WHY have I never heard this preached?????
Eze 16:48 As surely as I am the living LORD God, the people of Sodom and its nearby villages were never as sinful as you.
Eze 16:49 They were arrogant and spoiled; they had everything they needed and still refused to help the poor and needy.
Eze 16:50 They thought they were better than everyone else, and they did things I hate. And so I destroyed them.
Technorati Tags: homosexuality, Sodom
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I can’t wait to discover, together, the many things that God wants to show us and walk us through. I still believe the prophesy about things ending up better than we ever imagined. I think it probably has to do with our kids taking the lead.
Yeah, I haven’t exactly heard that one preached on either.
I appreciate Ron’s comment above as well. Going through a similar situation as you guys, I hope that I share in the prophesy you received!
Ron–it’s about time you read my blog!!!
John, Me too! I pray that it’s “better than you ever imagined”!
At our Christmas gathering this year we did the stations of the manger which began with video I found on YouTube. It strung similar passages like the above together with shots of poverty. That verse popped up the string of verses, and particularly grabbed my attention. I have the video on our church blog site at http://salemgathering.blogspot.com/2006/12/stations-of-manger.html
Phil,
Thanks for passing on this video! As you can see, I just HAD to post it. It really just deals with so much of what I’ve been feeling lately. I bet your Christmas service was amazing! Very creative and redeeming use of You Tube!
Jamie
I know you are not telling me Swank is in the blog game suddenly. That would be a shocker! Regarding Sodom in Ezekiel: where you have arrogance and excess of provision and prosperous ease in society, sexual perversion is not far behind. I would venture that a study of all history will prove this out: Babylon, Rome, America, France . . . As another point regarding the whole of Ezekiel 16 check out the number of times whoring and prostitution is mentioned. Israel was a spiritual slut. Thus, the mention of Sodom is also in regard to its spiritual problem: spiritual adultery and lack of concern for the poor and needy (no justice and righteousness). The moral sins of a people are symptomatic of a deeper root idolatry. I would not use this passage to say that homosexuality is not sin. One doesn’t have to look hard to prove that. Nor does one have to look hard to find Jesus’ love for those who have committed any sexual sin. Homosexuality and a host of other sexual sins are perversions–but symptoms of something that is the root. However, our approach on it in the church is often all wrong. Jesus never turned away a sinner and he made a point to hang with them . . . uh, that is why he came. Romans chapter 1 backs up all I have said here: when people reject God and go their own way sexual perversions and loose morality always follow. In addition, things like malice, slander and gossip are included as sins readily seen in those who have rejected the rule of God in their lives. What is our mission: to liberate people from the heavy burden and yoke that is on their lives as they follow false gods. That is why Jesus came. He did not take up a campaign against abortion or homosexuality–though prevalent in his day in the Roman Empire. It is not that he approved of these–not at all. Rather, the liberation from false gods was the main focus. Once that is done and generally not until then, moral change is possible. And the biblical evidence points out that this is not always immediate nor easy to overcome.
TA…
You rock, again. I would call Swank’s input “wine blogging”, if you know what I mean.
So, your points are well made. Why, then, does much of the church in the US take up these causes, instead of the right ones? Is it because it’s easier for us to rail against the sin, than to really love people, feed the poor and free the oppressed?
How are the Philippines? How’s DT? Any stories?
J