Why Divorce is Not the Dissolution of “What God Has Joined”

Jesus said that a man leaves his father and mother (first marriage) and is joined to his wife and the two become one flesh. So, they are no longer two but one flesh. This is more than legal marriage and Jesus wanted to make it clear that they were no longer two but one flesh. This is a holy union that God participates in and enters into covenant with the two parties.

The following from the Word of God will show that divorce does not unjoin in any way what God has joined. Man may separate, and he does, but man cannot unjoin. Man does not have the power to take what God has made “One flesh” and make it two flesh again.

1. Death, not divorce ends what God joins according to 1 Corinthians 7:39 (ESV). A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. The Apostle Paul did not believe that divorce ended the first marriage.

2. This passage teaches the same thing and makes it clear that the first marriage is a union that is still joined by God by declaring that a second marriage is adultery. Romans 7:2-3 (KJV) — For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. The Apostle Paul did not believe that divorce and even marriage after divorce ended the first marriage.

3. The following passage states two times that marriage after divorce is adultery. This means that the first marriage is still a union joined by God. In Matthew and Mark there are five other times that similar statements are made. Luke 16:18 (ESV) — Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. As a side note, God would never participate in a wedding where the result was adultery. He would not take two flesh and make one flesh if one of the participants is still “one flesh” with a former spouse. Jesus did not believe that divorce or marriage after divorce ended the first marriage. In fact, these passages teach the exact opposite. For marriage after divorce to be adultery, the person still has to be joined to their first spouse.

4. Malachi 2:14 (ESV) speaks to a man who had divorced the wife of his youth (first marriage). He likely had married at least once since. God says He is still standing as a witness against this man and refuses to accept the offering from his hand. God does not believe that divorce ended the first marriage. “But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

5. Jeremiah 3 speaks of God divorcing Israel for all of her harlotries and idolatry. Later in the same chapter He calls her back to Him as His “wife” after He divorced her. We know that thousands of years later He is still waiting for His wife Israel to return and that someday she will return to Him. Also, Malachi 2 speaks to the same issue only it states that Israel has “married the daughter of a foreign god.” God still wants her back and is waiting for His wife Israel to return. God initiated this divorce due to her behavior, but He does not believe that it ended the union that He created.

6. John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:14-29) did not believe that divorce ended a first marriage. He kept declaring publicly that King Herod was not allowed to have the wife he was living with (Herodias). These passages refer to Herodias, King Herod’s current partner, as the wife of his brother, her prior husband. Due to his boldness and courage for the fact that he did not believe that divorce ended the first marriage, he had his head removed and served up on a platter as a trophy at a birthday party for the King.

7. King David did not believe that divorce ended his union with his first wife Michal. 2 Samuel 3 tells the story of David wanting his first wife back more than political power. He forced her to be divorced from her second husband who loved her and brought back to him. Compare 1 Kings 15:5. There are two or three Scripture passages that those who would have you believe that divorce unjoins what God joins would try to use, but none that actually say that. The bigger question that begs to be asked is why anyone would want to believe that divorce unjoins what God joins.

Will you believe and follow Jesus, the Apostle Paul, John the Baptist, the prophet Malachi, King David, God himself and the Word of God? When I understand, believe and obey God’s truth it enables me to keep on in this journey. God’s truth always wins.

God bless.

Susceptibility To The Coronavirus? No One Is Talking About This

Can your immune system stand up against the coronavirus? Watch this video to find out what you need to know about this pandemic.  DATA: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2… https://www.jimmunol.org/content/90/1/21 https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/… https://www.sciencedirect.com/science… https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti… https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/N… Timestamps 0:09 Coronavirus news 0:35 How viruses spread  1:19 Virus and coronavirus facts  1:45 The purpose of a virus  2:15 Viruses and coronavirus explained  5:15 Coronavirus susceptibility  8:02 Nutritional deficiencies  9:10 Coronavirus outbreak and age  10:00 Coronavirus fatality percentages compared to other viruses  11:00 Key nutrients for viruses 

