Wednesday, January 13, 2010

A mirror within a mirror...

My friend Laura recently blogged about homosexuality. Between the lines of what she wrote, I sense that she wants to trust in God's Biblically revealed truth about homosexual acts, but has trouble reconciling it with His love.

In thinking about this, it struck me that the pain that two people of the same sex who have fallen in love experience when committed to obeying God's word is the same as our Lord's pain for us.

It is the pain of self denial. The pain of restrained love. The pain of wanting to unleash love and comfort and giving and sharing but having to stop. Having to hold back out of a greater love, out of a greater desire for the best of the beloved. He could simply do it, simply unleash His love on all of us, and in doing so, remove our ability to chose to love Him in return. Instead, he gives us the opportunity to chose love ourselves, mimicking Him by also having to deny ourselves in order to fully accomplish that love.

And so our Lord aches to consummate, throughout the eons.

He must have a very special place set aside for those committed Christians who also ache to consummate with their mirror images, but do not.

7 comments:

Ike said...

We must be careful not to elevate God's love above His other equal attributes. God is not only love, but is also Holy, Righteous and Just. He simply cannot over-look sin or allow it to go unpunished and remain perfectly Holy & just. The cross of Christ is where God's Love and Holiness meet. Jesus loved the world & died for the sins of the world, bearing the just punishment due our sins. God's holiness & justice is satisfied only in the perfect work of Jesus Christ on the cross on behalf of everyone who places their faith & trust in Him. God's perfect holiness demands payment for sin, His perfect love sent His only Son to purchase our freedom and forgiveness on behalf of sinners.

The bible is also crystal clear on the boundaries God set concerning how we are to love each other in our relationships. Anything that violates God's set boundaries is a distortion and abuse of God's good gifts. Sex outside of marriage is an abuse of God's gift. Same-sex relationships is an abuse of God's good gifts. These sins are an affront to God's holiness and character. That's why Jesus was shockingly serious when He say's this in Mark 9:34:

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out."

The person who truly recognizes the holiness and love of God, should also understand the wickedness and sins of their own heart. Every aspect of fallen man is effected by sin. That Includes every inclination of the heart. All our desires and relationships come with the full effects of our sin and will always fall short of God's perfect standards.

Our self-denial and repentance may be difficult at times, but God's grace is sufficient for those who genuinely turn to Him. In the process of sanctification in the believers life, God will work in our hearts to turn our affections to Him alone as our greatest Treasure! Although we will war & battle against sin in this life, ultimate victory is guaranteed to everyone who places their faith and trust in Christ. This is the future hope of every believer.

pucellodorleans said...

"If your hand cause you to sin,cut it off" we all deserve daily disembodiment. My heart goes out to those who daily have their hearts torn out. I can not compare a thief without a hand or a lier without a tongue to a human without a heart.This being a much greater pain causes me to agree with Eva. This pain would be directed at the center of what makes us in the image of God..our ability to love. It would not only be asking for sexual organs to be removed,this premace would also be asking for hearts to be cut out. compassion, more love and support is needed for all.

Suzanne Marie DeWitt said...

The beautiful thing is the way that our Lord showers us with grace and power when we do embrace restraint.

Sacrifice for Him is always rewarded beyond all expectation.

Ike said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ike said...

"If your hand cause you to sin,cut it off" we all deserve daily disembodiment. My heart goes out to those who daily have their hearts torn out. I can not compare a thief without a hand or a lier without a tongue to a human without a heart.This being a much greater pain causes me to agree with Eva. This pain would be directed at the center of what makes us in the image of God..our ability to love. It would not only be asking for sexual organs to be removed,this premace would also be asking for hearts to be cut out. compassion, more love and support is needed for all.


God doesn't ask for permanent heart removal, but a permanent change in the heart so that it will have new desires and new affections. In this case, God requires that we are born again and given a New Heart that is able to respond to God's love in obedience ( John 3:5, Ezk. 36:26). God is creating life & light in our darkened & sinful hearts as we turn to Him alone. The born again Christian has their affections and desires now directed to Jesus Christ as our greatest treasure and most valuable possession. We turn to Him as our Lord and Savor who is able to forgive our sins and extend His unlimited grace to all our situations. This is the work of God in regeneration as He calls sinners out of darkness into a permanent relationship with Jesus Christ. The Christian is empowered to turn from their sins and to love God and his fellow man with a new heart and Godward affections.

But we are not yet perfected (glorified) in this life. Until then... we do struggle and groan as we wrestle with our sins in this fallen world. The way of repentance is not always easy. The best way we can love each other is to continuously point each other to Jesus Christ. And to be radically God-centered in all area's of life. That's my prayer for Eva's struggling friend.

Pranayama mama said...

The other day, on pastor's perspective, someone called in with a question regarding homosexuals who are committed to Christ. Pastor Chuck, I believe, allowed how the Bible is very clear that this is one of the worst sins, etc. But I couldn't help but wonder: aren't they forgiven? I walk with Christ and still sin yet I am thankfully forgiven by grace. Does grace have a gay caveat? I really don't get it.

Ike said...

Genuine believers will sin....but not as a lifestyle. When we do sin...we confess and repent.