REPROBATE MINDS

Romans 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

In all of man’s history, nothing is more of an abomination in God’s sight than the sin of homosexuality. Men and women have sinned against God with their bodies and engaged in immoral acts that are outside of the institution of marriage since the beginning of time from the Garden of Eden. Marriage is a covenant relationship that depicts what God will do when Jesus returns for His bride and is joined to her, as a man would take a virgin bride. God ordained marriage is a holy act of total surrender of one person’s life to another under God’s blessing. Ephesians chapter 5 talks about this relationship that is a picture of what God plans for His people:

5:25  The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it,

5:26  that he might sanctify it, having cleansed `it' with the bathing of the water in the saying,

5:27  that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;

5:28  so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife -- himself he doth love;

5:29  for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord -- the assembly,

5:30  because members we are of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones;

5:31  `for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh;'

But man is a sinful creature by nature and has through the workings of Satan perverted and violated something so sacred that it was patterned after Jesus Christ loving the Church. In the bible we have scripture after scripture, story after story that speaks quite frankly of what God abhors in a sexual relationship. He hates fornication. He hates adultery and even more He hates the degrading of the body through sexual relations between people of the same sex.

That may anger some of you, but not many, as I would be surprised if any but a minority of the people who read this commentary are engaged in the practice of homosexuality, but many of you have the belief that “live and let live” and to accept the lifestyle of gay people as normal. Some believe that God is a loving God and loves all men and somehow overlooks this sin. I have known people in my life and ministry that talked of Christian values and believed in a loving God that would never send a person to an everlasting hell, just because they “were born gay”. Why would you not? It’s been engrained into society for over a generation that it’s an “alternative lifestyle”….meaning entirely normal and healthy. Is it? Let’s see what the bible had to say about this perversion, for a lack of a better term, but fits it well and how it is dealt with in the final judgment by Almighty God.

Let’s start near the beginning.

In the beginning God gave mankind, through His people Israel, definitions of what was proper conduct concerning the sexual relations between two people. Here in the 20^th chapter of Leviticus, our Righteous God spoke to Moses concerning what was lawful, clean and good, but also what was an abomination before Him. He forbade sexual practices between two people who are close relatives called incest, or adultery with another person’s spouse, sins of fornication outside marriage, and then he comes down to what is an abomination to Him, in His sight and the focus of this sermon. Leviticus:

20:13  If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Note that from the beginning of man receiving God’s commandments, that sexual perversion was addressed and sexual sins were identified. So has God changed His mind for our modern era?

Malachi 3:16, 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

In the Old Testament, God told the descendents of Jacob, which by inference means us as well, that He has changed not. Then in the New Testament, Paul spoke of our Lord and Savior and His unchangeable nature.

Hebrews 13:8,  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

So the question again is has God changed His mind concerning what He handed down even to Moses as forbidden by mankind to engage in? We can clearly see that He has not changed His mind throughout all the ages. If it was sin then, it is sin still today.

Further on the Bible we see a man called Abraham who walked with God, as Abraham was a friend of God. One day, this friend of God looked and behold three strangers were coming up to his tent. You can find the account in Genesis, chapter 18. When Abraham inquired of these men who were obviously messengers from God, (or God sent from above in fleshly form, as many times, a messenger thought to be the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ made Himself known to men), they spoke of the evil that was coming from Sodom and her sister city, Gomorrah:

18:20  Then the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomor'rah is great and their sin is very grave,

18:21  I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry which has come to me; and if not, I will know."

If you are a student of the bible, you know what happened to these cities and the end result. What was the sin that was so great in these cities? Of course, we know idolatry was rampant. There was also violence and theft. I’m sure they broke every commandment of God. But the one that stands out the most in these pages of your Bible is the sin of homosexuality. Some may differ with me on that, but what was the verse that caused the messengers of God to remove Lot and his family out of the city quickly? These messengers were in Lot’s home when they were surrounded: Genesis,

19:4  But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house;

19:5  and they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them."

A biblical account of deviate men wanting to have their way with other men is written here. And what was the result? God destroyed the city with brimstone and fire leveling it.

