The LGBT+ and the progressive church in the context of inclusivity and acceptance define ‘affirming’ as ‘to agree and support same-sex behaviour.’

I have yet to find that definition in the Bible. However, Isaiah 5:20 declares a warning to those who call evil good and good evil.

How does the Bible define love?  Does love always require approval?

I hear this argument regularly, that if God is a loving God, I can love who I choose after all love is love.

My main discourse is this, ‘What does love mean’, and who gets to define love?  I believe Jesus is Lord and as such determines the standards.

A broken and lost world shouldn’t define biblical love. It's like asking a blind person for directions (no offence intended to the visually impaired).

To understand the true and biblical definition of love we look to God’s Word.  The definitive, legitimate, moral standard.

As believers – Christians - true followers of Christ we want to follow God’s commands that say, ‘Love your neighbour...(Matt 22:37-39).

The apparent confusion lies in what it means to love.  Do we get to self-interrupt and define love based on feelings, relationships, or culture?  Or is there a biblical standard, created by a moral God for us to follow?

Despite the clarity of Scripture some churches - Christians-whether by ignorance or flat-out rejection believe loving your neighbour supersedes God’s other commandments.  That is a mistake.  Genuine love in its truest form is not lived out by approving everything someone wants to do.  As a parent, we don’t approve of everything our children ask for, because love protects.’  That means standing in the way of things that are going to harm them.  We create a safe space to communicate and provide a welcoming posture not to affirm.

Love for our neighbours cannot ignore or reject God’s moral commands.  The opposite is true, genuine love obeys God’s commands (John 14:15). 2 John 1:6 says, ‘And this is love:  that we walk in obedience to his commands.

’1 John 5:2 states, ‘This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.’ Loving our neighbours starts with loving God and obeying his commands.

Knowing the importance of obeying God’s commands. Do we then affirm and celebrate what the world does? Clearly, the answer is no. Despite the hostility, we chose to love God and obey his commands.

Love does not delight in evil (or wrongdoing) but rejoices with the truth (1 Cor. 13:6). We love our neighbours by keeping God’s commands not rejecting them. We speak the truth in love.

Love that affirms and celebrates sin is not genuine, it's a forgery. To affirm is to violate God’s word.

Love doesn’t compromise truth but rather helps others live in harmony with God, by speaking the truth in love.

The way we discover what genuine love looks like is not to embrace contemporary culture or affirm and celebrate what makes people feel good but by clinging to God and his commands.

Embracing biblical truths is not easy...will it cause conflicts with family, friends and church members...yes. Will you be labelled, cancelled, called intolerant and dismissed...yes.However, God’s commands should always be the standard.

The Bible defines love.

Pride and love cannot co-exist. Love is calling someone out of their sin so they can live in righteousness and truth. My hope is that all people will repent and follow Jesus.

Why Christmas?

Definition: Christmas is an annual sacred Christian holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.

I was visiting a nursing home recently and the workers were busy decorating for Christmas, and this sign was prominent in the lobby, ‘Christmas the most wonderful time of the year’

For the non-going church person, what does that mean? In a world full of conflicts, pain, war, and suffering, is it the most wonderful time of the year, if it is…what makes it so?

I believe Christmas has nothing to do with traditions, goodwill towards each other, the giving and receiving of gifts, and the warm fuzzies from seeing brightly decorated houses, not the singing of Christmas hymns and carols. I do not deny that those are all good healthy things.

The answer however is in Luke 2:10 -11, a Saviour has been born.  This is good news of great joy, salvation is here. The light of the world is here. That is Christmas.

The coming of Jesus shows that God is faithful.

In celebrating Christmas, we celebrate the Saviour. We celebrate Jesus, as Matthew 1:22 puts it ‘…because he will save his people from their sins.’

Why Christmas?  It was Christmas when Jesus came to save us from our hopeless situation…good news of great joy!

We are merry because it’s Christmas!

Why Christianity?

Here is a question, ‘why Christianity’ with so many other religions out there what makes Christianity unique and distinct?

