Category: Sean Perron

Making Decisions

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Christians can often be confused about God’s will for their lives. Perhaps even the thought of making decisions stirs up anxiety and paralyzing fear. How should we think through the decision making process? It starts with Scripture, includes desires, and ends with resting in God’s kind sovereignty.

God guides first and foremost through his revealed will.

His revealed will can be found in the Bible and is not hidden from believers. God has been kind to give believers specific directions concerning life and godliness. If someone is looking for inner direction without listening to God’s directions in the Bible, it’s like they are looking for eyeglasses that are already on his nose. It does not make sense to ignore what God has already spoken in an effort to obtain special knowledge of his secret will. Kevin DeYoung writes, “Expecting God to reveal some hidden will of direction is an invitation to disappointment and indecision.”

What are some of the specific directions God has given in his Scripture? The Bible is clear that holiness is a part of his will for every Christian’s life (Heb. 12:14). God’s will for every Christian is to grow in godliness (1 Thess. 4:3). One very practical question for making decisions is “will this cause me to look more like Jesus?” If the answer is “no” to this question, God is guiding you away from that direction. If the answer is “yes”, God has given you some strong measure of direction on the matter.

It might be helpful to eliminate choices during the decision process. For instance, the Proverbs address the issue of work ethic and time management (Prov. 6:6-11; 10:4-5; 12:27). The question should be asked, how could I work to the glory of God in the current situation I am in? This type of question seeks to apply God’s revealed will and therefore glorify God in everything (1 Cor 10:31). God certainly honors this obedience and fills the believer’s heart with joy instead of gloom. Instead of being reactive and waiting for God to give an inner sense, it would be more biblical to begin obeying the commands found in the Bible which God has already revealed.

God can use desires to guide us.

After taking assessment of the facts of Scripture, how should a believer make decisions between multiple good biblical choices? Perhaps there are three promising job opportunities that all meet the biblical criteria. Perhaps there are two potential mates that are pursuing Christ and have great personalities. One helpful question at this point is, which do I desire most?

The Bible addresses how the desires of the heart fit into the decision making process. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” This verse teaches that desires are in fact an aspect of God’s guidance. There is an “inner sense” that God sometimes gives concerning decisions in life. However, this inner sense is formed by the truths of Scripture. If someone is delighting in God, then their desires will certainly be shaped by God and his words. In this way, a person can have freedom to act as he desires if he is walking with Christ daily. There is a freedom God gives to those who love him and God leads them by the desires he gives them. One should not be afraid to act if the desire is informed by the Bible and flowing from a heart that is seeking Christ. God leads his people by giving desires as they delight themselves in him. It has rightly been pointed out by DeYoung that even the apostle Paul made decisions this way in Acts 15:28 and 20:16. This is a freeing reality and it can help immensely to know that God often wants his people to act on upon the things they want.

God guides our lives under his caring sovereignty.

What if we don’t know what we should do? We must trust God to guide us even when we are confused. Making decisions in life cannot be addressed without mentioning the sovereignty of God. Romans 8:28 is an important in understanding how God directs the circumstances and decisions of life for the good of his people, “We know that God works all things together for good for those who love God and are the called according to his purpose.” Learning that God sovereignly works even the smallest decisions out for the good of his people is a big relief. We can be confident that God will work all things together for our good if we love God.

Paul gives us a beautiful passage in Ephesians 1:3-14. In verse 11, he says that we have an inheritance with the God who works all things according to the counsel of his will. This is comforting and reassuring that God’s loving guidance surrounds us at all times. Gerald Bray writes, “Predestination is an intensely practical belief, very closely tied to what we often call ‘guidance.’ If I have a clear sense of my long-term destiny, then that will affect the way I live and will influence how I evaluate the events of my everyday life.” If a believer is delighting himself in the Word and beginning to obey the Scriptures in any given issue he encounters, then he can feel freedom under the sovereignty of God to act according to the desires God places in his heart.

This is also encouraging because even if he does not feel any overwhelming desires, he can trust that God will order his steps for his good. Proverbs 16:3-9 tells the believer to commit their work to the Lord and then their plans will be established. Desires do not have to be present in order for God to be kind to his people and guide their steps.

When it comes to making decisions believers must:

1)   Begin pursuing holiness in every area of God’s revealed will in the Bible.

2)   Align their thinking under the caring sovereignty of God.

3)   Feel freedom to act in faith knowing that God will direct his paths.

