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The article "'Horrific executions' in Cape Town" has been
reluctantly submitted because it highlights among other things the growing
immorality (from the New Testament perspective of sexual morality which differs
radically from the Western socially accepted and legal forms of sexual morality
and immorality). Articles such as this one present a difficult situation for a
Christian web site that advocates the teachings of the New Testament.
One key purpose of this web site is to provide sound and
substantiable teachings based on the New Testament. This commentary is
therefore generated to identify this difference and not to be socially harmful
to those whose sexual practices and preferences are outside those allowed by
the teachings of the New Testament.
As far as the New Testament teachings are concerned,
Christians are clearly instructed to avoid the kind of sexual behaviors
condoned by worldly societies. There are however, so-called Christian
organizations that accept and even promote such preferences. If the definition
of Christian is based on having a Christ like mind and following all (as
opposed to some) the commands and teaching of Jesus Christ as set forth in the
New Testament, then these organizations have no bible based right to call
themselves "Christian". But from a legal standpoint there is no provision in
law to restrict the usage of the word "Christian". It is my understanding that
there are apparently some 400-600 organizations that have registered
internationally as a "Christian" organization.
There is often a kind of environment that develops around
various kinds of sexual immorality (NT usage) in general. This is not intended
to be an indirect slur against the same sex communities. By this statement I
mean such currently illegal things as prostitution and drugs, child
pornography, and so on. Prostitution is not necessarily a male/female
relationship it can also involve same sex and child abuses. Prostitution is a
different kettle of fish from sex between 2 consenting adults. Apparently group
sex is also legal as long as everyone is a consenting adult.
From a legal perspective a prostitute is someone that
solicits sex, based on the exchange of money in return for the sexual favors.
It is this illegal character that forms a basis for the criminal sector of
society and this is mixed with drugs and other addictions.
Some Western countries have legalized prostitution as a
legitimate taxable business. Those that legislate laws in Western society
therefore appear to be more concerned with prostitution (when a crime) and
child pornography and abuses. Those that legislate laws in Western society seem
to be unconcerned about the bible code of morality and more concerned with
protecting the rights of individual citizens and differing codes of conduct and
cultural conditions. This is not a criticism, rather it is an observation. Such
legislative efforts make it extremely difficult for a bible based Christian
community to hold together in the face of state imposed rules regarding
tolerance and discrimination in the interest of law defined social stability.
If a group of Christians were to construct a city and the only citizens of this
city were Christians there would be all kinds of court challenges to that
situation.
The laws of most Western countries guarantee from a federal
perspective that groups and individuals have the right to freely express their
sexual bias and preferences, religious preferences, and political preferences.
A potential conflict arises when two radically different views are expressed
such as the bible view of morality and the moral perspective of certain other
groups where sexual behavior deviates radically from that allowed in the bible.
The conflict arises when one such group feels that the others remarks about
them are socially damaging. This then becomes the foundation for a defamation
court action or law suite.
So the intention of this commentary on the news article
"'Horrific executions' in Cape Town", is not to criticize any group or
individual but simply identify that this new article highlights various social
activities that are condemned in the bible.
However, individuals and groups that represent a different
moral code than that taught in the bible are well within their rights and their
open social events are also legal on the same terms as any other open group
social event. It is my understanding that in most Western countries such groups
and individuals are protected by law from any kind of criticism that is deemed
in a court of law as harmful to that group or individual. In this respect,
exhibitions of nudity and same sex relationships have occurred in both European
and Australian gay parades and public events where such events were touted as
family events and included children and substantial media coverage.
From a bible based perspective, not all, but some of these
people seem drawn to social extremes in their sexual conduct and take delight
in offending those that do not appreciate such conduct and appreciate even less
the exhibitionism that goes with such events. But in all fairness, they
probably see an evangelical rally held in a major sports auditorium as a social
extreme in a Christians religious conduct and could be offended by the media
coverage. From a worldly perspective, not all, but some so-called Christians
seem drawn to "judgemental attitudes" which are intended to provoke and create
controversy with non-Christians. Unfortunately, Christians who are not
"judgemental" and who live within the laws of their society become the focus of
criticism and law suites as well as social criticism both politically and
socially because of their bible based position regarding what is moral and
immoral and not on the basis of hurtful conduct. In many ways, Christians that
do not love (as Christ loved everyone) each other or the rest of mankind, have
flaunted doctrine rather than the love of God.
Somehow, Christians and Christian organizations have to
provide a far better witness of the love of God. If the world cannot see the
love of God in our lives and we expose them to doctrine it is no wonder many
take these efforts of witness as confrontational and hurtful.
The New Testament never in any place advises Christians to
maliciously and purposely confront and antagonize non-Christians and provoke
them to anger and hostility. The witness Christians are to provide is the Body
of Christ that operates according to the teachings and commands of Jesus
Christ. This is a witness of the Kingdom of God. To be a citizen of the kingdom
requires that we love one another and God loves each of us. The parables and
teachings of Jesus Christ is all about the Kingdom of God. The gospel is the
good news about the Kingdom of God as evident in the Body of Christ and the
love that exists between the members of this body.
So there is a line between being an example of Christ and
forcing others or socially judging others in a confrontational manner. Without
question, the bible teaches that those that violate the scriptural version of
morality and are thus immoral (according to the bible definition) will not be
acceptable to God and will not enter into the Kingdom. This exclusion of
entrance into the Kingdom is not limited to just sexual immorality as defined
in the bible. Exclusion applies to everyone that has not or is not being
transformed into a Christ like mind This is a very clear teaching and there is
no way of avoiding this teaching if one wants to be a bible based Christian.
Failure to identify this requirement would be a failure on my part to properly
represent to my readers what the New Testament teaches.
The legal system in the Western world has somehow drawn a
fuzzy line between sexual conduct that is illegal and sexual conduct that is
legal. The line drawn is defined by whether that sexual activity involves
children below a certain age. Many web sites, including this one, are avoiding
any kind of defamatory reporting and comments. It is against the law in Canada
to publish defamatory or harmful remarks (as determined by our legal system)
over the airways. But if this law is applied universally then those that are
defamatory against Christian individuals and organizations should also be
legally incorrect and subject to court action.
You will find earlier BBC news articles covering gay and and
same sex social events in the 2002 magazine versions.
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