Megachurch issues part 1

I am still reading articles about the impact of Ted Haggard's admission of sexual immorality, and had to make a few comments about it. So, rather than make this one long post, I will address it in segments. In this segment, I want to address the issue of the members. Yahoo! has an article out right now that asks what happens to the members of the fellowship once a pastor falls from grace? Well, if the members are following man rather than God, they will leave. My concern is whether the members of any congregation understand that they do not go to church, they are the church. Unfortunately, we have divided ourselves into so many different groups that we have forgotten that there is only one church, and Christ Jesus is the head of that church. Since Jesus built the church, God can set us as members wherever He feels that we will be best fitted. Yet so many of us decide that we will attend a fellowship because we like the music, the pastor, or any other reason besides submitting to God and being set in a fellowship that He feels is best for us. This is why the true church struggles. We have thousands of people attending megachurches that do not even belong there, so God's will cannot be accomplished because people are not in their right place. We must understand that as one body, we have created this situation. How do we begin to correct it? Go to the Lord, and find out where He desires for us to be set, and begin carrying out our assignment at that fellowship.

Do I really have a testimony?

Today, I wrote a devotional that really hit me hard. I have posted it below. By the way, if you are interested in receiving any of these devotionals, please contact me at rofremos@yahoo.com, and I will add you to the list.

Rev. 1:9 (KJV) I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The word “testimony” in Greek is marturia, which comes from the root word martus, or, translated into English, is martyr. What is a martyr? One definition is “a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.” Another is “a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle or cause.” A testimony, then, is not what the Lord has done for me; rather, a testimony is what have I suffered for the Lord. If I have not suffered, I have no testimony. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” Have I learned to suffer gracefully for Jesus? Once I have learned to endure suffering for the cause of Christ, I have a testimony.

Fuming about marriage

Now, I know that this post will probably not be read by many, but I must say this. I am tired of our society trying to redefine words to conform to certain agendas. I refuse to call a union of two people of the same gender marriage. Why? For starters, let us look at the definition of marriage. According to one definition at dictionary.com, marriage is:

"the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc." So, by definition, a marriage must have a male and a female.

But Ron, can't two people of the same gender live together and love each other as in a traditional marriage?" Well, let's look at another definition of marriage at the same site:

"a relationship in which two people have pledged themselves to each other in the manner of a husband and wife, without legal sanction: trial marriage; homosexual marriage." That should settle it, right? Well, not quite. Look at the operative words in this definition - "in the manner of a husband and a wife." So, by the very definition, there must be a male and a female role.

But, let's get away from the human aspect of marriage for a moment, and look at a more general definition of marriage.

"a blending or matching of different elements or components." So, what is the point? A marriage can only occur when you are combining different elements. So, a male and a female can marry, but a male and a male cannot.

Why am I writing all of this? Because I cannot control what two males or two females desire to do. However, I cannot just idly sit by and watch how our governments are trying to destroy a Godly institution by changing its very definition. A marriage is a type and shadow of our relationship to Christ. It is the first institution seen in the Bible. It is the way of replenishing the earth. If you agree with me, please let me know. Marriage should not be a political tool subject to the whims of the masses of people or the desires of a few in legislature.