August 18, 1996
Posted, July 11, 1998
Not long ago, Diana Vice contacted me about doing a regular feature for the Family Times; she even wanted a picture. I sent a picture, and have sent her several articles, but I do not know if she has used them or not.
I was listening to the talk show that comes on after Rush Limbaugh on WASK the other day, and they were discussing whether or not it was OK to have a JUICE BAR in the old location where DONIVAN'S REEF used to be in Lafayette.
The host of the show continually made the point that what is done in private does not affect anyone but the ones doing the private actions. So I put together the following to be published in the Family Times. I do not know if it was or not.
AND SO THE DEBATE CONTINUES
Does private morality affects public policy?
Does it matter what private individuals do as long as it does not harm others?
THE WORD OF GOD
1. Ps 119:142 & John 17:17
Christians know there is only one standard of truth, and that standard is not "family values:" thy law-word is truth. Either we argue from the source of TRUTH, thy word, or we have no argument.
2. Ps 2:3,
I have been in the ministry long enough to realize that most people do not want to be bound by the bands and cords of God's Word.
Jud 17:6 (21:25) In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
People who do not want to be bound by God's Word will mock and ridicule any firm standard that hinders their own desires, whether it is God's Word or public law.
I also realizes the even many professed "Christians" do not want to be bound by God's law, so they claim the Old Testament is not for today: THEY SAY THAT DURING THIS PRESENT "dispensation" of grace, mankind is left without law.
3. Both Christ and the Apostle Paul pointed out that God's Truth makes people mad.
Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
The truth from God's Word makes even Christians, many times, angry, so people would rather argue from FAMILY VALUES, rather than from God's Word. Family Values is a nice vague term, offensive to no one, not even to the Sodomite "Families."
Does private morality affect public policy?
ADAM AND EVE Gen 3:17-19.
Every one knows the story of Adam and Eve, which is why the evolutionists are so hostile against God's Word: If creation is true, and it is, then every person will answer to his or her Creator.
Clearly, Adam's private, personal, individual disobedience to God's Word when no one was around except his wife affected everyone:
A) the resulting thorns and thistles grow on everyone's property
B) "In the sweat of thy face" means that man's efforts from the time of Adam would be resisted by the ground (the objects of his efforts), e.g., no matter how hard he might try or how good his motives, he at times fails
C) Rom 5:12-21
1 Cor 15:20-22 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Heb 9:27 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Death entered in by one man's sin, and continues to all men.
However, life entered in by one Man's obedience, and is available to all who will come to Christ.
Because one man's sin -- committed when no one else was around except one woman -- has effected all the world, then One Man's obedience effects everyone who will come to Him.
Those who might claim that Old Testament law no longer applies will have a problem with Adam, for the laws put into force when Adam committed his private disobedience to God's Word, now control all mankind everywhere
We cannot be free from the overall effects of private sins without denying the overall effects of Christ's obedience to the Father.
SOWING-REAPING Rom 2:1-10
(Gal 6:7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.)
We cannot ignore God's law of sowing and reaping
Mat 7:15-20
How foolish to think one can sow thorns and thistles and reap grapes and figs.
The Lord gave the thorns and thistels law in His warning against false teachers.
Eph 5:1-6 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
The Lord continually warns man to not listen to the deceiving words of those who desire no standard.
Jude 1:17-19 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
We have been warned that there would come mockers in the last time: These are people who desire to do their own thing, and fulfill their own ungodly lusts. God did not place the warnings in His Word just to fill space.
God places His warnings everywhere: Though a person sows privately to the wind, the result is a public whirlwind,
Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
In fact, we must say that the very unsettled weather of the last several years is part of the whirlwind promised by God in Hosea 8:7, as people pursue their own lusts behind closed doors.
We are told by the Lord that the results of private sins are first of all felt in the home, Zech 5:1-4.
Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. [the all present Word of God.] 2 And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. 3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: [no one can avoid it, for it is sent by God over the face of the whole earth.] for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. 4 I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
According to Lev 18:19ff.; 20:22ff. [compare v. 26 with 1 Pe 15, 16] 26:27ff.; Deut 28 (vv. 15ff.), &c. the results of private sins overtake society .
Does private morality affect public policy?
The natural man, who wants to be able to pursue the lust that binds him, answers, NO! In his mind, nothing is happening to him or her at that moment, so he or she is not affecting anyone but his or her self.
However, man is clearly warned against judging according to outward appearances: Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (Jn 7:24). We who judge according to the TRUTH know that beyond any question, private morality affects public policy:
Good personal actions have good public results
corrupt, lustful personal actions have destructive public results.
Not only will private evil have public results, but private indifference by God's people to their responsibilities will have public results.
1) indifference to God and His Word will have public results.
2) indifference to God's service will have public results.
3) indifference to Godly commitments will have public results.
4) indifference to Godly social responsibilities will have public results.
Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom 3:4)
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Only in Christ is there freedom from the lusts that bind in private.
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