A few weeks ago, when I was last up here delivering a Message, we began to attempt to look past what our simple understanding of "What Sin Is," and we looked back to the Hebrew words for Sin, in order to gather a deeper understanding of the concepts, so that our "Theology," could align itself with The Word of God.
Just a quick recap:
1) Avon - Iniquity - Meaning - Evil Deeds outside of Covenant - Do what feels good.
2) Pesha - Transgression - Meaning - Within, but breaching Covenant - Disobedience
3) Chattah - Sin - Meaning - The general concept of "Failure" to God's will - (Imperfection)
We are going to continue on this journey of discovery again today, of "What is this nature that afflicts us?" Let's dig a little deeper.
It would appear that our general assumption of Sin has always been perceived as basic "Bad Behaviour." This is due to our Childhood rearing, when our parents would punish or chastise us, after we had done something "Wrong," and therefore we have simply associated this behavior with the greater concept of Sin.
Just as we have "Sinned" against our Earthly Parents, we had "Sinned" against our Heavenly Father.
Therefore, we have gone through life accepting this assumption without challenging the notion.
"Challenging the Notion is our Job!" That is what we are supposed to do.
I know that I continue to quote these verses, but I'll proclaim my mantra again:
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." II Timothy 2:15
This means that even though something is "True," we may not be understanding it in its "Truest" form... therefore examine it further.
and
"Let God be true, and every human being a liar." As it is written:
"So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge." Romans 3:4
This means that our assumptions are just that, but the fullness of Truth still lays with HaShem, therefore let's go to Him for the answers, and not lean upon our own understanding... "Look deeper!"
Challenge the Notion.
and prevail when you judge." Romans 3:4
This means that our assumptions are just that, but the fullness of Truth still lays with HaShem, therefore let's go to Him for the answers, and not lean upon our own understanding... "Look deeper!"
Challenge the Notion.
It is our duty to challenge the Tradition. Yes - Perhaps there are Traditions that are Righteous, and have been instituted for a reason. Let us Challenge those as well, to be sure that we are on the right path. If they should surpass the challenge of Scripture, then let them stand, otherwise it's Tradition for the sake of Tradition! This is a fundamental that Y'shua taught us, regarding the Halacha of the Pharisees, how much more should we challenge the Traditions of the our own theology?
When we simply accept the Tradition, without thought, there is no intimacy with HaShem. Our LORD YHVH, asks us to Challenge the Tradition, this is what draws us closer to Him, and away from Religion. Religion kills the soul. Relationship with Him, He whom created us, is where Everlasting Life comes from - Amen?
Therefore, let us too kick over the tables of Tradition and Transgression, and seek Him who will give us His Truth.
For too long we have listened to Theology, and now today Psychology, "The New Priesthood," which has slithered into the structure of the Church.
No ye not that, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places?" Ephesians 6:12
This is not simply a matter of brain chemistry. It is a matter of the manipulation of that chemistry, in order to reinforce "The Fortress of Sin."
This is not about behaviour at all. (THAT is a whole other conversation.) This is not even about "The Sub-conscious." This is about a Sub-Nature. This is about "What Lies Beneath." -- A place I call, "The Fortress of Sin."
I've entitled Today's Message "What Lies Beneath," because it is a play on words that depicts the nature of Sin. Sin is not the behaviour. Behaviour is the Manifestation of Sin. Sin is that which Lies Beneath. It lies beneath, because it cannot stand the light. It does not want to be exposed, because once it is exposed, then Change Must Truly begins. Sin wants to be left alone, to be Sin, but it has no qualms about pushing its will to the surface of our being, provoking the behaviour that we have assigned the misnomer -- Sin. The behavior is only the tip of the Iceberg. There's a lot more going on below the surface of our being - in the Spiritual Realm.
In the mean time we, here on the surface, our so-called "Conscious Self," runs around trying to defeat the Behaviour, all the while the root cause is untouched. Then we wonder why we continue to "Sin?" We continue to Sin, because we have not dealt with the problem, only the symptoms -- The Behaviour.
