{"id":2128,"date":"2021-11-19T15:58:17","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T15:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2128"},"modified":"2021-11-23T20:01:15","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T20:01:15","slug":"21-november-2021-is-it-natural-or-is-it-wrong","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2128","title":{"rendered":"21 November 2021: &#8220;Is it natural or is it wrong?&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"218\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20211121.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2129 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20211121.jpg 218w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20211121-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20211121-15x24.jpg 15w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20211121-23x36.jpg 23w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20211121-31x48.jpg 31w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<br>21 November 2021<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2112\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/> <strong>Previous Service<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2140\"><strong>Next Service<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1007\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=72\">Podcasts<\/a>&nbsp;page<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"21 November 2021: \u201cIs it natural or is it wrong?\u201d\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TdrgDNzuqLM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There will be a Carol Service in the building at 2pm on 19th December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Testimony<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\">The late Billy Strachan, Principal of Capenwray Bible College spoke at our Church Weekend-Away back in the early \u201880\u2019s when I was a member of Ivy Cottage. It was a brilliant weekend with his excellent teaching on the life of Elijah \/ Elisha. On the Friday evening he introduced himself and shared how at one time he led a homosexual lifestyle. However, through committing his life to Jesus he was set free from this and happily married with 3 children.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Chris McClarney - Hallelujah For The Cross (Lyrics)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/710eqhcJq7Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Reading: <\/strong>Rom 1:18-32<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way men abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. <\/p><cite>Rom 1:26-27<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Bible College we were taught that sound <em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianity.com\/wiki\/christian-terms\/what-are-exegesis-and-eisegesis.html\" target=\"_blank\">exegesis<\/a><\/em>, rather than (my) <em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianity.com\/wiki\/christian-terms\/what-are-exegesis-and-eisegesis.html\" target=\"_blank\">eisegesis<\/a><\/em>, was vital to get at the truth of Scripture. What does that mean? It means that in seeking to understand what a passage of Scripture truly teaches we must let the original author (here Paul) &#8230; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201c&#8230; say what he does say instead of attributing to him what we think he ought to say\u201d<\/em><br><br>John Calvin<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today there is pressure on churches to bless gay marriages. Is this coming from the Lord or from the world? If the Bible states gay marriage is okay then we all must bless these marriages. If the Bible teaches that it is not okay then we shouldn\u2019t. There are churches that now bless gay marriages, e.g., United Reformed Churches; Methodist Churches; Church in Wales; some 100 \u2018progressive\u2019 Catholic Churches in Germany defying the Vatican\u2019s pronouncement that God cannot bless sin, and so it goes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There again, there are many churches who refuse to bless gay marriage. It must be confusing to the ordinary person looking on. So what does Scripture teach? It seems clear here, that Paul, inspired by the Spirit (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21), teaches that all homosexual behaviour is wrong, a consequence of the wrath of God, of God giving people over to their sinful choices,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Because of <strong>this<\/strong>, [exchanging the truth of God for a lie \u2013 Romans 1:25], God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women <strong>exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones<\/strong>. In the same way the men also <strong>abandoned natural relations with women<\/strong> and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.<\/p><cite>Romans 1:26-27<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gay lobby are challenging this, contesting that they are gay <strong>by nature<\/strong>, and that these relationships are <strong>natural<\/strong> to them. The Greek words used here for <strong>\u2018natural\u2019<\/strong> and <strong>\u2018unnatural\u2019<\/strong> were &#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201c&#8230; very frequently used \u2026 as a way of distinguishing between heterosexual and homosexual behaviour\u201d <br><\/em><br>R. B. Hays<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cWe have no liberty to interpret the noun \u2018nature\u2019 as meaning \u2018my\u2019 nature, or the adjective \u2018natural\u2019 as meaning \u2018what seems natural to me.\u2019 On the contrary, \u2018physis\u2019 (\u2019natural\u2019) means God\u2019s created order. To act \u2018against nature\u2019 means to violate the order which God has established, whereas to act \u2018according to nature\u2019 means to behave \u2018in accordance with the intention of the Creator\u2019.\u201d<\/em><br><br>John Stott, quoting parts of Cranfield<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Questions for Discussion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cSexual perversion is the result of God\u2019s wrath not the reason for it\u201d?<\/li><li>Why do people hate the truths in this passage?<\/li><li>What is your response in prayer to the realities in this passage?<\/li><li>How should the church relate to people who are homosexual and lesbian?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cIgnoring good theology, by ignoring God, leads to misbehaviour.\u201d<\/em><br><br>Ben Witherington<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verse of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.<\/p><cite>Rom. 8:28<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gracious loving heavenly Father, these are difficult issues and cause much pain, hatred and aggression. Help us, Your Church, to respond in love to all gay people, whilst at the same time teaching them what You have revealed in Your word regarding the lifestyles they are living. May many be brought into Your kingdom; Lord in Your wrath remember mercy, in and through Jesus Christ, Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;Podcasts&nbsp;page. Welcome There will be a Carol Service in the building at 2pm on 19th December. Testimony The late Billy Strachan, Principal of Capenwray Bible College spoke at our Church Weekend-Away back in the early \u201880\u2019s when I was a member of Ivy &#8230; <a title=\"21 November 2021: &#8220;Is it natural or is it wrong?&#8221;\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2128\" aria-label=\"Read more about 21 November 2021: &#8220;Is it natural or is it wrong?&#8221;\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2128","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2128"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2128\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2144,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2128\/revisions\/2144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}