Today we’re going to talk about coronavirus susceptibility and susceptibility to other viruses.  When someone sneezes, about 20,000 little droplets containing viruses are projected through the air. For viruses like COVID-19 to spread, it has to be propelled in the air, and you have to come in contact with it. Certain viruses have targets for certain tissues. The coronavirus targets the lungs.  Viruses are everywhere. One liter of seawater contains over 100 billion viruses. So, it really all comes down to susceptibility. The purpose of a virus is to deliver its DNA or RNA into the host cell to be copied so it can continue.  Viruses go through 5 stages: 1. They attach to the cell wall (this is easier for it to do if you’re susceptible) 2. They penetrate the cell wall  3. They go into the nucleus and replicate  4. They assemble  5. They are released 

Some viruses go dormant and wait until you’re older, weakened, nutritionally deficient, or stressed, and then they come out. This could be why many people get a virus outbreak during stress states. Certain viruses can also activate the release of sugar.  Susceptibility factors: 1. Age 2. Nutritional deficiencies 3. Genetics  4. Weak immune system  5. Chronic disease  6. Stress  Out of all of these factors, you have the most control over the nutrients you get. Getting the right nutrients can also influence your immune system and even stress. Two things happen when you have nutritional deficiencies: 1. It weakens your immune system  2. It makes viruses stronger 

If we take a look at the fatality rate of the coronavirus pandemic and age, the fatality rate is much higher as the age group gets older. For example, people in their 80s and older may have a higher risk of death than people in their 50s and younger. COVID-19 also has a much lower fatality percentage than other viruses like ebola SARS and MERS. Key nutrients for viruses: 1. Vitamin C 2. Vitamin E  3. Selenium  4. Zinc  5. Vitamin D Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio: Dr. Berg, 53 years of age is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of The New Body Type Guide and other books published by KB Publishing. He has taught students nutrition as an adjunct professor at Howard University. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media. DR. BERG’S SHOP: http://shop.drberg.com/ Follow us on FACEBOOK: fb.me/DrEricBerg Send a Message to his team: m.me/DrEricBerg ABOUT DR. BERG: https://www.drberg.com/dr-eric-berg/bio

Disclaimer: Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The Health & Wellness, Dr. Berg Nutritionals and Dr. Eric Berg, D.C. are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or product you obtain through this video or site. Thanks for watching! I hope this video helps you better understand the coronavirus and susceptibility.

The God Who Sees (Modern Oratorio)

Kathie Lee Gifford & Nicole C. Mullen’s modern oratorio telling the stories of Hagar, Ruth, David, and Mary and the promises God made to them.

The Story of Francis and Edith Schaeffer

“The Story of Francis and Edith Schaeffer”

Francis August Schaeffer (January 30, 1912 – May 15, 1984) was an American evangelical theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor. He is best known for establishing the L’Abri community in Switzerland. Opposed to theological modernism, Schaeffer promoted a more historic Protestant faith and a presuppositional approach to Christian apologetics, which he believed would answer the questions of the age.

Schaeffer’s wife, Edith (Seville) Schaeffer, became a prolific author in her own right. Schaeffer was the father of the author, film-maker, and painter Frank Schaeffer.

Schaeffer was born on January 30, 1912, in Germantown, Pennsylvania, to Franz A. Schaeffer III and Bessie Williamson. He was of German and English ancestry.

In 1935, Schaeffer graduated magna cum laude from Hampden–Sydney College. The same year he married Edith Seville, the daughter of missionary parents who had been with the China Inland Mission founded by Hudson Taylor. Schaeffer then enrolled at Westminster Theological Seminary in the fall and studied under Cornelius Van Til (presuppositional apologetics) and J. Gresham Machen (doctrine of inerrancy).

