How to deal with those who struggle with sin.

I would like to deal with the topic of how we are to relate to those who struggle with sin. In my previous articles that dealt with my discussion with Rev. Neff and my response to him was about weather homosexuality is a sin. The danger for us is to think that homosexuality is worst than any other sin and to shun homosexuals because it seems more socially repugnant than other sins. I think the issue is very relevant to us because it is just been announced that Dick Cheney has a homosexual daughter. Dick Cheney response to his daughter is to support and love her and affirm her in her homosexuality. The republican candidate for congress, Allen Keyes told reporters that he would love his daughter like Dick Cheney but he would tell her that homosexuality is a sin. How should we as Christians respond to those around us who struggle with homosexuality, or of course any other serious sin?
The first thing that we need to understand is that homosexuality is not any worst than any other sins in God’s eyes. Sin is sin and it separates us from God. Next we need to understand that to be tempted in a certain way is not sin. When the Bible speaks of sin it speaks of sinful actions not the direction of temptation. Sin is when temptation is acted upon and we give into it as the Apostle John writes, “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness” (1Jo 3:4). Temptation is something that we as a Christian will never be free from; it will be a life process to learn to resist it. We speak today about homosexual orientation, really what we are saying is the way a person is tempted. We all have some sort of orientation; some area that we are consistently tempted in; some sinful attraction that draws our hearts, whether it is coveousness, or lust, or overeating, or pride, or adultery, hatred, anger, malice, slander and so on. The list could be endless.
Here is how we know that temptation is not sin, because the Lord Jesus was tempted. Here are just a few references. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil” (Mt 4:1). Now in order for Jesus to be tempted there must have been some attractive force at work in Jesus’ heart that pulled him in the wrong direct or it would not be a temptation. Hebrews takes this idea a step further when its writer says, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb 2:18). Jesus’ temptation caused him suffering and therefore was very real, the book of Hebrews elaborates even further when it says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin” (Heb 4:15). The Bible says that Jesus was actually tempted in the same kinds of way that we are, yet Jesus has overcome temptation and he understands the power of it. So if it is not sin for Jesus to be tempted than it is not sin for us to be tempted. To be tempted or to be orientated in any direction is not sin. Sin is born when we act on the temptation and give into it.
Satan has two strategies one is to convince us that we have to give into temptation and that we are powerless against it. The other is to make us feel guilty that when are tempted, and to convince us that it is wrong for us to feel that way so that we become discouraged and give up and give into the temptation. The beauty of the sinless temptation of Jesus is that he offers us an alternative. We can be free from the futile thinking that temptation or desire makes us automatically sinful. As one tempted, Jesus holds out the help we need so that we are not powerless again the temptations that we face.
Many today have drawn the wrong conclusion, they think that because a person has an inclination in a given direction, that is the way they were made, and therefore it is right to practice their natural desires. I.e. if a person has a attraction towards a person of the same sex than that is the way they are, and it is right for them to act upon their natural desire. One may be tempted to murder, or to steal, or to embezzle, or to take another man’s wife, if we followed to logic of today, that because we are orientated in that direction it must be right and therefore good. Do you see how that would lead to social chaos? The fallen world in which a person grew up in and the brokenness of their circumstances may orientate someone towards homosexuality, but to jump to the conclusion then that it is than right to practice what the God condemns, is the wrong conclusion.
We as the church of Jesus Christ must offer to the tempted the grace that can help in temptation. That means we must not discriminate between temptations but must deal compassionately with the weak and tempted. To hate any one because they have a certain sinful tendency is hypocrisy because we all have an orientation that tempts us, just not the same ones. We must affirm the full humanity of Jesus and the fact that he knows the pull of temptation and he has over come it and offers his grace to help in temptation. As Paul writes in 1Co 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
We need to help people realize that the devil is a good fisherman and he know just the lure that will capture our attention. God is not the author of temptation, in other words he did not make you that way. But the fact that a given sin is attractive is a manifestation of our own broken circumstance. James put it this way, When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed Jas 1:13-14 . Jesus Christ who has been tempted in every way just as we are is able to deal gently with the tempted and give them the grace that they need to overcome it. That is a message that we must trumpet as we love the weak and point them to Jesus how is able to save to the uttermost.
I agree with Dick Cheney, I would love my daughter unconditionally if she came to me and said that she was tempted to be a lesbian. I also agree with Allen Keyes that I would make sure that she understands that it is a sin to practice homosexuality, but I would assure her that just because she is at times tempted by a desire for other women sexually it is not sin until she gives into the temptation and acts upon it either through homosexual practice or lust, because I would not want her to be over burdened with false guilt. I would point her to Jesus who can forgive all her sins and who has the power to help her resist the temptation to practice homosexuality. I would encourage her to give her body to Jesus as a living sacrifice and to be celibate and chaste as the bride of Christ and to prepare for his coming. Finally I would assure her that singleness is desirable and honorable alternative for her.

