Mark 12: 17
I believe the church, that’s us, is being deceived into fighting a fight, debating an issue and squandering resources on a wrongly perceived notion that the church lacks relevance in today’s world. The church has become a social issue advocate and clearing house for accepting the unacceptable through the guise of being inclusive. Homosexuality, same sex marriage; have I got your attention yet? Those who wish to water down or soften or dance around scripture often chose to take scripture into the social issue arena. They tried to do just that with Jesus, Mark 12: 13-17. They agreed he taught God’s truth but wait a minute; what about this tax thing. I also love the scripture from Mark chapter 7.

Mark 7:6-8
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men…..

It is time that we as the Church recognize that the issues listed above are social issues that can be debated in that arena but as God’s people they are not debatable in the faith and belief of His Church. From a layman’s view “that dog won’t hunt here.” One only has to read The Book of Leviticus to find their selves challenged and to some extent, uncomfortable. The book calls upon the people to constantly distinguish between the holy and the profane and between the unclean and the clean. Christians often pull one or two scriptures from this book to defend a view or doctrine. Chapters 17-26:4 are often referred to as the Holiness Code and this is the subject of today’s view. “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19: 2) In Chapter 18: 1-30 we find the instructions for sexual behavior. Verse 22 is often quoted when the subject of homosexuality or other sexual practices are discussed. Only in some of the newer bible translations will you find that word (homosexuality) used.

The scripture is plain and to the point. Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. There are sixteen verses preceding this one of other forms of sexual behavior that is in God’s eyes wrong. These acts compromise our ability to live a holy life as God has instructed us to do. “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” If the debate is about living a holy life and whether homosexuality and same sex marriage can be a part of that, well the answer is no.

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” These issues belong to Caesar. Taking the Gospel to the world, telling all about the saving grace of Jesus Christ is the calling of all Christians and is best done by living a holy life because we belong to Him and he has commanded we do so.