We should not continue to empower those (especially leaders) who will help to legitimize, normalize and legalize homosexuality (sin). Before you label me as a “homophobe” or “gay bash-er” please understand that I believe the bible is God’s word and is the standard of living for all mankind. The bible clearly says homosexuality is an abomination to God (Leviticus 18:22). It is also clear from the word of God that God loves the sinner but hates the sin. In other words, God loves the person (homosexual) but hates the sin (of homosexuality). So I don’t believe in mistreating or persecuting people because they are homosexual. I also don’t believe in granting them special rights because they refuse to acknowledge God’s standard and continue in their perverted sexual desires! See Romans 1:24-32. Some will call believers such as myself, old-fashion, out-of-touch and living in the dark-ages. But the word of God says those who think and behave in this manner are themselves living in darkness. They profess to be wise and enlightened, but they are really walking in their vain imaginations and their hearts are darkened! See Romans 1:18-23. My purpose is to encourage and challenge you to judge sin in general and homosexuality in particular according to God’s standard. I have chosen homosexuality in particular because of my awareness of the “Homosexual Agenda” in the U.S. and in the world. If you have not researched this issue you will think I am part of some wild, right-wing, religious conspiracy theory. But rest assured, the homosexual agenda is real and the enemy of our souls (the devil) is using homosexuality as the tip of the battering ram to breakdown the wall of morality and righteousness in humanity and in our nation today. Ultimately, such immorality is devastating on the prosperity of a nation.

The Lord Jesus is not saying we should never judge others. There must be times when we are to judge because Jesus also says we are to judge righteous judgment and not according to appearance (John 7:24). Obviously, we make judgment calls on a daily basis. We judge who will be our spouses and friends. When walking down the street and seeing a suspicious character coming our way we judge rather to cross over to the other side of the street! We judge who is responsible enough to baby-sit our children. The list goes on and on! But let’s get back to the scriptures because righteous judgement is based on God’s standard which is the word of God; not our experience or opinion alone. The context of Jesus teaching in Matthew 7:1-6 is that we should not judge others hypocritically or self-righteously!  “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Again, it is clear that we are to judge, but not hypocritically or self-righteously.  Jesus does give us some guidelines on judging others. We are to judge ourselves first before we judge others in a matter (pull the beam out of our own eyes!) and to be merciful in our judgment towards others knowing that we shall ourselves be judged with the same degree of mercy we extend to others. We cannot judge motives, but we can judge actions and character. We judge people by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). We are to use our God-given wisdom to judge the spirits of men ( 1 John 4:1-6); in judging between true and false Christians and Ministers of God (2 Corinthians 11:13-15); in issues involving church discipline we must pass judgement (2 Thessalonians 3:11-15, 1 Corinthians Chapter 5 & 6). The word of God says the righteous person will speak of wisdom and judgment ( justice and right standards). See Psalm 37:30. The word of God also tells us not to have respect of persons when we pass judgment. In other words, we must treat all persons involved fairly (Proverbs 24:23).

In conclusion, as believers in right and wrong; good and evil; spiritual light and darkness according to the word of God; let us see our obligation to judge righteously and to have the courage to do so. As Christians, we are to judge according to God’s standard which is the word of God and not according to our political party, ethnic group, friendships or personal preference! When people call acceptable what God has called unacceptable; when people publicly align themselves with sin (especially our leaders) we have an obligation to judge righteously, speak up for righteousness and not hide behind the excuse that no-one is perfect and that we should not judge them. We can not afford to sit quietly while others call good evil and evil good!

Is your faith pointed in the right direction?

Faith connects us to God and to the promises of God. Life is not about using our faith to get things, it’s about using our faith to please God. We are created for his pleasure. Revelation 4:11. Recognizing we have need of food, houses, cars and clothes which require us to use our faith, these things fall under the category of needs, not purpose! Purpose gives direction and when we make pleasing God a primary purpose in life, it points our faith and our lives in the right direction. When getting things become the primary purpose of our faith, we will most likely get mis-directed in life. This is one reason why it is critical to seek first the kingdom of God and allow God to add the things we need to us. Matthew 6:33. Please remember, Jesus said a man’s life does not consist of the things he possess. Luke 12:15. Life consists of our relationship with God in Christ. It’s about pleasing the God who created us.