 

Held Together in Grief

by Sean Perron
by Sean Perron

The doctrine of providence is deep enough to bring comfort during life’s most grievous tragedies. Even the deepest cuts can be soothed by the sovereignty of a kind God. Consider the terrible pain of the death a loved one. The doctrine of providence may be one of the only balms in the midst of such pain.

In his systematic theology, Michael Horton begins his chapter on providence by quoting Colossians 1:16-17. “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” These verses are packed with the providence of God even though they do not explicitly mention ways in which God works in creation.

Colossians 1:16-17 confirms that God is not absent from suffering. God crafted the world and is still intimately involved with it. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. This means that nothing occurs apart from God’s involvement. God does not watch us grieve from the sidelines. He is present, active and near.

If a couple loses their child, the doctrine of providence found in Colossians 1:16-17 can hold them together. They can be comforted knowing that Jesus reigned as Lord before, and he continues to reign afterwards. He has not left them to face tragedy alone. They can rest in the fact that the same Jesus who created their child is actively working in this situation. Jesus is involved and those grieving are included in the verse “In him all things hold together.”

God is specifically identified in these verses. It is Jesus who is holding all things together by the word of his power. This same Jesus suffered brutally on the cross to endure the curse of sin. Jesus knows what it means to weep and he knows what it means to writhe in pain. Jesus did not suffer in vain, and he will reverse the curse on this scorched earth. One day soon, all that is wrong will be turned right. Until then, let us draw near to him with our grief and have him hold us together.

Leaving a Church?

by Sean Perron
by Sean Perron

 

I have recently been reading Dr. Greg Allison’s book Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church. While I don’t find myself agreeing with everything he proposes, I have found the book incredibly helpful and well worth the read. One example of this are the questions Dr. Allison suggest to ask before leaving a church. Perhaps you are contemplating leaving your local congregation. Are there any guidelines for thinking through this difficult issue? I hope you are helped these questions:

1. Have I expended all of my opportunities to effect change in this church?

2. Will continued participation in this church exert a negative impact on my relationship with and worship of God, my ministry for Jesus Christ, the use of my spiritual gifts, etc.?

3. Do I have to compromise too much— essential doctrines and practices, a lifestyle in accordance with biblical values and principles— principles— in order to remain in this church?

4. Do I have a legitimate reason for leaving?

5. For members who also serve in positions of leadership in a church, an additional question should be posed: has God released me from my current responsibilities in the church so that I am free to leave?

A positive answer to any or even all of these questions does not necessarily mean that the step of leaving one’s church is the right one. These questions serve only as indicators, not strict determiners of one’s actions, so positive responses may indicate that leaving the church is the proper course of action but they do not demand departure. Indeed, leaving a true church should be a fairly rare step; certainly, it should be far less common than it is in many of today’s evangelical churches. An important reason for this affirmation is that it violates the unity of the church.”

Allison, Gregg R. (2012-11-30). Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church (Foundations of Evangelical Theology) (Kindle Locations 4359-4365). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

 

Finally Free

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by Sean Perron

Pornography is a big deal. Satan uses porn to steal, kill and destroy. And the church is not exempt. Pornography is a big temptation. The flesh desires to lust, linger and live in sexual immorality. And Christians are not exempt.

How should the church respond? How should a struggling Christian deal with this massive issue?

The call of the hour is for the church to think deeply, critically and practically about pornography.

There was a season in my life when I read every book I could on sexual temptation I could find.To the shame of some authors, I read their books and they did me more harm than good. I read other authors who were quite helpful in engaging the issues, but simply did not go deep enough. I wanted more help in the battle against sexual immorality.

I do not endorse books often on this blog, but I cannot help but recommend the book Finally Free by Dr. Heath Lambert.

Finally Free gives ten biblical ways to battle sexual temptation. I am thankful for this book because it is all about the Bible. Heath Lambert does not drift off into statistics or ramble on about some psychological jargon that is detached from dungeon of addiction. Instead, each chapter offers a dagger that has been sharpened by the Scriptures in order to cut pornography out for good.

I also love this book because it is ultimately not about pornography. That might seem strange to a reader who notices the word pornography on every other page. But the fact of the matter is this book is of incredible help in fighting many sinful desires. If I replaced pornography with the word anxiety in chapter ten, I would be just as helped in my walk with God. If I replaced pornography with the word complaining in chapter nine, I would find help for my grumbling. Change the specifics and alter the practical application and this book can be used to fight a variety of sins. Why? Because Lambert grounds his wisdom in power of the Scriptures that enable sinners to have lasting change in Christ.

