To Worship the God of Sex, Q&A

My parents and I turned down a couple of ladies to rent our house because they chose to live as lesbians. In our homes, we would rather please Christ. The City of Evansville held these grounds for refusal as impermissible and ordered us to pay $41,000.00. An October 31, 2021 post on Facebook elicited a number of questions and objections. It is hoped that thoughtful answers will honor the people who offered feedback, provide quick answers to the larger community, and provide basis for further consideration.

These answers correspond to my knowledge at present. This page is to be updated as I learn more.

Q: When did this happen? Brandon Douglas, public comment, Facebook.com, 2021

A: The complaint was in May, 2020. The City of Evansville found against us and ordered payment in October, 2021.

Q: How did they learn your motive for refusing them? Caleb Rodriquez, et al, public comment, Facebook.com, 2021

A: We told them.

Q: Why give them a reason to sue you? You know there are usually plenty of reasons to reject any interested party. Did you check their credit? Why didn’t you reject them over a technicality? Don’t tell them your motive for rejecting them! Robert Daniel Leachman, Jacky Warren, et al, public comments, Facebook.com, 2021

A: I do reject people for other reasons. However, GLBTQ+ crusaders exemplify a passionate evangelism for their cause of sexual autonomy that leaves me convicted and questioning the sincerity of my own profession. Does Christ merit equally passionate evangelistic devotion? If I profess that He does, does my behavior comport with my profession? I must confess Christ before men. Not only must I confess Christ before men, I must confess him where the conflict is hottest and the stakes are highest. To avoid conflict and remain silent in this situation where Christ is being denied is to deny him before men. Of this behavior, Jesus said “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Mt 10:32,33)

Q: You can confess Christ without breaking the law! Private conversation, 2021

A: It depends on whether that law affirms or denies the law of God. When the law of a civil authority contradicts the law of God, true and righteous submission is to obey God rather than man. Some examples include the Hebrew midwives, Rahab the Jericho harlot, Daniel and his three friends, Jesus, the apostles, Christians who died under the Roman emperors, and unnamed and uncounted people who have followed their example. Christ is truly confessed as being what He says of himself, the Lord of all including sexual identity, sexual orientation, and sexual practice. To confess Christ as anything but the Lord of all, is to not confess him at all, but to deny him and instead to confess an imaginary counterfeit.

Q: Is your family united in your response? Jeremy Brown, public comment, Facebook.com, 2021

A: We are.

Q: Would you also refuse someone who was living in a heterosexual relationship out of wedlock? Jenna Greer, public comment, Facebook.com, 2021

A: Yes we do and will continue to do so.

Q: Would you also refuse someone who is cheating on their spouse? Jenna Greer, public comment, Facebook.com, 2021

A: Yes, if we know about the cheating.

Q: To rent to a family, do you require that their marriage be licensed by the State? Stíofáinín Drayton, public comment, Facebook.com, 2021

A: There is no basis in scripture to require such formalities as state licensure or church ceremony. People usually reveal their mindset when they introduce themselves. I go by that.

Q: Did Jesus ever turn away a person in need because of their lifestyle? Haunnah McIntosh, public comment, Facebook.com, 2021

A: This question deserves a more in-depth response because it resonates with many and reflects widespread sentiment. To correctly apprehend the answer, we must look at what Jesus saw as needs and at the people that Jesus turns away. To offer a quick response, Jesus sees an individual’s need in terms of their eternal life or death. He asked rhetorically, “what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and yet lose his own soul?” (Mt 16:26 and Mk 8:36) Jesus turns away all except those who totally submit to him, putting Him above every other goal, affection, and orientation, including life itself (Lk 14:26). This requirement would be outrageous for anyone except for the God and Savior who created us and died for us. From Him, such a requirement is only reasonable. I am attempting to live accordingly, asking my fellow-man to do so as well, and asking that you judge me on the basis of that standard.

Q: Must gay people live homeless under bridges? A telephone conversation with an attorney, 2020

A: My refusal applies only to the homes that I manage as a stewardship to Christ. These are very small in a big world. There are other houses to rent. The question immediately at issue is not whether gay people must be homeless, but rather whether the GLBTQ+ crusade and their system of morality will be imposed by the City of Evansville even into my homes where it will be affirmed and God denied. I choose to follow God’s system of morality and reject theirs in my homes; they would impose theirs and deny God’s.

Q: You admit that you would rent to a divorced man, but you refuse this couple. Arbitrary much? Private Thanksgiving day conversation, 2021

A: God, in his law, recognizes divorce, sometimes providing it as a remedy, but homosexual practice is never permitted for any reason. Renting to a divorcee, but not renting a house for the practice of fornication, adultery, or homosexuality is not arbitrary, but is guided by God’s Law/Word.