Have you ever noticed the picture of "Smokey the Bear?" Look what is in hand? Is that a fire hose, or a bucket of water, to put out the fire? No, it's a shovel? Why a Shovel to put out a fire? This is because the bigger problem in a forest fire, is not the fire that we see, but rather the fire that we do not see. Smokey carries a shovel to illustrate the weapon of choice for forest fire fighter. They dig down below the surface to the roots of the trees, because the fire can burn down into the roots, like a fuse, and when you think the job is done... POOF... It starts again.
For those of you who have been following the study in the Midrash with us... I think we just found another clue to why one of the definitions of the "Aleph-Tav" is a Shovel??? Perhaps this is to get to the root of the problem. Our LORD refers to Himself as the Alpha and Omega - The Aleph and Tav in Hebrew, and His Mission is to get to the root of our Sin. This is one of the definitions of the Hebrew letters "Aleph-Tav." (The First and the Last) ... I'm just saying... Perhaps another clue... Let's dig down deeper.
We know that we need to get to the root of the problem in order to truly address the Sin in our Lives, but for so many of us, the only reason that we even attempt to deal with the behaviour, is because we do not want to be judged by man. Should this be our motive?
Matthew Writes:
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
We know that the LORD sees the real us, even when our Conscious Self tries to deny who we truly are. Nevertheless, we fall upon this theological concept called "Grace," to get us through the day. We place all our Faith and Hope into this Theological Premise that we call "Grace," that allows us to even live with ourselves. It gets us through the day, but it doesn't deal with the issue.
It needs to be dealt with, so therefore grab your shovel.
Grace is not "Atonement," Grace is Time. Grace is opportunity, it is not the solution. Think of Grace like this:
If you were writing a test, and the Teacher declares "Time's up, put your pencils down," but you were not done. If you do not answer that final question, you will fail. Grace is that extension of time. It does not simply give you the answer, and pass the test for you, it only extents your Time, your opportunity, to Repent, and do that which you were supposed to have done all along.
This is Grace!
Grace is not a licence to Sin. How long have we lived, gambling with our lives, with very our souls, depending on this misconstrued theology that Grace is a free ticket to Heaven. Is this what the Word of God says? Perhaps this is why we find it difficult to resolve this theological dichotomy between "Law and Grace." We've misunderstood the purpose.
Grace is opportunity. Let's not waste it, or gamble it away. We must T'shuva - Repent and turn from our Sin. I'm not talking about our behaviour. I'm not talking about the outward expression of our heart, but what is truly in our heart -- What Lies Beneath?
My other mantra states;
"9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is desperately wicked--who can know it? " Jeremiah 17:9
This verse tells us that we lie to ourselves about who we truly are. If we are lying to ourselves, how can we know this? We fall victim to our own lies, and who can tell us different? Allow your heart to be challenged by The Word of God.
In fact, in this Week's Parasha, I found the foundation of Jeremiah's statement. Moshe teaches us within the Torah:
"I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." Deuteronomy 11:10
Therefore, let Him dig down to get to the roots, and remember this also;
"Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;" Deuteronomy 11:16
This is to say that we are our own worst enemy. If someone lies to us, we may instinctively challenge the notion, however, if we lie to ourselves, who will challenge this? We find ourselves deceived by our own heart, "Who can know this?"
This takes me back to the Title, "What Lies Beneath." Beneath the surface of our Ego, our Outer Self, there lays a filter attempting to sooth our Flesh into believing that we are "Good."
"I'm a Good person, I just do bad things, from time to time." Have you ever told yourself this?
I have.
Only one can make us righteous, and He is the reason that we are here today, at least He should be. We are here, because we desire... and we hunger and thirst for His Righteousness.
In the Message of Matthew, we find Y'shua addressing this very matter in Chapter 19:
16 Just then a man came up to Y'shua and asked, “Good Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life ?”
17 “Why do you call me good?” Y'shua replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Notice how He replies with "Life," rather than the term "Eternal Life" ... Keep this in thought. I'll continue...
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Y'shua replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbor as yourself."
