Upheaval

Not really a shocking development that the state of New York passed gay "marriage" over the weekend.  Whatever that is.  The whole thing is an absolute farce.  Marriage is not a contract between two people and the state, it is the joining together of a man and a woman by God, through his Holy Spirit.  But I digress.

There is concern - and I would say it's pretty legit - that the next step on this slippery pile of cultural rot is to actually FORCE churches and their representatives (i.e. pastors) to perform gay marriages against their will.  I'm not saying it's right around the corner, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens in my lifetime.  And I wouldn't be surprised in my lifetime to see laws in the US as there are in Europe that classify talking about homosexuality as a sin as "hate speech" or a "hate crime." 

It almost makes me long for politicians like the governor Gallio in Acts 18.  He refused to judge a dispute between the Jews in Corinth and Paul while he was there.  V. 13 says "They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.”

You see, it's not just a cultural thing.  This is a church thing.  I was a part of the PC(USA) for 7 years as an ordained pastor.  This denomination just recently voted to ordain openly practicing gay, lesbian and bi-sexual people.  Pastors that refuse aren't in trouble yet, but very soon could be.

Don't get me wrong, it's far bigger than homosexuality.  The Gospel is offensive to those who love any kind of sin and are comfortable accommodating it.  This is what Paul ran into not just in this particular instance, but on all of his journeys.  Sure, the Jews that were most often offended by Paul hid their sin under the cloak of religion.  But their fear of being exposed and found out, and their fear of the truth that Paul preached ultimately led to their refusing the Gospel.

Anywhere we go and preach the Gospel, there is upheaval.  As people find freedom in Christ, their captors and the powers of darkness hate it.  The question is, are you willing as a faithful witness of Jesus - as we see throughout the entire Book of Acts - to stand for truth even when it puts your reputation in danger?