By pastorbillwalden
This Is Brokenness, by John Collinson
Sometimes it is asked what we mean by brokenness. Brokenness is not easy to define but can be clearly seen in the reactions of Jesus, especially as He approached the cross and in His crucifixion. I think it can be applied personally in this way:
WHEN to do the will of God means that even my Christian brethren will not understand, and I remember that “Neither did His brethren believe in Him” [John 7:5], and I bow my head to obey and accept the misunderstanding, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
WHEN I am misrepresented or deliberately misinterpreted, and I remember that Jesus was falsely accused but He “held His peace,” [Matthew 26:63] and I bow my head to accept the accusation without trying to justify myself, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
WHEN another is preferred before me and I am deliberately passed over, and I remember that they cried, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas” [Luke 23:18], and I bow my head and accept rejection, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
WHEN my plans are brushed aside and I see the work of years brought to ruins by ambitions of others and I remember that Jesus allowed them to lead Him away to crucify Him [Matthew 27:31] and He accepted that place of failure, and I bow my head and accept the injustice without bitterness, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
WHEN in order to be right with my God it is necessary to take the humbling path of confession and restitution, and I remember that Jesus “made Himself of no reputation” and “humbled Himself unto death, even the death of the cross” [Philippians 2:8], and I bow my head and am ready to accept the shame of exposure, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
WHEN others take unfair advantage of my being a Christian and, treat my belongings as public property, and I remember “they stripped Him… and parted His garments, casting lots” [Matthew 27:28,35], and I bow my head and accept “joyfully the spoiling of my goods” for His sake, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
WHEN one acts towards me in an unforgivable way, and I remember that when He was crucified Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” [Luke 23:34], and I bow my head and accept any behavior towards me as permitted by my loving Father, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
WHEN people expect the impossible of me and more than time or human strength can give, and I remember that Jesus said, “This is My body which is given for you…” [Luke 22:19], and I repent of my self-indulgence and lack of self-giving for others, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
By pastorbillwalden
Within Christendom, there are many disagreements regarding a number of things, but the commonality of legitimate pursuits find their origin in God’s Word.
One Christian family might feel strongly about home schooling, not wanting to subject their children to the secular thinking of this world. Another family might believe that their kids will live out their faith more successfully by learning to live in the world, and not apart from it. Both families would be able to point to Scripture regarding teaching their kids. Scriptures such as Ephesians 6:4, which says, “And you, fathers, (parents) do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord”. Though each family may take a different course, both families agree on the starting point, which is clearly found in God’s Word.
One family believes that tithing is necessary, and that a strict 10% rule should apply to all Christians. Another family gives less than 10%, and doesn’t believe that the New Testament mandates a 10% tithe. Each family takes a different course, but agrees on the Scriptural principal that giving to God is good and right. They share the same starting point.
There are many other issues on which Christian disagree, but on which they share a legitimate Biblical starting point from which one can advance faith. Disagreements on eschatology abound, but Christians believe that Jesus is coming back. Worship styles differ, but all Christians believe that God is to be worshipped, and they pursue their efforts based on the clear revelation of Scripture.
While it is true that some issues seem to be cloudy in God’s Word, the ones that every Christian can be sure of are repeated in principal in both the Old and New Testaments. The details of how some things are lived out may vary, but there are clear scriptural starting points regarding Biblical Christianity.
Regarding the current debate on gay marriage; there is no scriptural starting point. Homosexuality is not supported in either the Old or the New Testament. The nation of Israel lived under a theocracy, and according to God’s law, homosexuality was forbidden and punishable by death. (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)
In America, we live under a democracy, and not under a theocracy. America is not a Christian nation, and is not mandated to follow the civil laws of the Old Testament, which laws were specifically given to Israel. The modern church does not live under the Mosaic covenant, and is not called to follow those civil laws. However, many of those moral principles are repeated in the New Testament, and the baseline truths are repeated.