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
I'll pause for a moment; If he had done all this... "Good Behaviour," ... "Fulfilled the Law," Then why does he acknowledge that he is still lacking... There IS something beneath, and he knew it. There IS more to our Nature!
I'll continue in verse 21:
21 Y'shua answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Y'shua said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Y'shua looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:16-26
These were two completely different conversations happening at once. Meaning that the so-called "Rich Young Ruler," and Y'shua, although speaking to each other, we're perceiving the conversation on completely different levels of understanding.
The Young man was looking for the recipe. "Give me the formula, and I'll make it happen." He was wealthy... "If it's a matter of money?" -- It wasn't. Even when Y'shua explained what he needed to do, he perceived that it was about the giving up the wealth. This was not about the wealth. It was what the wealth was doing to him. The wealth empowered that filter, that sooths the soul, but does not cure it. Y'shua was trying to get him to understand that it was not about the behaviour, or about the fulfilment of the Law, but rather it was about that intimacy with HaShem.
And by the way, Intimacy with HaShem is not Lawlessness. Yeshua made it clear;
"If you Love Me, keep my Commandments." John 14:15
Intimacy with HaShem gives you a desire to Fulfill the Law, but within your heart, and not by the Flesh. This is the difference. We are only free from the condemnation of the Law, but not from the Law itself.
The Law of God is Everlasting. It still stands today. Don't let me try to convince you, read it for yourself, and do not allow Theology to define God's Word for you. What does it say?
Haverim, there is no formula. Take it from me, one who has searched for it, his entire life. The only answer, although I always knew it, or at least spoke of it, is a personal relationship with Him -- Covenant. I thought that I understood this, but I, like the Rich Young Ruler, was only hearing the conversation from my own understanding. We need to listen - What we really need is to SHEMA - "Hear to understand, and do that which our heart instructs us to."
In fact, that is the problem. We are doing what our heart tells us, right now, and this is why we behave in the way that Sin compels us to do. We are listening to our hearts. The problem is that this is where our sickness lies. It lies beneath the surface, and defines who we truly are. This is why we do what we do, and yet live in denial of our actions, because we sooth the soul with words of comfort - and we call THIS "Grace."
Grace is opportunity. It is not the solution.
The only comfort that this gives us is that we settle within our Sin Nature, and become accustomed to it. This is a dangerous place to be. Therefore, by Grace, take opportunity to recognise this and turn to the one who called us out of Hell.
Yes, you heard me correct... "Called us out of Hell."
Have you not realized yet...? We are already dead. This thing we call "Life" is only the foyer at Heaven's door. It is our opportunity - A 2nd Chance - "Grace," to be reconcile with Him. When we were cast out of the Garden, we were exiled to this place. This is the very place that we are trying to avoid, and for some reason, we are so attached to it. Talk about psychology. Our Brains have caused us to think that this event is "Life." This is not Life - because there is death here. Life was always meant to be "Everlasting."
This is why He said;
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.' Genesis 2:17
Our Mind says, "But we didn't die," and our Theology says that this was metaphoric, "They died, in a way..."
The Truth is that God was not lying. We did die, and fell to this illusion that we call "Life." This is only an opportunity - A Chance - it's Grace - to go home again.
God is saying one thing, and we are perceiving something else.
This is a completely different conversation!
Life is everlasting. If we can die, than we are already dead. This is why our Master spoke those words;“Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:22
We are having a completely different conversation. We are so carnally minded, we perceive that this is the actual "Life." This is not Life, but an opportunity to receive Life. We are already dead, but we have Grace - an Opportunity to escape Hell. This is not about a choice of Heaven or Hell, we have already made that choice. This is why we are here. This is about taking the opportunity that we have been given, taking that Grace by the hand, and following Him out of here. This is only about going home. We can't stay in the foyer forever...
This is why the Hebrew uses the word "Aliyah," - "Ascend" - "To Rise from this existence," into Eternal Life - The Real Life. This is nothing. This is just the test. We are so attached to this life, and our minds are so deceived that we belief in this, as though this was it, and "Heaven" is just the next place -- Vain imagination.
