My Dear Co-Workers in
the Gospel and whoever else who may see this article on line,
As you no doubt know we
are currently in a same sex marriage debate and postal survey in Australia and
almost every time you turn on the television you will hear about this debate.
God designed the
rainbow and it is an incredibly beautiful sign. Something we can look at with
awe and remember that it signifies the promise God made to mankind that He will
never again destroy every living being through a world flood as He did in the
days on Noah. If you would like to read about this event please look at Genesis
chapter 6 through chapter 9 with particular reference to the creation of the
rainbows in Genesis 9:8-17 and the purpose of this beautiful sign.
God created marriage
also which is even more beautiful than a rainbow (in my opinion). We
can read completely how God created a man from dust and then a woman from the
man’s rib which would complete him and give him joy and fulfillment in more ways
than one. To be his companion and partner as he passed through life. I have
been married for 33 years and for most of that time Deb’s and my marriage has
been utterly beautiful. As we continue to experience our God designed marriage,
we stand in awe at this creation of God. God created marriage to be between a
man and a woman. This is not negotiable and can be plainly understood as we read
through the early chapters of Genesis. It is not God’s plan that 2 men or 2
women use His invention of marriage as it was not designed for them. Marriage is
sacred and is an ordinance for only 2 people of opposite sex. Just like the
rainbow, marriage is God’s design and it is beautiful.
So we have a beautiful
rainbow that has been hijacked to the extent that it signifies today to most
people something totally different than God intended and something that God opposes.
And now, during these
very days, some in Australia are trying to change God’s marriage design as well.
I will be voting NO
without doubt as I do not want to and will not go against God’s plan.
I believe that Satan
hates the rainbow, marriage and all of God’s promises and will continue to try
to destroy all of them, right up until the day that our Lord Jesus returns to
get those that have been saved through His giving of His life on the cross as
payment for our sin. I will not agree!
So in short – Vote
NO.
As for how we personally
look on homosexuals: Well they are people the same as we are and God loves them
as much as He does me and He desires a relationship totally as much with them
as He does with me. They can come to God through Christ just like I did some 35
years ago.
Just last month we invited
a homosexual man to have lunch with us and we enjoy his company. We have shared
God’s word with many homosexual people and have seen some get saved by placing
their trust in Jesus. We have also seen homosexual people change their
practices as they have matured in Christ, and they have married people of a different
gender to themselves and have had children. In one of our outreaches in the
mountains, 2 homosexual men who are living with each other are currently
listening to God’s Word after many, many years of being together. We will see
what God’s powerful Spirit will do in their lives if they are saved.
So we are not
homophobic nor do we hate homosexual people – quite the opposite. We do want
what God wants though and we will strive for it – even though we fall short at
times ourselves in different areas and fail and can even be hypocritical.
There is so, so much
more that could be said but it has already been said and you have heard it
already. My encouragement is that we just look to God’s word when we make this
vote.
If you disagree with me
– please do it quietly as I am not writing this article to get into a debate or
hurt anybody or to cause conflict. But we live in a democracy and I don’t agree
with gagging people through anger and vilification when they do not agree with
Same Sex Marriage that is contrary to God’s design.
Heaps of Love to you
(even if you disagree with me)
Paul
PS ---- this is a
circular letter that has been written by Paul Howells and is not aimed at any
individual in particular.
