Evident Church

Should Same-Sex Unions Be Recognized in the Church? Rick Kirby Christianity.com Contributing Writer 2020 Jul 21 Save You might think that with killer germs, racial tensions, church and school closures—and political wars captivating public attention—other hot topic issues that truly demand a biblical response from the church might have been placed on the back burner. But you’d be wrong. Even with many churches shutting their doors and scrambling to find their equilibrium in this chaotic age, there are some battles that persist. The issue of homosexuality in the church is just such an issue. Even as I prepared to start writing this article,  the Supreme Court ruled in  Bostock v. Clayton County   that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Though none of the employers named in the  Bostock  cases were religious organizati...

What Do I Say When a Friend Comes Out as Gay? Hope Bolinger Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer 2020 21 Feb COMMENTS 9 Whether a close friend, family member, or coworker reveals that they are somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, Christians often can be at a loss on how to react.  The Christian church itself is split on the issue as to whether living an  LGBTQ+ lifestyle is a sin . And those who do believe it’s a sin may have varying reactions if a brother or sister in Christ claims to be LGBTQ+ and may act or not act upon their attraction to someone of the same sex. Furthermore, how do we draw a distinction in how to react to a believer who comes out as LGBTQ+ and a nonbeliever? Or should we make a distinction at all? I can’t claim to have the answers for  your  specific case involving a friend confiding in you that they are LGBTQ+. But I can–from personal experience and from Scripture–share a way to react well to when someone “comes out,” showing them...

Why Did God Destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? Their Story of Sin in the Bible Christianity.com Editorial Staff 2019 18 Jul The  Bible  Story of Sodom and Gomorrah The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is a cautionary tale of the destructive consequences of sin. Sodom and Gomorrah were cities mentioned in Genesis, notorious for their flagrant sin.  Genesis 18:20-21  states, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” When Abraham learned of God’s plan to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, he asked God if He will spare them if He can find fifty innocent, godly people. God reassures Abraham that if He finds fifty righteous people, he will spare the city for their sake. Moses then asks about a lesser and lesser number until down to ten people as God answers, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it” ( Genesi...

LGBTQ "I will accept all people in the LGBTQ community, or that are LGBTQ. However, accepting does not mean I will endorse or enable their lifestyle. I believe that marriage is to be between a man and a woman per God's design. I will not waiver from that. However, just because you may be LGBTQ does not in anyway devalue you. You are a person with value, gifts, and talents. Created by the same God that made me. He loves you just as He loves me. Sin entered the world and man/wo man have perverted God's design in many ways. But no sin, wrongdoing, is any worse or better than any other. Sin, wrongdoing, going against God's design, is sin. Murder, lying, hate, bigotry, sexual perversion, etc., are all sin in God's eye. And there are no varying degrees with God, they all are wrong, sin. I can say, I know, even I have sinned today. Hence, (because God loves us so much) Jesus Christ came into the world and bore all our sin, wrongdoing, for us -undeserved grace and merc...