In 1937, Schaeffer transferred to Faith Theological Seminary, graduating in 1938. This seminary was newly formed as a result of a split between the Presbyterian Church of America (now the Orthodox Presbyterian Church) and the Bible Presbyterian Church, a Presbyterian denomination more identified with Fundamentalist Christianity and premillennialism. Schaeffer was the first student to graduate and the first to be ordained in the Bible Presbyterian Church. He served pastorates in Pennsylvania (Grove City and Chester) and St. Louis, Missouri. Schaeffer eventually sided with the Bible Presbyterian Church Columbus Synod following the BPC Collingswood and BPC Columbus Split and became a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod when the Bible Presbyterian Church’s Columbus Synod merged with the Reformed Presbyterian Church’s Columbus Synod in 1965, a denomination which would merge with the Presbyterian Church in America, in 1982.

In 1948, the Schaeffer family moved to Switzerland and in 1955 established the community called L’Abri (French for “the shelter”). Serving as both a philosophy seminar and a spiritual community, L’Abri attracted thousands of young people, and was later expanded into Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Schaeffer received numerous honorary degrees. In 1954, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Highland College in Long Beach, California. In 1971, he received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. In 1982, John Warwick Montgomery nominated Schaeffer for an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, which was conferred in 1983 by the Simon Greenleaf School of Law, Anaheim, California in recognition of his apologetic writings and ministry.

Schaeffer died of lymphoma on May 15, 1984, in Rochester, Minnesota.

Edith Rachel Merritt Schaeffer (née Seville) (November 3, 1914 – March 30, 2013) was a Christian author and co-founder of L’Abri, a Christian organization which hosts guests. She was the wife of Francis Schaeffer, and the mother of Frank Schaeffer and three other children.

They were sent in 1948 to Switzerland by the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions. In 1955 they began L’Abri, a community that welcomed people who were seeking intellectually honest and culturally informed answers to questions about God and the meaning of life.

Schaeffer’s husband Francis died in 1984, but she continued to be associated with the L’Abri organisation which she and her husband founded.

Schaeffer wrote numerous books, both before and after the death of her husband. Her book Affliction (1978) explores human suffering in a Christian context. It won a Gold Medallion Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) in 1979. Her What is a Family? (1975) compared the extended family to a mobile. Her autobiographical The Tapestry: the Life and Times of Francis and Edith Schaeffer (1981) won the ECPA award in 1982.

Schaeffer’s The Hidden Art of Homemaking (1971) has been influential among women in the Christian Patriarchy movement, and has been described by Kathryn Joyce as “perhaps unintentionally, a landmark book for proponents of biblical womanhood.” This book, along with What is a Family?, has been described by author Becky Freeman Johnson as a “timeless classic”.

In 2000, Schaeffer is listed in Helen Kooiman Hosier’s 100 Christian Women Who Changed the Twentieth Century.

At the age of 98, Schaeffer died on March 30, 2013, at home in Gryon, Switzerland.

THAT’S MY KING!! (by S. M. Lockridge)

The following has been taken from the famous “That’s My King” sermon delivered in the 1970s by Dr. S. M. Lockridge.

May his description of our Lord and Saviour stir within us a clearer and greater perspective of Who God is, what He is capable of doing, and what He has promised unto us in His Word.

God is worthy of our praise and worship in the beauty of holiness. This video was created to develop a greater love, awe, and thankfulness for Almighty God!!

The Life of Jesus • English • Official Full HD Movie

Now that you have seen this movie about Jesus, we invite you to grow in your relationship with Him. Sign up for ‘A Miracle Every Day’ and receive an encouraging email every day. By signing up today, you join thousands of people who have seen God act in their lives. Go to https://miracle.Jesus.net to sign up now! (by subscribing, you will also receive a free e-book) Veteran British filmmaker Philip Saville directs the religious epic The Gospel of John| a production of the Canadian company Visual Bible International. This three-hour drama attempts to accurately follow the Gospel According to John| written sometime during the first century. The gospel contains four segments: an introduction to the nature of Jesus Christ; testimony by disciples and the presence of miracles; the Last Supper and crucifixion; and the appearance of the risen Christ. Henry Ian Cusick plays Jesus and Christopher Plummer provides voice-over narration. The Gospel of John was shown in a special presentation at the 2003 Toronto Film Festival.