The principle of homosexuality being a sin is clearly carried over into the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, as well as Romans 1:18-27. In the gospels, Jesus quoted and recognized Old Testament books that condemned homosexuality. (Leviticus, for one)
The legitimacy of gay marriage is not the current issue the Church needs to decide on. If the root activity, homosexuality, is called sin by God, then why is there even a discussion about gay marriage? There is no legitimate starting point for gay marriage. At least not in the Church.
Those within the Christian Church and those who have rejected the Church but call themselves followers of Jesus need to determine if they will be moved by the reasoning of this world, or by the declared Word of God.
Mistreatment of gays is not a starting point for the legitimacy of gay marriage. Neither is the hypocrisy of Christians, divorce rates in the Church, or constitutional liberties. Neither is the argument about loving monogamous commitments, nor the truth that many gays are kind and loving people, and actually treat their mates better than many heterosexuals. There is truth in all of those lines of thought, but following and deferring to those lines of thought is not how the Christian is to decide on such issues as the one before us.
For the Christian, this cannot primarily be seen as a political debate, a human rights debate, or anything else. If the Christian wants to debate gay marriage, he or she needs to find a Biblical starting point which legitimizes the homosexual lifestyle.
I submit to you that it does not exist.
Am I against gay people? Absolutely not. I am not against adulterers, thieves, or murderers. However, I am called to speak the truth in love. I am called to follow Jesus, who was full of grace and truth, and who is coming back to judge the living and the dead. On that last day, He will say to many who claimed to know Him, “Depart from me, I never knew you”. (Matthew 7:21-23)
Currently, many voices are speaking about the love and mercy of Christ, but I submit to you; they are ignoring His words about judgment, sin and Hell.
I appeal to all who name the name Christ: The starting point of all that we are to do and believe is revealed in God’s Word. There is much that we may disagree on, but if it is rooted in Scripture, we can move forward on different paths leading to the same goal.
The current debate and its legitimacy have no starting point in God’s Word. I do not expect unbelievers to embrace God’s Word. I do not expect non-Christians to agree with me. I speak as a Christian to Christians. Every Christian needs to decide what his base line will be.
These are critical times.
By pastorbillwalden
Maybe we should render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things which are Gods. Marriage between a man and a woman is God’s proclamation. God doesn’t recognize marriage outside of what He had decreed, just as Caesar doesn’t recognize God. The carnal mind cannot discern spiritual things. 
If Caesar decides to have same-sex marriages, we may grieve but have no say in the matter. Our votes do not count when you have people in power who say that the proposition you voted for was illegal to begin with.
They have already decided that homosexuality is something people are born to be and therefore it is normal. If you feel something strongly with great conviction, it’s normal! Even if the biological plumbing doesn’t fit.
These same minds believe that we are a cosmic accident; from the Big Bang to many smaller bangs. Our existence is purely accidental and there is no Designer.
I predict that same-sex marriages will become commonplace in the world’s civilizations because man has fallen so far from God that morality will become more and more perverse until morality no longer exists for the majority of humanity.
It’s in the prophecies. Perhaps, we should, rather than trying to fight what is already going to happen (politically), we should fight to rise above the darkness ourselves and stay close to the Lord.
The church is filled with carnality. Why should anyone listen to the Body of Christ if the Body is carnal? Most secular people believe that they are at least as moral as the Christian they know.
Jesus and the apostles, including Paul did not fight directly against secular perversion, but proclaimed the kingdom of God in contrast. They did not try to overthrow the idol worshipping culture with it’s temple prostitutes. They extended God’s pardon of salvation through Jesus Christ to all who would accept it.
Behold Noah and his family, how they escaped while the rest of the world was washed away. Judgement is in the hands of the Almighty! Those who scoff at God will find themselves at the wrong end of His judgment. It’s so sad. It’s heartbreaking that mankind has chosen (once again) this path leading to his own destruction.