SABBATH

God's Gift to Us

Commentary: Jesus, Mary, and Josephine?

Further Evidence of Disrespect for God
#1060c

Given 06-Aug-11; 11 minutes

listen:

download:

description: The Atlantic Monthly reports that 'gay is the new normal' and 'same sex marriage is now acceptable.' Modern Israel has attained equivalency with Sodom and Gomorrah. The television program Pretty Little Liars glorifies lesbianism. Recently a Methodist church pageant in Iowa portrayed Jesus, Mary, and Josephine, suggesting that Jesus had two mommies. Lies are destroying the life of this nation. America seems impervious to the truth, drawn in by Satan's lies.


transcript:

You might wonder why I'm not commenting on the recent budget-raising deal that was reached and passed by Congress this week, but I thought that it is more appropriate for you to recall that I began last week's sermon quoting from the Atlantic Monthly article titled, "Gay Is Now the New Normal." In other words, homosexuality and lesbianism are no longer looked upon as a perverse, immoral abnormality by the majority of the American public, but are now accepted as simply another lifestyle choice. In addition to this, same-sex "marriage" is making approval gains as well.

These are further evidences that America is rapidly sliding toward becoming a mirror image of Sodom and Gomorrah. Interestingly, Revelation 11:18 God names Jerusalem, Israel's capital city, has spiritually Sodom and Egypt, indicating that, spiritually, Israel is as corrupt as Egypt. This is further commented on Ezekiel 16. Toward the end of the chapter, God shows Israel, Judah and Sodom as sisters in one family. In other words, as in a family, they all had the same characteristics. He goes further and He chides Judah, especially, because they did not consider Sodom a byword. In other words, they were in spiritual agreement with that horribly immoral city.

The Bible does not record even one example of same-sex "marriage," and it clearly shows by example that marriage is to be between one man and one woman. In addition, the Bible is clearly— dogmatically—opposed in both testaments to homosexuality and lesbianism, and thus there is no doubt whatever where the concept of the "new normal" stands in the eyes of God.

But there are some areas that maybe we need to be made aware of, if only to drive home the reality that we are sinking like a boulder in a lake. Have you heard or seen the TV show titled Pretty Little Liars? This summer is its second season, which indicates that it had enough approval to be rescheduled again this year from last, and therefore a fairly strong acceptance by the public. However, the watching public, which is measured at 2.5 million female viewers (not counting the men)—2.5 million female viewers each episode, and that of that 2.5 million, 50% are girls between the ages of 12 and 18. Incidentally, that is the producers' target audience—girls 12 to 18.

This show was designed to encourage and glamorize lesbian relationships. A review from the fairly liberal New York Post newspaper commented, "We've established that there is no socially redeeming value in the series and that your kids shouldn't watch it if they are too young and impressionable." But in the meantime, advertisers like McDonald's and Chrysler, are among the show's leading advertisers. The MovieGuide.org website says the program's content is immoral and licentious, and they have renamed the show Evil Little Liars. This show is deliberately aimed at impressionable teenage girls.

But there is more, and perhaps even more disturbing, news because it comes from the world of religion in America. Although this news is not as widely spread as the television show, it certainly illustrates how pervasive the acceptance of these perverse sins is, and how far the churches have fallen. The article came from the WorldNetDaily website and is titled "Jesus, Mary, and Josephine?" It is subtitled "God has Two Mommies." A "Christian" church, right in America's heartland, is helping redefine the story and its most recent Nativity scene—this came in last December—featured two women instead of a man and woman starring as Joseph and Mary.

This happened at Saint Timothy's United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Reverend Linda Butler said, "It's not very groundbreaking at all to use the youngest baby in the congregation to play the role of Jesus. The parents just happened to be two women." Then she continued on, saying, "What we emphasized was that this was two parents and this is our baby, and this is part of the story. They're two moms, but that doesn't stand out. . . . It does fit so well, biblically, because Jesus did not have a human father."

Can a woman fit the role of a father? Many of you will remember the TV series, "Father Knows Best." Would it have been fitting for that part to be played by Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, or any other female star of the day in the role of the father? But the question of whether this fits the Bible's absolutely truthful narrative is the issue, and the Reverend Butler never addressed that in the article.

The report shows how far people will stretch a biblical truth from its source in order to fit a particular, cherished, carnal viewpoint. Thus, a true report of what the Bible says is indifferently swept aside as unimportant.

How can people do such a thing? They can do it because God Himself is of no importance to them. There is no fear of Him in their minds. By "fear," I mean everything from a deep and loving reverence to a holy terror of His awesome intellect, His sheer power, and His importance to every breath of air we take during our life on His beautiful creation. Lies are destroying the life of this nation.

Solomon said in Proverbs 23:23,

Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

Jesus added in Matthew 13:44,

Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

That's how precious Jesus perceived truth to be. Truth, when it is used, sets one free. It matters not what area of life this principle is applied to. It never fails. It always works and whether truth is applied to government, financial matters, obedience to parents, modesty and dress fashions, dating, or whatever, it never enslaves.

These illustrations I've given you today give vivid evidence that America is not subject to truth and is already enslaved to Satan, this world, and therefore immorality. It's not entirely dead yet, but it is staggering toward it like a drunken sailor, happily unaware that doom is following in his footsteps.

So be careful, brethren, that you do not get sucked in in any area of life, because this world and its ways are especially attractive to human nature.

JWR/aws/dcg