How about lesbians and homosexuals preaching?
Introduction. God is love (1 John 4: 8). The scriptures tell us that God loves all men, so much so that He gave His own Son (John 3: 16). God loves the fornicator, adulterer, idolater, and the homosexual. However, these people cannot practice these sins and inherit the kingdom of God, according to the scriptures. Hear God: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals...shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6: 9, 10, all references herein to the New American Standard Version).
Over the past twenty-five years there has been a movement to place lesbians and homosexuals in the pulpits. Some major denominations have now accepted practicing homosexuals in their pulpits. The major argumentation to promote such acceptance is that "we must be tolerant" and "we cannot say homosexuality is a sin." Beloved, homosexuality is clearly a sin (1 Cor. 6: 9, 10) and it must not be just tolerated within the realms of spiritual boundaries (Eph. 5: 10, 11).
Homosexuality is mentioned in the environment of spiritual degradation and shame. Paul described the decadence of the pagan world of his day (Rom. 1). He mentioned how the pagans professed to be wise and rejected God's wisdom (vss. 18-23). They exchanged God's truth for a lie (vs. 25). As a result, they were given over to "degrading passions: (vs. 26, see the description of homosexuality in verses 26 and 27). Homosexuality was one of the infamous sins of the people of Sodom, for which the city was destroyed by God. (Gen. 19).
Conclusion. Fornicators, adulterers, idolaters and homosexuals can obtain forgiveness (1 Cor. 6: 11). However, they must cease their practice ("such were some of you"). Practicing adulterers...and homosexuals have no place in the pulpit!
Over the past twenty-five years there has been a movement to place lesbians and homosexuals in the pulpits. Some major denominations have now accepted practicing homosexuals in their pulpits. The major argumentation to promote such acceptance is that "we must be tolerant" and "we cannot say homosexuality is a sin." Beloved, homosexuality is clearly a sin (1 Cor. 6: 9, 10) and it must not be just tolerated within the realms of spiritual boundaries (Eph. 5: 10, 11).
Homosexuality is mentioned in the environment of spiritual degradation and shame. Paul described the decadence of the pagan world of his day (Rom. 1). He mentioned how the pagans professed to be wise and rejected God's wisdom (vss. 18-23). They exchanged God's truth for a lie (vs. 25). As a result, they were given over to "degrading passions: (vs. 26, see the description of homosexuality in verses 26 and 27). Homosexuality was one of the infamous sins of the people of Sodom, for which the city was destroyed by God. (Gen. 19).
Conclusion. Fornicators, adulterers, idolaters and homosexuals can obtain forgiveness (1 Cor. 6: 11). However, they must cease their practice ("such were some of you"). Practicing adulterers...and homosexuals have no place in the pulpit!