Now let’s go to II Kings chapter 23, as we skip over many other passages that deal with these same sins for lack of time and space. It chronicles the time of when Josiah, King of Israel came to power at the tender age of 8 years old. It pains me to read some of the stories of evil kings who perverted the law of God and defiled even the temple of God with their perversion. There were many evil kings during this period, but Josiah was upright in the eyes of God and destroyed all pagan practices in the land and cleansed the temple of sexual sins known as temple prostitution.  II Kings:

23:10  And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

This term “through the fire to Molech” had more of a meaning than sacrificing children on an altar and burning them alive, which they ultimately did. If you do an investigation, the sacrifice was preceded by sexual sins against children. It was common practice for the worship of these pagan gods to involve sexual acts with temple prostitutes. Where did Israel learn of this abomination? They learned it from the people around them and did likewise, even though God warned them most sternly and told them of the consequences of disobedience. These evil men took young boys and little girls and performed sexual acts in worship to their false gods.  Then they were sacrificed and burned. It is a most ghastly of a scene in a thought to ponder.

NAMBLA?

How is that relevant to our times you say? Have you ever heard of an organization called NAMBLA? It is an organization that desires the legalization of sex with underage children. (North American Men/Boy Love Association, Look it up on Google). Have we gone mad as a nation? It’s not legal yet, but the Gay Lobby is focused on making all forms of their lifestyle legal in the eyes of the law. No one would have dreamed while I was a young man, that this country would be steeped in the grotesque display we see even in our streets. Ever see anything on Gay Pride parades? They revel in their sinful ways by displaying their bodies in what appears unseemly and ungodly.

These groups of gay people have a powerful lobby that spends millions on militantly and aggressively seeking special rights, privileges and designations for all things gay. California and other states voted down gay marriage and defined it as a union between a man and a woman, twice. That didn’t stop the Gay Lobby. They petitioned the courts that ultimately overturned the will of the people by judicial dictate and legislated from the bench.

IT’S THE CHILDREN

We look at civilizations before us that had their zenith and then a downfall. Some of these civilizations crashed quickly, some slowly, like the Roman Empire did. But they had all one thing in common. They each became embroiled in every sexual sin known to man, and homosexuality was rampant. It eventually destroyed each civilization as the building block of a healthy society was slowly destroyed, known as the family. Family meaning one man, one woman, and their offspring is the God ordained family building block of society. And why only this way, you ask? Aren’t same sex marriages with adopted kids, or kids from other marriages forced to live with the choice of their parent the same healthy lifestyle, as heterosexual unions? Are they not families? No, and for one reason only, and for their ultimate emotional welfare….. for the children. The children are our future and a perversion away from a solid building block of society, will lead us down the road of ancient Rome, and many other similar civilizations that neither obeyed nor feared the Living God. Our God plainly condemns anything that destroys the most innocent of mankind, the children and will render harsh judgment for doing so.

So then why does man in today’s modern world believe that being a homosexual is beyond the individual’s control and somehow God will not judge them according to what He wrote down?

Being Gay is a Product of Biology

One of the reasons people give for being gay, is that “I’m born this way. “ So I want to spend just a little while on the premise and belief of some Americans, even Christian people that being gay, or of the homosexual persuasion is genetic and biological in nature and they just can’t help themselves. We have people who are transgender, or so they say. We have people who claim to be trapped in the wrong body and get a sex change. We have a growing number of people who have “come out of the closest” with scientific explanation that the “just can’t help themselves and God made me this way.”…Hogwash!!

The only thing that is true of this argument is that it’s a choice inspired by the father of all lies, Satan the devil to the destruction of the sinful man or woman who gives in to the temptation. The result is either by sociological conditioning, environment, or bad parenting, or all of them with a propensity of mankind to sin in the absence of believing and following the True God. These folks further point to scientific evidence in the distant past that supported this notion  that being “gay” is biological and therefore, we must accept these folks as they are. “Love thy neighbor”, they say. Wherefore, it is true that we should love all people, as Jesus commanded in the Sermon on the Mount, but does that mean we ignore the sin? We love the sinner, but hate the sin, as God does. First, let’s look at the scientific evidence.

