As I’ve just recently stated, we (mankind) have decided that we're going to call right wrong and wrong right. Instead of debating about what the Word says, just say what you’re doing: “We're going to take scriptures and debate about them, and everybody will have his or her own interpretation and then however we interpret them (right or wrong), that's what it'll be.”

In other words, do what you want to do. But don’t try to change the meaning of what God has already declared and decreed through His Word.

As Christians, far too many of us have totally disregarded Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19, which warn against adding to or taking away from the Word of God (and warn that there'll be grave consequences for those who do these things).

All the devil wants us to do is to make debatable what God has said. The enemy knows that if he can use "debates" as a diversion, mankind will eventually get so far away from the truth because of years of debating that no one (engaged in fruitless, pointless debate) will remember what God actually said.

My friend suggested that the laws should change with the times. He even said the letter of the law should give way to the spirit of the law. I agreed, but for a completely different reason. The “letter” of the Law produced judgment, but the “Spirit” of the law has made way for grace and mercy.

What my friend meant by that, though, was that though the Bible (in reference to the Law) speaks against sin, laws should bend with the times we’re living in. Therefore, Christians shouldn’t be so fixated on such things.

My contention: Yes, there is a difference between the Old and New testaments. Under the Old Covenant, we (mankind) were bound by the god of this world (satan), and we were under the curse of the Law because the Messiah had not yet stepped onto the scene to "save" us from under the curse of the Law.

The New Testament (or New Covenant) represents the grace and mercy of God. Animals were sacrificed to cover us (their blood shed) under the Old Testament. Under the New Testament, the Good News is that Jesus the Christ became that Lamb sent from God to take away the sins of the world through the shedding of His blood.

Our punishment for sin was imputed unto Jesus, as an act of God's grace and mercy, His everlasting love for these human creatures He created. And in that exchange, God imputed Jesus' righteousness unto us. We became righteous when we accepted Jesus' works at the Cross.

Remember, Jesus said He didn't come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.")

Again, I don't see homosexuality/lesbianism — or as people prefer to call it — "same-sex" marriage being the righteousness of God. Now, it may be "righteousness," but not the kind of "righteousness" that reflects who God is. Jesus says in the 20th verse, unless "YOUR righteousness" surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, then you (people in general, that is) certainly won't enter the kingdom of heaven.

I told my friend that I respect everybody's right to believe what they want to believe and do what they want to do. But I don't agree with the viewpoint that Jesus would condone or support the same-sex view of anybody whether Christian or non-Christian, but Christians especially, since we claim to be His disciples and we've claimed to have crowned Him as not just Savior, but Lord of our lives. Non-Christians, I can understand why they believe what they believe.

I don't agree with it, but I understand why they believe what they do. Christians, if Jesus is truly Lord and Savior of our lives, and our lives are no longer ours but are His, then we have to side with Him above what a president, world leader or anybody else says.

Donald Lee is pastor of Kingdom Living Christian Center in Dallas and co-author of the book, “Married to Commitment”. To reach Pastor Lee for comment, e-mail him at pastordonjlee@yahoo.com. To order “Married to Commitment,” call (866) 909-2665 or visit http://www.xulonpress.com. Also check out Pastor Lee at http://www.christiancouplesconference.com.