kuala Lumpur a Pastor wanted to start a gay church. There was some publicity given in the newspapers and many Christians’ feelings were ruffled about this. Others just hurled condemnations and insults in righteous anger (sic). Immorality is nothing new in the church. It manifests in various forms. It happened in the early church at Corinth, and worse Paul wrote to state that it was a kind of immorality that is not even found among pagans- “for a man is living with his fathers wife” (1Corinthians 5) If the church had been simply a human organization we would have packed our bags a long time ago because of all the scandals that has rocked the Christian fellowship for the past 2000 years. But the big question Paul had to ask that church is this “Should you not rather have mourned?”

Most of the time when some Christians’ shortcoming comes to light, all that we hear is suspension, expulsion, discipline and excommunication. And worse than that it seems to become the main discussion among believers at the tea stalls and telephone conversations. But very few seem to have the right attitude towards such a brother or sister. Paul told the church that you are not even mourning that such a deed has been done among us. But how many among us grieve for others when they fall into some miserable pit?

When God revealed to Abraham about the imminent destruction of Sodom and Gomorroh, those two sexually immoral cities, Abraham interceded for those people to the last bit. Unknown to Abraham, he was revealing the very nature of Jesus to God, for one of the ministries of the ascended Lord is to make intercession before the Holy Father. And only Abraham is described in the Scriptures as the “Friend of God”.

It is always easier to condemn and distance ourselves from those who have chosen a questionable lifestyle. But if you look at the Scriptures carefully those who are sexually immoral are placed alongside the greedy, idolater, reviler, drunkard and the robber!! 1Corinthians 5: 9-12. Have you ever been greedy in your life grabbing everything that came along your way? Fill your homes with useless and unwanted things? Have you passed a cynical remark against another believer and belittling them while maintaining you moral superiority? Then you are placed alongside the sexually immoral too!!

We all need to learn something from the life of Abraham - not criticizing and condemning others while quoting a dozen Bible verses. Psychologists have pointed out that the sins that we often shout loudest against, these are the very sins that we have the greatest difficulty with and these are the sins which we recognize in others easily. I have seen people caught in so many situations that very few things surprise me anymore. Begin this moment onwards to intercede for others whom you think are coming under the judgment of God. But you maintain your Christian attitude like Father Abraham - and he was prepared to go down on his knees and pray for a people who were not even his own race!!! That’s what commended him to God and that’s what made him a spiritual giant. And mind you, Father Abraham did not know of even one Bible verse and he was not in fellowship with any church.
Posted by vijay at 12:28 AM