Love on Life Support

I want to start off by having a disclaimer: I have been pondering if I should have a response to the madness that has broken out around social media today, but God has settled me with who should be my number one priority, and why I should always remember that God will ALWAYS be number one, even if the publics reaction is not positive.



Americans today are tipsy.
Some spiritually.
Some physically.
Most mentally.

Why do I say that Americans are tipsy? Because we just want to fit in. We want to do what everybody else is doing so we participate in the activities that it entails. Somebody says something really deep, and we attach to it, hopelessly, and we support it so much that we change our entire facebook to revolve around "it"...for a day.


I literally will not be able to sleep tonight, unless some things are said, and if they have to be said by me, let it be.


1. The reason my title is "Love on Life Support" is because this is that big of an issue, that needs to be addressed and prayed for.
2. There is a huge difference between loving and supporting.

I just wanted to take this time to address some of the things that I read today, and do my best to explain them, with the Word of God, which is most people like to argue this with.



Please, stop making the Word of God comfortable for the selfish desires of this messed up thing that we call "society".


One thing I have seen today, also the most popular, is the saying "God loved, so we should love."
The thing is, that is absolutely right.
God does say "Love one another, as I have loved you"; and frankly, if that is all that the saying means then it is very accurate.
However, that line is usually followed by something along the lines of "Proposition 8", which therefore means it has now become a support group.

Like I said earlier, there is a HUGE difference between loving and supporting something.

I can say right now that I LOVE homosexuals , that doesn't meant that I support the homosexual lifestyle.

Also Jesus says "I love the sinner, I hate the sin."
--That is a PRIME example of loving and supporting.

I love who you are, I don't support what you do.


Another thing that I have seen today, is something along the lines of "God created homosexuals for a reason!"

-This is sadly mistaken.

God did not create homosexual people, in fact in His Word, it's pretty much the exact opposite.

In the VERY FIRST book of the Bible.

"So God created human beings in HIS OWN IMAGE. In the image of GOD He created them; male and female He created them" Genesis 1:27

God created people in His own image.

He created people to live like He did, if they just believe.

And if you believe with your heart that Jesus is the Son of God, it should MAKE people that are following the patterns of the world to want to REPENT just by observing you.

As Christians, that is one of our main focuses: to make disciples of ALL nations (that doesn't just mean countries, necessarily) and to repent from the patterns of this world and have an attitude of Christ that others might see and believe.

Christ did not have an attitude like Proposition 8, as a matter of fact in the Old Testament in Genesis 19 He destroyed a city for reasons, one main reason being homosexuality.


One final thing that I have seen today is, "We are no longer under Old Testament law!"
-High Five! You're right.


However, homosexuality, sexual immorality, abortion, and other issues are seen in the New Testament as well.

I will use one example found in 1 Corinthians:
"Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't FOOL yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

*you may put your spiritual checklist down now*

This verse also brings up another argument that says "well if homosexuality is immoral, so is sexual immorality so we are all going to Hell." The first part of that statement is true, the second part...eh, check out the very next verse in this Chapter:

"Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (v. 11)

In verse 11, Paul is talking about repentance.

Repentance means completely doing a 180 from the acts that you have previously been guilty of and changing your lifestyle completely around to exemplify Christ.

Some people are guilty of sexual immorality, some people are guilty of other things found in 1 Corinthians 6, and those people have also repented from it which is a beautiful sight to see.

It's never to late, friends.


Last but not least, there is God's definition of marriage which is that marriage should be between "a man and a woman" there is no "if, and, or but" in that definition.



To wrap up, I just wanted to suggest that if you don't believe a specific part of the Bible, you don't believe the Bible.

Unfortunately for some people, the Word was not meant to be a buffet where people can come pick and choose what they believe in and still somehow fit in and be "popular" in this society.

Love everyone. Please, don't support everyone. And finally, as Christians we are called to live like Christ that others would turn away from the patterns of this world, please don't miss that.


I love every one of you.


-Lathan

why I'm leaving Arkansas.

Dear Friends,

As some of you may know, this is my last semester at the University of Arkansas. I am both saddened to leave such incredible people behind, but elated to jump on the plan for my life that was destined for me before I was even know by my parents.

God has really been at work in my life throughout the past year, and challenging me and taking me places I never even dreamt I would think about going to. However, this journey has been one of the biggest blessings in my life.

At the University of Arkansas, I was majoring in Criminal Justice/Psychology, and I honestly had no clue why. God really got a hold of me and said "I KNOW your plans, I KNOW what you're going to be doing 5 years from now, stop selfishly determining your future, and let me handle it." So, I realized how stubborn and spiritually immature I was becoming, and gave my future up to my Father.

For those of you that know my past, it wasn't unicorns and rainbows. And I firmly believe, more so now, that was given to me for a reason, and that reason involves my future. I have always had a passion for the precious children of God and I yearn to include them in my life in some aspect.

After praying continuously for direction, I have never felt more at peace, and more accountability at any campus in America than I felt at Biola University. Biola is a private school in Los Angeles, CA and is where I will finish out my Undergrad/maybe some Grad studies for College.

I know what you're thinking, LOS ANGELES?? That place is sketch and dark and gross. To that I respond, bring on the uncomfortable, if I let Jesus flow out of every part of me the result would be nothing less than unbelievable.

So, what are your plans now, Lathan? My plan is still being determined, but I am deciding between two different majors, or potentially another double major, but my future is as follows: I firmly believe God has given me a gift, a gift of communication, and a gift of interacting in a Spiritual way with many people that cross my paths. SO, I plan to go to Seminary and pursue a degree in Pastoral Ministry or Youth Ministry and also become a certified Counselor so I can spend some of my time as a Child/Trauma Counselor with the God's precious little ones.

You're going to be a Pastor? How are you going to make a living? To that I respond, money is an object, although a necessity of an object, it's an object. Experiencing Christ and being able to talk about Christ to the Church on a weekly basis, is more than enough "money" than I would ever need and God promises that He provides.


I am going to genuinely miss the friendships that I have built in the beautiful land of Fayetteville, and I am incredibly excited about what the future holds for me and my walk with Christ.


I whole-heartedly say that I was living for my selfish desires and what I wanted, and not what Christ wanted and there is a verse in the Word that I have been chewing on ever since this whole roller-coaster of a journey began and it is what I will leave you with:


"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by FAITH in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20


and, one more...

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way YOU think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you , which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2




God bless each and every one of you.