Walking in Faith
"For we walk by FAITH, not by sight."
2 Corinthians 5:7
Oppa
GangnamRacist Style?South Korean pop star PSY closed the 2012 American Music Awards with his hit Gangnam Style. Regardless as to whether you like him or are sick of that damn song, here’s a collection of people who are NOT HAPPY that there’s an Asian dude on their…
- NOTE: This may be a little long, but take some time to read it. Pastor gives phenomenal answers!
- Host: You are a Christian pastor, and you say you believe the Bible, which means you are supposed to love all people.
- Pastor: That’s right.
- Host: But it appears to me that you and your church take a rather unloving position when it comes to gay people. Are homosexuals welcome to come to your church?
- Pastor: Of course. We believe that the gospel is a message relevant for every person on the planet, and we want everyone to hear the gospel and find salvation in Jesus Christ. So at our church, our arms are outstretched to people from every background, every race, every ethnicity and culture. We’re a place for all kinds of sinners and people with all kinds of problems.
- Host: But you said there, “We’re a place for sinners.” So you do believe that homosexuality is sinful, right?
- Pastor: Yes, I do.
- Host: So how do you reconcile the command to love all people with a position on homosexuality that some would say is radically intolerant?
- Pastor: (smiling) If you think my position on homosexuality is radical, just wait until you hear what else I believe! I believe that a teenage guy and girl who have sex in the backseat of a pick-up are sinning. The unmarried heterosexual couple living down the street from me is sinning. In fact, any sexual activity that takes place outside of the marriage covenant between a husband and wife is sinful. What’s more, Jesus takes this sexual ethic a step further and goes to the heart of the matter. That means that any time I even lust after someone else, I am sinning. Jesus’ radical view of sexuality shows all of us up as sexual sinners, and that’s why He came to die. Jesus died to save lustful, homo- and heterosexual sinners and transform our hearts and minds and behavior. Because He died for me, I owe Him my all. And as a follower of Jesus, I’m bound to what He says about sex and morality.
- Host: But Jesus didn’t condemn homosexuality outright, did He?
- Pastor: He didn’t have to. He went to the heart issue and intensified the commands against immoral behavior in the Old Testament. So Jesus doesn’t just condemn adultery, for example, as does one of the Ten Commandments. Jesus condemns even the lust that leads to adultery, all with the purpose of offering us transformed hearts that begin beating in step with His radical demands.
- Host: You say he condemned adultery, but he chose not to condemn the woman caught in adultery.
- Pastor: That’s right, but He did tell her to “go and sin no more.”
- Host: But who are you to condemn someone who doesn’t line up with your personal beliefs about sexuality?
- Pastor: Who am I? No one. It’s not all that important what I think about these things. This conversation about homosexuality isn’t really about my personal beliefs. They’re about Jesus and what He says. I have no right to condemn or judge the world. That right belongs to Jesus. My hope is to follow Him faithfully. That means that whatever He says in regard to sexual practices is what I believe to be true, loving, and ultimately best for human flourishing – even when it seems out of step with the whims of contemporary culture.
- Host: But you are judging. You are telling all the gay people watching this broadcast that they are sinners.
- Pastor: I’m not singling out gay people. I’m pointing to Jesus as the answer to all sexual sinfulness.
- Host: But you are referring to gay people. Why are you so focused on homosexuality?
- Pastor: (smiling) With all due respect, you are the one who brought up this subject.
- Host: Are you saying that you can’t be gay and Christian?
- Pastor: No. I’m saying that you can’t be a genuine Christian without repentance. Everyone – including me – is guilty of sin, but Christianity hinges on repentance. We agree with God about our sin, and we turn from it and turn toward Jesus. When it comes to Christianity, this debate is not about homosexuality versus other sins. It’s about whether or not repentance is integral to the Christian life.
- Host: But do you see why a homosexual watching this might think you are attacking them personally? You’re saying that something is wrong with them.
- Pastor: I think Jesus’ teaching on sexuality shows us that there is something wrong with all of us – something that can only be fixed by what Jesus did for us on the cross and in His resurrection. That said, I understand why people might think I am attacking them personally. Most people with same-sex desires believe they were born with these tendencies. That’s why they often see their attraction as going to the very core of who they are, and so they identify themselves with the “gay” label. So whenever someone questions their behavior or desires, they take it as an attack on the very core of their being. That’s usually not the intent of the person who disagrees with homosexual behavior. But that’s the way it is perceived. I understand that.
- Host: If it’s true that a person is born with one sexual orientation or another, then how can it possibly be loving to condemn one person’s orientation?
