on Mr Webb, the Bible and sodomy

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) I thought I'd state this first.

Harry Webb (Sir Cliff Richard), a leading figure in British evangelical Christian circles, has been reported as saying the Church should bless same-sex relationships, and that they are as valid as the Biblical example of one man - one wife, for life. It saddens me to see a man who was once such an example of the Christian faith reduced to such human words and thoughts. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8.)

There is little point in going over the well-worn ground of how the Word of God clearly puts sodomites outwith God's Kingdom. It is there, clearly and unambiguously. Well, it is, if you accept God's Word as his clear, unambiguous and unalterable stance. "Every word of God is flawless ... Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar." (Proverbs 30:5-6).

The only way a Christian can end up in a position that is not in accord with God's Word, is to have an attitude of pride, that the man knows better than God, that God did not see what the man sees, that God did not understand what the man understands, that if only God was as compassionate as the man then God would have written things differently, that God doesn't understand me and the things I am going through.

Of course, this is nonsense. "The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile." (Psalm 94:11)

Our example is Christ in Luke 22:42: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." As The Word of God also says in Romans 13:14: "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.".

You see, my friend, as a person you and my desires are wrong. What we wish in our humanity is wrong: wealth, pleasure, importance, property, respect, etc. This was not the way of Christ, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be held onto, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a slave, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Phil 2:6-8).

It is clear that Christ's willingness to obey His Father was such that he turned away from all the vanities of this world and took all the hatred it could put upon him. No big house, big name, bosom buddies, wealth and the way of pleasure for the man who is willing to humble himself, follow Christ's example and stick to God's prescribed Way.

If you are tempted by sins - sexual, habitual, harmful - then Christ is the example to follow. " In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Hebrews 2:10).

Mr Webb should learn, as we should all learn, that it is in suffering, not in carnal enjoyment, that the way to perfect salvation lies.

The second last word goes to St Paul, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders" (1 Corinthians 6:9).

The fact is that there are those who the British state calls 'Sir' who would disagree with The Word of God, and poo-poo what Jesus did for us. It was ever thus. The last word must go to The LORD Jesus Christ, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (Matthew 7:13)

Be one of the few. Not one of the many,