You CAN change!
If we keep uppermost in mind the reason for our mortalexistence, the SUPREME PURPOSE for our human-being; to establishcontact with our Superior-Being and develop a relationship withHim - then we'll know and understand that everything God does isfor our benefit. God wants to help us, not hinder us. He enjoysencouraging us to attain our goals and fulfill our potential(Luke 12:31-32). Father does know what's best: what He has instore for us is beyond our wildest dreams (Ephesians 3:20; 1Corinthians 2:9)!
God is Love
If anyone decides to engage in illicit sex or become entangledin "foreign affairs," they're living a lie if they think thatGod could possibly approve of their improper conduct, andthey're compounding their problems if they lead others astray byattempts to endorse such flagrant sin (Romans 1:32). Do what youwant, but don't misrepresent God and His clear-cut biblicalteachings! Don't try and put words in His mouth or censor whatHe's actually said (Revelation 22:18-19).
Yes, GOD IS LOVE! That's why He hates certain practices with apassion. He frowns upon a dishonest life of stealing, anunfaithful habit of "cheating" on our spouse, a disrespectfulattitude towards our parents or persons in authority, religiousholidays that are hollow and don't hallow His name, senselesskillings and character assassination, idolatrous distractionsthat come between God and us, an endless trivial pursuit andpreoccupation with ourselves and others, instead of putting Godfirst! God loves us and wants us to love Him too, but Heconsiders love more than a four-letter word: love is an attitudeexemplified by actions, words that are backed up with deeds(Jas. 2:26). That's why Jesus said that if we really loved Him,we'd show it and not just say it (John 14:15).
Safe-Sex
Since God is love, and Father knows best, He wants us topractice safe-sex. A safe-sex that's good and wholesome, cleanand pure, and only available within a marriage where bothpartners keep their vows and honor their commitments (Hebrews13:4). Sexual intimacy, cuddling and coitus, belongs in thebedroom (of the biblically-bonded), and it's to involve theunion of both minds and bodies (Genesis 2:24). Married couplesare challenged to become compatible in every sense of the word.A marriage certificate doesn't have to be "just a piece ofpaper" or become another broken record! God does recognize thefact that marriage isn't for everyone (Matthew 19:11), butexpresses His will that singles remain celibate (1 Thessalonians4:3).
God only promises to bless those foods (or relationships) thatare sanctioned by His Word (1 Timothy 4:4-5). He's not unsure ofHimself or His ways, He's not fickle or foolish, and His Word isreliable, dependable, and not subject to change. This hasn'tcaused the scriptures to be too popular at times, but theyrefuse to succumb to peer pressure and remain true tothemselves. They're not what needs to change anyway. We do! Godhasn't lowered His moral standards or compromised with His foodlaws, but offers to help raise us to His God-Plane. Christ cancleanse us of our unclean lives (Acts 10:15, 28), because Godhasn't called us to remain in Egypt but to head for the PromisedLand. Don't just stand there, get a move on it! And leave yourexcess baggage (sin) behind.
Kosher Food
Although God created us with a hunger drive, an appetite, Hedoesn't want us to become gluttonous pigs. Neither does He wantus to act like horny dogs (1 Corinthians 6:13). God's also shownus that just because various food items have been mislabeled"delicacies," we don't have to shove them into our mouths(Leviticus 11). We're expected to be mature, not act childish.God warns us to guard the doors of our mind, don't set ourselvesup for a fall, and discern what we digest (Ephesians 4:27;Hebrews 5:14). We're instructed to scrutinize our food forthought and remember "we are what we eat" and "we become what wethink" (Proverbs 23:7). God doesn't only want us to watch whatwe put into our mouths, but what we allow into our minds(Philippians 4:8). For a free list of "government approved" foodfor thought; what's clean and unclean, pure and impure, kosherand non-kosher - check out Galatians 5:19-23; Ephesians 5:11 andPhilippians 1:11.
We're not supposed to remain raw material. God's given us abrain to become refined and keep our baser "instincts" in line(2 Peter 2:12). The Holy Spirit offers us the help we need toaccomplish this job (John 1:12). We should refuse to be reducedto an animal level, simply sensual creatures, choosing a higherstandard of living instead. The "if it feels good do it" and "ifit looks good eat it" lack of mentality ought to be regarded asan insult to those striving for God's higher intelligence.
