Monthly commentaries and pastoral letters regarding issues of the day.

Welcome to The Pastor's Study. Here you will find our monthly pastoral letters containing observations and teachings regarding not only doctrinal issues but also  social and philosophical issues of importance to Biblical Christians in today's rapidly changing world. We will be posting a new letter each month and will be offering the past messages in the archives linked below. Be sure to let us know your thoughts on these issues also. Your input is important.

Volume 2, Issue 3

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This month's Pastoral Letter is by Bro. Bob Stephenson, the ChristRing Ministries and Cyber-Church.com minister to seeking and ex-homosexuals. While Bro. Bob is writing primarily to those struggling to leave
the "gay" lifestyle, there are many fine points that we can all apply to our own lives. It is my sincere prayer that this letter will bring greater understanding to the Body of Christ and that you will all be encouraged to accept and embrace in Christian fellowship those in our congregations coming out of this "less than socially acceptable"
sin. As our dear Brother Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:11, it is so easy to forget that "...such were some of [US]: but [WE] are washed, but [WE] are sanctified, but [WE] are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Amen.

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THE WORD -

HEB 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

THE MESSAGE -

ISOLATION

I have mentioned isolating to some of you more than once. The answer I get is "I am comfortable being alone; I am not isolating; Being around others is painful, people are cruel; etc. There are many reasons why we choose to
isolate and there are many ways to isolate. But, isolation is our enemy, not our ally. Avoiding people only increases our struggle and slows our growth in the Lord and His Body.

Hebrews 10:25

.not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

Joining in fellowship and relationship with other believers, although uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes embarrassing is essential to our continued growth and maturity.

For many of us living as gay men was comfortable. We accepted ourselves for who and what we were. We were confident in our abilities and our relationships. Living in gay society we knew the rules of conduct and how to
handle most of the situations we found ourselves in. Then, the Holy Spirit set our feet on a new path. For most of us the first thing to go is not our sexual desires, but our self-confidence. We seem to think that by moving into straight society we give up our self-worth. In fact our self-worth should increase since the Lord has demonstrated His love for us by showing us a new and better way to live. We allow ignorant, uneducated men to take
control of how we view ourselves and that is a tragedy. Who we are has not changed. We are still competent, loving, and compassionate people. We are still able to do our jobs and walk through this world with our heads up
looking toward a new future as heirs with Christ.

Scratch any Christian and you will find a sinful past that will embarrass him if others knew the truth. No man, no matter what his position has lived a totally righteous life. No Christian has the right or authority to place any of us outside the veil of Christian fellowship. I do not know about the rest of you, but I am a loving, compassionate, helpful person who is walking in fellowship with my Lord. Jesus has called us to be like Him, and those who will not accept this are the losers, not us. I have a lot to share with the Body of Christ, as do all of you. You were created to complete the Body of Christ, not to be removed from it. If we allow ourselves to be isolated, either by choice or by rejection, we are the losers. We must not allow the bigotry of others to take the peace, joy, and victory that are ours in Christ. Our very presence in the Body of Christ enriches those we fellowship with, as we are enriched by fellowshipping with them. Each one of us is a unique person with talents and abilities that the Body of Christ needs to be complete. This is not my opinion, it is a Biblical fact!

When Christ called us, He called us for WHO we are, to help us change WHAT we do and HOW we live. Our personalities and abilities can be enhanced as we mature in our relationship with Him. And like steel that must be annealed with fire to be strong, so He allows us to go through the fire of life to grow strong in Him.

Isolation is an attempt to avoid the fire that is designed to build our strength. Pray for those who abuse you for being the called of Christ. For it is those who need the Lord because they do not understand He came to call sinners, not the righteous to repentance.

I pray the Spirit of our Living Lord will touch each of you and encourage you to walk in fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Love, your brother in Christ:

Bob

Robert (Bob) Stephenson
1 Corinthians 6:11
http://www.aineotheos.org
Bob@aineotheos.org
ICQ # 21334063

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Thank you Bob for your fine message.

Please keep Bro. Bob in your prayers. Take time to visit his website and drop him a note of encouragement as he ministers in this very difficult (and at times physically dangerous) mission field. Thanks.

And now, "Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." (Ephesians 6:23-24)

Until next month, keep on lifting up the Name of Jesus!

God Bless you and yours

In Christ
ChristRing Ministries
The Cyber-Church

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