Homosexuality and Abortion - Cause vs. Effect

Most Christians would probably say that God disapproves of homosexuality and abortion, and that because of these specific corruptions God has given up on them. However, if you look at Romans 1, it's plain to see that these practices are the RESULT of God's giving them up, not the CAUSE. In the text, the Apostle Paul states that the cause of God's displeasure is that men do not honor Him. Therefore, God gives them up to pursue the foolishness which they count for wisdom, and this pursuit leads them directly to enumerated effects including (but not limited to) homosexuality and murder.

The next time you think that God seeks vengeance for the homosexual and abortionist fires raging throughout our society, ask yourself these questions:  

• Are you reading God's Word daily?  
• Do you confess your sins daily?  
• Do you know the Gospel?  
• Do you seek out, pray for, and preach to the lost?  

The disaffection of modern society for the inherent sanctity of life and of marriage between man and woman is NOT THE CAUSE of the Church's present-day disorientation. It the RESULT of the Church's failure to give a proper answer to these questions.  

So let's attack the causes of our society's moral disease rather than its victims and its symptoms. Let's re-engage our daily lives with the Order of Morning and Evening Prayer whose purpose is give God the honor that He desires of us.

The text (Romans 1):

Cause (vs 20-23):  
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."

God gives them up (vs 24-25):
"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

Effect (vs 26-32)
"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

"Quiet Time" Devotional Guide

The "Order of Morning and Evening Prayer" is the Anglican "quiet time" devotional guide. Compare it with other daily devotionals.  Our's helps in so many more ways:

1. To confess our sins, 
2. To read and study the Bible (intensely and comprehensively), 
3. To rehearse the essentials of the Gospel (Creed), 
4. To pray with other Christians corporately, 
5. To pray for neighbors, ministers, authorities, and enemies,
6. To give thanks to Christ for answered prayer according to God's mercy.

No daily devotional guide is as comprehensive as the Book of Common Prayer's "Order of Morning and Evening Prayer." It is NOT just a study guide.  It is NOT just a meditational guide.  It is NOT just a liturgical service.  It is NOT just for mature adults.  It is a guide for all circumstances, stages, and purposes of Christian living.  Those who do the "daily offices" only on Sunday under the direction of a minister are missing their point entirely.  This Anglican devotional is meant primarily for daily use in the Christian home under the direction of its "head of household."

Beware the advice that "quiet time" should be easy.  If it's comfortable then it's not helping you to mature in Christ. Anglicanism's "quiet time" devotional is a guide and encouragement for Christians that expect to be changed, sanctified DAY BY DAY according to the will and direction of the Holy Spirit of God.  

About the Confession of Sin

The "Confession of Sin" from the liturgy of Morning and Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer is full of Christian theology.  Here is a brief explanation, demonstrating how it consists in four distinct sections.

Salutation

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father;

The confession begins by our addressing God as one who is all powerful and all knowing, from whom there is no escape. It demonstrates that our relationship with God is covenantal, and by that covenant He causes us to be aware of our sins and to confess them. It also demonstrates that we, the members of the Church have a special relationship with God because of Jesus, for we alone are authorized to address Him as "Father."

Enumerating Sins

The confession continues by enumerating five different types of sin for which, apart from God's covenant of grace, all men, even Christians are guilty .  

1. [Error] We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. 
2. [Idolatry] We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. 
3. [Trespass] We have offended against thy holy laws. 
4. [Debt] We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done;
5. [Inherited] And there is no health in us.

Note that the first four of these pertain to our actual or visible sins, which we ourselves have committed. Just as offerings and sacrifices under the Law of Moses were enumerated for various types of sins, we should remember the details of our shame. It is not enough that we should use only the generic word "sin." We should spell out the various ways that we have offended God. Debt, trespass, idolatry and error are not synonyms. Moreover, the sacrificial offering that Jesus made on our behalf is the remedy for each of these types of sin separately.

• He has paid or remitted our debt.
• He has forgiven us our trespasses.
• He has given us new hearts inclined not to the honor of self but rather to the honor of God and neighbor. 
• He has given us Holy Scripture and the Holy Ghost by whom it is written, such that we should not ever stray again from the way that He has prepared for us.

The fifth type of sin in the list pertains to the invisible, which being inherited from Adam is visible to God alone. Inherited sin is no less real than sins which we know about. We are reminded here that although we might appear at times to be living a sin-free life, we are not, for our sin runs deeper than we can ever know. Therefore we can never claim to deserve salvation. We are wholly dependent upon God to to give us moral and spiritual health.

Suggestion:  When praying, if one pauses at least a little between each of the five types of sin, it helps the heart to remember what the mind would prefer to forget, and to carefully consider the covenantal relationship into which God has called us.

Prayer for Mercy

But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake;

Now we come to the heart of the confession, which is a prayer for mercy that can be said not by any man, but only by men to whom the covenant promise is given through faith. Their God-given senses have caused them to confess, to be sorry for their sin, to repent, and to declare Jesus as their only savior. Salvation comes to us not because of this work of repentance but rather because of the work of Jesus Christ, His righteous life and atoning sacrifice.

Prayer for Sanctification

That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

Finally, the prayer of confession turns away from the past and toward the future. The Christian prays to live righteously hereafter, but he is careful to say that his future works of righteousness count only for God's glory. They don't count for salvation or for any heavenly reward. Christ alone has earned our salvation, and He alone has gone into heaven to prepare a place for us.