It's not just the next place,... It is The Place. It is our Home, and we have been given Grace, Opportunity, to Ascend from here as He has come to make a way. This is the Gospel. This is the whole Message - Stop being so attached to this world! It is nothing, but a test! Do you really want to go home?
Haverim, the Evil one has deceived you to believe that this is something. "I will give you all this, if you will just bow down and worship me." Give us WHAT? 100% of Nothing is still Nothing!!! This is not the Kingdom, this is not the World, this is not the Life. This is just the test. "Sin" is that Failure of the test -- Chattah.
This is why Y'shua declares:
"I am the way and the truth and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
and when talking to Pontius Pilate, why do you think that Y'shua declared;
“My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36
If we are focused on the symptoms, then we will never find the cure. The Problem is what Lies Beneath.
When we decide to follow Y'shua, we must learn to think in His language. Meaning, that we must be in the same conversation. We must be on the same frequency, or we will find ourselves doing this in His Name, and that, in His Name, but never having communion with Him. This is what the word "Shema" means - to be on the same page. Even within the "V'Ahav'ta" portion of the Shema, it explains how we can be on that frequency:
* And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
* And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart.
* And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall speak of them
* when you sit at home, and when you walk along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.
* And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
* And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9
"OK - So There's the Formula! All I need to do is say the Shema, and do this, and I'm SAVED, RIGHT?!"
That's how some perceive the Shema - AGAIN - That's a completely different conversation. YHVH is saying, "Come (Koh), here's my hand. Follow me, out of here." This is the Relationship we will have together. "I want to be with you, and you with me, every moment." This is the premise of The Shema - "Come, have a Relationship with me. Not only when you 'feel' like it, but all the time."
"When you lie down, and when you rise up."5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Y'shua, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10
Walking in darkness is not simply walking in iniquity... We can still appear to live a Righteous Life, all the while, walk in darkness. Darkness is that filter that lies to us, telling us that we are "OK," when we are far from it. The LORD declares, "Come to Me. Let's deal with it."
You think that these are hard words? Look what He says in John 3:
"20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:20-21
This means that it is better to see and accept your "Sin," so that you may deal with it. The longer you hide from it, or hid it, the longer it will plague you. It will not simply go away, and all your attempts at "Living Righteously," will come to "Chattah" - Failure - "Sin," because your behaviour is not the problem. It's your heart. The Light of HaShem must shine in, as much as your pride and ego hate the idea of it, this is the only cure to rid yourself of this affliction called "Sin."
I'm not saying right here, right now, run around confessing your specific sins, for all to see. I, as does the LORD, recognise your need for dignity. Just acknowledge your sin, and the process will begin.
James taught us;
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16
With this, I will give a disclaimer: As we have all Sinned, be aware of whom you confess your Sins to, because some may suffer of a judgemental spirit, and are unable to react with grace. You need to talk to someone who understands this affliction, and can help you work through it. Accountability is paramount, but you need to be healed of whatever it is, and the last thing you need is someone judging you, just when you are attempting to begin this journey of T'shuva and Recovery.
And... If someone judges you, forgive them. I know, an ironic paradox. "Don't Judge the Judgmental Person." The truth is that, just as you suffer from some form of affliction, obviously, so do they. Give the same Grace that you are expecting. This is all the LORD asks of us.
All the same, do not leave it to fester. I have made this mistake within my own life. I have had, and I am still working through afflictions. I'm sorry if that comes as a shock to you. I hate to break the news, but I am not perfect. I know... Take a moment to deal with it, and let's move on.
I am human too! Perhaps this begs the question; If you suffer from things, then why are you up there teaching us? I am here because if we all needed to be perfect to be up here, then we would all be sitting down there, looking at an empty pulpit, wondering what to do next.
Therefore, until He who is perfect comes, and makes us all perfect, I'll stand up here and talk about my problems... or yours... Whose next?
Y'shua, speaking to Peter said,
31 “Shimon, Shimon, HaSatan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Shimon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
Therefore Peter wrote in his first epistle:
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Messiah, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10
Therefore, here I am proclaiming - He will restore us. We just need to let Him do His Work.