The Gospel of John was written two generations after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is set in a time when the Roman Empire controlled Jerusalem. Although crucifixion was the preferred Roman method of punishment, it was not one sanctioned by Jewish law. Jesus and all his early followers were Jewish. The Gospel reflects a period of unprecedented polemic and antagonism between the emerging church and the religious establishment of the Jewish people. Watch more videos ► https://goo.gl/hU61PS Join us. Subscribe now! ► https://goo.gl/cAIya1 Visit the Website ► http://thegospelofjohn.org/ Get to know Jesus personally! ► https://jesus.net/languages/ Watch the Full Movie in English ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgUP… Watch the Full Movie in French ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHyjr… Watch the Full Movie in Arabic ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ADBM… Watch the Full Movie in Russian ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2-lU… Thanks for all your support, rating the video and leaving a comment is always appreciated! Please: respect each other in the comments. This is the official YouTube channel of The Life of Jesus.

10 Habits Of Positive People

Positive people don’t have some kind of magical power or something special that cannot be attained by every person. They begin by making the decision to take control and responsibility to steer their lives in a more positive direction despite all the difficulties that come their way.

A common misconception by many trying to adopt a more positive life is that if you want to be a more positive person, you must ignore all the negativity. But nothing is farther from the truth.

Positive people don’t ignore the negative aspects of life, they simply equip themselves with the mindset to overcome these situations. No one can really escape feeling anger, bored, even hate at some point, but positive people quickly shake it off and refuse to allow such experiences from taking a hold of their lives.

Habits that positive people practice on a daily basis

—

One of the big benefits of practicing positivity is that it makes you more resilient when encountering difficult situations. The key here is to make positivity a daily practice.

They tap into their positivity during challenging times.

In an analysis on positive thinking published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers suggest that cultivating an optimistic mindset can help you tackle life’s challenges with resiliency — and as a result, that could potentially lead to greater well-being. The study authors wrote:

Because positive emotions arise in response to diffuse opportunities, rather than narrowly-focused threats, positive emotions momentarily broaden people’s attention and thinking, enabling them to draw on higher-level connections and a wider-than-usual range of percepts or ideas. In turn, these broadened outlooks often help people to discover and build consequential personal resources.

It’s very important to celebrate our accomplishments, this is something that stays in our mind and encourages us to move forward in an optimistic and grateful way.

They celebrate the little victories.

Positive people hold big accomplishments and small victories with the same weight, Blakeman said. There’s power in acknowledging the little things.

Research shows that thankfulness can lead to increased optimism, and it’s a habit positive people make a point to practice.

Gratitude for the little moments — getting to the subway before it leaves the platform, getting a complimentary email from your boss at work — provides more opportunities to be positive since you’re concentrating on multiple facets of your day.

This is perhaps one of the hardest things to do, but a necessary thing is to say bye to those types of relationships that do us no good. Some of these relationships actually lower our energy, and can even bring us down to their level of toxicity.

They rid themselves of toxic relationships.

Who you are is partly a reflection of who you choose to surround yourself with — that’s why a good support system is crucial to an optimistic outlook, Blakeman explained.

Studies show emotions like stress and happiness are contagious — the more you’re around it, the more likely you are to reflect that attitude.

Armed with this knowledge, positive people build a strong social circle that helps reinforce their upbeat nature. “You’d be amazed by how much a good support group can influence a good attitude,” Blakeman said.

It doesn’t make any sense to hold on to resentment. Some people hold on to this for years, some even decades, not knowing that holding on to this type of stuff only damages our inner self and only harbors hate, and a bunch of other negative feelings inside us.

