Guest Blogger: Randy Savage, Professor. Malone University. Former Salvation Army Officer, USA East.There is a significant, and to many, a troubling, increase within Judeo/Christian movements to accept cultural relativism and reject absolute truth. Arguments are made in favor of a more liberal understanding of absolute truth leading toward relative truth. The infallibility of Scripture standing as the authoritative Word of God is being minimized in favor of political correctness, personal preferences, and acceptance of culturally driven activities and lifestyles. The evolution of requiring more tolerance toward alternative lifestyles and utilitarian ethics challenges the basic fundamental principles of God’s will.
Scripture clearly outlines God’s plan for every human being as demonstrated in the early fellowship experience of Adam and Eve. Imagine God coming down in the cool of the evening to walk with us in the Garden. As sin is introduced in the Garden of Eden, the world is led from the perfect will of God into a desperately warped and skewed view of truth, right, and justice.
Despite the influence sin has on the whole of human existence, the basic fundamentals of absolute truth, authority of Scripture, and supremacy of God is still valid today even though many refuse to accept that premise. Sin is sin irrespective of our religious world view, the same as God is God even though many reject Him. God is holy, yet to our finite minds this is but a micro-spec of understanding in light of an infinite God.
Certain natural laws exist based on God’s design. Plants grow when watered. Leaves fall in the change of seasons, and new buds and leaves come in the spring. One particular natural law established by God is that man and woman were created by God for the purpose of procreation. The issue of same sex marriage, sexual intercourse between people of the same sex, and other deviant sexual activities are diametrically opposed to God’s plan. This issue is a clear example of the affects of sin in the world.
Be careful that you do not read hate or intolerance into this. This is purely fact as described by God and outlined in Scripture. Where deviation from this truth comes is in our disagreement of the infallibility and authority of Scripture. Scripture demonstrates through historical evidence and prophesy that many will depart from the fundamental truth of God’s plan. The Apostle Paul addressed this issue in his second letter to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-9;
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
Truth is often difficult to hear and more difficult to accept. The truth provided by God does not shackle or imprison us, it provides freedom. Sin shackles, and the truth of God in Jesus Christ provides freedom from captivity. Perhaps organized religion has contributed much of the misunderstanding and controversy surrounding the sin issue by creating rules and regulations in an attempt to provide specific direction out of a life of sin. In some respects, contemporary Christianity evolved into a religious sect closely resembling the Pharisees and Sadducees Christ encountered during His earthly ministry. This may have led to much of the current confusion and difference of opinion that exists within the wide spectrum of Christianity. The true definition of Christianity is following Christ and him alone.Irrespective of our personal views on controversial issues, God is in control. He never changes. He does not concede His holiness because people choose to compromise the truth. One day we all will stand before Him in judgment. Our lives will be judged according to the perfect plan of creation. 2 Timothy 4:1 says, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom…” (NIV). 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (NIV).
(The article published at fsaof.blogspot.com )
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