He WILL restore us, therefore Get up! Keep going! Trust Him! We will get there. Just do not let the enemy trick you into believing that you have failed for good. We have all failed, but the difference is that we know that, as long as their is breath in us, that we have Grace, and we can get back up and try again. His Grace is sufficient for us to overcome any affliction that the Accuser of the Brethren may hold up against us.
This is why John writes in Revelation:
"21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
In spite of my trials, I am up here to tell you, keep fighting. This is why I am up here. He can win this, and if we are on the same frequency, we already know that ... He already has.
It is written in Revelation:
"... the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world" Revelation 13:8
Before we had even Sinned, He had already made a way.
This is just a test. Let us look forward to Jerusalem and Haba O'lam. "The Peace that YHVH will provide in The World to Come." This is The Life!
At the beginning of the week, when I was not sure on what I should speak about within this Message, I asked the LORD for direction, but I did not receive anything specific at first, and so I waited in Faith, knowing that He has always provided. Then, as I was checking my Facebook, I noticed a post, posted by a member of our congregation asking a very provocative question. The question was "will homosexuals be sent to hell?" Little did I know that this post would be the provocation of the Message today.
Oh - I knew the easy answer... I know the cliche, but there was more to the question.
There are Churches and Teachers and Pastors within Churches that teach to the contrary to our Traditional understanding on this matter. The question between the lines, was more so, "Why do they teach this?"
Therefore, I began to ponder the idea all day. I already knew the answer, because The Word of God says so, but I felt that my response was simply based on a surface understanding, rather than the Greater Truth of it.
I wrote:
"The Problem isn't HOW to answer the question, but the question itself."
It is my understanding that this would be an example of that "Completely different Conversation" situation.
In light of what we have just looked into, "What Lies Beneath," we can gain some insight when looking at this matter.
Let me explain:
Our understanding is that we can not be saved by The Law. This means that our Righteous Acts cannot inevitably "Save" us, or in other words, "Good Deeds," is not where our Righteousness comes from. Therefore, if our Behavior cannot save us, then How can it "Damn" us?
This would be a paradox of simple logic. If our actions are simply the manifestation or expression of our heart, then our Behaviour is not the problem.
It is our understanding that our Salvation comes from Faith -- Faith in Him who is Righteous, and has become our Righteousness. Therefore, we place our Trust (Emunah) in Him, and we live out our lives to the best of our ability - "With All our Heart, All our Soul, and All our Might."
Therefore again, simple logic would dictate that, if we continue in this "Sinful Nature," then this is derived from a deeper lack of Faith -- Something our Conscious Mind cannot even perceive. The issue is deeper down within us.
That being said, if our deeds are the outward expression of our Heart, then it is that which is within us that motivates us to do Evil, and that motivation demonstrates the position of our "Faith." If our actions are based upon a sub-nature that denies our Faith in Him, whom can save us, then it is THIS that damns us. The outward action that we "call" Sin, is not the problem, but rather the motivation beneath the surface that gives us the order to action, is the True Problem.
Again, the problem isn't with the answer, but with the question.
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of YHVH Yeshua HaMashiach and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:7-11
Paul is not referring to the action alone, but the very inward nature that motivates this outward behaviour.
This means that a "homosexual," is one who accepts this identity to represent their inward belief and structure of Faith, or lack thereof, much in the same way, such titles like; "Whore-mongers," "Drunkards," "Liars," and "Adulterers," identify those who express this within their Life, regardless if they want to be labelled by this or not. There is a difference between someone that identifies with the persona of being continually involved in this "life-style," and one who has committed the act.
If someone has ever driven a Tractor, this doesn't make them a "Farmer." A Farmer is one who is identified by their occupation, or actions. Meaning that the actions "Become," who they are. Now, if you live on a Farm, but call it an "Office Tower," while you Milk Cows, and raise Chickens, but would rather be referred to as "A Wall Street Executive," doesn't change the fact that you are a "Farmer." Give up the Farm, move to New York, and get an Executive Position on Wall Street, if you want to be taken seriously. This is what a lot of us suffer with, the delusion that we are not what we are, because we don't want to see ourselves as being such. Eventually we have to face the facts and allow the LORD to Change us, to become that "New Creation." Otherwise, we are just fooling ourselves into believing that we are something that we are not, or that we are not something that we are.
