As I read the title...oh...Indiana Youth Group...thats interesting.
Come to find out, Indiana, a seemingly conservative state has joined Maryland as one of two states to offer a specialty license plate supporting gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual teenagers.
Not necessarily the "Indiana Youth Group" I was thinking of. Nor would many others who may see it and be interested in buying it thinking they are sending money to help what many church-goers may think is a religious 'youth group'.
Quite the opposite!
If you're wondering what the "Indiana Youth Group" does...one thing specifically...and directly from the news article.
"The Indianapolis-based IYG operates an activity center, helps develop Gay Straight Alliances in high schools and assists communities in forming youth services."
Now, I for one understand that Jesus Christ taught us that we must love one another, but at the same time we must not be ignorant about what the early church (aka. Christ and his disciples, you know the ones whom we form our doctrines off of!) have to say about the oft-taboo and untouchable subjects concerning homosexuality.
The apostle Paul makes probably the strongest argument concerning the sin which is homosexuality in the New Testament text of Romans 1:24-32 where he says...
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.
27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.
32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. Romans 1:24-32 NLT
Now, I'm not here to have an online debate with philosophers, just to illuminate a very relevant subject which is occurring in the state I live, which reflects the state of the age we live in.
I'm not here to "gay-bash" or speak ill. My friends who are in a gay lifestyle know where I stand on the issue, and they also know that I believe God loves them, yet as for ALL of us (myself included) none of us will enter into the kingdom of heaven unless we are born-again and free from all sin.
So, yes, I'm sure this blog post (if even noticed) may generate strong emotions, it's not intended and won't stop people from buying a license plate. (Nor should it!) I'm not here to tell you what to do, but what I do want to do is let those who may see something particular like the words (Indiana Youth Group) on a specialty plate in the BMV and let them know...BUYER BEWARE! This is not your church's youth group! Haha!
On one final note. I would be remissed if not to say that this is yet one more MAJOR reminder to the fact that Tiffany and I need to be fully funded and on these school campuses NOW. We are at $250 in new monthly support away from being fully funded and RELEASED into the full time missions work we have been called to. The Gay-Straight Alliance is becoming HUGE on school campuses, and while we in no way shape or form want to eradicate them, rather we need a feasible, tangible presence of God on our school campuses to bring light to where it is needed most. Now more than ever.
If you don't support Indiana Youth Alive with monthly missions support? Would you seriously take a minute and pray about how you could be involved?
Here are a couple links for your review...
The News Article from the Indianapolis Star
Indiana Youth Group - The GLBT Organization
The Campus Alliance - Which YA is a part of
Set up a faith promise to help Tiffany and I reach these schools TODAY!
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