- Pastor: Well, we really don’t know for certain about sexual attraction being innate and set from birth. All we have is the testimony of people who say that they’ve experienced same-sex desires since childhood. Christianity teaches that all people are born with a bent toward sin. It’s possible that some people will have a propensity toward alcohol abuse or angry outbursts, while others may have a propensity toward other sins. Regardless, Christians believe people are more than their sexual urges. We believe that human dignity is diminished whenever we define ourselves by sexual urges and behaviors. Consider this: married men are sometimes attracted to multiple women who are not their wives. Does this mean they should self-identify as polygamists? Not at all. And surely you wouldn’t consider it hateful for Christians to encourage married men not to act on their desires in an effort to remain faithful to their spouses. It is the Christian way, after all.
- Host: No, but it still seems like you are telling people not to be true to who they are.
- Pastor: It only seems that way because you believe sexual desire reflects the core of one’s identity. It would help if you and others who agree with you would understand that in your putting pressure on me to accept homosexual behavior as normal and virtuous, you are going to the very core of my identity as a follower of Jesus. The label most important to me is “Christian.” My identity – in Christ – is central to who I am. So I could say the same thing and call you intolerant, bigoted, and hateful for trying to change a conviction that goes to the core of who I am as a Christian. I don’t say that because I don’t believe that’s your intention. But neither should you think it’s my intention to attack a homosexual person or cause them harm merely because I disagree.
- Host: But the problem is, your position fosters hate and encourages bullying.
- Pastor: I recognize that some people have mistreated homosexuals in the past. It’s a shame that anyone anywhere would mock, taunt, or bully another human being made in God’s image. That said, I think we need to make one thing clear in regard to civil discourse: To differ is not to hate. I hope we can still have a real conversation in this country about different points of view without casting one another in the worst possible light. The idea that disagreeing with homosexual behavior necessarily results in harm to gay people is designed to shut down conversation and immediately rule one point of view (in this case, the Christian one) out of bounds. As a Christian, I am to love my neighbor and seek his good, even when I don’t see eye to eye with my neighbor. Furthermore, the picture of Christ on the cross dying for His enemies necessarily affects the way I think about this and other issues.
Man, I’ve been away for so long. I need to revive this blog of mine. It’s become so dull, so uneventful, and full of lazy re-blogs. I’m going to make it a priority to get at least one post a week up here to update what’s going on in my life. I’m really surprised to see I still have followers. Sorry guys :(
(via sakura-blossoms)
(via remember-to-forgive)
Last Thursday night the counselors and both pastors for the winter youth retreat went out to eat at Iron Age (Korean restaurant). The food and fellowship was amazing!! We had a wonderful time eating 삼겹살 and 차돌박이 (pork belly and beef brisket). The meat comes raw on a platter and you cook it on the grill in the middle of the table. I’ve been here before but I had no idea there were so many food choices.
They have 3 different marinades for the 삼겹살 and the (gochujang) 고추장 삼겹살 was my absolute favorite. Gochujang is a fermented soybean, rice and chili condiment. Very spicy and delicious.
At the end of the meal they take the meat, rice, and side dishes to make kimchi fried rice. He put the jalapenos in so it was super hot xD
Afterwards we went to a small dessert & coffee shop across the street. The waffle and ice cream was so delicous!! I can’t wait to go there again.
My sisters and I cooked dinner for the family this New Year’s Eve. I really wish I had taken pictures, but the process was so stressful and hectic it didn’t even cross my mind. Cooking takes a lot of time and effort and we had no idea. Dinner, lunch, or breakfast doesn’t take very long when you’re cooking something simple. We didn’t know how complicated it would be until after we started.
On the menu:Sesame Chicken
Asparagus
Fried Rice
- SushiDessert: Rolled Sponge Cake w/fruit
Almost nothing turned out like we thougt but the Sushi (because it was store bought) and the asparagus. The Sesame Chicken was supposed to have a thick sauce, but the consistency would not thicken. It turned out to be an amazing glaze.
The fried rice was not up to my sister’s standards but when the rest of us tasted it, it was better than the rice you get at a chinese restaurant. The ingredients made it taste great, but the fluffiness of the rice and the full rich flavor made it so much better.
To my little sister, the sponge cake was a complete disaster. It wasn’t spongy, light and airy. It was dense and began to crack when she started rolling. She freaked out and called me over to her side. When I got there she was in a panicy state. I told her to cut it into squares and put the whipped cream and fruit on top. I don’t know what happened to the sponginess of the cake, but it was sweet and delicious anyway.
The family loved our dinner, the presentation of the food, and the dessert. That meant a lot to us, especially considering we have some great cooks in the family. It’s good to know that even though things didn’t turn out exactly like we hoped, the taste of the food was never comprimised.I don’t know how big families do it. Cooking takes so much time and effort. I think I’ll be okay to conquer my little college kitchen now. Cooking new things daily for myself doesn’t seem so hard now.
Made Korean food yesterday! Kimbap. It was delicious!!
Looking for short gain rice! Lol. So much rice to choose from.
Gyro from Marietta Diner!