Q: Jesus said, “if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” How are you obeying these commands? A question of myself, 2021

A: This is Matthew 5:38-42. In the context of interpersonal disputes, the accepted ethic at the time was “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Jesus instructs his disciples not to press charges for personal revenge. My application of this text to this situation is: if the young ladies who complained, or the City of Evansville, succeed in their quest to take away from me $41,000.00, or perhaps even my family’s home, my focus should not be on personal revenge such as suing them back, rather I should follow the example of the believing Hebrews to whom it was said that “you took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance” (He 10:35). Should this admonition, apart from the rest of scripture, guide my response to the girls’ complaint and the City’s order? No; I must apply all of the scripture to all of life. Looking at the response of the faithful throughout history, commands by civil authorities which contradicted the commands of God were steadfastly opposed, notwithstanding the personal cost.

Q: They were not asking for homosexual favors. How do you see their system of morality being imposed on you? A question of myself, 2021

A: The GLBTQ+ movement, which now includes the City of Evansville, has adopted a system of morality which contradicts God. The City, as a god, demands that their values, rather than God’s values, be imposed in this home that I steward for Christ. This is how the GLBTQ+ system of morality is being imposed on me.

Q: Fines of $41,000.00? When operating within a jurisdiction, we must follow the rules of that jurisdiction. Jesus said that we must render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Email from a friend 2021.

A: Does this passage on taxation speak to a dispute over who is the Lord over sex? Who made man and who made sex? Remember the rest of the sentence (found in Matthew 22 and Luke 20)? Jesus said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” If tax money bore Caesar’s image, whose image do we bear? The human family is made by God, belongs to God, must obey God, and stands accountable to God. We bear God’s image. Christians in the first century affirmed Christ, not Caesar, as Lord over all. I likewise affirm Christ, not the City, as the Lord over sex. The City is rebelling against Christ the Lord. This rebellion I may not join but must oppose.

To Worship the God of Sex

This post contains some of my thoughts after being ordered to pay $41,000.00 in fines and damages by the City of Evansville, Indiana. News coverage by the Evansville Courier and Press.

Ancient pagans envisioned separate gods over separate areas of life. The Greeks had Aphrodite over love and pleasure, Apollo over knowledge and the arts, Ares over war and courage, Artemis over animals and girls, and Athena over peace, military tactics, and craft projects. These are only the ‘A’s. The Greek’s alphabet had more letters and their pantheon more gods.

Contrary to the ancient pagan teaching, the Christian God revealed himself as having all authority over all people in all places in all matters for all time. (Mt 28:18-20) If anyone should know of any obscure but extant god, it would be God himself. Significantly, he denies any knowledge of competing gods (examples only from the prophet Isaiah 43:11, 44:6, 44:8, 45:5,6,21).

Seeing God is God over all, he is Lord over sex. If a civil government denies God by holding GLBTQ+ identity, orientation, or practice as morally neutral, and protecting it as an individual right upon threatened pain of loss of life or liberty, I should obey God and stand with Christ, rather than fearing man. Christ said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mt 10:28)

God is to be worshiped in truth as he is the Lord of all. He is the Lord of sex. Worshiping him means affirming his commands in thought, word, and deed. When God prohibits things such as fornication, adultery, incest, and things GLBTQ+, so must I. If I must be crucified, or die of a thousand fines, here I stand, I can do no other.

These thoughts have raised questions, some of which are considered here.

They Thought They Had Him Buried

Circa AD 33, Jesus of Nazareth got himself crosswise of the power brokers. He claimed all authority, said he was God, said that he must be obeyed, or else.

People were offended. They took him to court, framed him, crucified him, and buried him, or so they thought. It was the atrocity of the ages.

It was His longstanding plan to rule the universe and redeem his people.

Jesus’ plans do not depend on favorable court decisions.

This is a comfort to me as I face fines and penalties of $41,000.00 from the City of Evansville for refusing to rent my home to a couple of ladies because they choose to live as lesbians. Maybe I can appeal and maybe not. Either way, it isn’t about me. I am only a canary in the mine. It is about the mob v Jesus, and Jesus’ plans do not depend on winning in court.

They thought they buried him circa AD 33. But Rome fell, and Christianity went on.

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:7

Two Men in the Temple; Mirror, Filter, Guide

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee…

Luke 18:10-11a

The Pharisee’s prayer begins by reporting to God what he was doing, thanking God. “God, I thank thee….”

