SERMON - GIMME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION

Gimme That Old Time Religion

It seems as if the times I get to attend a church service I hear some new thoughts voiced about ‘Politically Correctness,’ “Homosexual Acceptance,’ ‘Gay Marriage,’ and even ‘Music (With drums and Guitars) in Church. To be  as open and honest as I can be I cannot imagine anyone, especially a Pastor or Priest, wanting to make changes in the way God is worshipped for any group or person demanding that church services are to be changed to ‘keep up with times.’

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Jesus Christ is One with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We read and study the Bible as it is the Word of God. With that being so, how, or why, must any church group, either Denominational or Non-Denominational demand changes to God’s Word?

Hebrews 13:9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas…

Strange and new ideas are to be considered in things other than God’s teachings. We are able to develop new medicines by trying new ideas. In times past it was considered strange to boil milk until a man found out that this act allowed men to take milk without fearing illness. There are many examples that I can cite where strange and new ideas proved to be a benefit to man, but I do not think, for even a moment, that strange and new ideas have a place in God’s teachings.

There have been religions established on some mighty weird ‘strange and new ideas.’ There have even been supposed Christian Denominations and Non-Denominational teachings that advocate ‘strange and new ideas’ that I feel have no place whatever in a true Christian church.

Allow me to begin my list of concerns.

Homosexual Acceptance: The statement of ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’ is applicable here. There is not one word that teaches us to condone sin in the Bible. Not a single one! There are many admonitions and downright statements that God said respecting man/man and woman/woman relations of a sexual nature.  To cite a few allow me to give you some verses to review for yourselves.

Genesis 19:5-8; Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:22-23, 20: 13-15-16; Deuteronomy 23: 17, 27:21; Judges 19-22; 1 Kings 14:24, 15:12, 22: 46; 2 Kings 23:7; Romans 1:24-26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; and 1 Timothy 1:9-10.

Some deal with sodomy, some with animal sex, some deal with prostitutes, but all make patently clear God’s thoughts and DIRECTIVES on unnatural sex.

With that being the case the subject of Gay Marriage is addressed: If gay sex is against God’s Word then Gay Marriage is as well.

Love thy neighbor as you love yourself, is the argument for those that support homosexuality and gay marriage. We do that, but are not bound to condone the sin! We do not exclude them from our lives and we do not shun them. We give them their rights and do not fail to act towards them in a Christian manner, but we hate the sin! God says hate the sin and we obey God’s commands.

Both Homosexual Acceptance and Gay Marriage are being pressed on us and even some misguided religious groups demand that we accept them in total. In saying that they are really saying, ‘We are modern and God is not!’ They are seeking to twist God’s Word and that is forbidden!

The next topic is Music in Church. God apparently loves music. He even loves musical instruments that man uses to accompany the hymns sung in church gatherings.

Nehemiah 12:27 …they were to take part in the joyous occasion with their songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, lyres and harps.

I will now give you some Scriptural references so that you can read and study them for yourself respecting music in church.

1 Chronicles 6:31-32; Psalms 21:13, 27:6, 33:2, 45:8, 71:22 and 135:3.

There are many others, but a review of this short list will make the point. If anyone would argue about particular instruments, they are simply throwing up a proverbial ‘smoke screen.’

The long and the short of it is Homosexual Acceptance is appropriate ONLY in accepting the person but NEVER in accepting or condoning the sin! The same applies about Gay Marriage. If you read the Bible there are many cases where marriage and marriage ceremonies are spoken of... There is NOT ONE CASE of Gay Marriage as God made clear His commandments on that subject! 

Music in Church is acceptable as long as it is meant as a PRAYER or PRAISE to God. If it is for the appeasement of any man or group, it has no place as our worship is of God not any man or group!

In closing allow me to say the words that God sent me as His guidance to present this sermon: Gimme that old time religion, gimme that old time religion, gimme that old time religion it’s good enough for me.

(Closing prayer).

              

Almighty God, King of the Universe we praise You and we worship You in Your Holiness. You alone are God and there is no other. You are the Creator and You are God Most High.

Father, we are often beset by those that identify themselves as Christian yet seek to teach us of things that are in direct conflict with Your Words as set down in the Bible You so lovingly gave us.  Lord, we ask that You enter into the hearts and minds of those men and women and set them on the correct path to You and Your Kingdom. Allow them to see that in speaking out against Your teachings they are creating doubts in the minds of weaker Christians and that is not to be. Heavenly Father, guide our paths and keep us close in Your Heart.

Father, we ask that You , as our Yahweh Rophe. Watch all Christianity.

Lord, we always pray for the safety and welfare of our military, elected officials, Judges, peace officers and government security workers. Today we ask that You enter their hearts and minds and grant them the knowledge of our thankfulness of the jobs they perform. Allow them to realize that You are watching over them and protecting them as You respond to our petitions.

These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever,

Amen, amen and amen,

-- 

Pastor Lee S Gliddon Jr
God's Word Christian Ministry
Conservative Patriot http://conpats.blogspot.com