Consider chapter three on accountability and pornography. Here are just three out of seven points:

  • Effective Accountability Is Involved Early Rather than Late

  • Effective Accountability Involves Someone with Maturity

  • Effective Accountability Should Avoid Explicit Details

I guarantee I would have been a different person years ago if I had known these three points from this chapter. I found myself calling my “accountability partners” only after I would sin. I rarely called them during the midst of my struggles. I also fell into the trap of confessing sin to those who were struggling with the exact same things I did! How much more effective would it have been if I had a more mature man in my life? Or how much more could I have honored those around me if I avoided unhelpful details?

Holiness is a big deal. We must think deeply, carefully and practically about what the Bible has to say about growing in grace. We cannot afford to ignore this task.

I am confident Heath Lambert’s book Finally Free will aid the church in this endeavor. I cannot commend it more readily.

Lessons from George Washington

by Sean Perron
by Sean Perron

George Washington

George Washington’s faith is a controversial topic that is clouded with agenda. Some evangelicals place a lot of weight on whether or not Washington was truly a Christian. Consider the observation from John Fea, “The argument goes something like this: ‘If Washington was a Christian, then America must be too’; or, ‘if Washington was not a Christian, then he must have desired the United States to be a secular nation.’” (See chapter eleven in Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?) Both of these arguments are flawed in their conclusions and the historical evidence should not be interpreted through either one of these lenses. Washington himself would not have wanted us to think in such logic.

Washington’s Ambiguity

Unfortunately history does not give us large amounts of information on Washington’s personal religious life. Washington did not write much about his religion publically and his personal letters were destroyed by Martha Washington after his death. When Washington mentioned religion in public or on paper, it was almost always in vague terms coupled with general statements. His favorite term to describe God was “Providence” and fully believed God was active in the created world. “He used the term “Providence” 270 times in his writings, usually employing it as a synonym for the Judeo-Christian God. And on occasion, he described ‘Providence’ using the pronouns ‘who’ or ‘it.’” (Fea, 175) We can deduct from Washington’s view of providence that he was not a deist in the true sense. Deism teaches that God is not active in the daily life of his creatures. The god of Deism is distant and hands off. It is clear that Washington leaned more towards the Christian version of God, but his terminology of God is vague.

Washington and the Lord’s Supper

One interesting aspect of Washington’s religious life relates to the Lord’s Supper. There are mixed accounts about how regularly Washington partook of communion but it is clear that after the Revolutionary War he no longer received communion. “…Washington always left church at the end of the Desk and Pulpit service on Communion Sundays and then sent the carriage back from Mount Vernon to pick up Martha, who had remained.” (See chapter six in Faith of Our Founding Fathers by Holmes) Historians have wondered why Washington did not want to take communion but no sufficient reason can be given. He may have felt too guilty after the war, he may have rejected the divinity of Christ, or he may have been protesting against the Anglican Church. This evidence points to Washington as an uncommitted Christian but this does not render a final verdict.

Washington’s Death

The way Washington died was not the typical Christian death. “Yet as he lay on his deathbed at Mount Vernon, Washington did not ask for a minister. He did not ask to pray. He did not talk about heaven, God, or Jesus Christ. Joseph Ellis has suggested that he ‘died as a Roman stoic rather than a Christian saint.’”(Fea, 181) This manner of death should be contrasted with his wife Martha who died later. “Martha called her children to her deathbed. She then talked to them at length about the Christian faith and its responsibilities.” (Holmes, Loc 1710-1711) The final moments of a person’s life show a significant amount about one’s relationship with Jesus.

Lessons from Washington

George Washington was truly a man to be admired in many ways. I am truly thankful God raised him up to lead our country. There are countless stories to be told about his life and many facets of his character that we should strive to emulate. Yet, his faith is not one of them. The historical evidence appears to show that Washington was simply a theist with some Christian tendencies or at best a nominal Christian.

The way Washington spoke of God should cause us to pause. Clarity is imperative for the Christian because Jesus declared himself the only way to God. Whether we are pastors, politicians or plumbers, we must talk about God in specifics. God cannot be a catch-all phrase for undefined spirituality. Christ is God who touched the earth for sinful man.

