Is God anti-gay?

I don't usually do book reviews here, but I just read this little book and thought it worth sharing.

The title, "Is God anti-gay? And other questions about homosexuality, the Bible and same-sex attraction," is as straightforward as the book. It's only 83 pages and small, so the author, Sam Allberry, doesn't waste any time.

As a Christian struggling with same-sex attraction, the author points the reader to the grace of God. He doesn't waste time with stories or drama. "This is what the Bible says; read it for yourself" is the tone of the book.

He explains clearly the few references in the Bible to homosexuality as well as God's purposes for marriage and sex. Unashamedly, he concludes that homosexuality is not part of God's plan. It is a sin for which there is grace, love and forgiveness - just like for every sin. Repentance and faith are needed for those struggling with same-sex attraction, just like for those struggling with adultery, greed and gluttony.

The author also provides practical help for dealing with those who admit to their homosexual behavior:

What do you do if a co-worker confides in you that he is gay?

How should you react if a gay couple showed up for church on Sunday?

What if someone in your Sunday School class told you that he's more attracted to men than to women?

The author's answer is the same as the Bible's answer: point them to the cross.

Show them that their identity is not in their sexuality, but in Christ.

Love them more than their homosexual friends love them.

Love them more than they love their homosexuality.

This is a book that every pastor should read. It's a book that he should be bold enough to read with his deacons. Youth workers should read this. Parents should read this. Teens should read this.

It's only 83 pages long.

But it might help you to point someone to the cross.

A Heart of Integrity

God told Solomon:

"As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and in what is right..." (1 Kings 9:4a).

Wait! Wasn't David the king who committed adultery and murder?

What's this "heart of integrity and in what is right?"

That's usually what we think about David. How can God say that David walked with a heart of integrity when he committed those awful sins?

I wonder if it's an attempt to maximize the sins of David to make our sins look not so bad. We try to rationalize that our sins aren't so bad.

"God said that David walked with a heart of integrity, and I'm certainly not THAT bad!"

The heart of integrity is not seen in David's sin, but in David's response to the sin.

After committing the sins, he was in physical, emotional and spiritual anguish (Psalm 32).

When Nathan confronted David, the king's response revealed his heart of integrity (Psalm 51).

David confessed, repented and lived with the consequences.

Two lessons to learn:

1. We look at the sin and condemn. God looks at our response to the sin. David responded like God desired. He didn't remain in the sin, but chose to return to God and godly living.
2. God can use us, even when we fall into sin. It's not the end of life and ministry. We have to choose to get out of the pit of sin like David: confession and repentance.

Will God look at your life and say that you walked with a heart of integrity and in what is right?

4 4 3 2 - That's the formula for me and you!

Anyone remember that song? We learned it in elementary school in the 70's.

Is it coming back to you?

The song taught us nutrition. I think it was 4 servings of grains and cereals, 4 servings of vegetables or fruits, 3 servings of dairy and 2 servings of meat. That's what we were to eat each day.

The USDA has a different system of teaching us now. It has evolved from a pyramid to a plate. Fruits and vegetables fill up half the plate. The other half with proteins and grains.

Of course, you've got to go organic. No GMO - genetically manipulated organisms. Red meat only once or twice a week. Dark green leafy vegetables are better than the white starchy ones. Vegan. Vegetarian.

Those foods may be good for you, but it's interesting that we spend so much time, energy and money on food and nutrition. Even for those who aren't on a diet, food is a frequent topic of conversation.

We do need to take care of the bodies that God has given to us. We need to be healthy and strong for as long as possible so that we can use the resource of our body to honor God and serve others.

I'm all for a healthy diet and exercise program.

But it's not really all that important.

Jesus said, "There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him" (Mk 7:15).

He explained it to His disciples this way, "Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled? ... What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person" (vs 18-23).

Jesus is not advocating a fast-food diet, because it doesn't matter what we eat.

Jesus is saying that what goes into your body is not as important as what comes out. What comes out reveals what is in your heart, your inner being, your soul. What you say, think and do reveals who you really are.

And if we honestly look at what comes out in our words, thoughts and actions, we would agree that we're pretty filthy.

So how can we change that?

Just like your physical body can be changed by what you eat and how you exercise, so can your inner man be changed by what you feed it and how you exercise it.

"How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to Your word."
(Psa 119:9)

Feed yourself on God's Word. Use God's Word as the filter for the decisions you make. Think through the principles of God's Word.

"Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stands in the way of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And on His law he meditates day and night."
(Psalm 1:1-2).

Guard your companions - real and virtual. Talk show hosts, screenwriters and actors, and anchormen on TV influence you as much as the guys drinking coffee together every afternoon. The videos you watch on YouTube. Your Facebook friends. The tweets you follow. All those will influence your heart.

So how can you change what comes out of your heart?

Change what goes into your heart.