Not too long ago I was introduced to a young lady who was completing a study on polygamy (either for her class or for personal study) and asked me to share my thoughts on the matter. More specifically, she was searching for Biblical justification against being a polygamist; with her firm platform that claimed the Bible does not clarify whether or not it is wrong and therefore it must be an acceptable practice. I wrote to her about what I thought seemed to show the intent God; which was displayed during the creation of mankind (Genesis 1:20-24), and some of the statements Jesus had on the Father's intent (Matthew 19). I wrapped up my answer with asking her to consider a consistent study of the Bible, which I felt would help her know the intent or heart of God better. Unfortunately, she expressed that she viewed the Bible as not always a credible source of information and that more "concrete" facts that come from outlets such as Wikipedia would provide her with the answers she needed. At that point, I realized that she had been given over.
I must preface, the following passages reflect questionable and disapproving thoughts towards the lifestyle only, not to the individuals and groups who practice and/or support this particular way of living.
Tuesday, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" act expired for all branches of the U.S. military. This acts' primary accomplishment was that it prohibited military personal of any rank from harassing or discriminating against another serviceman or servicewoman; or applicant because of their homosexual preferences. Along with that, the mandate wouldn't let homosexuals speak openly about their relationships (or interests) and it supposedly addressed the harassment of homosexuals in the armed forces; making efforts that there would be no such offensive remarks or actions to these people. My research revealed that in an attempt to uphold a campaign promise, President Clinton stood by his claim to ensure all people could serve in the military regardless of who they prefer in their bed with this act. In doing this he challenged centuries of American perspective and action against gays in the military, and actual laws that dishonorably discharged homosexuals. Well, all of that is now over; and essentially one can now ask and tell about, openly display (with normal military restrictions) his or her alternative lifestyle.
I believe even the person living under a rock has noticed the wave of acceptance that has overtaken America in several areas. Certainly this is nothing new, but it does feel like the last 15 years have been a time where things that were considered to be taboo, questionable, and evil have been under review and the initial thoughts have been somewhat revised. And like I just implied, this is nostalgic Americana--it was done with cocaine, alcohol (and then cocaine again), firearms, cigarettes, and abortions. Naturally, each generation is left to reminisce how pure was the day in which they were reared and how awful the current social landscape is. Depending on your perspective (and I think it's been made clear what mine is) I credit this to the Give Over Theory.
This theory of mine actually is derived from the apostle Paul's letter to the budding church in Rome, written around 57 A.D. Always one to correctly identify a spade, Paul lays out a fairly morbid path of the intelligent, "spiritual", God-knowing cat in the first chapter. Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised, Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion (Romans 1:24-27, NIV). You have to note that Paul leads off with a marking sexual sin, i.e. fornication, adultery, and homosexualism. He then went on to go a little deeper into the gay and lesbian piece. And what do you know; it used to be we spiritual God-knowing cats would accept the fornication and adultery part. Now we have been advanced to accept the homosexual part too. The Give Over.
Yes, yes, all these diseases do come from this. The pedophile preacher, the dead beat parent, the freaky preachers' daughter thing, the whore of a deacon and/or elder all have roots from the Give Over. See, the Give Over doesn't come from that split decision to do something ill; or that mistake made in relative ignorance; but it breaks out in a few ways. The Give Over comes from the curiosity, the browsing, the slight entertainment of it that leads to the mild participation in it, until you're all in. It's born out of the knowing that something is wrong, then questioning why it's wrong and not finding the trendy or agreeable answer, then the recognition of free will, and then it's on. Sometimes it's sparked by that desire that you might feel like you missed out on fulfilling. Or most likely to the spiritual cat, it comes from the lack of faith that the Word of God is the bottom line.
But dig this; it's the spiritual cats who sho' nuff know God that chilled out on the abstinence speech and just bought birth control pills. They were the ones that adjusted the scripture a little to not make anyone feel out casted. And they figured a gay person needs to be ministered by another gay person to bring deliverance--and were given over to the dangers that await such a living. There has to be some point where the clear cuts in the Word don't get twisted for mass comfort, right? Or do we replace the Give Over Theory with the Jesus Knows My Heart Theory? That seems to be pretty popular.
At any rate, the join with me in prayer as the United States military celebrates another landmark Give Over that can possibly usher in a period of natural implosion; which could spell doom for a lot of folks.
Like people ever did stop harassing....
Peace
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