A believer is also required to participate in the ordinances of the local church. Jesus has graciously given us baptism and communion to draw us closer to God. Baptism by immersion is the first act of obedience for the believer and communion is to be a constant reminder of the cleansing blood of Jesus. These two ordinances are for the church to enjoy and be refreshed.

Finally, the Christian is able to die with joy and steady trust in Christ. The final hours of our lives are a golden opportunity to display the gospel to those around us. Let us pray that Jesus will find us faithful unto death and we will not waste our last moments on earth. (Revelation 2:10-11)

Why I Joined the Biblical Counseling Movement

by Sean Perron
by Sean Perron

 

When a husband knocks a hole in the wall because his wife upset him, is it mania or sinning in anger? When a person panics on a plane or in an elevator, is it a matter of trusting God or an attack from the body? When a woman comes to you depressed and hopeless, will you counsel her to find joy in God or counsel her to purchase Prozac? Or both?

I am a part of the Biblical Counseling movement. I consider myself a part of this wave, and have bought into their philosophy hook, line and sinker. I have done so because I have been persuaded by the Scriptures. I have seen the fruitfulness of skilled counseling from the Bible and watched lives be transformed by the Spirit. Having confessed my allegiance, the question remains: What is this movement, and why should you be interested?

Essential to Biblical Counseling is the sufficiency of Scriptures. Biblical Counselors are fully confident that the 66 books of the Bible are enough to help people with their “problems in living”. The movement is for believers who take the Scriptures seriously and believe the inspired Word alone is sufficient to counsel any scenario related to life and godliness.

Let us be clear; we do not mean the Scriptures will suffice in the cheap pathetic way. It is not as if the Bible is all we have, so we are forced to call it sufficient. No. Biblical counseling teaches that the Scriptures are all we need for the most complex problems in life. It is because the Scriptures are gloriously sufficient to speak into our lives. 2 Peter 1:3-4 says,

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Peter tells us it is through God’s very great promises found in the Bible that people overcome sin and grow in holiness. Do not miss the sweeping ramifications of these verses. God has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. How has he done this? Through the knowledge of Him and by his promises.

If someone has a problem growing in godliness, the Scriptures sufficiently speak to it. If someone is trapped in habitual sin, the Bible adequately addresses it.

We should desire to be a Biblical Counselor because we believe the Apostle Peter when he says God’s promises are precious and very great. The counselor who believes in the sufficiency of Scripture believes the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul (Psalm 19:7). We hold high the invaluable words of God which are more precious than gold. We believe they are sweeter than honey and seek to skillfully administer them in the lives of others.

Another relevant verse for this discussion is 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Is there a good work that needs to be done by the believer? Paul says the Scriptures are sufficient for this. Follow the argument being made in these verses: The man of God may be complete because all Scripture is profitable. There is nothing lacking. The Scriptures do not come up short in counseling. The Biblical Counseling Movement is zealous for the God of the Bible who has infinite power and matchless wisdom.

Although I believe the Scripture is sufficient to counsel, I am confident this post is insufficient to answer every question. Let me choose one and then allow the reader to pursue more.

Is secular psychology worthless?

No. Secular Psychology has things to offer. There are observations psychologists have made that are good and true. They may label someone with a bipolar disorder because they have noticed they have had prolonged spiking mood swings, irritability, racing thoughts, insomnia, and agitation coupled with one or more massive episodes of depression. (see chapter two in Good Mood, Bad Mood by Charles Hodge) These observations and many alike may all be true. But knowledge of their research or the terminology they use is not necessary.

When counseling a woman concerned about self-image and eating struggles, it may be helpful to know only four percent of women globally think they are beautiful. I might be helped to read that “researchers have found that “fat talk”—a phenomena in which a person makes negative claims about their weight to others—is an expected norm among women and a way for them to appear more modest.” (See the post: 9 Things You Should Know About Female Body Issues from TGC)

All such statistics and observations may be true, but they are not necessary. We do not need to know hundreds of notes from thousands of counseling hours to be capable counselors. The man of God is not equipped for every good work by them.

The sufficiency of Scripture is of paramount importance for every Christian. There are questions that must be answered and how we answer them determines whether we are being faithful to God and His Bible. We will give an account for how we help those around us. If the Scriptures are sufficient to counsel, then we must dedicate our lives to this endeavor. The needs of many are complex, but they are not impossible. I am confident that if we drink from the deep well of the Bible, we will thirst no more.

