The fact that modern Christianity has tolerated and even condoned conduct that is directly in opposition to God’s Word was addressed in Part One, of “Standing Upon the Word of God or Not.” If this commentary is offensive to some readers, perhaps those readers need to examine our society today in light of what the Bible says. It is time that all who call themselves “Christian” to do a “gut-check” or a heart-examination. This commentary, though it may seem harsh, is meant to be: thought-provoking so that we may all examine ourselves and to what or to whom our allegiance lies.
Today, our land is being filled with the blood of innocent babies, spilled not on the altars of Cronus/Molech, but in butcher shops run by men like Kermit Gosnell, the executioner who murdered the unwanted and illegitimately conceived babies of self-serving Americans. As was stated previously, the beginning of idolatry is pride (or self-esteem), which together with selfishness demonstrates preference for “self” instead of God and neighbor (and unwanted babies).
Just as no violation of the Law can occur without one first being an idolater, envy/covetousness and murder are its final results. For where ‘self’ is primary then “self” deserves everything it can get, no matter the cost to other people. Envy/covetousness will even drive men so far as to conceptualize the murder of God (theocide) as exemplified by Hegel, Marx, Nietszche, Teihard de Chardin and Alice Baily.
In, Death by Envy, Fr. George A. Aquaro points out that Christ’s earthly ministry centered on convicting the world of idolatry by provoking people to envy, then murder (represented by the Pharisees). By becoming the Scapegoat, Jesus Christ allows mankind to place their sins upon Him so that they might repent at the sight of His blood.
AMERICA’S FRIENDSHIP WITH INIQUITY
The Ordinances of the Amorites:
“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16).
God told Abraham that his descendants were going to leave the land of Canaan for 400 years because the iniquity of the people living in the land was not complete. There is a process for a society to be taken over by iniquity. In the case of the Canaanites, God gave these people 400 years to stop iniquity. God knew that after 400 years the iniquity of the people would reach its peak. The people would not turn from sin, but they would completely embrace it.
When studying Genesis 15:16 there is a key word in this verse. It is the Hebrew word translated full. This word is directly connected with the idea of friendly or friendship. The concept of this word is that when a society is friendly with iniquity at that point it is subject to judgment from God. Iniquity is no longer shameful or disgraceful. It is not hidden or done in the dark. The people are “friendly” with it. They are accustomed to it.
In Genesis 15:16, the Bible does not define iniquity: it simply states that there is a time for it to mature in a society and become full. After the 400 years, the Jews left Egypt and came back to the land of Canaan. Today that land is called Israel. At this time, the Bible identifies what is iniquity.
In Leviticus 18, God warned Israel not to follow the ordinances of the Canaanites that lived in the land. The Canaanites and Amorites blended into one people. Therefore, it is also the ordinances of the Amorites that are mentioned in Genesis 15:16.
“After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan , whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances” (Leviticus 18:3).
In the above verse, the key word is “ordinances.” This Hebrew word means an enactment and is also translated custom, manner, and statute. By using the word ordinance the Bible is describing a society that is “friendly” with iniquity. Iniquity had become ingrained in the Canaanites, by both customs and laws, which made it a way of life. For this reason, God was about to judge the Canaanites and drive them off the land. The judgment comes because iniquity is made an ordinance of the society and not because individuals are committing iniquity. When society makes iniquity an ordinance, this is serious with God.
Later in chapter 18, the Bible defines iniquity. It includes such acts as: adultery, child sacrifice, homosexuality and bestiality. Homosexuality is singled out from this group and described as an abomination. Without any doubt, God strongly condemns the homosexual act as iniquity. There is no section in the Old Testament where God approves or condones homosexuality. The homosexual act is a very serious offense to God.
Homosexuality is linked with child sacrifice and bestiality. The Scriptures to address this follow from Leviticus 18:
“Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her. And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind, it is an abomination.
Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled; that the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even their souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 18:20-30).
