Some may ask, "If you acknowledge that homosexuality is not the only sin, then why do you speak so much about it?" The answer is because many people do not realize the connection between homosexuality and Satan's plan for mankind. So, we will address this connection - in depth - in a series of posts starting with "An Upside Down Message".
An Upside Down Message
And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus." Acts 17:1-7
News of the Gospel - and the people's response to it - had reached Thessalonica even before Paul & Silas had. Their very presence in that city was enough to incite the people. The unbelievers (who could only find supporters amongst the lewd and base elements of the city) made two accusations; these men were: 1) Turning the world upside down and 2) Honoring a King other than Caesar. It is the first accusation upon which we will focus.
When something is upside down, it is inverted to the point that what should be the upper or top portion is instead underneath or on the bottom. Nothing gives a clearer illustration of this paradox than to picture the human body. A body standing on its feet (which were created for the purpose of supporting the body's weight) is commonly acknowledged as being right side up. A body standing on its hands is upside down. Even though it is physically possible for one's hands to support the weight of the body, this is still considered being upside down because that is not the purpose of the hands nor the natural positioning of the body.
"Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way." Psalms 25:8
The way of the Lord, in contrast with that of sinners, is upright meaning directed upward, righteous, honest, or just. So, why did the unbelievers feel as if the Gospel was turning the world upside down? Because their perceptions, thoughts, and very way of living had become so alienated from God, that the message of truth seemed to be the complete opposite of everything they knew and believed. The Scripture tells us that the root cause of this is sin.
"The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down." Psalms 146:9
There is a dramatic collision that occurs when the soul of man is first impacted by the Gospel. Sin perverts the soul and turns it upside down, while the Gospel confronts the soul to set it right side up. To an inverted soul, even the upright message can appear wrong because sin:
- Inverts the soul so that man becomes inwardly the opposite of what he was created to be;
- Creates an upside down kingdom to that which God has ordained;
- Makes man self-conscious instead of God-conscious so that he is led by his five carnal senses versus of the Spirit of God.
Turning the World Upside Down
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