I am a part of the Biblical Counseling movement because I have come to believe in the power of Christ who grants to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. I pray you will consider joining this movement.

The Hidden Sin

by Sean Perron
by Sean Perron

Christian leaders can sometimes seem perfect. With the use of social media and internet, a blog or video can go viral overnight. A large church with thousands of members can admire and love a preacher from afar. When we look at someone’s life from a distance, things can look rather picturesque. We can forget that they are human. We can forget that they struggle with sin. Upon closer examination we can see cracks, faults, chips, and scuffs.

How should we respond when a Christian leader is found having an affair? Or when a pastor has been embezzling the tithe? What if we are currently preparing to go into a public ministry? How can we avoid these things?

Exodus 4:21- 27 is an unusual text that we must pay attention to. God threatened to kill Moses’ son Gershom because he was not circumcised. Moses was leading with the staff of God yet did not even have the sign of the covenant on his son. Only a few knew about this hidden sin.

When we read this story about how God almost put Moses’ son to death, and then we read the story about where God did put his own Son to death – we realize that God is serious about every sin – even the most private sins – especially among the leaders of His people.

Listen to the full audio

Genesis: One Year Anniversary Poem

rainydaywithjenny

I have heard many couples express angst when they reflect on their first year of marriage. Conflicts, confusion and crying might take place during the first year, but I would never describe my experience this way. In fact, I will trumpet the opposite. I could not be more thrilled since our wedding day. Our marriage is not perfect, but it is full of pleasure. Our joy is rich in God and our hearts are filled with thankfulness. Each morning I awake with my best friend and each eve I kiss her goodnight. I get the privilege of seeking Christ with my precious bride. She has helped me live life in more ways than I imagined. Marriage has hindered nothing.

This anniversary poem attempts to weave events in our lives with the Scripture we have studied devotionally over the past year. I am only a poet by proxy because I am in love. Here is a toast to Jennifer, marriage, and the God of all grace.

A year has past, hard to believe

More memories than moments

My mind couldn’t conceive

How wonderful a year

It surely has been

Rolling and romping

With my best friend

Lilies and lilacs

Mixed in your hair

Holding you closely

Found in His care

Through the garden we ran

Clothed – naked – near

hand and hand

Nothing was mere

We climbed in our ark

Small, full and warm

Hot tea and lightening

Cuddled through storm

Not this year, but down the road

Abraham’s stars,

may become ours

Moving his sand

into our land

Fostering only for now

We hummed with the Sparrows

And researched our Pharaohs

Juggling a proverb here and there

Singing our Psalms, We frolic on

By faith, we embark on this year

What shall entail?

Starfish and pail

How will the wind

blow through our sail?

A year has past,

better we believe

More faith than before

Our minds couldn’t conceive

How wonderful a year

It surely has been

Serving,

Flourishing

With my best friend

God give us grace for more.

Photo from Perron Wedding by Jessica Rai Photography

Suicidal Gossip

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    by Sean Perron

  • I love him very much. I really respect him. But I’m very concerned about one of our pastors… He was seen at the church with a woman. I heard they were alone after hours for “counseling.”

  • I am really frustrated… I was not invited. They never invite me to anything anymore. I think it is because she was going too far with her boyfriend and didn’t like it when I called her out on it.

Gossip.

Perhaps you have heard conversations like these before, or perhaps you have been a part of them. Forbes magazine said the number one way to destroy a company was to let gossip run rampant. Gossip can divide families, cripple friendships, and split a church overnight. A reputation can be ruined in less than one minute. It only takes one domino to start a series of catastrophic conversations. It is a kudzu that spreads and covers it’s victims until it suffocates them. Gossip is like a cut left unattended which can slowly bleed the life out of someone.

Proverbs 18:7-8 says,

A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

What is gossip?

Gossip is talking about a person to someone who is not a part of the problem nor a part of the solution.

This is not a watertight definition, but I do believe it is helpful.

The Bible gives credence for confronting someone spreading gossip. This would be an example of talking to someone who is a part of the problem. But what do I mean by talking to someone who is a part of the solution? It can be helpful in some circumstances to seek outside help on an issue for the purpose of bringing peace. Matthew 18:15-20 would be a good example of two going to talk with someone who is in sin. I also see the Biblical possibility about seeking wisdom from a more mature Christian to give insight in a scenario (Matthew 18:21-22). This would be talking to someone who is a part of the solution and can be done in a way that maintains the honor of the person being discussed.