One can be afflicted by "The Spirit," or "The Nature," of this sin, but if they acknowledge it as such, and depend upon God for deliverance, then it is by the same Faith that all of us are delivered from all our sins, that brings THEM to Salvation. If they are made imperfect by sin, just as we are made imperfect by sin, then what difference does it make of the calibre of "Sin?"
Sin is Sin!
Now, you can argue the fact that the word of God calls it an "Abomination" -- Yes it does. Does this make is a "Worse Sin?" Yes - Abomination, does have a stronger connotation to it. What makes it "worse," is that by "Common Natural Standards," this would appear "not natural." Therefore, one must go (Out of their Way) against the grain of nature, in order to commit this act. This is not a simple "Oops," but rather a direct defiance of nature itself - Nature being the "Law of Nature."
Nevertheless, Sin is Sin, and therefore by the same Grace given to all of us, for the purpose of repentance, so do such receive Grace to repent. All the while, "Grace" is not a shield to defend the Transgression, in order to call it, "Not a Transgression." It is a Transgression, according to the Word of God, if you are in Covenant with Him. If you are not in Covenant with Him, then it is simply "Iniquity," and the Word of God is of no affect unto you, who do not accept this as "Truth."
Therefore anyone outside of Covenant is simply a "Sinner," and needs to be "Saved" (Brought into Covenant). However, if you are so-called "In Covenant," but you Transgress the Law, and justify it through contortions of Theology, then you have a problem. This is a direct and deliberate paradox.
To conclude: Should "A Pastor" teach that there is nothing wrong with this, and it is not a "Sin?" If this were so, they would be sorely mistaken, and out of touch with reality, or at best very unlearned of God's Word.
If someone wants to justify their behaviour by going as far as to proclaim that there is nothing wrong with this, then that is their prerogative, based upon their "Philosophical View." From a "Worldly" or "Non-Torah" perspective - You say Tomato, I say Tomato" -- It's all about "Opinions." Some like Pepsi, some like Coke. We have Liberals and Conservatives, and we live in a "Free Country," therefore, "Go Choose." I can't argue with how others perceive "morality." I am not their judge.
However, if you claim to be in Covenant with Messiah, and propagate this view, when it is in direct opposition to God's Word, then as a brother in Covenant, it is my job to say otherwise. It is the LORD's job to chastise and correct. This is why we are to examine ourselves to see if we are still within The Faith.
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Messiah Y'shua is in you —unless, of course, you fail the test?" II Corinthians 13:5
Therefore, "Is is right for Pastors to teach that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality?" No - There is nothing wrong with teaching that. However, if they proclaim to be in Covenant with Messiah, and stand upon the Word of God, and also teach that, then there is something VERY wrong with that, because that would make them a Liar. Then the problem is not with them, as much is it is with those who do not challenge the notion, and simply follow their teaching.
"Will homosexuals be sent to hell?" The answer is that anyone that is not in Covenant with Messiah is already destined for such damnation, regardless of their Sin, homosexual or promiscuous heterosexual, or just in breach of God's Law in general. This is the point!
The problem is with the question. The real question should be, "Who will overcome and escape Hell?"
It's all in how we look at it. If two of us jumped out of a plane with parachutes, and one pulled the cord, and the other simply did not, was hitting the ground, "punishment" or just the consequences of our actions, or lack thereof. I say, "Pull the cord." - "Turn to Messiah." - "Repent and be Healed."
Haverim, we need to seriously evaluate how we perceive and understand things, and especially our Theology. We need to look beyond the surface of our actions, and dig down deeper to find the source of our problems.
We can declare the Sinner's Prayer, and call out to the LORD;
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me," but we must be willing to see our true selves, What lies beneath, and be prepared to deal with it.
It's not easy, and it may take time to get to that point, but let me assure you that, it will not just "Go Away." Use His Grace wisely, and ask Him to Work it out with you.
Therefore, Grab your Shovels, and let's pray:
