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There are incidents in the Bible that are amusing as well as informative. During the infancy of the church when miracles were needed to confirm the Word (Mark 16:20), "God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul" (Acts 19:15). The sick were healed of their illnesses, and "evil spirits" (limited to the miraculous era) were cast out. The Bible then declares, "But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this. And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified" (Acts 19:13-17 ASV, emph. MLW). The and "evil spirits" easily recognized the difference between Paul's authority from the Holy Spirit to work miracles and the fake claims of the exorcists. Those today who claim to work miracles cannot as they have not been empowered to do so by the laying on of the apostle's hands (cf. Acts 8:14-17). The "evil spirits" in Acts 19 were evidently wiser than some candidates that are running for the office of president of the United States. The following quote is from a recent speech given by Barack Obama at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio: "People who are gay and lesbian should be treated with dignity and respect and the state should not discriminate against them. I don't think it [a same-sex union] should be called marriage, but I think that it is a legal right that they should have that is recognized by the state... If people find that controversial then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans" (Source: Brian Fitzpatrick, senior editor for Culture and Media Institute). Usually, the liberal and biased media pounces on one who references the Scriptures — but not in this case! Bob Knight, director of the Culture and Media Institute, notes, "You've got a presidential candidate invoking the Sermon on the Mount to justify an issue position... that contradicts 2,000 years of church teaching — and the media snore through it." Obama claims to be a "devout Christian" and not a Muslim, and then reveals himself to be biblically illiterate in referring to Paul's quote in Romans as an "obscure passage." Or, perhaps Obama does know exactly what the Bible teaches about homosexuality, and wants to change it! He advocates "change" in practically every speech, and obviously has no aversion to changing the Holy Scriptures. Either way, Obama shows his true colors when it comes to respect for the Word of God! Now to the heart of the matter! Where in the Sermon on the Mount does Jesus advocate or encourage homosexuality? Not one Scripture is referenced or quoted by Obama! Is Obama accusing Jesus of encouraging and condoning what God calls an "abomination" and condemns (cf. Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)? Never mind that the Father and Son are one in purpose (John 17:21), but I suspect that these Scriptures may also be on Obama's list of "obscure passages". If Romans 1:26-27 qualify as "obscure" Scriptures, then consistency demands that First Corinthians 6:9-10 be classified as "obscure" as Paul is the author of both books. By the way, does Obama get to decide if there is any information in Romans or 1 Corinthians that is not "obscure?" Perhaps it is only the passages that condemn homosexuality that are "obscure." How convenient for all those who court the homosexual vote! Is Peter also "obscure" when he says, "knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation? For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21 ASV). According to Romans 1:1 and 1 Corinthians 1:1, Paul is an apostle "separated unto the gospel of God" and "called...through the will of God." If Obama were speaking to "evil spirits" about "obscure" Scriptures, they would surely say, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?" May we accept the gospel of Christ and the inspired words of Paul instead of the "gospel according to Obama!" |