Tim Wagner

It’s not that I am commenting
It’s not that I am commenting to disagree with you but rather to give those that read this post something to think about. Knowing the Word of God correctly is important but not nearly as important as sharing it correctly with others. God cursed the Serpent in the Garden for deceiving Eve but He didn’t curse the man and woman. He cursed Cain also for deceiving himself and immortalized Able for listening to God.

From the beginning to the end, God curses those that deceive or pervert His Word. Jesus’ only point of attack was with those that mislead, deceived and perverted the truth of His Word.

His Word is about love but not the false love(s) of this world. The writer here makes this about worldly love and yet the Bible makes it very clear that this type of love leads to a separation from the Father.

God doesn’t have to curse those that love the things of this world, be they straight or homosexual love, because we curse ourselves as Cain did because he didn’t listen to God when He said “if you do well will you not be accepted?” We cannot be perfect because we all have in dwelling sin and God makes this clear when He said “if you do well…” When we deceive others we are not only not “doing well” we are acting in like manner as the serpent, Cain and oh so many others throughout the pages of the Bible.

We all deal with sin and for the non-believer in Jesus it is viewed the same to God. For those that claim a belief in Jesus we CANNOT continue in any sin be it lying, stealing, lust or homosexuality. We MUST “put off” the deceitful ways of this world and “put on” Christ-likeness which I would content that this post DOES NOT do.

It encourages people to continue in a worldly love that strictly violates God’s Word and yes I would be saying the same thing if it were a heterosexual based post.

God also said to Cain that sin is crouching at the door and we must master it. So is the case for those claiming Christ but living a homosexual life!

Veritas vos liberabit

WOW. A lot of things telling
WOW. A lot of things telling us what to believe without any evidence behind them. Look at how many times he talks about what the Bible supposedly says. And look at how many times he actually quotes it(He quotes it ZERO times). But let’s go through it point by point and unlike Mr. Sandlin I will use the Word of God in my argument, and not just expect you to take my word for it.

1. Condone violence toward people who are LGBT.
– This is actually correct and should be preached. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians he didn’t tell them to stone the homosexuals there, but told them(the homosexuals) to repent.
-1 Corinthians 6:9-11

2. Be against same-sex marriage.
First off a bit of logic here. He asserts that because there are polygamists that are blessed in the Bible then that mean polygamy is right(keep in mind that you believe him then you’re believing in a supporter of polygamy, unless that is of course he’s lying). God blesses many people and all people are sinners. God blessed David who not only was a polygamist but an adulterer and a murderer, God blessed Jacob even though he stole from his brother. Just because God blesses these people doesn’t mean what they did is justified, but rather what they did was forgiven. Also fun note you’ll probably have a hard time finding a Biblical figure that’s life is followed for a long time whose family didn’t suffer from his polygamy. Mosses lost a wife and a son, as did David(all his wives). Lastly his mention of the man’s wife being given in marriage to his brothers is said in ignorance of the past. In those days if a woman wasn’t a virgin and wasn’t married no one would take her in and there was very little hope of her remarrying. This was done to insure her original husband’s legacy lived on and that she was well taken care of. This practice is however just a product of that age and is not an absolute moral to be carried throughout all ages and all peoples. Also if polygamy was God’s original plan for humanity then why only one Adam and one Eve? It’s simple it wasn’t. It was apart of a culture and age that went against God’s plans time and time again. God’s plan has always been one man and one woman. “Jesus told them, The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. ” -Luke 20:34-35(HCSB)
-Rom 3:9-20
-Luke 20:27-40

3. Discriminate against LGBT folk.
I don’t know which case Mr. Sandlin is referring to in this part of the article perhaps he could do with a little less vagueness and a little more facts, but then this article probably wouldn’t exist then would it.

It is correct that Christians shouldn’t discriminate against others because of their sins because we were once lost in sin. However I think Mr. Sandlin means something else here, something more specific. I just don’t know what it is because like the rest of the article, this section is devoid of facts and information.

Vagueness Mr. Sandlin doesn’t make you correct, it just means that you think your readers are stupid and easy to manipulate. And that they don’t need facts to believe you.

-“Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17
-1 Timothy 3:2

4. Say the Bible/God hates gay people.
“You’ve seen the signs, “God hates homos.” Here’s the thing: the Bible never says that. As a matter of fact, it literally couldn’t.

The modern-day concept of “homosexual” is exactly that: modern day. Our understanding of two people of the same sex in a committed relationship was not something the biblical text ever addressed because it wasn’t a concept they understood or thought about. Not only that, the very few times the Bible mentions anything even mildly related to same-sex relationships, it doesn’t say what most Christians seem to think it says.

No, really.”

I had to post the whole section this time because it changes topics midway through. At first it’s as the title suggest you shouldn’t say “Say the Bible/God hates gay people.” but then it turns into saying that the Bible isn’t against homosexual relationships. The former is true God doesn’t hate those practicing homosexuality but He loves them and wants them to repent. The later however is blantantaly false to anyone who has even a inkling of understanding of the subject. Here are some verses about God’s view of homosexual actions.
-1 Corinthians 6:9-11
-Lev. 18:22
-Rom. 1:26-28
-Lev. 20:13
You see Mr. Sandlin God hates sin but loves the sinner, but that doesn’t make the sin permissible.

No, really.

