Coming to Terms with Using Terms like "Gay"

"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." (Proverbs 15:2).

It is a good practice to think about the words we use, what they mean, and how we can speak "aright".

The word in question in this post is the term "gay".

Right off, I will say that I personally could not recommend using the word "gay" as any sort of slur, especially in a flippant way.  I think the reason is because I am stuck with the knowledge of what it means.  

The word "gay" in truth means cheerful, happy, merry, jovial; brave, bright, fine, etc. that does not seem to me a proper term of insult.  

We find it once in Scripture.  James 2:1-3 "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:"

The word "gay" there in James 2:3 means someone's finery in apparel.

In modern times, the word was co-opted for the sodomite homosexual death style (not really a lifestyle) to endeavor to make homosexuality seem more acceptable and normative, and fun.

The casual use of it can have unexpected consequences.  I know of people who were teased and called by that term in derision so much that they began to believe that perhaps there were of that identity.  Others hearing it, have been influenced to think that it is something to laugh about, and thus is not so serious a sin.  

As a rule, I try not to use it to mean anything of that perversion, because those who are in bondage to that abomination are not truly gay in the proper meaning of the word. "Even in laughter, the heart is sorrowful: and the end of that mirth is heaviness" (Proverbs 14:13).  I have talked with homosexuals in front of sodomite bars, and when they got away from their companions, sometimes they would express their guilt and their desperation over the chains of this wickedness that they loved and were enslaved by, even groaning and crying.  So the meaning of the name does not belong to that conduct of identification.

Furthermore, when I hear that term attributed to other, especially by Christians, even in a joking or flippant manner, to borrow from another brother's expression, "I feel part of me die inside".  That sin with which the term is linked today, effeminacy and sodomy, rejection of God's design and enslavement to unnatural lust, is not a laughing matter.  I know people who are pursuing that path to their own perdition, and it grieves me. 

Ponder on these verses from one of my favorite psalms:

Psalm 119:136 "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law."

Psalm 119:158 "I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word."

Psalm 119:53 "Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law."

How can I laugh at that which is destroying my fellow human beings?  It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.  We are to shine light on it, reprove it, but how can I make it a joke?  

I am not seeking to bind another man's conscience, but the topic was raised by someone recently, and I felt compelled to share my thoughts and position.  

Abortion must be Abolished. 

Because "His Precepts are Right", Call for JUSTICE and Plead for TRUTH

Psalm 119:128 “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right: and I hate every false way.”

I don’t want to oppose evil only to find out later that that I was opposing it in a way that God calls evil.  I don’t want you to do that either.  But I fear that the Christian community has been well trained to be ProLife in its perspective, practice, and policy concerning abortion, yet not Biblically consistent.  And if we have been doing it wrong, it is best to NOW “prove what is acceptable unto the Lord”, “cease to do evil, and learn to do well”.  

JUSTICE - God is JUST.  He is a JUST God and a Saviour.  In Him, there is no respect of persons.

Exodus 23:2-3,6-8

:2 “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:”

:3 “Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.”

:6 “Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.”

:7 “Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.”

James 2:4,8 “Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? …If ye keep the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”

Partiality in protecting people from murder is transgressing God’s true justice. Inequity is Iniquity.

Jesus said “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).

Equity and Justice must be established.  Equal justice under the law.

TRUTH – God is TRUTH.  He cannot lie.

Also in Exodus 23:1 “Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.”  Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Truth telling.  True treatment.  Treat the preborn like who they are.  Treat abortion like what it is. When the ProLife Movement regulates abortion, they are treating it like what the proaborts say it is: “Healthcare”.  They are not telling the truth.  Abortion is Homicide.  In the list of things that God hates in Proverbs 6, “hands that shed innocent blood” (v.17) is found, but lying is found twice: 2) “a lying tongue” and 6) “a false witness that speaketh lies.” Jeremiah 9:3 tells about the wicked, that “they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth;” Should we not then “be valiant for the truth” ourselves? Therefore, because His precepts are right, we must demand Equal Justice and Truth, and reject Partiality and Falsehood.

Isaiah 59 speaks of a culture of violence and vanity, in which people’s “feet run to do evil”, and “shed innocent blood” (verse 7).  Verse 8 says, “Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity [going their own way], and “wasting and destruction are in their paths.”  “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man: but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25).

It is described as a day when the vulnerable and the innocent are not being protected from violence. Verse 14 “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.”

In such a day, one of God’s declarations in verse 4 was that “none calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth;” instead they trust in vain strategies, and iniquitous measures.  They hatch all sorts of plans, and then call on God, petitioning Him to bless their efforts.  They are choosing their own way too, in opposition of the evil.

What is the LORD’s response? 

Isa 59:1-3 “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Isaiah 59:3 “For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity…”

How can the ones against the bloodshed, have blood on their hands? 

A. By being complicit in the murder.  “Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed...” (Ezekiel 22:4).

B. By being either complacent or cowardly in the midst of the murder, silent, absent, and negligent, not seeking to warn the wicked, nor speak for the weak. Ezekiel 33:8 “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

C. By compromising with the crime, in making and supporting bills regulating how to commit the murder.  Psalm 94:20 “Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?”  Isaiah 10:1-2 “Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;  To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!”  In the New Testament, Paul spoke of lifting holy hands up in prayer.  Bloody hands all over the country,

When the LORD God says, “WOE”, it is wise for people to say, “Whoa…” and consider our ways. 

What is God’s charge to those in authority? ESTABLISH TRUE JUSTICE.

Jeremiah 22:3 “Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.”

What is God’s charge to you and me as His people?   To love in TRUTH and live according to JUSTICE.

To love our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  To love our neighbor as ourself.  If I am not loving my preborn neighbor, the least of these, how am I loving my God and Saviour, in Whose image they are made, and Who takes very personally how we treat the least of these?  We are commanded to love not just “in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (I John 3:18).  Unfeigned love.  I am sure that the priest and the Levite felt bad for the guy on the road, but Jesus didn’t equate that sympathy for love.  True love in I Corinthians 13, “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.”  Thus, we cannot approve of ProLife laws that regulate abortion as if it is healthcare.   That is bearing false witness against our preborn neighbors and the God in whose image they are made.  We are also commanded to be “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4).  “Open thy mouth for the dumb…” (Proverbs 31:8-9).  For JUSTICE and TRUTH.

What if I was being dragged into that building to be killed?…sidewalks and society and statehouse.  Totally and immediately abolish. Love thy neighbor as thyself.

What can we do?

Engage!  Put the truth out where it can be seen and heard.  In the day when truth is fallen in the streets, take the truth to the streets and intersections!  Engage privately and publicly.  Spread the word!  Abortion must be abolished.

Evangelize Go to the abortion mills and elsewhere to Preach and Plead.  Call the lost to repent and believe the Gospel.

Expose the evil of our Holocaust, and the injustice of ProLife incremental regulatory strategy.

Expound the truth of God’s word concerning life in the womb, child sacrifice, justice and mercy.

Educate, Exhort, and Equip the church to take their role as salt and light in the midst of this Holocaust.

Enjoin the magistrates to establish equal protection under the law for the preborn.

Jeremiah 5:1 “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.”

It is imperative to press for bills that are both JUST and TRUE.  We need to be pressing our leaders to support these and move them forward, and REJECT all iniquitous bills.  Because they are contrary to God's precepts, we must refuse them as "false ways".

Don’t let Isaiah 59:4 describe YOU.  Call for JUSTICE.  Plead for TRUTH.

Because all God’s precepts concerning all things are right, 

ABORTION MUST BE ABOLISHED.

Repent With Us

We abolitionists are calling the people of the United States to #repentwithus, not just the people who are murdering their children actively, but also the people who stand by, 

those who are silent in the face of it, 

those who are at peace with child sacrifice and partiality against the preborn, 

those who are not doing something to oppose the bloodshed, 

those who hide their eyes, 

those who stop their ears, 

those who regard not to know it, 

those who go along their way as if it is no big deal.

Similarly, we abolitionists are calling the ProLife Movement to #repentwithus, not just the ProLife leaders, lobbyists, and legislators who regulate murder, who call mothers "victims", who kill bills of justice, but also those who follow them, 

those who support them, 

those who vote for them, 

those who have been taught to think likewise, 

those who are silent in the face of it (allowing the leaders to think they are doing well in it),

those who are at peace with regulating murder, with partiality against the preborn, 

those who are not actively opposing THAT injustice, 

and those who are acting as if it is no big deal.

We are not calling others to repent because we have never had to repent ourselves.  We say #repentwithus, because we ourselves had to repent of the areas in which we were wrong in regards to child sacrifice, whether it was by complicity, compromise, complacency, or cowardice.  By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, He brought us to repent concerning this, and we call others also to repent, and return to align with the Biblical response to child sacrifice.  We simply confess to agree with our God, and call to others to confess to the same thing, to agree, saying, "I say that what Christ says, is what I say." 

I am an abolitionist, being constrained by the love of Christ.  We reprove and call people to repentance because we love them, and because we love babies, and because we love the LORD Who first loved us, Who says, in Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."

Let U.S. repent.  Let us repent.  #Repentwithus

Abortion must be Abolished.

Grandpa Myers was "The Man"

On this day, back in 1931, my grandfather, Harold Edward Myers, was born.  It has been 21  years since he departed into the presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ, but I still remember him well and love him, and look forward to seeing him again someday!  

You could say that Grandpa Myers was "the man":

- The man who taught me to see the Creator's handiwork in a tulip, a trout, the woods, and so on.  I recall the sound of his voice called me to watch the timed release of a lily opening that he had caught on his big camcorder, and gush over each movement at the intricacy of the Great Engineer.

- The man who seemingly could do anything, from building benches and birdhouses, to gardening all types of vegetables, fruit trees, berries, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes, as well as decorative plants and flowers, to hunting and fishing, to riding horses, and building a lodge pole pine home to live in for a month at a time in the mountains of Colorado.  In his hands, things came together, and green things grew.

- The man who had built a great fireplace room on his house at 4041 Ruby Avenue, including a ladder to a loft, where grandchildren took refuge to play, to built forts, and fire imaginations.  he also taught me to build my first fire in that handmade stone fireplace.  He loved to see his descendants swinging on the various outside tree swings he constructed for them, his grandsons rushing around, and his granddaughters playing ballerina.  

- The man who invented Grandpa's "World Famous Fairly Good Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip Cookies"!  Grandpa's house was always smelling of things cooking, baking, or barbecuing.  His stews, home canned goods, smoked catfish were amazing.  I remember how he made fresh carrot juice just because his thirsty little grandson asked for it.  He also shot and cooked a squirrel for me to eat too. 

- The man who came to Christ as a young man, and later told me of his testimony, of the crushing burden of his sin, and how as he rose from his knees, the burden was gone, and how as he walked away, it felt as though his feet didn't touch the ground.

- The man who loved his Savior, and delighted to memorize Scripture, and could quote the book of Ephesians in a way to strike the soul.

- The man who loved his wife, his children, and his grandchildren intensely, who was always along the way, teaching in word and deed, about the Bible, about character, about diligence, about protecting one's own kin.

- The man who led my daddy to Jesus at the age of 4, who then grew up to lead his son (me) to trust on Jesus when I was 3.

- The man with an unbelievable Irish tenor voice, who was awakened one night, and wrote the powerful lyrics "My Work Well Done" to the tune of the Londonderry Aire, which became the family theme song.

- The man who was paralyzed down half his body with a stroke spent many hours, days, months, and years sending emails on his WebTV, sharing the Gospel with people far and wide, encouraging the saints with the word of God, and wit and wisdom God had taught him.

- The man who typed lovingly with his one functional hand, and finished every message with: "Rejoicing in the benefits of Calvary."

- The man who went on to glory before me, and caused me to desire Heaven more fervently.

- The man I wish my children could have met and known as I did.

- The man who told me, "You are a son of the King of kings.  Behave as one should." 

Grandpa and Grandma had 7 children, 36 grandchildren, and 57 great grandchildren so far.  

I am blessed to be descended from such a man.

Abortion must be abolished.

Someone's Throwing Stuff!

 A Public Service Announcement for my Christian brethren...

When you stand publicly for Christ and those made in His image, delivering truth in a world that loves lies, whether you are speaking or simply holding a sign, you may find that not everyone will approve or appreciate or applaud that outreach.  Some will heckle, try to drown out or block, or even throw stuff at the evangelist.  This is not new.  Men like Stephen (Acts 7:54-60), and later Paul (Acts 14:5,19), had stones thrown to execute them (Of course, Paul got back up from it-Acts 14:20).  Most of the time the throwing of objects is not fatal.

George Whitefield, John Wesley, and other street preachers in the past (like the old time Salvation Army with William Booth) have proclaimed the Gospel and been the recipients of all manner of suffering, including being pelted with tomatoes, heads of old lettuce, and rotten eggs. 

And it should be no surprise, for we are assured of the blessing of persecution.  Philippians 1:129 "for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;"  It ought to be confessed that having produce hurled at you is on the lower end of persecution, but it is on the scale.

Many Christians involved in open air ministry have experience this.  It is almost a badge of service, with an honorable history, to be treated thus while countering evils, and sharing the precious way of salvation.  We can, by God's grace, "Count it all joy".

Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Luke 6:22-23 "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."

It is one paradox of the Christian walk, that believers persecuted for the LORD, can simultaneously be weeping and leaping.  Weeping over the hardness of men's hearts and leaping at the privilege to share in that suffering.

I myself have had a variety of objects, including snowballs, bottles, cups, cigarettes, and spittle cast my way, water dumped on me, or thrown in my face.  People briving by who see us may lob anything that comes to hand, whether it be a glass bottle of Starbucks coffee, an unopened water bottle, a cup filled with pop, or even a large container of hand sanitizer with a pump! [I hasten to say that in many incidents, the objects do not make contact, as many people have lousy aim, especially those throwing from a car window.] 

Most of the time it seems like a spur of the moment choice, a knee-jerk reaction as it were, though some months ago, someone made the premeditated choice to prep an open bottle filled with urine.  That is in the photo below, now empty of its contents.

Yes, diverse things have been tossed, but I say one of the more unique items is the last instance I will mention here.  A few weeks ago, someone was so reckless in their rush to express their disapproval, that when they grabbed for the contents of their cupholder and threw as they drove past, it so happened that, including in the trash and bottle, was a number of coins.  I will admit that I desire to see change to do ministry, but not that kind.

And this morning, while standing at the same place, I found two more of the coins that remained, to pennies as you can see.

Those of you who engage in public evangelism, did you ever have money thrown at you in opposition of your outreach?  Looking down at my hand, I realize that maybe they were just trying to give me their two cents worth.  This could be quite the example of sacrificial giving, considering the lack of sense in our society today.

Abortion must be abolished.

Imago Dei or DEI?

From the first chapter in the Bible, we find this declaration. 

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:26-27).

This is called the Imago Dei (Latin), and is an incredibly profound truth, that all humans are created in the image of God.  