God Bless you all,

Pastor Steve Wenner

Life lessons from a heart attack!

Life lessons from a heart attack!

Some of you who don’t regularly attend may not have heard that I had a heart attack on April 14th at about 12:15 a.m. I awoke to terrible pain in my back which of course I thought was a muscle spasm. Well the pain was so bad that I ended up going to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park where I was confronted with the fact that I was having a heart attack. I ended up getting an Angiogram and a stint was put in. I certainly did not expect a heart attack at my age, 42 but that is exactly what I had. What I would like to share with you this month is some things that God has reinforced to me through the heart attack. God never waists any trials in our lives but always uses them for our good to make us more ready to be with him in eternity. So here goes.
The first lesson that was enforced to me is that life is really a vapor. I have begun to look at people differently since I had my heart attack and I had a friend that died of one at age 44 two weeks before I had mine. I now am more in tune to the fact that every ones life is in danger, life can come screeching to a halt in a moment. None of us are really secure in this life. James reminds us in 4:14, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” This means that we can not take life for granted. We must focus on our lives in light of God and eternity. We must live every day to please God because none of us has a guarantee that we will have tomorrow. If you have never placed your faith in Christ don’t delay you may not have another opportunity. If you have placed your faith but are really not living for Christ don’t delay. You may not have tomorrow.
The second lesson that was enforced to me is that God is in control of our circumstances and we must learn to trust what he allows in our lives. The safest place that we can be is in the hands of our God. There was the moment when I was told that I was having a heart attack. Now I had a choice at that moment, I could panic or remind myself that I was in God’s hands. I chose the latter and I was ask why I was so calm? I had the opportunity to tell those who were working on me that “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12b). God has not promised us a trial free life but he as promised that we will not be abandoned or forgotten when we are going through trials. They are an opportunity to know God better as we experience his grace in the midst of them.
If it is true that God has not promised us a trial free life than the third lesson that was enforced to me is that our hope is not in this life, but is in the life to come. Hope is an expectation of good. If we can not expect a life free from trials than our hope should not be in this life. God has promised because Jesus has been raised from the dead that we will also be raised, not to this same mortal life but to life immortal, where we will experience the bliss of eternity with God. Our faith connects us to this hope, and this hope will not disappoint us, because God has given us his Spirit who assures us of sonship in spite of the trials of this life. (Romans 8:18-27)
The more we can be people of faith who focus on the hope that God has promised us the more confident we will be in spite of the trials of this life. You see, peace in our circumstances comes to us, as we focus on the promises of God not the circumstances of life. That is why Christians around the world are victorious in spite of their sufferings they focus on their eternal hope not their sufferings and so should we. That is the central lesson of Hebrews 11 is that the people of faith were people who focused on hope to come not on the things of this life and we can be the same kinds of people as we focus on hope.
If everything that I have said so far is true and it is then the forth lesson that was enforced to me is that, the only thing that gives us certainty is the gospel. Therefore the gospel needs to be the source of certainty for our lives and the main message to those around us. No other beliefs can give certainty because they are based upon works. Only the gospel gives us certainty because it is based upon the promise of God and the work of Christ. This gives us immense confidence God will not let us down because if he did he would not be God. Those around us, who think that they will get to heaven by their good works, can never know for sure that they have done enough. All other messages give false hopes because they are not based on reality. The gospel gives us a genuine hope because it is based upon the fact of Jesus’ death and resurrection and ascension to glory. People live their lives trusting in their good works but they do not know that God will not except their good works because that would be a rejection of his own Son and God will not reject his own Son.
The final lesson that was enforced to me is that someday I will have a new body. This is the central hope of the gospel. If this body dies than I go to be with Christ to await the resurrection at the 2nd coming of Christ. One of the reasons that we should long for the day of Christ’s return is the hope of immortality. Death will dog our footsteps until Christ comes back than death for us as believers will be destroyed forever and we will spend eternity with Christ in a new glorious body that will never die.
I am thankful that the doctor thinks that my prognosis is good, but this is not my hope. I would have just as much hope if the doctor said my prognosis was bad, because this heart attack has enforced to me that nothing in this life is my hope, only what I have in Christ is my hope and I hope it is yours as well.

