Haman's Gallows
2 months ago
few years back a liberal Portland newspaper, The 
Willamette Week, published a story, "The Word made Flesh" which is about how Multnomah Bible College lifted their ban on tattoos. The article featured a seminary grad student who not only claimed that Jesus would dig his tattoos because they glorified God, but also claimed that Jesus Himself will have a tattoo upon His second coming citing Revelation 19:16 as proof. Should Christians be getting tattoos as a demonstration of their faith? Is it legit to think that tattoos will help reach those who are lost that would otherwise be turned off by more straight laced Christian brothers? When the Holy Spirit, through Paul penned 1 Corinthians 9:22, which says "I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some," was God's intention for us to mimic the world's ways in order to spread the Gospel?
This particular subject was of great interest to me personally because prior to having been saved, I had already tattooed a majority of my body. Tattoos, to me, were a way to commemorate a time in my life, or to honor something that was important to me (such as the time I spent in the Marine Corps). So, after having been called unto Christ, I thought it only fitting to get a tattoo showing my devotion to the Almighty, since this obviously was infinitely more important than anything I previously had inked on my skin. However, shortly thereafter my conscience accused me of violating Leviticus 19:28 which states, "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD."
I questioned if this command applied to those under Christ in the Church age because in context it is tied to a law forbidding the shaving of ones beard, or cutting the sides of ones hair, both things which are practiced by Christians everyday in this age. So, I searched commentaries for an answer, and found that pagans would shave their beard and keep their hair a certain way that they believed honored their false gods. They also would tattoo symbols on themselves to signify they were the property of, and devoted to their false god of choice. This lead me to believe that, it wasn't necessarily the tattooing itself that God forbade, but the fact that the behavior (weather tattoos or hair styles) was a pagan form of worship to glorify their false deities and thus directly violates the first commandment which states, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."
With this in mind, I enthusiastically got a large tattoo in a vain attempt to glorify the one true God. At the time, I truly believed that this tattoo I had gotten would show my Creator the unwavering devotion I had for Him. Yet, as I looked at it, I realized that God never asks us to do such things to show our devotion, but simply calls us to listen to His Word and obey His commands. Obedience to Christ and His word brings God glory...this is how we are to truly worship the Almighty. But instead, in my attempt to bring God honor, I only brought Him dishonor. I had demeaned and insulted the Holy One by treating Him as a false pagan diety. I had attempted to worship God, not in truth, but in my own way, and by my own wisdom I offered the great 'I AM' strange fire (Leviticus 10:1-3).
Willamette Week, published a story, "The Word made Flesh" which is about how Multnomah Bible College lifted their ban on tattoos. The article featured a seminary grad student who not only claimed that Jesus would dig his tattoos because they glorified God, but also claimed that Jesus Himself will have a tattoo upon His second coming citing Revelation 19:16 as proof. Should Christians be getting tattoos as a demonstration of their faith? Is it legit to think that tattoos will help reach those who are lost that would otherwise be turned off by more straight laced Christian brothers? When the Holy Spirit, through Paul penned 1 Corinthians 9:22, which says "I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some," was God's intention for us to mimic the world's ways in order to spread the Gospel?This particular subject was of great interest to me personally because prior to having been saved, I had already tattooed a majority of my body. Tattoos, to me, were a way to commemorate a time in my life, or to honor something that was important to me (such as the time I spent in the Marine Corps). So, after having been called unto Christ, I thought it only fitting to get a tattoo showing my devotion to the Almighty, since this obviously was infinitely more important than anything I previously had inked on my skin. However, shortly thereafter my conscience accused me of violating Leviticus 19:28 which states, "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD."
I questioned if this command applied to those under Christ in the Church age because in context it is tied to a law forbidding the shaving of ones beard, or cutting the sides of ones hair, both things which are practiced by Christians everyday in this age. So, I searched commentaries for an answer, and found that pagans would shave their beard and keep their hair a certain way that they believed honored their false gods. They also would tattoo symbols on themselves to signify they were the property of, and devoted to their false god of choice. This lead me to believe that, it wasn't necessarily the tattooing itself that God forbade, but the fact that the behavior (weather tattoos or hair styles) was a pagan form of worship to glorify their false deities and thus directly violates the first commandment which states, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."
