I Corinthians 6:9-11
“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 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.”
In 1980, my mother in-law presented me with a Bible in honor of my adult baptism. She reminded me that this was God’s inspired Word and it had the power to change my life. At that time, I believed this because it was what our church believed and what I had been taught as a youth. Today, however, I believe this because of personal experience. What a powerful gift that Bible was! God’s Word truly has changed my life.
Now, twenty-eight years later, some believe the Bible needs updating. To safeguard against such changes, our church has stated in its confessional writings that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the only authority in matters of faith and life. If this is true, why are we hearing so many strange statements about biblical changes?
Let me give you an example. One day a man, whom I have always respected, asked if I believe all people are saved. He was visibly upset and went on to say that his pastor told him that all people would go to heaven. I told him to read Jesus’ words: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” He replied that he had shared these words with his pastor and was told that there is more than one way to interpret this statement.
A few days later I was having coffee with a group of teachers when a woman asked me the same question. She told the group that her pastor, who has freshly progressive ideas, had told her that Jesus was not the only way to heaven. When I asked how she responded to his statement, she assured us that she let him know this was not what she had been taught and believed.
It saddened me to hear this woman, who was so disturbed that her pastor had openly denied one of God’s inspired truths.
Another way, in which we see some, clergy and lay alike, attempting to change the Word of God, is in the call to ordain practicing homosexuals, using code words like “a Reconciling in Christ Church” and bless same-sex marriages. If you ask them why they are departing from what Scripture says about these practices, their answer is simply that the Bible must be interpreted in light of its culture. In other words, we need an updated Bible.
Listening to today’s sermons, I ask, why less focused on sins by some and others preach on it routinely. Trying to avoid a debate from either side or being labeled as a sin phobia, I read I Corinthians 6:9-11, which reads, “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 nor thieves nor the greedy, nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.”
I asked myself, haven’t the church dealt with all of these sins? None are condoned. We would not ordain a person who was living in adultery. I don’t believe we would ordain drunkards if we were aware of their problem. A person found guilty of stealing would be dismissed from the clergy roster, I pray.
In my mind none of us are without sin. But we can be forgiven if we repent and turn to Christ. Notice, Paul says to the Corinthians that this is the way they used to live, but they were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. The practicing homosexual, on the other hand, does not want to repent; rather, he or she wants to remain in this lifestyle and still be ordained by the church. This is the difference.
It is one thing to fall in sin and be forgiven by God’s grace. It is quite another for the church to say that some behaviors should be looked on charitably because of modern cultural changes.
We cannot condone sin and update our Bible. What, then, shall we do? Listen to the words of Paul: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”
In other words, we use church discipline. Who does the disciplining? In most churches, the documents of the church tell us. Within the congregation, it generally falls to the leaders, people chosen by their brothers and sisters in Christ, When clergy are to be disciplined, the responsibility is with the bishops and those trusted people of God who are their counselors. But if the group or leaders has this philosophy and it is affecting your vision of life,"what are you to do?" At this point in my life because of my love for all, I will leave it to God.
The church is in serious trouble. Part of it is because we have given in to diluting the Scripture in order to satisfy the culture of our day “This is the easy way” and if you speak about it you are labeled or told they don’t understand you. however, Jesus never said that the way will be easy. Culture is not to shape the church; the church is to shape culture. We are the salt of the earth, according to the Word of our Lord.
Do we need an updated Bible? Definitely not, instead, we need to take the teachings of God’s word seriously.
God Bless You and This Ministry!
