“Satan propagates a lifestyle of rebellion to God, rejecting Christ’s love and the absolute Truth of the Bible.”

 

Lucy, how deliciously ironic it is that you & yours claim to follow Christ while actually following the much broader Path of Paul; how that it was actually those like you & yours about whom Jesus warned us all in the Gospels – those who would come claiming to be his representatives but who in reality would be false prophets of a very different gospel (see Matthew 24:24)!  And how deliciously ironic that Jesus told us all quite clearly how we are to discern which messengers speak Truth and which blaspheme against his Way (see Matthew 7:15-20); and how even Paul himself inadvertently warned his own followers (in this case, you & yours) against being misled by his own false “gospel” (e.g. Galatians 1:6-12 & 2 Corinthians 11:14)!

 

First, please consider the following words of Jesus Christ:

 

“For false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect … So beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves … A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will know them by their fruits.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:24 & Matthew 7:15-20)

 

 

 

Secondly, know that condemning homosexuals from a place of hypocritical arrogance always bears the Bad Fruit of dissension & annoyance & disgust & anger & fear & sadness.  On the other hand, humbly reaching out to gays as fellow brothers & sisters, and doing so without judgment – even if we happen to disagree with their personal preferences – always bears the Good Fruit of Peace & Harmony & Joy & Love … Clearly then, it is the former Fruit (the Bad Fruit born by the judgments of you & yours) that feeds the cause of Satan & his minions, and it is the latter Fruit (the Good Fruit born by The Way of Christ) that brings glory back to the Father.

 

“Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given instead to a people who produce the Fruits of the Spirit.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 21:43)

 

“The Fruit of the Spirit is Love:  Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-discipline.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23

 

 

 

Thirdly, realize that Paul was clearly preaching a very different gospel from the Gospel of Jesus Christ … Consider the stark contrast between their two very different teachings:

 

Paul’s Gospel:  “I would remind you of the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved … For I handed on to you as of first importance that which I in turn had received:  namely, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day.” ~ Paul (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ:  “Why do you call me ‘Good’; no one is truly Good but God alone … [Thus], as you go forth proclaim this Good News: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is [already] at hand’ … And because of the increase of lawlessness, the Love of many will grow cold.  But the one who endures [in Love] to the end will be saved.  And this Good News of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world …” ~ Jesus Christ (Mark 10:18 + Matthew 10:7 + Matthew 24:12-14)

 

 

Fourthly, note that Paul inadvertently condemns himself when describing those who preach a false gospel … “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive … I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel … for there are some who trouble you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from Heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” ~ Paul (Romans 16:17-18 & Galatians 1:6-11)

 

… and that Paul himself is one who exudes the seven “abominations” destested by the Lord God:  “There are [seven] things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” ~ Proverbs 6:16-19

 

Now this is not to say that you & yours (as obviously devout followers of the apostle Paul) are “wrong” or “bad” or “evil” or “deluded”.  This merely means that you all are indeed preaching a gospel that is very different from the Gospel of Jesus Christ …

 

And how do we know which of the two is to be followed?  Well, by putting them to the test, of course – by applying them to situations such as the one at hand and seeing which Fruits are born thereby.  And as I have already stated above, when we do so, it is very clear indeed that the condemnatory Path of Paul currently chosen by you & yours brings forth the very Bad Fruit of anger & sadness & anxiety & discord, while the gentle & accepting Way of Jesus Christ  (championed by Vanessa & myself herein) bears the far better Good Fruit of peace & joy & love & harmony …

Enough said, yes?

 

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”  ~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Filed under: Burnishing Bigotry by Scaughdt