Perhaps it’s time to take inventory of our faith and it’s affections. Perhaps it time to “tweak” our faith compass so that as we stand before God, He will be pleased with us because we purpose to please Him. The Christians life is not about faith alone, it’s about faith in God! Some have harden their heart towards God. Life comes from God; breath comes from God; health come from God; wealth comes from God. God is the source of all that is good! We must make (and keep) pleasing God the priority in life. Pleasing God means God is your standard; not your family, friends, social status or political party. Life is not about using faith to get things; it’s about using our faith to please God. The things are a by-product or bonus!

Pleasing God means we must desire him; be devoted to him and delight ourselves in the Lord our God. When we do these things God will give us the desires of our heart. When pleasing God is a primary purpose in life, we won’t get out of the will of God because of someone else’s problem or offense. Satan (the devil) is envious of our relationship with God. He uses things and pleasures to entice us from God. Satan knows if he can redirect your purpose to please God he can derail, disable or destroy your relationship with God. So if necessary, make the adjustments, make the heart adjustment and make it now! Love God more than all and all your choices will be better. Loving and pleasing God means telling others about Jesus Christ. Pleasing God is a motive that directs our faith into the miraculous. In that great chapter of “Faiths’ Hall of Fame,” Hebrews chapter 11, Enoch experienced the miracle of translation because he pleased God (on purpose)! Faith that purposes to please God points us in the right direction and into the miraculous.

For me personally, whenever I think about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I think about having “the courage to succeed!” I humbly submit to you that credentials (as important as they are) is not enough to succeed and impact your world, you must have courage! During the Bus Boycott (1955-1956), Dr. King faced personal abuse, his home was bombed and he was arrested; yet he emerged as a leader of leaders. Joshua was the leader chosen by God to succeed Moses. Yet, God told Joshua three(3) time to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6-9). Sandwiched between the commandments to be strong and courageous is the command to meditate  the word of God (the Bible) and act according to it’s truths and principles. God promised Joshua that he would have good success if he acted accordingly.

The Bible is the word of God and it is truth and righteousness! Any leader today that stands for Jesus Christ (truth and righteousness) must have courage! Whether it be in education, politics, business, law, fashion, media , music or sports (thinking of Tim Tebow at the moment!), you will face opposition. The world  is becoming more and more hostile to Christianity but we must not cower and cringe from our assignments as believers. Even here in the U.S., there is an increasing tide of opposition to Christianity and Bible truths. As the world hurls its accusations and attacks, let us stand strong and courageous in truth and righteousness; all in the name of the Lord! We as believers must understand the fact that faith requires courage is implicit. Joshua knew God was with him, he had the word of God, yet he still needed to be strong and of good courage. So do we!

Courage is confidence in the face of danger and opposition! As Christians, we have a commandment to go into all the world, preach the Gospel and make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20). In other words, we are authorized by Jesus Christ to use our influence for righteousness sakes. There are people in this world that will kill you just because you are a Christian. We must be courageous; Wise, but courageous! I have preached the Gospel in Northern Uganda, South Sudan and last year, in Nigeria. While God is moving awesomely in places like these, there are certain factions who would have taken our lives as we traveled to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and teach his word. Thanks be to God for His faithfulness! The Bible often tells us not to fear. It tells us God has not given us a spirit of fear as believers.

Let us stand strong and courageous in the face of danger and opposition and use our influence for Godliness and righteousness. Listen, influence is power! Influence is the power to persuade, effect and move. Influence is spiritual power, moral power and physical power. The influence of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us is spiritual power. The influence of the word of God (the Ten Commandments) working in us and through us is moral power. The influence of our health, wealth and resources for the Church of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God is physical power. The courage to succeed is the courage to influence! Dr. King influenced many, not only in a leadership capacity (In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian  Leadership Conference) but in the capacity of courage! He was assassinated April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee but his accomplishments and courage to succeed still lives.

Today, as we pray for leadership, let us pray for courageous leadership. I’m talking about leadership with the courage to stand for righteousness and truth as revealed in the Holy Bible. Finally, my prayer for you also is the same as the above. I pray you will have the courage to stand strong in your faith in Jesus Christ and walk in integrity. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! Thank God for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from whom we have access to the courage to succeed!