Let go of grudges.

Forgiving and forgetting is necessary for your own happiness, as holding a grudge means you’re also holding onto resentment, anger, hurt and other negative emotions that are standing in the way of your own happiness.

Letting go of a grudge frees you from negativity and allows more space for positive emotions to fill in.

There is something almost magical that happens when we go about our lives expressing feelings of gratitude and being thankful for what we have. It is a type of calm and inner peace type of energy that when you practice it, only gives you more of that.

Express gratitude for what they have.

People who are thankful for what they have are better able to cope with stress, have more positive emotions, and are better able to reach their goals.

The best way to harness the positive power of gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal or list, where you actively write down exactly what you’re grateful for each day.

Doing so has been linked to happier moods, greater optimism and even better physical health.

Rethinking the way we see potential problems changes the game completely. When we see problems as problems, we seem to hit a wall. But when we begin to see them as challenging situations, it brings out the solution-oriented version of ourselves out into the forefront.

Regard problems as challenges.

Change your internal dialogue so that anytime you have a “problem” you view it as a challenge or a new opportunity to change your life for the better.

Eliminate the word “problem” from your mind entirely.

There is nothing wrong with having such a thing as big dreams, after all, this is one of our biggest drivers and motivators in life. It gives us purpose and something to look forward to.

Dream big.

Go ahead and dream big, as you’ll be more likely to accomplish your goals.

Rather than limiting yourself, when you dream big you’re opening your mind to a more optimistic, positive state where you have the power to achieve virtually anything you desire.

Have you ever experienced the time you go to Starbucks and learn that the person in front of you paid your order? Well, doesn’t this surprise you and overwhelm you with a type of joy that makes you want to do the same for the person behind you? Kindness is contagious, and it’s a good feeling for everyone involved.

Treat everyone with kindness.

Kindness is not only contagious, it’s also proven to make you happier.

When you’re kind to others, your brain produces feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters like serotonin and you’re able to build strong relationships with others, fostering positive feelings all around.

For some people, it is very tempting to want to talk gossip just to have a conversation with someone, but not for a positive thinker. Positive people like to see the good things in others first, and they focus on that.

Speak well of others.

It may be tempting to gather around the office water cooler to get and give the daily gossip, but talking negatively about others is like taking a bath in negative emotions; your body soaks them up.

instead, make it a point to only say positive, nice words about other people, and you’ll help foster more positive thinking in your own life as well.

Positive thinkers accept responsibility for their failures. They don’t go around blaming everything and everyone for it. They see failures as opportunities to learn and become stronger, especially after overcoming difficult challenges.

Avoid making excuses.

It’s easy to blame others for your life’s failures, but doing so means you’re unlikely to rise past them. Happy people take responsibility for their mistakes and missteps, then use the failure as an opportunity to change for the better.

Habits are of greater impact to our lives than we realize, as you create repetition you also start creating habits. But once you keep doing the same habits over and over, they start developing further into beliefs we start to adopt.
—

Much of the struggles we have in life have to do with beliefs we adopt as true, but these don’t always serve us well, they are not always productive to producing a better, happier, and more fulfilling life. Then, when we develop a set of beliefs, we turn them into reality or paradigm which you can see as the grand collection of thoughts, ideas, habits, and beliefs.

This becomes our reality and allows us to perceive the world in a certain way whether it is more positive or negative.

This is the reason you can start small, with the simpler things you can manage to change, things that are easily within your reach.

From this on as you build upon a more positive way of living, you will begin to develop a more positive reality.

10 Things Jesus Had To Say About The Homosexuality Debate

My hope is that readers will read the entire article before drawing conclusions. I have nothing but compassion for those trapped in sexual sin. Those who strongly believe in the Bible and God’s will regarding sexual behavior also strongly believe in unconditional love and forgiveness. To say that authentic Christians hate or fear those trapped in the homosexual lifestyle demonstrates a gross misunderstanding of the Christian faith. To “confront in love” simply comes from a desire to honor God and to truly love and care for others. The ability to relate to people on their level, show genuine concern, and love them regardless of their lifestyle is the mark of true Christianity.