The United States of America is now enacting both, by custom and by law, the Ordinances of the Amorites; therefore, the nation is defiled before the Holy God of Israel and faces His judgment. By promoting homosexuality, America has become like the Amorites/Canaanites.
America promotes homosexuality by custom with events such as Gay Pride Day, Gay Awareness Month (June), Gay days at Disneyland, Gay Day at sporting events and events like Southern Decadence in New Orleans. There are gay clubs in high schools and colleges. The political parties are pandering to the homosexuals for their votes (and yes, the Republican Party is guilty of this). By custom, homosexuality has been woven into the fabric of America. America is continually making ordinances to advance the homosexual agenda. Sodomites can legally marry in California and Massachusetts while many states recognize civil unions. Homosexuals are now able to adopt children and gain custody of children during a divorce.
There are numerous “hate speech” laws, which are now being used to silence opposition to the homosexual agenda. Most “Christians” sit silently by and allow these abominations to be committed against the very God they claim to know. America is a long way down the road to enacting all of the ordinances of the Amorites and because of this, America will be judged in the very same manner in which God judged that society.
GOD JUDGES THE ORDINANCES
The Bible warns of God judging a nation that walks in these ordinances. When the corporate attitude of a nation is friendly toward homosexuality, then at this point the iniquity is full. It is apparent “the cup” of America’s sin is rapidly filling up. Americans hardly blush anymore at fornication and adultery. The nation kills over one million babies a year with over 50 million killed since 1973. The legalizing of abortion is an additional ordinance of the Amorites. Homosexuality is fast becoming a “Constitutional right.” The only ordinance left to fulfill Leviticus 18 for America is: bestiality. This is, most likely, next in line to become an ordinance!
THE FAITHFUL REMNANT
“Nothing sharpens sight like envy.” (Thomas Fuller, British clergyman and writer, 1608-1661)
“Pride is seldom delicate, it will please itself with very mean advantages; and envy feels not its own happiness, but when it may be compared with the misery of others.” (Samuel Johnson, British poet, critic, writer, 1709-1784)
God intends us, as believers, to be separate, not a part of this world. Our lives should reflect Christ, not the things of this world. This means we should never tolerate evil! As Christians, we must remember above all that God is holy. God cannot and will not nor will He ever tolerate sin. God will not tolerate evil. Nor will He tolerate evil men. Therefore, we are instructed to hate evil.
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way and the forward mouth do hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength” (Proverbs 8:13-14).
Christians should know that lying, deceitfulness, theft, jealousy, adultery, and other sins of the flesh are all sin. They are also evil. What of adultery? What of homosexuality? “Tolerating” other religions – such as Islam? Some self-professing Christians as well as their churches are teaching that we should be tolerant. They are saying that the Bible is outdated and that homosexuality is okay. They are saying that Christians who do not tolerate these things are “haters,” or are intolerant. When did God tell them that He had changed His words, His commandments and His teachings?
WHERE DID GOD SAY WE SHOULD EVER TOLERATE THAT WHICH IS NOT OF HIM?
That which is not of Him, is evil. It is time for those who believe in Jesus Christ to stand up and do what we are told to do. Those who believe that He is the Messiah, that He is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again; who is now sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for us; who will return again. Those who choose/have chosen to follow in His path – His teachings, abandoning the things of this world, living and serving Him, this is what Christians ARE to do. It doesn’t matter if a preacher or a church or a denomination teaches or says differently. There are those who are not teaching God’s Word. They will have to answer to God Almighty for that.
Individually, we are responsible for knowing right from wrong, for discerning truth from a lie, to know evil from good. Why is it that so many Christians are “pro-choice,” and believe we should tolerate sin? They are straddling the fence between Jesus Christ and the world. They are only fooling themselves.
Those who stood/stand silent as attitudes, behavior, and laws are changed to cater to carnality will shoulder the blame for why our society is decaying before our very eyes.
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:12-17).
Sources:
Fr. George A. Aquaro, Death by Envy, p. 101