With this in mind, I enthusiastically got a large tattoo in a vain attempt to glorify the one true God. At the time, I truly believed that this tattoo I had gotten would show my Creator the unwavering devotion I had for Him. Yet, as I looked at it, I realized that God never asks us to do such things to show our devotion, but simply calls us to listen to His Word and obey His commands. Obedience to Christ and His word brings God glory...this is how we are to truly worship the Almighty. But instead, in my attempt to bring God honor, I only brought Him dishonor. I had demeaned and insulted the Holy One by treating Him as a false pagan diety. I had attempted to worship God, not in truth, but in my own way, and by my own wisdom I offered the great 'I AM' strange fire (Leviticus 10:1-3).
The pagans also worshiped their false gods through human sacrifice and with temple prostitutes, so does anyone really think we can do such things in the name of YHWH and that He will find that pleasing and acceptable? Of course that is completely absurd right? So why is it that we assume we can take another religious practice from the pagans, throw the name of Christ in the mix, and all of a sudden that purifies it in the eyes of our LORD? No where in Scripture are we commanded to tattoo ourselves but we are told to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom 13:14). This does not mean tattooing a cross or the symbol of the trinity on us, but it does mean that our words and behavior should be such that those who see us, instead, see only Christ because of our submission to Him as LORD which will bear the fruit of an obedient life, in which the world could mistake us for none other than Christ's disciples because of our continual godly speech and conduct which truly glorifies the Almighty.
Obedience to the Word is what Christ commands, and this is what we ought to be focusing our minds upon, not a preoccupation with things that the world does and loves which are temporal and will pass away, but on those things which truly glorify Christ and have eternal benefits in the life that is to come. If tattoos truly glorified God, wouldn't He have mentioned it in the pages of Scripture? God is sovereign and will reach those whom He has elected through the preaching of His word. Tattoos will not save anyone or make it any easier to share the offensive gospel to a lost world, and they do not open doors to evangelize or share your testimony. We were "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Eph 2:10), and that does not hinge on weather we got ourselves a gnarly Jesus tattoo. Seriously though, take it from me when I say God gave us His Word for a reason, it is the very mind of God in whom we find eternal life, His Word contains everything pertaining to life and godliness, and we must know it and obey it and proclaim it if we are to reach the unsaved and that, folks, has nothing at all to do with tattoos.
have no idea why I am so surprised when I come across things like so-called Christians claiming that it is biblical to murder babies in the name of "choice". I suppose there is still a part in me that is still naive enough to think that someone who claims to be a Christian would actually be intimately familiar with who Christ truly is and what doctrines His Word holds. I guess I tend to forget at times that the title of Christian is so loosely and widely used that it no longer even carries a real definition. I realize that the Church is predominately made up of purely nominal believers who not only lack a true knowledge of Christ and His Word but they do not show even the slightest bit of fruit in their life, but still I am dumbfounded when I see things like professing Christians twisting the Holy Scriptures to justify the mass murder of innocence. If you can stomach such blatant hypocrisy then read this.
As you can see they go into this insanely long (and that's coming from me whose blogs tend to be...well if you read them, you know how long winded I can be, although I am trying to fix that...thanks to Dan Phillips from Team-Pyro) in-depth (can you call something that is completely filled with error in depth?) explanation on how you can not take certain verses out of context (which is true, even though they take verses out of context themselves...aww sweet irony) to prove your point, and they claim the pro-lifers have done just that; taken certain Psalms out of context to justify their stance on being anti-abortion. I am going to bypass both "in-depth" arguments made by pro-lifers and pro-abortionists alike and just present to you one passage from the very lips of our LORD
Matthew 5:21-22
"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell."
