Well, well, well

Recently an internet friend pointed out on Facebook that a “Christian” singer decided to “come out of the closet” and in noting that this friend expressed disappointment and frustration.
I told her that I understood and felt the same way when another performer that I admired had done the same… that performer’s recent revelation was also a surprise to her.

See in the Christian world we have a set of standards. Some people want to berate us for them, they want to yell at us for them, but the problem is that these standards are not set BY us they are set by God.
I can hear it now “OH SEE I TOLD YOU THAT THEIR GOD WAS HATEFUL” but wait.
That was not and is not God’s master plan.

God wants us to be filled with joy!
Those who would detract from this point would say “how can you say God wants us filled with joy when he allows people like [homosexuals] to be so unhappy and people pick on them?”
Now there is an interesting point, studies show that Homosexuals ARE generally less happy… by nature! They are more depressed and more likely to attempt suicide than “straight” people. That shows that these people do NOT have joy! Quite the opposite! Even when they have had their lifestyles “accepted”.

What they fail to acknowledge and will even argue against is the fact that homosexuality is sinful. But deep down inside they know the truth.
Our society has become a very permissive one. We allow all kinds of things in the spirit of “if it feels good how can it be bad?”

Those who practice that lifestyle while still claiming to be Christian are saying things like… “ oh the Bible doesn’t REALLY say anything against homosexuality, it’s all a misunderstanding, or a misinterpretation, or the church trying to pass judgment where even God wouldn’t.”

The thing is that even if you believe the Bible doesn't really say anything specific about homosexuality, God always sets an example of what he expects out of us. So when he created Adam and Eve he was saying. “that is my plan, that Man and Woman should be together one with the other.” as clichéd as it is and as much as I hate the saying considering my name it is still true that God created Adam and Eve in the beginning… Not Adam and Steve.

Side note: if you doubt this point consider also that God created ONE man and ONE woman, that was also an example he set. And EVERY time we see someone in the Bible practicing Polygamy we see how badly it turns out for them.
Just ask Abram and David.
So what is joy? How do we receive the Joy that God has for us? I think we all can learn from a man named Horatio Spafford. He wrote the song “it is well with my soul” in 1871 Mr. Spafford, who was an attorney in Chicago, lost a lot of money when the great fire of Chicago happened, he also had lost his young son, around the same time, to scarlet fever.

He had plans to go to England with his family in 1873 but urgent business came up and so while his wife and 4 daughters went on ahead on the Ville de Harve, a luxurious French cruise ship, he stayed behind with the intention of catching up later.
On the way to England the Ville De Harve struck another ship, an iron sailing vessel and sank in smooth seas in two hours, and Horatio Spafford lost his four daughters.
When she arrived in England, his wife sent him the message “survived alone”.
Horatio immediately left to join his wife. On the way to England as he crossed over the spot where his daughters had drowned, Mr. Spafford wrote the song “It is well with my soul”.

That is the joy and peace that God gives us. It is not a fleeting emotional happiness; it is a deep, lasting, patient, comfort, contentment and peace.
Even when we are grieving we are comforted and can find our strength in him.
When we deny his word and his rules we deny that peace and joy he can give us.

I hope that we all can have the joy that God provides.

Here are the lyrics to the song it is well.

IT IS WELL.

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.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
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.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain