Why Is Homosexuality An Abomination Before The Lord?

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Leviticus 18:22

Why is homosexuality an abomination before the Lord?

 In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.  Genesis 5:2

Jesus in Matthew 19:4 "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’

 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32

 per·vert

verb

pərˈvərt/

1. 1.
   alter (something) from its original course, meaning, or state to a distortion or corruption of what was first intended.

Satan cannot create, and so has nothing original to offer man. Therefore he perverts the good that God has made into something evil.

For example; there can be no cursing if there is no speech, no idolatry if there is no worship, no killing if there is no life, no adultery if there is no marriage, and no homosexuality if there is no sexuality. Satan has no remorse and no shame. He will use all his power to pervert the image of God through man who was created to glorify that image.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men...who changed the truth of God into a lie...for this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another... Romans 1

  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  1Corinthians 6:15-19

 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

God created us in His image, and has a purpose for our lives.That makes every one of us intrinsically valuable and immeasurably meaningful in His eyes. He created us as a temple of His Trinity, for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. He defined marriage as the symbolic relationship between Christ and the church. 

To pervert and corrupt that purpose from what God intended it to be, is indeed an abomination to The Lord. 

 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Hutterites and Homosexuality

It seems everywhere you turn these days you see and hear of gay pride, gay marriages, homophobia, gay tolerance and gay bashing. 

What are we Hutterites to make of all this? Where should we stand? Didn't Jesus talk of love and forgiveness?

Matthew 19:4-5 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Exodus 20:14 "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

Hebrews 13:4 "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge."

1 Corinthians 6:9 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."

From these passages we can figure out that sex outside marriage as God ordained it is adultery. Adultery is sin. Sin cannot enter heaven. 

I've had a few discussions with people on the subject of gay activity and marriages. For one they say "These people love each other, God is love and loves love, so therefore being gay is good." or "These people were born gay, and God made these people, therefore gay is good" 

 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20

There is also the argument that if we feel a want or need, that we need to pursue that want, cultivate that want, and fulfill that want, but there's a real problem with that. Let's take for example a married man who sees a beautiful woman and feels lust towards her. Should he cultivate and let that lust grow until it's too powerful for him to resist? Or should he resist and quell that lust right away, reminding himself that it's an adulterous, sinful lust that will only lead to heartbreak and a breaking up of his family? Or how about the young lad who feels a lust to build fires? Should he consider since he was born with that lust that he should fulfill it? Or the lust of the drunkard to drink? The druggie towards drugs? The depraved to depravity? The rapist to rape? The killer to kill? How should we separate a good lust from a bad lust? For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. Matthew 15:19. 

There are also many good passions, for example a farmer who's passionate of raising animals, a nurse with great compassion for sick people, a gardener who loves to garden, or a cook who takes great pride in how the evening meal turned out. 

What we need to is a moral guide. But what should that be? Our own feelings and passions are not very good guides. Government then, or society at large? Fifty plus one vote? We know those are not good moral guides, for if they were, Auschwitz would have never happened. Look at the tribes who supported cannibalism and human sacrifice. And look at the current issues with abortion and euthanasia. We have to admit that there's only one true moral guide by which morals can be judged by and that's by the Word of God. Scripture tells us we are made in the image of God. That gives human life intrinsic and unmeasurable value. 

So back to the subject at hand.  What is the homosexual to do with his orientation towards the same sex?  

 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19.

The homosexual has to first of all recognize it as sin, repress and quell it with all other sinful lusts and walk the narrow road. For what are the passions of this world worth towards the passions of what is to come? 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:16

It seems we all have our own special cross to bear. And that cross can be our ticket to heaven. Without that cross we live a life that has no problems or cares. A life where we depend on ourself and our strengths and talents. A life where we get along just fine without God. A life where we have no need for a God and no need to look for one. Where we don't need to look upon the heavens for help. Yes, that's what a cross does. It makes us recognize and see how Iittle in control and helpless we really are. It makes us look for God, ask for his help and depend on it. It makes us understand what Paul meant when he wrote "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

So yes, we can say homosexuality is a heavy cross to bear, but not unlike many other different crosses that people bear. We have to recognize it as such. God loves sinners and so should we, for in reality we are all sinners and in desperate need of God's Grace. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  And the answer to this is: Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Look at this sobering message in Hebrews 10:26 "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins." 

Let's not be fooled, sin remains sin and shame remains shame. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God's values and morals don't and won't change with the passing of time and changes in philosophy. God doesn't need to go through the Age of Enlightenment. He is the Enlightenment. We must conform to the ways of God for he will never change, nor will he conform to the ever-changing whims of man. 

But if one doesn't believe there is a God and that we were made in his image, then I suppose there is no reason not to support the LGBT movement. There is also no reason not to support any lust or passion of any kind, regardless of consequence. If all there is to this life is this life then who are we (Christians) to expect (Christian) morals from anyone? Who are we to say what's right and what's wrong? Who says there even is a right or wrong?

thoughtsfromlouieville 

Louie Vetter

Baptism, what is it?

Baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God. 1 Peter 3:21

The water doesn't turn anyone into a Christian. Baptism or the water does not take the sinful nature of our flesh away. The essence of baptism and the covenant is this; that we henceforth strive and fight against our sinful nature, not to let it rule or break out in our mortal body, but to live a Godly life in this world. Indeed, it means that whoever has accepted Christian baptism is henceforth obligated at all times to live with a good conscience and keep himself of a pure heart. For a pure, glad heart; says scripture, is a continual feast. There must be redirection towards a new life; our old man must be crucified, and a new one arise in Christ, which is created in the image of God, in righteousness and holiness. Amen

Hutterite Baptism. Baptism Day

Baptism Questions

(Before the prayer)

Q1. Do you now acknowledge the teachings of Jesus, which have been laid before you, as being the truth and the true foundation to salvation?

Q2. Do you believe in and agree with the twelve articles of our Christian Faith, and will you witness to them? 

1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth
2. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and buried
5. He descended into Hell. The third day He rose again from the dead
6. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty
7. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Christian church, the fellowship of saints
10. The forgiveness of sins
11. The resurrection of the body
12. And the life everlasting, Amen.

Q3. Do you desire the prayer of intercession of the church so that God may forgive and remit the sins committed by you either knowingly or in ignorance?

Q4. Do you desire to yield, to give and to sacrifice yourself to the Lord God in the covenant of Christian baptism?

(Prayer) After this prayer, while kneeling, these questions.

Q5. Do you sufficiently understand the Word of God and acknowledge it as the only path to eternal life?

Q6. Do you truly and heartily repent of the sins which you committed either knowingly or in ignorance against God and do       you desire to henceforth fear God, never more willingly to sin against God, and rather to suffer death than willfully sin against God?

Q7. Do you believe that your sins have been forgiven and remitted by God through Christ and the prayer of intercession of his people?

Q8. Do you desire to accept brotherly discipline and admonition and also to apply the same to others when needed?

Q9. Do you desire to yield, to give and to sacrifice yourself, body and soul with all that you have to the Lord God in heaven, and to yield in obedience to Christ and his church?

   

Q10. Do you desire to establish a covenant with God and with all his people and to be baptized on confession of your faith?

The minister, with his assistant, with pouring on of water speaks the following words: "On the confession of your faith I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. May God Almighty in heaven who has given you grace and mercy through the death of Christ and the prayer of his church clothe you with fortitude from on high and inscribe your name into the book of life, to preserve you in piety and faith until death. This is my wish to thee through Christ Jesus. Amen. 

(With hand extended to individual) "Stand up my brother (sister) the Peace of God be with you."

(The individual receiving baptism) "The Lord be with us." 

Hutterite Baptism. Week 7 - Last Instructions

  Today, dear children, your seven week period of receiving guidance and instruction is over and now it's up to you. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13. Paul tells us here that it's not our doing but God's. God gives the desire and the will towards salvation and if we act on that will, God then gives accomplishment. All we have to do is accept. But if we reject this great gift of Grace we invoke the wrath of God, for sin cannot enter heaven. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelations 22:27

  Therefore dear children, stay with the word and Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee. Ecclesiasticus 4:28 If you believe you are freed from your sins through the blood and death of Christ Jesus, surely your names will be written into the book of Life.  Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” John 8:51   

 Remember, once baptized you are a member of Christ and his church. Nothing will be able to harm your standing with God except sin. Beware and flee from it as a poisonous snake. You can no longer do what you want, but you must deny your own will and self love to follow God. 

 To give up your self will and self love is best described as the kernels of wheat that make up a loaf of bread. We have to be ground into flour by the stone mill that is Jesus Christ. Each kernel has to lose its individuality in order to bind together with the other ground kernels in the making of the flour. Then it is baked in the fire of the Love of God to become bread. Any unground or partial kernels remaining in the bread are offending and soon spit out. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 16:24-25  And remember dear children ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20 Stay with the faith, read and study daily so that you stay on fire for God's Word and not grow lukewarm as the Laodicean Church. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelations 3:15-16 

 The word of God is an all consuming fire. The more you will immerse yourself in it the hotter and brighter you will burn and the more you will want to, all the time remembering it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. But if you distance yourself from the word, your light will soon fade and eventually go out. 

   In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us who will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." 

  This is certainly a hard sermon and there are two things that come to mind right away. 

1) We can never attain such perfection. 

2) The overwhelming need for the Grace of God.  

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 

  And the answer to this is:

Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

  But it is impossible to walk in the newness of life without being born again and partaking of the Holy Spirit. We need all the fruits of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome, namely; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

  We must take our aim and eyes off this world and focus upon the one that is to come. We must be able to say with Paul; I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

 The Mount represents the community of believers who have given themselves in covenant and baptism and stay true therein. And so, dear children, strive to be true brothers and sisters in Christ, according to His teachings. Don't go to Church out of mere habit but of Love to God and His Word. Stay diligent in the work your community entrusts you with.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4  Remember, you are not only working for yourself but also for those who cannot work for themselves: the elderly, the sick, the widows and orphans. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalms 133:1. 

 Admonish your brethren and be willing to accept admonishment from them, that ye both grow in faith to Christ Jesus. But be warned, admonishing will not win you any friends, it cost John the Baptist his head.  For we live in community not to have good times or to get rich, nor because of friends or family, but for salvations sake, through faith and hope in Jesus Christ.

  Let the life of our dear Saviour be your guide. Hold him always in your hearts with joy, so that you can truthfully say with the Psalmist David in Psalm 23. 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Amen

Hutterite Baptism. Week 6 - Temptation

Yes, dear children, you say you have a heartfelt longing to be baptized and make a covenant with God and his body of believers. But a promise of that magnitude is a lot to consider and carries consequences. The wise man Sirach said "My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation." Sirach 2:1

 After our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, Scripture tells us of his temptations in Matthew 4.

The first temptation: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Jesus answered: It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

The making of stone to bread is the temptation of false teachings and one that you will encounter often. The bread represents the word of God. I am the bread of life. John 6:35 The stone represents false teachings. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24 It is very tempting to broaden out the road with false teachings disguised as the bread of life. Jesus warns us; Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14

The second temptation: Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. The temple was the tallest building in Jerusalem and the dwelling place of the most High. Satan wanted Jesus to willfully cast Himself down from the temple and therfore tempt God to send angels to halt the fall. So what would be the opposite of tempting God?  Loving him with all our heart and might. This is the first and great commandment. Without this great and all encompassing love no one can be a member of Christ's body. Children, don't look around at how others love but be your own person and love unconditionally.

The third temptation: Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. This is the temptation of yearning for and falling for the pleasures of the world, meanwhile forsaking the one pearl of great price which is our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24  We can get caught up in the chasing of lusts and accumulation of things with the hope they will bring us lasting happiness and satisfaction, but that is never the case. For a short time our newest acquisition or thrill may bring us brief happiness, then it loses its appeal and we go on looking for the next. Our heart yearns, but we can't identify what it's yearning for. That yearning can only be quenched by filling our heart with it was meant to be filled with. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19 John states Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

These are great temptations that will befall you, dear children. If Satan wasn't ashamed to tempt the Son of God he certainly won't be ashamed to tempt us. But don't despair, God is on our side. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13  God will not let us be without comfort. We can see how Jesus strengthened and consoled Peter after the Last Supper. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. The Lord could have easily denied Satan's request but He seems to wants refined and tested followers  ...and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them. Zechariah 13:9 

We are not promised easy times, but narrow and difficult roads, filled with trials and tribulations. But these are precisely the roads that help us become a new man in Christ! And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Look how many fell into temptations; Adam, Cain, Esau, the First World, Sodom and Gomorrah, also Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. The flight from Egypt can be likened unto what happens when we want to become a newborn member of Christ. The exodus out of Egypt signifies the going out of the world and the leaving of our own will. Baptism and complete submission to God and the Church is represented by the Red Sea.The 40 years in the wilderness accurately signify our life. The war with Amalek (The Amalekites were descendants of Esau whose fleshly hunger was worth more to him than his spiritual birthright) signifies our struggle against our flesh and blood. Daily gathering of manna points toward the daily need of the Word of God. Fleeing from the poisonous snakes indicates fleeing the poisonous darts of Satan in the time of temptation. Jesus said in scripture And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life John 3:14-15

Passing over the River Jordan into the Promised Land signifies our death, the passing over into Eternity.  

Dear children, the Bible is full of examples of how to and how not to live. Read it often and gain wisdom from it, for the stakes are too high and the consequences too great. Hold fast in faith, pray often and remember; Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12

What a heartwarming and precious promise from our Lord Jesus Christ for all who endureth!

Till next week God bless

Hutterite Baptism. Week 5 - Faith

Dear children, the act of baptism that lies before you requires Faith and Godly submission. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Faith in God brings fulfilled hope and eternal life. All who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

 We can take for example Mary the mother of Jesus. When the angel of the Lord appeared and told her of what was to come, what did she reply? Namely; Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. Luke 1:38. Now children, look at the Godly submission, at the faith, love and hope that lay in Mary's heart. Had she not believed and hoped in the promised Messiah, she would not have borne Him.  

 And so, dear children, you need faith and belief in God. Where does faith come from? Namely: from the word of God. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 

 Through faith and hope in the Messiah Hannah prophesied. Through faith and hope the shepherds went to look for the Baby Jesus on the words of the Angels. Through faith and hope the three wise men started their trek from the east with gifts for this Messiah. And how joyously they received him. 

And so you now are  starting your trek towards this promised Messiah through baptism. It will not be an easy journey and is not for the undecided or faint of heart. It is possible you will endure discipline. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Hebrews 12:7  It is sure you will have trouble. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33  Apostle Paul advises us to put on the whole armour of God and carry the sword of the Spirit - which is the word of God, and then bravely walk in the light. Hold tight to your baptism vows and God shall hold tight to you.  Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13  For there is an epic battle waging for our souls and there is life at stake, eternal life. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6

 Read Hebrews Chapter 11 to feel the faith the elders had. Through faith the disciples followed Jesus, leaving behind their families, their ships and nets. Through faith and hope in God the Ethiopian court official asked Philip "What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. Acts 8:26  A genuine example of faith. Mark 16:16 writes: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

Baptism is an outward symbol of the new birth. No more shall the old man live in his innate nature with his inborn habits and desires, but live as a changed man,  convinced through the Word and Faith. If faith lives in you then your baptism will have strength and continuance, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit will be your leader and ruler. You will recognize that we receive forgiveness and cleansing of our sins through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace Ephesians 1:7  An unspeakable blessing of love and grace. 

Till next week God bless

Hutterite Baptism. Week 4 - Submission and Sin

Dear children, you have expressed a heartfelt desire to enter into a bond with God and all believers. 

In order to totally surrender your life to God and the Church, you need love towards God and His people.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself Mark 12:30-31. This love is part of baptism, as is total surrender and divine obedience. The church needs loving, faithful and true members to help build and uphold. That takes dedication and love. 

  True surrender in baptism is not merely eating and drinking together, but requires dedication, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. One who surrenders himself to God and His body of followers is pleasing to God and held dear by the members of the church. 

  Children, one day the Colony will trust you with a responsibility. Then you will have to step up to help build and sustain the Church. That takes true dedication, submittance and obedience. What is obedience? Namely: letting go of one's free and own will. To let go of one's own will is like a child that is weaned from it's mother's breast. It's not easy or natural. The old Adam in his old ways will find it very hard if not impossible. But here again is where the new birth comes in, what was hard before is now easy.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:30

Now is the time to make a new start. Strive day and night to honour your vows, and let not sin cut you off and lead you from God.

 How do we sin? But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:14-15 Sin is what is against the Ten Commandments. All vices are sin. All disobedience is sin. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17 

  Sin separates us from God and His Kingdom as God bemoaned in Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

 And sin brings punishment. v18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence. 

  Our first parents lost the image of God through sin and disobedience. Through sin Cain lost the favour of God. Esau lost his birthright through sin. The first world was destroyed due to sin. Through sin the Kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah were burned with fire from heaven, of which Jesus later said: But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Luke 10:12 

  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice 1 Samuel 15:22  Saul fell away from God through disobedience and sin.  Shimei was killed because of sacrilege and sin. Hamon was hanged for the heinous sin he stirred up and wanted to commit against the Jews. Judas never came to repentance due to his sin of betrayal and malice. The rich young man didn't enter the Kingdom of God due to his sin of greed and disobedience. 

  John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. So children, recognize and confess sin, we have seen that those who baptized, whose sin and sinful lives had touched their hearts so that they confessed them, unto these the Lord has given strength to guard against sin after baptism. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Till next week, God bless

Hutterite Baptism. Week 3 - The New Birth

Dear Children, you have told us you have a heartfelt longing to make a covenant with the Lord. Now you have to be born again. You may not understand what that means, like Nicodemus who came to Jesus in the night also didn't understand. But while he was sincere and came to Jesus in the night out of faith, he was given grace, light and knowledge. 

 Where does that knowledge and good conscience come from?  It only comes from a heart awakened through the Word of God. God will cause the Word to flourish and to increase in a person.  He will uproot all that is carnal and implant what is godly.  From that originates the new birth, of which Christ says, ‘Unless a person is born anew of water and of the Spirit, entrance into the kingdom of God is not possible.’  The meaning is that whoever is instructed by the Word of God and believes it, will have his faith sealed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Through that, one is renewed or born again and led into a holy, godly life.  That person may then receive the water of baptism as a sign of the death of the old self. (Confession of Faith page 196-97)

 We must be born again. We must deny our own will. We must confess our sins and trespasses. We must repent. We must lay aside the old man who is corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires and be renewed in spirit and mind. We must put on the new man who is created in God's image, in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth. 

 We must be born again as the Apostle Paul on the way to Damascus, as Peter when the cock crowed and he rued his denial of Jesus, as Mary Magdalene at the feet of Jesus when he forgave her sins, as the prodigal son when he came to his senses, and as Zacchaeus when Jesus called him from the sycamore tree. 

  Holding God's word and commands are also part of being born again. Stay strong and true in the church, help to build the church, speak up and warn when you see a brother fail and be there to help him up when he falls. 

 The signs of being born again are that we bear the fruits of the Spirit. The more fruit a tree bears the more it bends over and lowers itself, but the tree that bears no fruit stands proud and tall. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

 Dear children, we are mindful of you, make a strong promise with God, be born again, fear God, stay strong in faith and do what's right. Pray daily for the Holy Spirit that he may guide you all the days of your life.

  Till next week God bless    

Hutterite Baptism. Week 2 - Covenant and Submission

Children, think of what you do. Making a covenant with God is not something to be taken lightly. We will not cheat God. Abraham made the first covenant with God and look how true he stayed to God. In obedience, virtue and works. 

 When we want to make a covenant with God, we have to be as faithful and obedient as Abraham was. Now what did that cost him? It cost him his own will, his relatives and his homeland. He was tried and tested to see if he held faithful and true. God promised Abraham a son and heir and he delivered on that promise. Then God asked him to take his beloved son and offer him unto Him on Mount Moriah. Abraham did not council with flesh and blood, his love and obedience to God made him want to obey. 

 God loved Abraham for keeping his covenant. God even confided in him what his plans were with Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham bartered from 50 souls down to 5. 1 Genesis 18:17-19 gives us witness "And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord." 