Mirrored here is the autobiographical self-reporting so prevalent in prayer. Examples include, “God, we thank thee…”, “Father, we are thankful…”, “Father, I pray…”, “We ask you, Lord…” Once you begin listening for the Pharisee’s gramatical style, you’ll hear it in prayers everywhere. Isn’t it an irony how easy it is to make prayer an exercise of informing God and men of our own prayerfulness, thankfulness, etc?

In contrast, the publican was direct. None of this “I pray”, “I ask”, but, “God be…” Jesus comments:

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 18:14

May we hear ourselves, filter out the autobiography, and become simple and direct.

May we heed this guide as to the sound of contrition, the sound of pleasing God by depending unreservedly upon his mercy. Let our Pharisee hearts imitate the publican style. Imitating style won’t assure us contrite hearts, but it will affirm the need for heart contrition. Oh God, help thou my lack of contrition! Give us those hearts that you justify!

While we wait for God’s answer to such prayers, we do well to deny the world’s cruel advice to follow our own hearts and instead follow the Word to hear, be wise, and guide our hearts in the way (Pr 23:19). This is one more area where our hearts are not to be followed but guided.

Other scriptures affirm. Jesus included no self-report in the Lord’s prayer. The Psalms are not characterized by self-report. On the other hand, where Jesus prayed for the benefit of those around him, he did self-report in his high priestly prayer and his prayer at the raising of Lazarus where he stated explicitly why he spoke out loud (Jn 11:41-42). To encourage those to whom he wrote, Paul frequently reported on his intercessory prayers for them. Jesus’ plea in the garden included no self-report.

The two men in the temple: mirror, filter, and guide for style and heart to please God and inspire the godly.

Outcast Overcomer

They drew a circle that shut me out —
Heretic, rebel, thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took them in!

“Outwitted” by Edwin Markham

This power to win through love belongs to the Christian, and especially to the Christian.

This power belongs to the Christian. It is a gift from Christ. Christ won through His love. He is the stone that the builders rejected. He is the outcast overcomer.

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? (Mark 12:10)

We rejected Him; then,

God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Having such a champion, how should we then live, lead, and love?

Christian Do Not Run

Christian, do not run from your imperfect church.

God has put you among those who will sin against you, hurting you, so you can practice forgiving like Jesus has forgiven you. If they can but see it, He is doing the same for them.

Inspired bible writers concur.

Solomon: don’t pay any mind when you hear yourself cursed. You know in your heart that you have likewise cursed others. (Ecclesiastes 7:21)

Paul: why not allow yourselves to be wronged? (1 Corinthians 6:7)

James: rejoice in diverse trials. (James 1:2)

John: if you run, there is but one conclusion; you never belonged. (1 John 2:19)

Peter: rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:13)

I hear an objection, “Luke, if I could not leave one church for another, it would be like cats in a cage, the conflict would escalate into Armageddon”.

I can think of three outs:

1. Instead of running, ask God for his Spirit and grace to live the one-anothering commands. Who knows but that your own repentance will solve the conflict?
2. There is a wiser place to fellowship. In that case, you are obliged to follow wisdom, a different thing than running from conflicts. This should be the reason you chose your current, imperfect church in the first place.
3. If others throw you out, then it is their decision, not yours. If they cast you out while you are actively repenting as in #1, it would not be the first time. Most New Testament Christians were cast out of fellowship in the Jewish synagogues.

If you can forgive your imperfect church, and your imperfect church can forgive you, you together showcase the truth about our common Redeemer who laid down his life for us while we were yet sinners. (Romans 5:8)

Oh to see beyond the melee! After the dust has settled, and hindsight makes clear the petty nature of the current conflict, you will look back as a community and be so grateful that your relationships said the truth about Christ.

In the words of the Master, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35)

God of Crooked Sticks

God is a God of crooked sticks.

Except for that singular Straight Stick, crooked sticks are all he uses.

God strikes straight licks with crooked sticks.

When God strikes a straight lick with a crooked stick, the temptation is to miss the straightness of the lick for the crookedness of the stick.

Your heart can resent what your mind knows.

The vexing rascals! What a royal pain they are to me!

Oh sorry God, I meant to be thanking you for bringing them to me as a means of grace to make me like Jesus who learned the same way.

In this way, by repenting daily, or 50 times daily, you walk the path of continual repentance and ongoing sanctification that is the Christian life.

Luke, do you speak from experience?

Ahem. With wry looks, sheepish grins, and much squirming, I will only say I have heard of this happening to others.

 

Why Leaders Fall – a Reason Overlooked

At a bible study, the discussion turned to the many leaders who have fallen to sin and scandal.

There are many reasons for this, but I want to look at a reason commonly overlooked. This is not to diminish a leader’s personal responsibility to obey God himself but to explore corporate responsibility, what we contributed to the crash.