Christianity is not about a system, an organization or intellectual awareness. It's about a person and your relationship with that person.

Christianity is more about a relationship and less about religious practices. Other religions emphasize a list of do's and don’ts, a way to secure favour with God. If you do enough right/good things, you will be blessed and highly favoured.

Not so with Christianity, it's about cultivating and fostering an ongoing relationship with Creator God. And that relationship was made possible by the work of Jesus Christ, his death on the cross and his resurrection.

Here are three essentials of the Christian faith, there are more but for the sake of space and time, I will emphasize the three I believe hit home.

We are justified by grace, through faith by way of Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). It's not about faith plus works.  Christ did all the work on the cross, we simply accept Him. I am a Christian because I accept by faith that Christ died on the cross for my sins.

The resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). God provided the solution for sin. He provided a way (Jesus) and offered him to anyone who would receive.

Third, we serve One God (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 4:6) Christianity is believing there is One God. God sent himself through Christ to die on the cross as payment for our sin and rose again. No other religion can make that claim.

God made a way. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life: No one comes to the Father except through me.”

In summary, Christianity is about freedom. Freedom from our sinful nature and freedom to pursue a meaningful relationship with the One true God.

Why Christianity? Well, it is believing that Christ died on the cross for our sin and rose again. That is grace through faith. As Christians that is the message of hope we proclaim.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ, I urge you to make that decision today!

 From the Pastor’s Desk

Why Easter?

 Easter is held on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox…still with me?

As determined by the western churches on the Gregorian calendar and the Orthodox churches on the Julian calendar, it shouldn’t be this complicated.

But is that why we celebrate Easter because the Gregorian and Julian calendars say so?

You will not find the word ’Easter’ in the Bible. However, 1 Corinthians 5:7 provides a hint to the significance.

So, the word Easter doesn’t appear in the Bible but trust me when I tell you it’s more than a date on the calendar.

Could it be that Easter represents hope, demonstrated in the greatest act of love?

Is it possible that the basis for Easter is grounded in the historical fact Jesus died on Good Friday for us  (all humanity), and was resurrected on Easter Sunday, conquering sin and death (1 Peter 1:3)?  With this eternal hope, whoever follows him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).

Easter gives us the space to reflect. Taking the time to rid ourselves of distractions, with the hopes of igniting a spiritual hunger.

The Christian faith celebrates Easter because we recognize the opportunity afforded us to surrender our sinful ways and be resurrected into a new life with Christ.

We now have confidence that we will experience eternal joy one day with God in heaven.

So, my advice, pay little attention to Easter candy, egg hunts and the Easter bunny…sorry Easter bunny.

Instead, this Easter reflect and meditate on the price Jesus paid for you…hope eternal.

Let me submit, Easter is not just a weekend – it’s a way of life.

• My thoughts

From PT’s desk

Lent: What is it?

Lent is the period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, duration of 40 days. It’s 46 days if you include Sundays. We just need to sort out the math issue here. The idea is to replicate Jesus’ 40 days in the desert.

This is not a practice that Baptists traditionally embrace. For the record, I’m a Baptist minister.   Lent is primarily observed by Roman Catholics, United, Anglicans and other Orthodox denominations.  A high degree of importance and symbolism makes this observance meaningful. 

Lent is seen as the season of reflection, preparation, and self-discipline.

The participants decide what they want to give up, such as caffeine, a particular food, a bad habit, etc.

This is not a slight against my friends who observe Lent, there are elements of this practice we would do well to consider.

My experience is this, some believe denying yourself certain things for Lent is a way to attain God’s blessing. The Bible teaches that grace cannot be earned, grace is a gift from God.

Giving up things that are a potential barrier between us and God is an excellent idea. God is pleased when we repent of our sinful habits and seek Him, desperately.

There is nothing wrong with setting aside time to reflect, repent and focus on the saving act of Jesus, his death and resurrection.

Let me add, repentance of our sin is something we ought to do every day of the year, not just the 40 or 46 days leading up to Easter.

My thoughts

PT