This should cause us to recognize our responsibility to our Creator, respond humbly in relationship with Him, and rightly deal with other humans as fellow image-bearers (with proper kindness, honor, justice, and patience).  There is a unity in understanding and applying this truth—we were "made of one blood" (Acts 17:26), designed by God for His glory (Isaiah 43:7).  The certainty of the word of truth gives a foundation for purpose and proper living in this present world (Proverbs 22:20-21).  The Imago Dei is the basis for human rights, that all humans are image-bearers of the Creator God. 

It is the grounds for providing just judgment in government, "...for in the image of God made he man" (Genesis 9:6), excluding "the respect of persons" in judgment (Exodus 23:3,6; James 2:4), giving rise to impartiality (Deuteronomy 16:19).  

However,  

What happens when the world loses that knowledge... 

Multitudes in our culture today have rejected their Creator and thus have no basis for the true understanding of the Imago Dei.  This has resulted in manifold abuses and various vain ideals that serve as idols in souls and society as a whole.  

For instance, many recently have swallowed a narrative, and bowed to the Idol known as DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).  This acronym just so happens to have the same letters as the Latin word for God (DEI).  

Millions have bowed down to this made-up deity in our society—this god of “glorified Self’—but DEI has only brought division, entitlement, and iniquity no matter the proposed compassion toward all humans it claims to give.  Those who worship at the feet of image of DEI, are in danger of becoming like the lying vanities they embrace, and forsake their own mercy (Psalm 115:8; Jonah 2:8).  

As with many other false philosophies, the fruit born from DEI leads to confusion, oppression, abuse, and injustice. 

Human rights cannot long survive the full-scale onslaught upon the reality of the Imago Dei.  We must submit to God and His word, saying with the psalmist, in Psalm 119:73, "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments."

Sons of Adam and daughters of Eve who have this understanding are able to and must reject every thought and philosophy that exalts itself against the knowledge of their Creator, and bring the truth into conflict with the culture that hates God and loves death (Proverbs 8:36).  DEI is where true equality goes to DIE.  

But the Imago Dei provides a framework for life from the Author of LIFE that works.  

By the way, Abortion must be abolished.

Something to Consider if an Abolitionist is not Running in your Area.

The next time an election comes around, if you don’t have an abolitionist running in your district, consider running yourself, if you can. 

That way you will have someone to vote for. 

Moreover, you will be giving your neighbors a just option, thus loving your neighbors as yourself. 

It gives you an opportunity and a platform to shine light in the darkness, to seed a culture with the truth of God's word.  "Duty is ours. Results are God's."  Whatever happens with the election results, when you do it this way, you win, because God is glorified, and more people have heard the call for Justice and Truth than before. 

That is what I did. 

 Jeremiah 5:1 “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” 

For years, this verse has stirred me and spurred me to seek to call legislators to justice and truth. The last words of the last verse of chapter 4 (the words prior to this verse), say “my soul is weary because of murderers.” 

Then it came to my attention in 2024:

No one in my district was running to abolish child sacrifice. 

No one was even running as a ProLifer for the state house in my district. 

It was then, realizing no one else was stepping up, and that there was a total void, that the first two words of Jeremiah 5:1 leaped out at me: “Run YE”.  So I ran.

That race was a great opportunity to share truth with others in my district about Justice and Truth and Love in Jesus’ name.  I was blessed to give truthful literature door to door with neighbors in the community, and WAS EXPECTED TO DO SO.  I was able to present the Gospel message to groups that I would never had been invited to speak to otherwise.   

I was able to expose how we live in Bleeding Kansas (A.K.A. the Sunflower State)  and need to make like a sunflower and repent, turning back to the Son.

I got to declare that Jesus is King, and that abortion, being murder, must be abolished. 

I ended up receiving amazing 36% of the vote in a heavily Democratic district.  I am grateful for the testimony of truth that was declared in the two abolitionist campaigns in Kansas that year, and do trust Christ for the results, for the seeds sown, and the light shone.  And there continues to be fruit from that campaign.

This is meant to be an encouragement to my brethren in the battle wherever you may be. 

Abortion Must Be Abolished.