Hedgerow
The latest abomination to infiltrate the church was sadly introduced by the United Methodist Church today, on a day intended for some Christians in the Western world to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and his propitiation for our sins.
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, begins the 46 day-period before Easter Sunday. This period is a time when people reflect, pray, give up something to remind themselves of Christ’s sacrifice, and focus on the Holy Triune God and His only begotten Son. It is a time to prepare for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and then the celebration of Easter Sunday of our Risen Lord.
Instead, the United Methodist Church and an LGBT group, Queer Virtue, have found a way to transform the sacred into sacrilege. Instead of focusing on the essence of Christianity, it chose to focus on “homosexual identity” — by using “glitter ash” and calling for a “queer” “Ash Wednesday.”
Female “pastor” April Gutierrez, of Berry United Methodist Church, told the Chicago Tribune that Ash Wednesday is a time for Christians to remember why they are Christians– by marking their foreheads with “glitter ash.” Marian Edmonds-Allen, executive director of an LGBT “faith-based” organization attests:
“In fact, the whole point of Glitter Ash Wednesday is to reflect the deep, somber, serious faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that millions of queer Christians have. And yes, there are millions of us queer and queer-positive Christians. Surprised? No wonder, because the lie gets told over and over again that ‘God hates (obscenity)’ and that homosexuality is sinful. Precious few queer Christians survive the hate and make it through to become visible members of the church.”
QueerVirtue.com advocates that the sign of the cross is a “black smudge”:
The site goes on to state:
“This can feel weird if you are left of center. You kind of want an asterisk on that smudge: ‘I’m not what you probably think. Really. I believe in pluralism and science and LGBTQ people. Did you notice my NPR tote bag?’
“Ash Wednesday is as visible as some of us ever get. But it isn’t enough. Too many people are being hurt by ‘fake Christian news’ — teachings that run directly counter to the Gospel.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible is clear on homosexuality, transgender and other sexual perversions. Such acts not only defile the person, but they defile the land. (Isa. 24:5, Rev. 14: 4)
One’s perceived sexual identity does not a person make. A person’s identity is either found in Christ or it isn’t. Human life points to something far greater than ourselves. Sexual identity is not the end-all defining characteristic of anyone.
Throughout the New Testament, in fact, the entire point of the Gospel, is that as new believers in Jesus Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin. We are a new creation, a new self, and can live in a new way of life opened up to us solely because of Jesus Christ who mediated for us, and through his death atoned for our sins. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15, Romans 1, Ephesians 4:23-24. Colossians 3:10, Hebrew 10, 12)
Being born again is the entire point of the gospel, not living in a self-absorbed life that dictates who and how people should act or live. The problem with the Methodist’s false version of Christianity is that glitter ash obviously has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the focus of Lent. Not homosexuals. Lent is not like an NPR tote bag.
God loves his people so much that he was willing to have his only son suffer immeasurable sorrow, experience the depths of hell, and rise again to reign forever in glory.
To suggest that homosexuality or glitter ash has anything to do with Christianity is inane. Such behavior is the abomination God specifically states that He hates.
“The LORD detests a perverse man.” — Proverbs 3:32 (see also What the Bible really says about transgender.)
“Everyone who loves to practice falsehood,” including the “sexually immoral,” Jesus warned will not enter heaven. (Rev. 22: 15)
God even allows such immorality as the punishment in and of itself because we as human beings innately know the difference between right and wrong behavior. Continually perverting the truth is called wickedness. If the Bible bears any relevance at all to anyone in the United Methodist Church, they should consider reading Romans 1: 18-32.
Falsehood and wickedness must be exposed for what it is.
Glitter Ash Wednesday has nothing to do with Christianity or the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In