Blessings Pastor Wenner

How to face Trials.

 

The natural tendency is to become bitter when we face trials. Yet if we are really honest and look at life honestly then we will recognize that everyone faces trials of many kinds. It is not whether or not we will face trials, but when. In some ways we struggle with this topic because we think that it is God’s job to keep us from trials. The reality is that God has not promised to keep us from trials but has promised to keep us in trials. We will struggle in the Christian life if we expect things that God has not promised.

God has not promised that we are not going to have financial setbacks. God has not promised that we are never going to get sick. He has not promised that our loved ones are going to live forever. He has not promised that we will meet Mr. or Mrs. right. He has not promised that all of our dreams will come true. What he has promised us is that he has guaranteed our eternal destiny with him in heaven and that he will give us the grace to face any difficulty that we go through. He has promised that he will continue his work in our lives until the day we are taken by death, or taken by Christ at the 2^nd coming. He has promised that if we will seek him we will find joy no matter what our circumstances. Paul said this so well when he said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Php 4:13) In the context Paul is talking about contentment.

James tells us how to handle trials, He says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have [its] perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” (Jas 1:2-6 NAS95)

The first thing that James says to us is change your attitude about your trials. You can determine that you are not going to let the trial steal your joy and that comes because you determine not to have an expectation that is unrealistic. James is telling us to expect trials if we expect that we are going to have them when they come they will not throw us. God’s love for us is not determined by whether or not we have trials. God’s love for us is evidence because he sent his son to die for our sins. (1 John 3:16)

The second thing that James tells us about trials is that we should focus on the results that trials accomplish in our lives. What according to James do our trials accomplish? Trials test our faith and prove that our faith is genuine. Trials produce perseverance and perseverance perfects our faith. It assures us that we are God’s child when we continue in spite of the difficulties that we face. Peter says the same thing in 1^st Peter chapter one, “6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

The Third thing that James tells us is that when we face trials we should ask God for wisdom when trials come. Many times we struggle with trials because we do not understand the reason, or even what God wants to do in our lives through the trial. James says that if we lack wisdom in our trials we should as God and he will give us the wisdom that we need. God is not stingy he will bless us with wisdom if we will seek him for it, but there is a condition to receiving God’s wisdom. The Condition is faith, and that is a response where we approach God trusting his Character. If we approach God with an untrusting attitude that doubts his goodness we will not receive God’s wisdom. The key to facing trials then is faith when you come right down to it. Do you trust God’s goodness and intention or do you become angry at him. Anger at God is not faith.

Listen to Horatio Spatford’s faith when he faced the death of his two daughters in a shipwreck. He wrote these words of faith,

“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

 

Blessings Pastor Wenner

 

Why Holiness is essential?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I pray that you have a great new year and that you will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. This year let us make it a goal to together strive for holiness. Not many Christians today even understand the idea of holiness it has gone out of fashion. George Barna reports that “The notion of personal holiness has slipped out of the consciousness of the vast majority of Christians. While just 21% of adults consider themselves to be holy, by their own admission large numbers have no idea what “holiness” means and only one out of every three (35%) believe that God expects people to become holy”

Does God expect holiness from his Children? Listen to the writer of Hebrews. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 Yes holiness is essential because it is the product of salvation. Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. We were saved to be holy.

What is Holiness? I think the reason that so few are committed to it is they do not really know what holiness is. Holiness is not being “holier than thou” It is not walking around and thinking that we are better than everyone around us because we keep some standard. It is not perfection. This is a misconception that makes people despair and not even pursue holiness because they think that it is too tall of a mountain to climb. Holiness has to do with consecration or purpose. It is living our lives for the purpose of pleasing and glorifying God. Holiness is when I am seeking to obey God in every detail of my life and when I fall short I confess my sin and keep going.