Prior to 1973, homosexuality appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the official reference book used by the American Psychiatric Association for diagnosing mental disorders in America and throughout much of the rest of the world.  Homosexuality was considered a sickness that doctors routinely treated.  In 1973, however, it was removed as a sexual disorder, based on the claim that it did not fulfill the “distress and social disability” criteria that were used to define a disorder.  Today, there is no mention of homosexuality in the DSM-IV (aside from a section describing gender identity disorder), indicating that individuals with this condition are not suitable candidates for therapy (see American Psychiatric Association, 2000).

Being gay is not like being diabetic, which there is gene that lives with you all your life. The person is always a diabetic. The same can be said for a Down Syndrome baby. They are always missing or have an altered Chromosome 23 and it never changes. So is being gay genetic? Not according to new studies that show gay people have changed their lifestyle and recovered from this practice. In the following study it is noted that:

“Robert Spitzer conducted a study on 200 self-selected individuals (143 males, 57 females) in an effort to see if participants could change their sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual (2003, 32:403-417).  He reported some minimal change from homosexual to heterosexual orientation that lasted at least five years (p. 403).  Spitzer observed:

The majority of participants gave reports of change from a predominantly or exclusively homosexual orientation before therapy to a predominantly or exclusively heterosexual orientation in the past year (p. 403).

In summarizing his findings, Spitzer declared: “Thus, there is evidence that change in sexual orientation following some form of reparative therapy does occur in some gay men and lesbians.” He thus concluded: “This study provides evidence that some gay men and lesbians are able to also change the core features of sexual orientation” (p. 415).

At the conclusion of this study they made a determination based on many scientific tests to decide if the cause of being homosexual is genetic in nature. They concluded the following:

“Consider the obvious problem of survival for individuals who allegedly possess a gay gene: individuals who have partners of the same sex are biologically unable to reproduce (without resorting to artificial means).  Therefore, if an alleged “gay gene” did exist, the homosexual population eventually would disappear altogether.  We now know that it is not scientifically accurate to refer to a “gay gene” as the causative agent in homosexuality.  The available evidence clearly establishes that no such gene has been identified.  Additionally, there is evidence which documents that homosexuals can change their sexual orientation.  Future decisions regarding policies about, and/or treatment of, homosexuals should reflect this knowledge.”

I concur with their findings, as the basic of biology and the order of creation is the reproduction of the species. It is against biology that same sex individuals are devoid of this biological fact that nature and biology is the cornerstone of the propagation of the species. Otherwise, as this study shows, homosexuality would die out.

It actually comes down to what Paul wrote in the same chapter I began this sermon with. Romans chapter 1, gives the correct and only answer for this change in our society.

1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

1:31  Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

It describes our nation in all it’s sinful ways exactly. No other explanation is relevant or should be substituted as an alternate argument. The bible is the final word on this subject.

IS IT TOO LATE FOR AMERICA?

Only God knows that answer to that question. America is going down a slippery slope and is headed for destruction. It is all around us in our news sources, in print and on the TV, and whatever mobile device you use. BUT:

Galatians 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Are we coming to the reaping of our idolatry for worshiping at the altar of political correctness? How long will God hold off passing out judgment on this sinful world, and especially the United States. Why do I say especially the USA? We were founded under Godly principles. Our founding fathers fashioned a nation based on what works, the Ten Commandments. As Israel was in ancient times, we were a beacon of hope and salvation to untold masses. We were a light unto the rest of the world and a shining city sitting on a hill. Like Israel, we were a blessed people. We have prospered and have within our border more wealth than has ever been witnessed in all of the history of mankind.