 Children, where can we find a man that kept his promise and covenant as faithfully as Abraham did? With Abraham God began to gather a people.  Our Saviour in his time could say to the Jews "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham" John 8:39

 It doesn't help to call oneself children of God and not be them. The church needs loyal followers if it should stand. Community is like a house built upon souls, and when one soul after another falls, so must the house fall. 

 And children, love your neighbour as yourself. Community life is not an easy life, when we wrong our neighbour or get wronged by him we can't just say "I never want to see you again or have anything to do with you, get out of my sight and life" Well, guess what, tomorrow morning you will sit at the breakfast table with him at the Colony kitchen, work during the day with him and evening come to church with him. You must forgive, even though you may have been wronged. And that goes against every grain of self-righteousness in our body. But how can we find it in our heart to love our neighbour as ourself?

 This is a hard one and it helps to look at this this way. How do we love ourself? When we work hard, accomplish things and do good things for our fellow man we truly do love ourself. When we slack at work, lie, cheat, sin and get into ugly arguments with our fellow man we do not love ourself, in fact we can get downright disgusted and even hate ourself for a time. But in the end we never really hate ourself, we just hate what we do. 'Love the sinner, hate the sin" is a saying that comes to mind. 

 With that in mind; love your neighbour, help wherever you can and don't slack. Strive always to be on time and not a straggler at work. Remember you are working for those who can't, for those who are too young, too old, too feeble and those who ail and are not able. 

    And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40

 Till next week , God bless

Hutterite Baptism. Week 1

Dear children, you are now in the process of making a covenant with God the Almighty. A God so great, (as King Solomon describes in 1 Kings 8:27) that the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, yet at the same time so small and humble that He can come and live in the hearts of men if we but hear His call and prepare a place in our hearts for Him. From there He will lead and guide us through His Holy Spirit for the rest of our days

First let's look at our Saviour Jesus Christ who asked to be baptized of John the Baptist. John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Matthew 3:14-15. 

This righteousness is now your task. Do you want to become a child of God and a member of His body, you have to be baptized as Jesus said in Mark 16:16 (KJV) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. 

In this life you have to search, devote time and effort, then you will be enlightened and made wise. So I beseech you to carefully look and search in the Word of God and you will find what Nicodemus found. He found such a belief and trust to Christ that he came to prepare the body of Jesus for His burial. 

I recommend you hold yourself to the Word of God diligently. This will be the best time to look for and to praise God, to build up and strengthen your faith. Prepare yourself to truthfully and absolutely bind yourself to God. Do not waiver in your quest, then you shall find and keep. Pray when you arise in the morning and never miss, pray daily that God keeps you strong in your baptism and promise. And at evening thank Him, that He helps and strengthens you to keep your baptismal vows. The Grace and forgiveness from God will never be offered to you as richly as now. 

But also to warn, remember that temptations will not be omitted. We have example that the Son of God, after His baptism was tempted and tested of the devil when He fasted for 40 days in the desert. These 40 days represent the days of our life. 

Till now you have had your earthly father and school teachers to teach and discipline you, when you are born again you have a new Father. A Father that lives in heaven that you can go with all your troubles and ask of Him strength, help and advice. Jesus said to his disciples "Till now you have done nothing in my name, now when you ask you shall receive" John 16:24. Newborn babies have a need of milk, as newborn Christians you have need of God and his word. You have a treasure, a richness, a happiness, a loving Father who resides in your heart that you can share and tell of your problems in prayer. 

Till next week, God bless.

Hutterite Baptism

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 

Hutterite baptism occurs when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and wants to create a 'bund' (promise, covenant or pledge of allegiance) with Him. With baptism one also becomes a member of the Church. 

The ones who want to get baptized ask the minister of the church who then asks the members. If all agree that the person has shown repentance and is mentally mature enough to understand the seriousness and scope of baptism, that person then enters a probation period of seven weeks. Every Sunday afternoon they receive instruction and guidance from the Colony elders.

What I'll attempt to do is provide you with a snapshot of the weekly message we convey to these young adults. We try to make them understand that this is not something to be taken lightly, and if one is not ready to enter into a covenant with the Lord and be born again it would be best to wait till one is.