In case you don’t continue reading, let me offer some encouragement: if you’re hopeless, depressed, and confused, look to the One who created you. He has the answers. No matter what you have done, you have the ability to turn to Christ and start anew: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

1. We Need A Revival Of The Truth.

It’s no surprise that the church, and our nation, desperately need to hear “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” to awaken, convict, and restore. It was not so long ago that we were concerned about “the fall of America.” America cannot fall because she has already fallen. We are now picking up the pieces of a broken nation reflected in our laws, lives, families, and children. America’s moral heartbeat has ceased because we cut off the source of life. We need resuscitation, renewal, and revival of the truth.

2. We Must Speak The Truth In Love.

When people, groups, denominations, or movements depart from absolute truth, and thus, quench and grieve the Spirit of God, they become mechanical in their approach to Christianity and lose the ability to guide. The Word of God is not in their hearts “like a burning fire” (Jeremiah 20:9), but relative, powerless, and debatable. This is what we see today.

Unfortunately, those who are sounding the alarm are often categorized as irrational, judgmental, bigoted, and intolerant. But how can we warn if we won’t confront, correct if we won’t challenge, and and contend if we won’t question? We must speak the truth in love…the Bible is crystal clear on sexual sin, including homosexuality.

3. Prayer Is Essential.

Why is there a lack of conviction today? The reason may not be in the pew, but in the pulpit. Much depends on the prayer life of the preacher. Pastors, preachers, and teachers must spend extended time in prayer to be truly effective—God prepares the messenger before we prepare the message. Luther’s motto, “He that has prayed well has studied well,” rings true.

4. We Need Repentence.

I’m convinced that the majority of the churches in America are seeking to please the masses rather than convict. Judgment is never mentioned; repentance is rarely sought; and sin is often excused. We want to build a church rather than break a heart; be politically correct rather than biblically correct; coddle and comfort rather than stir and convict. This leaves people confused and deceived because we teach and live a form of Christianity void of repentance…void of truth. 

5. Biblical Standards Of Morality Are Still Valid Today.

The “moral” laws in the Old Testament such as killing, stealing, lying, adultery, sexual immorality, and so on are all valid today. Jesus referred often to the Old Testament, and said that He didn’t come to abolish it, but to fulfill it. Although many of the ceremonial and dietary laws of the Old Testament do not apply today, the moral laws do. They are as significant today as they have been throughout history. For example, Leviticus 20:13 states, “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination….” To suggest that this verse is invalid today is to advocate the dangerous practice of redefining or deleting what God has said. Jesus referred to the Old Testament often in regard to moral behavior.

The consequences of wrong actions may have changed, but the moral implications remain the same. For instance, even though we no longer stone to death those who commit adultery, this does not mean that adultery is acceptable or any less dangerous. Adultery is wrong even though there aren’t legal consequences.

6. We Are All Born Sinful.

Jesus condemned “all” sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and woman when He said, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications…these defile a man” (Matthew 15:19). Jesus was implying that all sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and a woman is harmful and immoral. The word “fornication” in the Greek is porneia; where the word “pornography” comes from. We cannot say, “But I was born this way,” because we were all born to lie, cheat, lust, and deceive, but this doesn’t make it right…it makes us sinful and in need of a Savior.

7. Silence Does Not Equal Approval.

An argument cannot be based solely on silence. To suggest that Jesus approved of homosexuality simply because He did not use the term “homosexual,” is to imply that He approved of necrophilia, pedophilia, incest, and bestiality. But, of course, we know better.