When we expect pastors and other leaders to do our work, we set them up to fall.

Consider a prevalent mentality of our Christian age: I will donate to his ministry, and he can be my bible scholar, he can do my evangelism, he can counsel couples preparing for marriage and considering divorce, he can do the preaching, and he can chart the course for the church. I will support him with some of my money, and he can do the difficult and specialized work of being the spiritual leader.

Sound harmless? It turns Christianity into a spectator sport. It leaves us disobedient to the universal calls to heed God’s word, to preach to all who will listen, to mediate among antagonists, to exhort each other. It turns Christianity into a spectator sport.

It elevates leaders to a plane of their own where they are lonely and vulnerable. We position them where the devil can pick them off one at a time.

Our church leaders should be surrounded by passionate, supportive, and empathetic co-laborers. A church leader should have no opportunity to have an affair with a female staff member. At the least warning sign, he should get an elbow deep in his ribs with the admonition, “Careful brother! Remember Whose you are!” He should be caught short long before any weakness in his character could metastasize into an affair. A root problem is the co-laborer who never was. Instead, he was at home or at work, writing checks to support the ministry and thinking himself clever to have outsourced to experts his service to God.

Where was the man to question king David about his plans for the meeting with Bathsheba? Where was the servant to protest that Bathsheba and David should not be left alone? Was there no one to make a ruckus and spoil the mood? Maybe David would have fired that courtier who protested. Was there no one who valued the king’s honor more than a job at the palace?

Granted, when you man up in a culture of immaturity, when you do something in an age of dereliction, when you come beside your respected leader in an age of spectator Christianity, you may be misunderstood. Critics may call you presumptuous, unwelcome, intrusive, meddlesome. Some of the criticism may be telling of you, and some of it may be telling of them.

Regardless, when a leader falls, it reflects poorly on his people. The visible failure is the leader, but the often overlooked failure is among the people who quietly left him to lead alone. Achan is an example of an everyday man who planned to keep his “little” sin a secret, yet he perished not alone. In the same way, the politically correct little sin of dereliction will destroy far beyond what we intended.

What to do? Man up. Face the spiritual callings of God in our lives. Get beside our leaders. Feeling overwhelmed by what God might require of you? With God, all God’s commands are possible. When Jesus told the lame man to get up, take up his bed, and walk, it was the power to do it. Jesus will empower you to obey. He is the doer of more than you can ask or think. Are you ready for this? Your God is.

Do I sound pushy? Maybe you need a push? I know I do.

Forgotten Government

Can you quickly name the four types of government?

We think first of civil, or state government. That’s one; three remain.

You mention church government. Yes, that is right.

Someone mentions the family government. Yes, again, we are thinking alike.

One type of government is left.

If you are like I was, you may be drawing a blank. The remaining type of government is the most important. All the other spheres are malfunctioning because we have forgotten it.

The last type is self-government. Maybe we should list it first because it underlies the other three.

We have the governments of:

• self
• family
• church, and
• and civil, or state

Each successive level of government depends on the level before it, or below it. Each can compensate for isolated but not widespread failure in prior levels.

Today we suffer from widespread failure in self-government, the forgotten form, yet policymakers, thought leaders, and intelligentsia continue seeking solutions through more state government.

If your only tool is a hammer, every problem is a nail.

Gifting God Glory

Ever need to choose a gift for someone who already has everything? God is one of those, times ten to the power of infinity. Using the mathematical symbol for infinity, the lemniscate, we could write it One of Those x 10∞

That is to say, God has everything, and we can give him nothing he doesn’t already have.

Yet God is pleased to accept the glory that we are pleased to give Him.

Where do you get that, Luke?

From Joshua’s words to Achan.

Achan had disobeyed God, was responsible for thirty lives lost and had dug himself into the hole of a situation that would become his grave. The night before, when the culprit was still unknown by name, God had pronounced the sentence, capital punishment for a capital crime.

To Achan, the culprit, the persistent rebel, the troubler of the nation, the condemned, Joshua’s invitation was startling in gentleness.

“My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.” (Joshua 7:19)

It was too late for Achan to obey, to fess up, to save his skin, to save the thirty men whose lives he had squandered. Yet even on the dawn of his last day, moments before his death, there was an opportunity to give God glory.  The invitation to give implies God’s willingness to receive. Achan would go down in history, his life a lesson of what not to do. Yet, even from there, he could give…glory to the LORD God of Israel. Achan accepted this invitation, he confessed what he had done, he acknowledged it as sin, he gave God glory.

What God was willing to receive from Achan, he is willing to receive from us.