But my purpose here is not to define gossip and all its gritty facets. Instead, I want to quickly point out an effect of gossip that is often overlooked.

We all know that slander can destroy our neighbors, but we do not realize it destroys us.  Gossip ruins the gossiper.

Proverbs 18:7-8 says,

“A fool’s mouth is his ruin,

and his lips are a snare to his soul.”

A fool’s mouth is his ruin. It does not just say, “destroys his neighbor”. Rather, the Proverbs make it clear that gossip destroys the gossiper. Gossip does not merely scorch someone else, it burns us as well. The gossiper is like the arsonist who intentionally sets the forest on fire, but accidently sets ablaze every exit of the forest and finds himself trapped.

Gossip not only ruins the reputation of others, it ruins the reputation of the gossiper. The slanderer is someone working with a terrorist organization who does not know the slander has signed him up to be a suicide bomber. The gossiper is unaware that when he is detonating a bomb to destroy the reputation of others, that bomb is actually strapped to his back.

How can this be?  The moment we gossip, we destroy our reputation.  The moment we gossip is the moment we lose all credibility. The gossiper automatically deems himself untrustworthy.

Proverbs 25:9-10 says,

Argue your case with your neighbor himself,

  and do not reveal another’s secret,

lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

  and your ill repute have no end.

The New Living translation says “you will never regain your reputation.”

Think about it. You cannot trust someone who shares the secrets of others. The way they talk about others is the way they will talk about you. The moment you share someone else’s secret with someone, that person can no longer trust you with their secrets.

Rest assured, the fool who gossips and slanders, brings ruin upon himself. We have all done this. We have all hurt others with our words and wounded ourselves in the process. We need a Savior who can forgive us of sin and save us from its devastating effects.

This is adapted from the sermon “Gossip and the Gospel”

What Is Love?

by Sean Perron
by Sean Perron

Love is in the air – or is it?

There has been a lot of talk recently about what love is and who has been hindering it. Politicians are coming out about it and the courts are getting ready to come down on it. A recent tweet from the President reads, “Every American should be able to marry the person they love. #LoveIsLove”

This sounds like a good hashtag. It seems legitimate on one level. Who would dare hinder true love from being complete? Why would anyone stand in opposition to love? Wouldn’t it be hatred to oppose love?

The problem is that love is not up for a vote. Love is not play-doh to be smushed into any shape we want. Love cannot be determined by popular consensus, humanity, or any political party.

The problem with the “Love is love” motto is that it actually distorts love.

The good news is that we can define love. We can answer the question. There is hope in the world because love actually exists and is not up for debate. “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

God is love and he is the one who defines the term. We should also note that it is of paramount importance that we get love right. The one who does not love does not know God.

If God calls something evil, then it is unloving to support it. If God calls something good, then it is hatred to oppose it.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

God has called homosexuality a sin and his definition is not outdated. It is not the unpardonable sin, but it is nonetheless a sin. (Rom 1:24-27; 1 Tim 1:10) God has called marriage good and requires the marriage bed to remain undefiled. (Heb 13:4)  To place sin into the marriage bed is opposing the very author and definer of love Himself – God.

The stunning reality of this whole ordeal is that Love took on human flesh and died a brutal death for sinners. Jesus is the embodiment of love and he bore the wrath of God for anyone who would turn from their sin and believe in His name. Jesus is not afraid of any sin – including homosexuality. He took the terrible wrath of God full on when he died upon the tree. He rose victoriously from the grave to offer forgiveness to anyone who would turn from their sin and believe.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed,you were sanctified,you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

What is love? It is God extending mercy to anyone who will call upon his name. It is telling others about what God has done and what he says about the world. It is upholding truth, mercy, and justice in accordance with God’s Word.

What is hatred? It is distorting love and defining it however we feel. It is opposing truth, beauty, goodness, and God’s created order. It is rejecting the good news of Jesus for sinners.

If we become the arbiters of marital love, then we can make it into whatever we desire. We can “love” a man, woman, child, cat, or all of the above. The possibilities are only bound by our options.

But there is more at risk than crumbling our society. If we appoint ourselves as the captain of our own love boat, we will either shipwreck or remain drifting at sea. In the effort to obtain “love”, we will actually miss it. We will seek our own desires but never be satisfied.

The call of the hour is to lay down every sinful desire and run to the loving arms of God.