Pastor Worley from South Carolina made some extremely harsh and NON-BIBLICAL statements from his pulpit regarding homosexuals recently.
I pray for his soul and his life and his congregation.
Yes, the bible says homosexual-ITY is a sin.
But no where does it say that "homosexuals should be put behind an electric fence until they die out." And, there is absolutely NO context that this can be taken out of. I saw the tape - he meant what he said.
Pastor Worley says, he "loves" homosexuals - but this is neither a loving statement, nor a Godly one.
The Word of God says we ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of the Lord (Romans 3:23)
In my bible and my dictionary and in my own mind and opinion, ALL means... ALL - nothing is excluded. That means me, Pastor Worley all his church, and mine, every homosexual and every individual - all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of the Lord. But some of us are now saved from sin and dead to our sins.
And, not only have we all sinned, but we are all born into iniquity. So, if homosexuals say they are "born that way," then I can give them partial credit on that statement. We all have a sin or iniquity that we are born into. Fortunately for Pastor Worley, stupidity is not considered a sin. But, he does have other issues - spiritual ones - which are just as serious an offense to God as the act of homosexuality.
Pastors are held to a higher standard and responsibility for what they teach their congregations.
Pastors are responsible for the very souls of their members.
Pastors who create a stumbling stone for those who are following them have a great judgement in store.
Pastors are called by God to be under-shepherds: earthly examples of our holy Shepherd, Jesus.
We are to follow our pastors as they follow Christ. But I am sure Jesus would NOT lead his followers down the path Pastor Worley is leading his members who support him.
Adultery is a sin too. So how did Jesus deal with the adulterous women?
He saved her from certain death (being stoned then and there) and said, "I condemn you not. Go and sin no more." He did not consign, sentance or condemn her to death behind an electrified fence.
John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the world (that means everyone in the world, whether they will believe in Him or not) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (this means anyone and everyone no matter what their sin) should believe on Him (and ONLY believe), would have everlasting Life.
BUT John 3:17 says, "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world (so is that what we have Pastor Worley for? Is he greater than Jesus that he exercises this right when Jesus does not?); BUT that the world, through Him might be saved.
Homosexuals who believe in Jesus are saved and have everlasting Life.
Homosexuals who believe in Jesus and still practice homosexual-ITY do not believe homosexuality is a sin and therefore do not receive their salvation FROM this sin.
Homosexuals practising homosexuality who do not receive salvation from the sin of homosexuality are not saved from this sin. Homosexuals not saved from their sin will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let me break it down in the most basic format possible: SIN is separation from God. Anything that is NOT of (our righteous) God is SIN. There for SINS are the (unrighteous) acts that keep us in SIN and eternally separated from God.
God is Life. Only God can give Eternal Life.
Anything that is not life is death. The opposite of eternal life is eternal death.
Hence, sin = death.
However, under the New (and better) Covenant we have no right to judge, condemn or stone any sinner. Not even Jesus has that right. God is the only Judge. Jesus is our Defender. Satan is our accuser - "the accuser of the Brethren" (Revelation 12:10) Therefore, anyone speaking condemning (condemning a death sentence of) accusations against others - no matter what their sins are - is speaking on behalf of the enemy and not the Lord.
Pastor Worley is not speaking in love or of the Lord - for God is Love (1 John 4:8) And for this I pray for him. I pray that God would have mercy on him. I pray that the Holy Ghost would convict his heart for his words - that he would repent and lead his congregation on the paths of righteousness.
And I pray, that all homosexuals (and terrorists, adulterers, fornicators and all other sinners like I used to be) would confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead so that they would be saved. (Romans 10:9)
I'll leave it to God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost to deal with homosexual-ITY. They are far better equipped than me, Pastor Worley or anyone else here on this earth.
Power, Love & Peace Ya'll -
Min. Deidre Campbell-Jones