It means that I am seeking to please God in my sexuality, lifestyle, family, possessions, employment, time management; every area of my life belongs to God. When you come down to it is the recognition of who is the real owner of my life. If you are the owner of your life than you are not holy, no matter how well you live and God is not pleased with your life. The Apostle Peter wrote this about Holiness, 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.”

God is committed to our holiness in fact the bible teaches God will discipline us so that we will be holy. Listen again to the words of the writer of the book of Hebrews, 12:10 “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness” If we are children of God, then he will deal with us as Children and discipline us through circumstances. We should strive for holiness as Christians to please God and keep in mind that God is serious about us becoming holy and will deal with us if we aren’t.

This year, don’t be a part of the 79% of “Christians” who will not see God. Make it your goal to grow in holiness, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:1 “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

Blessings Pastor Wenner

The Importance of the 2nd Amendment.

Dear Fellow Citizens of the State of Illinois,

 

It is the right of free citizens to bear arms. Why did our founding fathers, give us this right, and why is this right fundamental to the freedoms which we enjoy as American citizens? The second amendment states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Some of the confusion comes because the first line of the second amendment which says, “a well regulated militia.” What did our founding fathers mean by a well regulated militia? The founding fathers intended that the ultimate defense of this nation from enemies both foreign and domestic would reside in the hands of the people and not just the government. They viewed the people, not the state as being the ultimate authority. Therefore, they left the power of the “sword” in the hands of the people, to check the power and authority and tyranny of governments, both foreign and domestic.

The wisdom of the right to bear arms means that the power of the state is ultimately checked. Our founding fathers distrusted power, knowing that ultimate power is tyrannical. Therefore, they wanted to check this power and the way they did it was guaranteeing the right of all citizens to retain and bear arms, unrestricted by the state. The right to bear arms then is fundamental to the freedom of free citizens from the tyranny of government, and its ever increasing desire for power.

This line in the Constitution also reminds us that all citizens are ultimately responsible for the defense of this nation, from enemies both foreign and domestic. The right of self-defense and national defense ultimately via the Constitution resides in the hands of the citizens. Even though, the state has the authority to raise armies for the common defense of the nation, it was also the obligation of every citizen to be a part of that defense. That is why for the first hundred years of this nation, this nation had small standing armies. In a time of emergency, the citizens would be called up for the defense of the nation. To remove guns from the hands of the people would ultimately leave us defenseless against radical powers who would seek to impose their will upon the nation.

This means that we cannot even trust the good intentions of politicians who believe that restrictive gun laws are means to curb crime. This is a feel-good-ism that will ultimately lead to tyranny. The tyranny of the government and the tyranny of the criminal, who will disobey the law’s that the government imposes. If we lose this fundamental right, we lose our freedom. We must not let misguided politicians who think they are well intentioned and who want to make themselves feel like they are dealing with the issue of gun violence take away our fundamental freedoms guaranteed us by the Constitution.

The state of Illinois, County of cook, nor the city of Chicago does not have the right to restrict gun ownership. The government only has the responsibility to punish the criminals who use guns in an unlawful manner. Instead of seeking to take guns away from free citizens, governing officials should seek to govern by punishing the criminals that use guns for illegal means. The problem today is that governing officials would rather take away freedoms than punish criminals. We must demand that our governing officials fulfill their duty to punish crime and to restrain evil in society and that they not seek to take away fundamental rights guaranteed us by the Constitution.

It is time that American citizens awaken to the reality that we are only one generation away from the tyranny that our forefathers feared. If we allow laxity and the ease and comforts of this life to dull our senses, our freedoms will be slowly eroded to the point where we are no longer free, but will be victims of the whims of evil rulers who seek to determine our destinies. We will be defenseless against criminals who unhindered increasingly control the streets of our nation’s cities. We will be defenseless against invading armies, who seek to impose their will upon our lives. Wake up Illinois before it is too late. We need to oppose legislation that will take away our gun rights.

Sincerely Yours,

 

Steven Wenner (A New Member of the Illinois Rifle Association and the National Rifle Association).