Regardless of why you're heterosexual, gay, bisexual or"trysexual" (you'll try anything once), whether or not you'vehad any choice in the matter - you do have a choice to exerciseproper self-control. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SLAVE TO YOUR SENSES(John 8:34), or allow sexual temptations to dictate mindlessreactions (Genesis 19:4-11). You're not forced to act upon everythought that enters your mind. You can resist suggestions andreject impulses (2 Corinthians 10:5). Every fleeting thought,random idea or stray notion doesn't have to take root and growif you don't give it fertile ground (James 1:13-15). You canconsider its source and nip it in the bud. A "NO TRESPASSING!"frame of mind can be developed to defend you against intruders.Protection is possible. You can say NO! You can curb yourappetite! YOU CAN CHANGE
God is Love
If anyone decides to engage in illicit sex or become entangledin "foreign affairs," they're living a lie if they think thatGod could possibly approve of their improper conduct, andthey're compounding their problems if they lead others astray byattempts to endorse such flagrant sin (Romans 1:32). Do what youwant, but don't misrepresent God and His clear-cut biblicalteachings! Don't try and put words in His mouth or censor whatHe's actually said (Revelation 22:18-19).
Yes, GOD IS LOVE! That's why He hates certain practices with apassion. He frowns upon a dishonest life of stealing, anunfaithful habit of "cheating" on our spouse, a disrespectfulattitude towards our parents or persons in authority, religiousholidays that are hollow and don't hallow His name, senselesskillings and character assassination, idolatrous distractionsthat come between God and us, an endless trivial pursuit andpreoccupation with ourselves and others, instead of putting Godfirst! God loves us and wants us to love Him too, but Heconsiders love more than a four-letter word: love is an attitudeexemplified by actions, words that are backed up with deeds(Jas. 2:26). That's why Jesus said that if we really loved Him,we'd show it and not just say it (John 14:15).
Safe-Sex
Since God is love, and Father knows best, He wants us topractice safe-sex. A safe-sex that's good and wholesome, cleanand pure, and only available within a marriage where bothpartners keep their vows and honor their commitments (Hebrews13:4). Sexual intimacy, cuddling and coitus, belongs in thebedroom (of the biblically-bonded), and it's to involve theunion of both minds and bodies (Genesis 2:24). Married couplesare challenged to become compatible in every sense of the word.A marriage certificate doesn't have to be "just a piece ofpaper" or become another broken record! God does recognize thefact that marriage isn't for everyone (Matthew 19:11), butexpresses His will that singles remain celibate (1 Thessalonians4:3).
God only promises to bless those foods (or relationships) thatare sanctioned by His Word (1 Timothy 4:4-5). He's not unsure ofHimself or His ways, He's not fickle or foolish, and His Word isreliable, dependable, and not subject to change. This hasn'tcaused the scriptures to be too popular at times, but theyrefuse to succumb to peer pressure and remain true tothemselves. They're not what needs to change anyway. We do! Godhasn't lowered His moral standards or compromised with His foodlaws, but offers to help raise us to His God-Plane. Christ cancleanse us of our unclean lives (Acts 10:15, 28), because Godhasn't called us to remain in Egypt but to head for the PromisedLand. Don't just stand there, get a move on it! And leave yourexcess baggage (sin) behind.
Kosher Food
Although God created us with a hunger drive, an appetite, Hedoesn't want us to become gluttonous pigs. Neither does He wantus to act like horny dogs (1 Corinthians 6:13). God's also shownus that just because various food items have been mislabeled"delicacies," we don't have to shove them into our mouths(Leviticus 11). We're expected to be mature, not act childish.God warns us to guard the doors of our mind, don't set ourselvesup for a fall, and discern what we digest (Ephesians 4:27;Hebrews 5:14). We're instructed to scrutinize our food forthought and remember "we are what we eat" and "we become what wethink" (Proverbs 23:7). God doesn't only want us to watch whatwe put into our mouths, but what we allow into our minds(Philippians 4:8). For a free list of "government approved" foodfor thought; what's clean and unclean, pure and impure, kosherand non-kosher - check out Galatians 5:19-23; Ephesians 5:11 andPhilippians 1:11.
We're not supposed to remain raw material. God's given us abrain to become refined and keep our baser "instincts" in line(2 Peter 2:12). The Holy Spirit offers us the help we need toaccomplish this job (John 1:12). We should refuse to be reducedto an animal level, simply sensual creatures, choosing a higherstandard of living instead. The "if it feels good do it" and "ifit looks good eat it" lack of mentality ought to be regarded asan insult to those striving for God's higher intelligence.
Regardless of why you're heterosexual, gay, bisexual or"trysexual" (you'll try anything once), whether or not you'vehad any choice in the matter - you do have a choice to exerciseproper self-control. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SLAVE TO YOUR SENSES(John 8:34), or allow sexual temptations to dictate mindlessreactions (Genesis 19:4-11). You're not forced to act upon everythought that enters your mind. You can resist suggestions andreject impulses (2 Corinthians 10:5). Every fleeting thought,random idea or stray notion doesn't have to take root and growif you don't give it fertile ground (James 1:13-15). You canconsider its source and nip it in the bud. A "NO TRESPASSING!"frame of mind can be developed to defend you against intruders.Protection is possible. You can say NO! You can curb yourappetite! YOU CAN CHANGE