5. Withhold ordination.
Well to delve into my own personal theology I don’t believe in ordination by men. I believe you can be respected and complimented by other christians but no man makes you a man of God. Only God makes you a man of God and His ordination is spiritual and visible to all. Whereas man’s is a title that even some atheists hold(yes there are “reverends” who are atheists) and means nothing to me or to God. Christians can APPOINT elders but they do not make them.

However no one who is engaged in open sin should be allowed to minister, preach, etc. until they have repented and turned back towards God.
-2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
-Titus 3:10
-1 Corinthians 5:12-13
-Titus 1:6-9
-1 Timothy 3:1-16
-Acts 20:28

6. Be quiet when people are marginalized and bullied.
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Any questions? ”

Yes actually Mr. Sandlin I do have a question. Do you want to obey the scripture or you? Because you say “Be quiet when people are marginalized and bullied.” but scripture says ” Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.” -Luke 6:31.

You see what you have said are two incredibly different things here. For if I were to obey scripture then I would not “Be quiet when people are marginalized and bullied” because if I were being marginalized and bullied I would want others to protect me. What you propose is that if I saw a man being bullied then I should just hold my tongue and either stand there or walk away. But if I obey scripture I would lay my body over his in order to shield him from his attackers.

Also note that when an adulteress was about to be killed(bullied to death) Jesus didn’t remain quiet.
-John 8:6
-Luke 6:31

7. Believe being gay is a choice.
Why not? The title of this article is “10 Anti-LGBT Things You Can’t Do While Following Jesus” yet in this section Mr. Sandlin admits that there’s no biblical basis for his argument “Admittedly, this answer is more about being rational than about following the teachings of Jesus” well I disagree with what you consider rational but that’s not the point. The point is that he’s given us no reason to believe that a person can’t follow Jesus and believe being gay is a choice.

Oh and as for loving wisdom Mr. Sandlin you should be interested to know what God’s Word has to say about wisdom that comes from the world.
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness; and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings of the wise are meaningless” -1 Corinthians 3:19-20

God’s wisdom or the world’s(your’s)? You’re choice.

Also as a last note I’d like to point out that if you follow this logic through that it’s not a choice, then all other sexual attractions are not a choice either. If homosexuality isn’t a choice then how can you say that all pedophiles chose to be attracted to children? You can’t, unless you engage in double mindedness. They were simply born that way. You don’t say that though because you know pedophilia is wrong, but if you follow the born that way philosophy that’s where it logically leads if all sexual attractions are given to us at birth.

8. Believe it’s okay to be gay if you are celibate.
You do know that unless you’re married(man and wife) it is commanded that you be celibate(not have sex), right? The sin for not doing so is called fornification. Being attracted to the same sex has really done nothing to change this. This isn’t really about being attracted to the same sex as it is about having sex outside of marriage(man and wife).
-Matthew 15:19
-1 Corinthians 6:9, 18

9. Support gay conversion therapy.
I don’t really think I support the kind of conversion you’re talking about. You seem to be saying that if a person saying these chants over and over again then they won’t be attracted to the same sex. The fact is that temptation can haunt you wherever and whenever you are.

I don’t see anything wrong with asking God to remove temptations from somebody’s heart and mind. In fact I’d rather promote it. But I think a prayer of repentance is much more beneficial for the person soul than having no temptation.

So if you are saying that praying for the removal of temptation is wrong then I suggest you get rid of that Rev. prefix in your name. In fact I suggest either way since throughout this whole article you’ve showed anything but reverence toward’s God and His word.

I do not know if therapy is necessary, that would be on a person by person basis, but prayer absolutely is. No matter what they’re converting or repenting from.
-Acts 8:22

10. Think the “gay agenda” is anything other than wanting to be who they are and love who they love.

“The most important part to know about LGBT people is the “people” part of “LGBT people.” People are people—we laugh, we cry, we want to be loved and cared for.

That’s the radical gay agenda: to be loved.

It’s mine, too, and I suspect it is yours, as well.”

I don’t think I’ve ever used the term “gay agenda” and once again like number 7 I don’t know why one couldn’t be christian and be against this gay agenda(whatever it is). I do recognize that homosexuals are people and I do love the sinner but hate the sin, but that doesn’t mean I condone the sin. I’ve stated this already earlier so I won’t get into it again.

This whole part falls into the whole big fallacy of throw the word love in there and people have to agree. Well I hate to break it to you but love is not always a good thing.
“For the LOVE[emphasis added] of money is a root of all kinds of evil…” 1 Timothy 6:10
Emotions like love, hate, anger, sadness, etc. are all amoral(stand on no moral side on their own), it’s how they’re used. It’s good to hate murder, but wrong to hate charity, it’s good to love your kids, but wrong to love money.

Well that clears things up some. Sorry this is so long but it always takes longer to disprove a false teaching then to make a false teaching.

“Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause dissensions and obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them” – Romans 16:17

“Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.” – 2 Peter 2:1-3

To Mr. Mark Sandlin, if you have read the Bible then you know that most of the things you have said here are false and you need to repent, and let known that what you have said here is false. Until then I urge you to stop preaching and spreading falsehoods about the Christ.

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and the way of truth will be blasphemed because of them. They will exploit you in their greed with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.” -2 Peter 2:1-3

Godly Tip: If someone is professing to be a teacher of God, but doesn’t quote the Bible or avoids certain verses that are against what they’re teaching it then chances are they’re a false teacher.