Black Men Revealed

TV One has this show called "Black Men Revealed" and I must admit, I was inclined to watch just because of it's title. There was an episode "Why he won't go to church." They were discussing several things, but most notable to me was on sin and homosexuality. One guy, Reynard Williams, a poet (on the show "Zo - Independent Thinker" said he doesn't "blame" homosexuals, he blamed God saying "Why would God create homosexuals to be persecuted?" I thought this guy, even though he had some good questions, has not received sound teaching of the bible. So he asked another guy (Tre) if the bible said gay people go to hell. Tre didn't know scripture, so he stumbled and Zo called him a "neophyte" and talked over him. I like watching a good debate, and this was very interesting to say the least.

My understanding is that God did not create homosexuality, but it is of the enemy (Satan), just like any other sin of the flesh (Galatians 5:19)"…Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like…" Alot of people seem to construe "God is the creator of all things" means that God does everything, including September 11th attacks, the situation in Darfur, Hurricane Katrina, and so on. My thoughts on this are that by "creation" God created the POSSIBLITY, or maybe a better term - the LAW making it possible for these things and under this law is how God and all other things work or exist. So bad things happen, but usually it's because of bad things people do/did. I view homosexuality as a cause, not an effect.

I also beleive things are related, but in much greater sense than most people realize. So something bad could happen to you because of something somebody else did. That's why you should pray, asking God to cover you and keep you from hurt, harm and danger....cause you have no idea where trouble may come from. My understanding is that yes God created all things, but MOST, not ALL bad things that happen to man have to do with God's grace being taken away. By this I mean God doesn't do them, but rather God and His grace PREVENTS bad things from happening to us. I beleive God is the author and finisher, the alpha and the omega. I beleive God has a plan for each and every one of us, and it is up to us to find out what it is and live that life. But I digress.

I beleive that bad things happen to either point us in the right direction (according to his plan) or as punishment for sin. Now before you say I'm double-talking, I'll break it down like this. The enemy (Satan) is the "accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10). Think of it like court, where God is the judge and Satan is the lawyer representing the prosecution, and Jesus is representing you the defendant. The enemy is accusing you of not living up to God's Word (the bible), tattling all the questionable things you do in life....fornication, cutting somebody off in traffic, lying on your job application, etc. "See God, they did this and they did that, so let me get them." Jesus (if you're trying to live right) will speak on your behalf "Father, true they did do those things, but later they prayed and asked for forgiveness."

On the other hand, if you're not living right, and not trying to get better, Jesus has nothing to say and after a while, God will allow the enemy to have his way. To put this in context, Prophetess Juanita Bynum said that the September 11th attacks in New York (from a spiritual context) was allowed because of the legitimized corruption, gay pride marches and general lack of morality that was taking place in the city (and the country) prior to then. I agree with her. Did God "do it" no, did God ALLOW it to happen, yes. Those planes could have easily missed the WTC buildings and landed in the water. I'm not talking in a tactical perspective, I talking about spirit or soul. Remember that court scenario? Well the reason its a courtroom is because the final judgement will be for your soul, and whether you go to heaven or hell. But unlike man's court, God knows your heart, and no amount of money can buy you points in the eyes of God. Do you ever wonder why sometimes things "almost" happen like car accidents or falling down or miracle surgery, etc? God's grace covers us, in ways we cannot know or understand - if we obey His laws (the bible) God is infinite.

So, back to the original comment about God creating homosexuals. I don't beleive God "created" homosexuals, no more than God "created" AIDS. God created (hu)man, and man chose to do (bad) things on his own. It is a choice. It might not "feel" right, but neither does getting a job paying $6/hr if you're selling drugs making $500/week. Nobody's perfect. It's not like you're "damned forever" if you do bad things, but the important thing is that you develop a desire to change your heart. Thats why prayer is important. Your individual relationship with God. I beleive "church" should be for teaching (about God's word) and service (to the community), it should not be your primary or sole relationship with God because sometimes PEOPLE in church are corrupt, and if they act up people blame God. God didn't steal your money or sleep with this member or drive that Mercedes. Thats all man. Man will always "sin and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) But if you don't know God for yourself, you'll believe anybody that looks like/sounds like a "preacher." holding God in contempt for man's actions, and holding up the blessings in store for you.