Think about this...really soak it in. The Lord God Almighty says that if you call someone a fool you are guilty enough to enter eternal damnation. Do you honestly think that God is not going to hold those who murder babies accountable for their sinful actions? Forget debating...its obvious that God's standards are so high that you can't even call someone a name without being condemned, much less physically murder an infant. Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 lists all those who will not "inherit the Kingdom of God" which includes "revilers" and "covetous" people. So if I can be more transparent, if you speak "abusive language", or desire someone else's possessions you will go to hell, but some so-called Christians would have us believe that abortion, however, is OK in the eyes of Christ? Seriously, if you think that you can be a Christian and at the same time be pro-abortion, you are self deceived at best. I also want to note that the early Church who were taught first hand by the Apostles realized the sinfulness of abortion, and they recorded it in the Didache saying, "Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion." Lastly look at what God hates...yes, God hates things...and these things He hates are an abomination to Him.
Proverbs 6:16-19
"There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers."
Before I go, I just have to say this...with the election coming up, if you claim to be a Christian and plan on voting for anyone who has been known to vote "pro-choice...aligning yourself with those who are directly responsible for legislation that brings about the death of millions of babies a year, then you too are guilty of shedding innocent blood. If those who covet and those who speak abusive language will not escape judgment, neither will those who give hearty approval (Rom 1:32) to the death of innocence. Do not be self deceived.
recently saw Jay Bakker, son of false teachers Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, on Larry King Live, although, I think that the original interview actually took place back in 2006. The date is really irrelevant because the false doctrines that Jay Bakker propagated in that interview have been gaining more popularity as each year passes. You can find the specific statements I will be referring to, here at YouTube, and also at this online magazine.
It seems that Jay has decided to take up the cause of fighting for gay rights. His so-called ministry is focusing on reaching out to homosexuals, however, he does not call them to repentance, NO, instead he claims that God told him that homosexuality is no longer a sin. Jay Bakker's direct quote is, "This sounds so churchy, but I felt like God spoke to my heart and said '[homosexuality] is not a sin'". Now, this really opens up the flood gates of craziness and chaos. With this way of thinking, any person can claim a "new revelation" from God. I mean, seriously, this is so absurd, maybe someone will say that God told them adultery was no longer a sin, or how bout stealing? Maybe lying will be ok...ya never know, murder might be the next sin God will change His mind on. The fact of the matter is that God has made it unquestionably clear in His Word that not only is homosexuality a sin, but God does not change His mind.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."
Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind."
Seems pretty cut and dry doesn't it? However, Jay Bakker says, "Well, I mean, I know the arguments. I know the scriptures. And the scriptures are very – you could argue on them all day. I believe they’ve been taken out of context, and I don’t believe that, you know, we’ve researched enough of the background on those scriptures." False teachers like Jay Bakker claim that 1 Corinthians 6:9 is narrowly speaking of homosexual prostitutes, and that it does not at all encompass the damnation of a supposed monogamous homosexual loving relationship. This is a lie, plain and simple. The word translated, "effeminate" does speaks of male prostitutes, however, "homosexuals" is a totally different word, and is differentiated from these effeminate prostitutes with a "nor". Thus God is declaring that neither of them will enter the Kingdom of God. Jay Bakker's doctrines are exactly what Peter warned of when he said that unstable and untaught men would distort the Scriptures in hopes of catching some off guard as to carry them away (2 Pet 3:14-18), because of this constant threat, we should be on the alert and diligent to be established in the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1:12).
Romans 1:18-32
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Here, Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, shows us that God's wrath is revealed against men who suppress the truth. The Bible says these men fail to honor and thank God even though He has made His power and divine nature evident to them through His creation, and because of their lack of honor and thankfulness toward God, "God gave them over to degrading passions". Before we go wondering what that means, Scripture explains that degrading passions consist of "women exchang{ing} the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error." This really couldn't be more clear, I mean, seriously, it couldn't. If God meant to condemn merely homosexual prostitution, it would have been easy for Him to make that obvious. Or would false teachers like Jay Bakker think that when God said adulterers would not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, that we should question if God meant all adulterers, or only a narrow specific kind of adulterer. We know that God is holy (Rev 4:8; Rev 15:4), perfect in purity (Deut 32:4; 2 Sam 22:31), and free from all sin (2 Cor 5:21; 1 John 3:5), so when we consider Him and His character wouldn't it make more sense to err on the side of righteousness than to assume that a holy God would tolerate willful sin? 