But as was judged of ancient Israel, who were supposed to be a land of priest, a holy nation before the rest of the world, America has squandered the blessing and depleted it’s standing in the world as a God fearing nation. God has been at our side from the very beginning, because we honored Him and feared Him. We put God first, then family and country in that order. No longer can we say that is true in America. And sadly, no longer can we be sure that God is on our side. And who have we to blame? Look in the mirror. If you, like so many luke-warm, so called Christians sit there in your easy chair and pray that the sins and the judgment coming to this world will just pass over you, as you hunker down in your fox-hole and stay silent, then you are in for a very horrible surprise. God will not be mocked. To see what is happening all over this country of ours, the country we grew up in with freedom, and the right to choose our own lifestyle, be it Godly or not, then that freedom can be erased just as easily as Israel was sent into captivity the first go around by Babylon, and finally destroyed as a nation and scattered to the four winds by Rome. If you do not speak out and focus on the evil in our land, then you are guilty by your silence.

WHAT DO I DO? WHAT CAN I DO?

You who profess Jesus Christ in word, do you do it in actions everyday? Do you stand up for Godly principles and speak out in love, but with firm conviction that evil in this land will not stand? You who love this country and see the cesspool that we now call home becoming more of a stench with each passing day, do you speak up, or do you stay silent? Do you cry out to God for wisdom and in tears and agonizing sobs plead with God for mercy and a return to what this nation was founded on?  II Chronicles chapter 7:

7:13  If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; (can you say environmental disasters, economic woes, and the political climate we live in?)

7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Is it too late? Has the handwriting on the wall already been written? Have we been weighed and found wanting? Are we to see this country go down in flames and our nation reduced to a third world country, or enslaved by an invading army while we are too weak to resist?

It may well be too late. Only our Heavenly Father knows for sure and I submit to His will. But this I do know. God expects each and every one of us that call ourselves “Christians’ to be something besides in name only. Have you stood up and have been counted on God’s side? Have you reached out to your fellow man and spoken of what our Lord did for each of us on Calvary and point the person you’re speaking to toward the Cross? Do you stand for righteousness and the glory that was once our nation? Or do you just warm a pew and pray that your pastor, your priest, or your minister can get you to heaven? Why do you leave your salvation in other men’s hands? Notice that I speak of silence several times in the preceding paragraphs. Silence is the death blow to saving what can be saved, be it the individual witness, or this nation as a whole.

WHAT IS THE END RESULT OF GOD’S JUDGMENT IN ALL OF THIS?

God in His infinite righteousness and judgment has passed down to us who/what will be cast away from His sight and be forever thrown into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Is the sin of homosexuality amongst them? Let us look at 1^st Corinthians chapter 6 as Paul puts it rather bluntly who will not inherit the Kingdom of God…note the following verses:

I Corinthians 6:9-10 Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (translated homosexual), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

That’s to prove that God has not changed during all of the history when the Bible was written down under Holy Spirit guidance. God will deal with the sins of mankind and amongst many, singles out homosexuality as being the right in there amongst the sins that will be denied access to His Glory and His eternal Kingdom. Now ask yourself one question.

ARE YOU REPROBATE?

That’s a strong word to use, isn’t it? But if you are doing what Paul said in Romans of the ills of this world, and especially this nation, then yes, you might just be reprobate. Those that consider themselves wise, either by education, science, or intellect God says that you are a fool. (Romans 1: 22) You who deny God when evidence is all around you, so that you have no excuse, are you reprobate? You who embrace diversity of homosexuality, free love, political correctness, and every evil device known to man…OR… you see it and say NOTHING are you reprobate, or just guilty? I call upon you who straddle the fence on political correctness, or are engaged in any of these practices that are bringing this nation down, to repent while you still can. Deuteronomy chapter 30:

30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

30:20  That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days:

As it was so true in the time that God spoke these Words to the children of Israel, it is no truer than it is today than it was then. Choose life, for the reward of standing with God and His Son Jesus Christ, is life everlasting. To be reprobate, is to choose death and being cast out of God’s sight eternally. Again, I say today choose life.

This is Pastor Mike Taylor wishing you God’s love and happiness on each one of you. If I can help you with anything, pray for you, counsel you on biblical subjects, or just listen, drop me a line at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net. God bless each and every one of you, till we meet at Jesus feet.

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