It's funny that kreggles would leave his eprop today. I hadn't read it before posting this. And by the way: Kreggles, who the heck are ya?

Since July, whenever I last posted, I have been reading everything that John Rumple has posted. I remember saying that if Rumple could show where Scripture condoned homosexuality, I would change my views of the issue. After reading his devotions and other comments on other various sites, this is the conclusion I have reached: Rumple is wrong. In fact, he is a false teacher. He has taken stories from the Bible that have nothing to do with the issue of homosexuality and perversely twisted them to fit his beliefs. In essence, he has eisegeted irrelevant passages of the Bible. In his own personal comments, he has more or less refuted the authority of Scripture and its identity a revelation of God. He has stated in a roundabout way that God is found in one's experiences and not in Scripture.

2 Peter 2 soundly condemns anyone who would distort the truth, turn the innocents away, and leave the path of holiness. They are called false teachers. Peter states that they turn to physical desires and lusts and pollute the way of truth. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus says that it would be better for a man to undergo the horror of brutally drowning himself than the fate of leading a "little one" to sin.

I hate to be the hellfire and brimstone boy, but this is the path that John Rumple is heading down. I pray for his repentance and for it to come quickly.

Currently Listening Away From The Sun By 3 Doors Down Away From the Sun see related

IN THE FACE OF CONTROVERSY Response to John Rumple's Coming Out Announcement

(Disclaimer) To begin with, I need to start by saying that I do not condone homosexuality. In fact, I believe that the Bible defines it as a moral sin. I cannot currently accept anything but that.

I still remember the first time I met a homosexual person face-to-face. His name was Clifford, but everyone called him Johnny. He was a server at the restraunt where  I worked. In fact, he trained me, and he was one the best servers I've ever known. I thought he was "different" (for lack of a better word), but brushed the thought aside for fear of judging before I knew anything. He did not claim a religious affiliation of any kind. Johnny originally didn't want to tell me. Guess why. He knew about me. I was a Christian who was studying a Bible College. So when I saw the wedding ring on his hand, I asked how long he had been married, only to have him tell me that he wasn't married and didn't want to talk about it. I asked if he was separated. "No, someone here will surely tell you about it. I don't want to tell you because I know who you are and what you are studying."

Johnny proceeded to tell me that he was gay and had been with his partner for five years. He also proudly added that the duration of his relationship had been longer that most Christian marriages he was aware of (which was and is painfully true). He finished with a sentence that I will never forget: "I didn't tell you I was gay because I know who you are I didn't feel like hearing it."

I was stunned. Didn't feel like hearing it? I was being stereotyped! I was hurt and offended. It took the literal Strength of God for me to say, "You obviously know my position or you wouldn't have hesitated to tell me. I'm comfortable enough to respect you even though I disagree with your lifestyle. Friends?"

You know what happened? Johnny, my wife Tiffany (at the time she was my fiancee), and I became decent friends. I met Johnny's partner when I went to their home with Tiffany for a civilized, wonderful dinner party. (Tiff and I didn't drink or do anything that would damage our reputation or the reputation Johnson Bible College. Don't worry.) We asked Johnny questions about being gay, often getting quite personal. And he asked us questions about Christianity, often getting personal as well.

One day, Johnny made another statement that I will never forget: "Matt, you and Tiffany are weird. I have never met Christians who acted like you. I have never actually considered Christianity before I met you."

I'm tearing up as I'm writing because I love Johnny and his partner very much. If they are ever able to find Christ because of my wife or myself, then I believe that my life as a Christian has purpose. But why am I writing this? Because I want your props? No. Don't take this the wrong way, but if you aren't my God or my wife, then I really don't care what you think. Because I want to provide sympathy for the gay community? Wrong again. The postmodern mindset of our world does that job just fine. Then why did I tell the story about Johnny? Without trying to exhibit the self-righteous attitude of many of the Christians I'm aware of, it's because I believe that I responded the way Jesus would have responded.

"Jesus would have never condoned such a lifestyle! How can you?" This will probably be the response of many Christians. I agree with the first sentence. He would have called the sinner out. Examples of this include the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultry, and sympathetic thief. Granted, in some of the examples, the sin was not directly called out by Christ, but He was aware of it and acknowledged it. But what did He do in these three examples?

Woman at the Well: Extended the Living Water to her and the man she was living with. (I believe that He knew the woman was living with her boyfriend and intended for him to be brought in the invitation when He requested her husband.)

Woman Caught in Adultry: Ran off her accusers and gave her a second chance although He knew she had sinned against God in her actions.

Thief: Presented the man with salvation as the thief was dying for the sins Christ was atoning.

I've always been especially impressed with His reply in the story of the adulterous woman. "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." (John 8:7 NKJV) Despite this saying, I see several stones on the Facebook of John Rumple. I see people condemning and (whether they mean to or not) hating John because of his actions. Don't get me wrong: I believe his actions were Scripturally wrong. But I think some the comments aimed toward him (which I have been guilty of before in this case quite recently with this situation and with those situations involving homosexuals before I met Johnny) are the farthest thing from the Christlike response. Here is one of the few responses I actually found to be Christlike:

Still haven't figured out how to get music on here. I'm not sure how to find a site that has the music I want. If anyone wants to help, I want "Thy Mercy" by Caedmon's Call from their "In the Company of Angels:A Call to Worship" CD. Also, Zachatello...Who are you? I'm pretty sure you're a JBC student, but I can't figure out which one. Are you no longer a student? Anyway, just curious.

Tiffany and I will do something tomorrow that we haven't done for a long time: Go on an all-day date. Being married has actually produced a decrease in our dating. Before, going out was when we saw each other. Now, waking up, going to sleep, and the day in between is when we see each other. So sometimes we think "Why go out? We can spend time here!" But we need some "out" time. We are going to Dollywood in the morning until it gets warm and then we are retreating to Tanger Outlets for shopping. (That's right. A guy wanting to shop. My lady's lucky.) Now that my head is the size of a small country, I'll call it quits for this addition of...this.

I am such a horrible Xanga-poster. I know. I just don't feel like anyone ever reads this stuff so why post? I've gotten a couple comments, though. So maybe I'll post more.

I am struggling with whatever it is that God is trying to teach me right now. I have so many people (Christians and unbelievers) at work asking me questions about what I believe and giving lackluster answers for what they believe. They're the type of answers that say, "I don't care, just as long as I don't offend anybody." Don't get me wrong: I believe that all people should be treated with fairness and respect and that the type of people Jesus would hang out with were the homosexuals, convicted sex offenders, and mothers of aborted babies. That seems like a vulgar way of putting it, but He wasn't hanging out with the "A" list types. But, He also clearly identified sin when He saw it. I just wish that people would stand for something. These people have been this way since I met them, and I don't know why I'm so bothered by it all of a sudden.

In other news, Tiffany and I got some yard work done! We have a flower garden in front of our house and some more flowers behind our house. We also laid some stone for a little extension off to the side of our porch and put up some lawn furniture so we can sit outside on the nice evenings. I still have some work to do on the stone, but everything looks nice.

I leave in a little over a week to speak at a 4th-6th grade summer week of camp. I found out a little while ago that I will also be leading worship. I'm expecting a good time, but I hope that I can focus on the task of teaching these children about Christ.

Well, friends, I'll talk to you later!