Especially when He so clearly states, through Paul, in Romans that the act of homosexuality itself is impure, improper, depraved, wicked, evil and ranked among all unrighteousness, whether it is greed, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossiping, slandering, insolent, arrogant, boastful, being disobedient to parents...all of this behavior is considered by Christ as unloving, and those who practice such things are worthy of death. (Rom 1:28-32)
Many people debate whether homosexuals are born gay, but that debate is pointless. King David says rightly that from birth we are sinful (Psalm 51:5) and Paul proclaims that by nature we are children of wrath (Eph 2:3). Since we know that mankind is fallen through Adam (Rom 5:12-14), we should be aware that all of us have an innate sin nature (Gen 4:7) and we are all prone to sin (Jam 1:13-15) within ourselves. Homosexuals may say that from a young age they had certain "feelings" and "tendencies" toward being gay, however, from a young age I had tendencies to lie, and to steal, just as we all have sinful tendencies. Being a liar and a thief came naturally to me, so because of this, do I try and justify my lying thieving ways? No, for Christ calls us to repentance, we are commanded to turn from our sin (John 8:11) and we are commanded to deny ourselves to the point of death (Matt 16:24). Practically speaking, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am to renew my mind in the Word of God, being transformed by the living and active Word into the image of Christ (Rom 12:1-2), so as to die to self, which is sinful, and live to Christ. The same goes for a homosexual, if he is to be saved, he must die to his desires turning from his sin, and follow Christ in all obedience.
Now...this teaching, although biblically accurate is attacked by men like Jay Bakker who say it is external religiosity to ask someone to "change" and is exactly what the Pharisees stood for, and that it is the very thing Jesus spoke out against. Jay Bakker claims that all you have to do is love God with all your heart, and it doesn't matter if you are a practicing homosexual or not. The problem with this argument is that, the Pharisees had taken God's law and added all sorts of externals to it, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN (Matt 15:9). Whereas I, and many others who are like-minded with me, am merely pointing to Scripture, and echoing the words of Christ, the Prophets, and Apostles in saying do not be deceived (1 Cor 6:10)...no sinners will inherit the Kingdom of God, that goes for liars, and adulterers, just as it applies to homosexuals. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:11 that the Corinthians were once all those things...liars, drunkards, thieves, idolaters, homosexuals...but they were washed, they were sanctified and they were justified through Jesus Christ. This did not happen because of some hypocritical love for God, in which they continued to wallow in their sin...NO...they were ONCE those things, meaning they had turned from them, they had abandoned them, they had deserted them for Christ. It is not a coincidence that Paul says do not be deceived before listing all the characteristics of those who would be banished from entering God's Kingdom. Paul said do not be deceived because we are prone to justify our sin, and we are prone to deceive ourselves into thinking we are not that sinful.
Please, do not be deceived in thinking homosexuality is not a sin. Do not be deceived in thinking obeying Scripture is legalistic...because on judgment day, many will stand before Christ and say, "Lord, Lord"...these men are deceived, thinking that they know Christ...saying "Lord, Lord" you know me! But He will tell them, "I never knew you! DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS" (Matt 7:23). The very ones who will be cast into hell are those who have no law, they are lawless, and they continually practice that which transgresses against God's Word, but, in spite of what Jay Bakker teaches, the true disciple of Christ "delights in the law of the LORD" (Psalm 1:2). Practicing homosexuals do not pay heed to the warnings of being self deceived (Gal 6:7) found in the Word of God. These men loved their sin more than they loved Christ, they loved their sin so much they would not stop practicing it.
"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." - John 3:19
Repent and be saved! Christ will justify and cleanse you from every filthy thing that has stained your soul. Do not be deceived by your own wicked heart (Jer 17:9) into thinking God tolerates sin. If we truly trust in Christ, it is written that the old things have passed away, and we ought to be new creatures with new desires...new creatures who no longer love the darkness of our evil deeds which we once were slaves to. If we are new creatures, we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, and if we "walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please" (Gal 5:16-17). Self denial is a characteristic of Christ's disciples, self indulgence is a characteristic of an unregenerate person.
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Hello world!7 years ago
