Christians and the LGTBQ movement

Galatians 5

14
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
15
If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20
idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21
and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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With the social climate we live in, many believers have already found a difference of opinion between the children of the world, and themselves. But they might be interested to know that those under law, basically speaking of those practicing Judaism, do not acknowledge:
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other.

It is only those who believe in Christ, and deny themselves to instead have the Spirit of Truth work through them, that have the daily bread of holiness come through them by the kingdom of God. Otherwise all who remain are either under the law and claim righteousness in their own acts, or, the rest of the living world whom do not know the law so are not considered sinners, as they do not know what sin is.

Which brings us to this statement:

14
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
15
If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

I have, in the last two decades; seen so called Christians deny access, to their churches and schools, to those who live in sin. From adulterers, to alchoholics to homosexuals, all turned away from worship. This because those in the church feel they deny themselves and lay that expectation on those who come to worship. But in truth we know we all sin, and that hypocrisy, that sense of piety, has no place in a gathering of those who would claim the truth is in them.

The complications come with issues that already exist. For example churches allow women to remarry into adulterous relationships, women minister, churches sell goods, most worship a cross, if not stone and wooden idols, some pray to idols and the dead, and some houses even prescribe penance and dole out forgiveness like it was their authority to do so. All these things and more, yet none give everything to live through the church and for one another, so the hypocrisy is palletable.

Then there is the personal reactions of those who use passages of the bible to support their personal will. Very much like Galatians 5 is used to describe what 'is considered wrong'. But the truth is, what is described is only contrary to the Spirit, and only those who live by the Spirit live contrary to the flesh.

So again, we see that personal bitterness, envy, even hatred; are harvested by those who claim to have the truth in them, but yet are failing to uphold the primary command:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Having said that, we were warned, that if we don't act in a loving way, we will find those whom we mistreat, we bring about our destruction: If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

So it is not so much that LGTBQ type folks are ruining or destroying peoples beliefs, they are in fact unaware of the sin they are in, they still work under the natural law of eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. While we as Christians are told to turn the other cheek, and to love the enemy.

So what do we say going forward? We are called to be loving. We are called to set an example of how we want to be treated. We are not here to judge, we are here to allow holiness to work through us. We are beacons of behavior; that deny themselves, that suffer for the sake of Spiritual development, instead of celebrating the empowerment of the flesh. And most importantly, in our self denial we do not set expectations on one another, only encouragement. None of us are sinless.

Yes, there are circumstances where we have to explain why our beliefs have to deny certain requests, like same sex marriages under God, or the education of gender ideals that support sexual dysphoria and instead of denial of the flesh altogether unless for reasons of procreation.

But that brings up a different lesson. If what we eat in front of another hurts their beliefs, it is on us to stop. Similarly, if same sex couples holding hands or kissing at church functions / worship times hurts others in their beliefs, it is reasonable to ask them to refrain. But that is a religious and spiritual lesson that has no place in out culture or society. We who carry the Truth, suffer. Why? Because we live by the Spirit, and not by the flesh. We were at one point like them, and now we are dead to it. But until we sleep, we will be tempted, tried, and persecuted, labelled as fools, and even hated. But as we are they ones whom are few, and are no longer a part of this world, it is in our best interests to not 'bite or devour each other'.

My neices homeshool because they should not be witness to the wickedness our education system is employing. I have lost opportunities at work to those who are LGTBQ, solely because I am not. I have watched the United Church of Canada become no more than a social club, that has decided to return to the Law and deny the Christ. Then there is that I too grew up with desires that are of the flesh. I deny myself in many ways, and still I stumble, despite my intention.

My faith is small, I rely on the kingdom, because I am otherwise completely incapable of holiness. But I do persevere. I encourage others. I am loving to a fault. And I am fearless when describing the truth.

In closing, we are in a time when those who know what evil is, see it on a dramatic increase. The worldly celebrate what the faithful pray would come to an end. The division is visable, and in most cases, causes great tension, even in families. Whether those families are physical or spiritual. All we can do is beleive what we have been told, amd act on it with all sincerity:

 *“Love your neighbor as yourself.”*