8. People Have Turned Away From God And From Doing Good.

Other passage in the New Testament are clear on this issue as well. Romans 1:18-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:1-20 are good places to start. In short, mankind did not see fit to acknowledge God and they suppressed the truth; therefore, God gave them over to a depraved mind—to do those things which are not proper. Homosexual behavior, and sexual sin in general, is comparable with dishonoring the body and turning from God. “The sexual disordering of the human race is a judgment of God for exchanging Him for the creature” (John Piper).

9. Marriage Is Between One Man And One Woman.

Jesus said that since the beginning of creation, God created them male and female in order that they would be joined together and become one flesh. He adds, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:9). Marriage between a man and a woman is God’s plan since creation. No matter how many laws are passed in favor of gay-marriage, it will not change God’s mind. Man often rebels against God; this is nothing new.

10. Jesus Offers Abundant Love And Forgiveness.

In closing, Jesus would often speak out against sin, but His love and mercy also reached out to those who regretted and hated their condition. Forgiveness is a mark of genuine faith. We should have compassion for those who struggle with same-sex attraction because we all struggle with sin, but at the same time, we should not condone or excuse this type of sin any more than we condone or excuse any other sin.

Richard Wurmbrand, Life & Legacy (Tortured For Christ)

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand (1909 – 2001)

“He stood in the midst of lions, but they could not devour him.” – Philadelphia Herald

Richard Wurmbrand was born the youngest of four boys in a Jewish family on March 24, 1909, in Bucharest, Romania. Gifted intellectually and fluent in nine languages, Richard was active in leftist politics and worked as a stockbroker. On Oct. 26, 1936, Richard married Sabina Oster, who was also Jewish. They placed their faith in Jesus Christ in 1938 as a result of the influence of a German carpenter named Christian Wölfkes. Richard was ordained as an Anglican, and later Lutheran, minister.

During World War II, Richard and Sabina saw opportunities for evangelism among the occupying German forces. They preached in bomb shelters and rescued Jewish children out of the ghettos. Richard and Sabina were repeatedly arrested and beaten and, at least once, nearly executed. Sabina lost her Jewish family in Nazi concentration camps.

In 1945, Romanian Communists seized power and a million Russian troops poured into the country. Pastor Wurmbrand ministered to his oppressed countrymen while engaging in bold evangelism to the Russian soldiers.

That same year, Richard and Sabina attended the Congress of Cults, organized by the Romanian Communist government. Many religious leaders came forward to praise Communism and to swear loyalty to the new regime. Richard walked up to the podium and declared to the delegates, whose speeches were broadcast to the whole nation, that their duty was to glorify God and Christ alone.

Between 1945 and 1947, Richard distributed 1 million Gospels to Russian troops, often disguising the books as Communist propaganda. Richard also helped arrange the smuggling of Gospels into Russia.

On Feb. 29, 1948, the secret police kidnapped Richard as he traveled to church and took him to their headquarters. He was locked in a solitary cell and labeled “Prisoner Number 1.” In 1950, his wife, Sabina, was also imprisoned. She was forced to serve as a laborer on the Danube Canal project, leaving their 9-year-old son, Mihai, alone and homeless. He was then taken in by Christian friends, who risked imprisonment to care for the child of a political prisoner. Sabina was released after three years, and Richard was also later released, only to be re-arrested and then released in an amnesty in 1964.

In December 1965, two organizations paid a $10,000 ransom to allow the Wurmbrand family to leave Romania. Reluctant to leave his homeland, Richard was convinced by other underground church leaders to leave and become a “voice” to the world for the underground church. Richard, Sabina and their son, Mihai, left Romania for Norway and then traveled on to England.

Richard began his ministry of being a voice for persecuted Christians in the West, where he also wrote his testimony of persecution, Tortured for Christ. Later, Richard moved to the United States, and in 1967 the Wurmbrands officially began a ministry committed to serving our persecuted Christian family called Jesus to the Communist World (later renamed The Voice of the Martyrs). This work continues today in more than 60 countries where Christians are persecuted.

I Remarried My Ex!