All throughout the History of the Church, the Bride of Christ, has stood a harlot who masquerades as the elect but lures people into the depths of darkness with seductive words and practices. But in modern times, Christianity has witnessed the emergence of a progressive American “Church” movement that surpasses anything we’ve seen before. This movement, under the guise of adapting to contemporary standards, has embraced such an idolatrous path that it has abandoned the gospel altogether for such causes as the LGBTQ movement, social justice and Critical theory, and feminism.
This movement isn’t limited to the obviously apostate mainline denominations but its tentacles have a grip on even the most “traditional” and “conservative” churches and denominations in our nation. By professing allegiance to Christ while simultaneously contravening His commandments and compromising the gospel to maintain superficial peace with the world, this movement exemplifies a profound disconnect between confession and conduct, invoking God’s name in vain.
The Holy Scriptures, unambiguous in their denunciation of sin, offer stark illustrations of God’s wrath against apostasy and disobedience. The verses from Jeremiah 19:9, Leviticus 26:29, Ezekiel 5:10, and Lamentations 4:10 serve not merely as historical records of divine judgment but also as metaphors for God’s enduring abhorrence of sin. These passages depict a horrifying scenario where, under the severe duress of a siege—both literal and spiritual—the people of God resort to cannibalism, a graphic emblem of the depths to which humanity can fall when it turns away from the Lord.
In the time of Jeremiah, the people of Israel faced such dire punishment because of their steadfast refusal to heed God’s commands, engaging in idolatry and social injustices that mirrored the actions of the nations around them. In Jeremiah 19:9, God warns, “And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and everyone shall eat the flesh of his neighbor in the siege and in the distress, with which their enemies and those who seek their life afflict them.”
This prophecy was a literal unfolding of events during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, but it also symbolizes the self-destructive consequences of abandoning God’s law—the prophet laments this destruction of the imago dei in Lamentations 4:10. Similarly, Leviticus warns of the ultimate degradation of moral fiber, illustrating the extreme measures to which God is willing to go in order to cleanse His people of their sinfulness.
“You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.” —Leviticus 26:29
Ezekiel’s grim portrayal further accentuates the inevitability of divine retribution within the community, where the familial bond is shattered under the weight of God’s judgment. “Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers. And I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds,” the prophet writes in Ezekiel 5:10.
This is a graphic reminder that sin not only estranges us from God but also corrodes the social and familial structures He ordained. Lamentations mourns the unspeakable acts of a besieged Jerusalem, where even the most seemingly “compassionate” hearts are driven to desperation. These historical accounts mirror the spiritual desolation that ensues when those who profess the name of Christ forsake His commandments.
The application of these scriptures to the modern false church movement is both fitting and foreboding. Just as Israel and Judah faced severe consequences for their unfaithfulness, so too will contemporary “churches” that distort the gospel for societal approval, political correctness, or personal gain. The false church, by embracing doctrines and practices contrary to the Bible, invites upon itself a judgment as severe as that which befell the unfaithful in ancient times.
God’s historic judgments, ranging from the flood in Noah’s time to the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, to the severe penalties inflicted on His people for their idolatry and faithlessness, serve as solemn reminders. We can conclude from these events that nothing is off the table when it comes to God’s judgment—these are not mere anecdotes from a bygone era but are indicative of God’s immutable nature. His holiness demands justice, and His justice will not spare those who, under the banner of Christ, propagate falsehoods and lead many astray.
In our modern church age, the warning is clear and urgent. The modern American “Church,” by diluting the gospel’s power with human ideologies and rejecting the clear teachings of Scripture, stands on precarious ground. The call to repentance is not just a plea but a mandate for survival. For the true bride of Christ, the path forward is one of separation and sanctification—to disentangle from the deception that pervades these false assemblies and to stand firm in the truth of God’s Word.
As we face an increasingly hostile world, we must heed the dire warnings of Scripture with both fear and reverence. Remember that our God, who is loving and merciful, is also a consuming fire, intolerant of sin and compromise. May this reflection inspire a return to the unadulterated gospel, prompting a revival within the church that aligns with God’s sovereign will and eternal statutes. The stakes are eternal, and the time for discernment and decisive action is now.
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Today is All Saints’ Day, a day when Roman Catholics around the world pay homage to their canonized saints. But let’s shatter the usual narrative and cast the spotlight where it’s often deliberately avoided—on the indomitable Protestant martyrs who were gruesomely executed by the Roman Catholic Church. These were not mere dissenters or reformers—these were defenders of the gospel who chose excruciating death over compromising their convictions. And while the Roman Catholic Church would love for their stories to be discounted, wiped out, made into mere footnotes in religious history, the reality is that they are monumental testimonies to the enduring power of the Holy Spirit through faith in the face of relentless persecution.
Over the centuries, countless men and women have faced unspeakable horrors and brutal executions, most often at the hands of Roman Catholics, all because they dared to challenge a religious system they believed was corrupt and contrary to the teachings of Scripture. These certainly were not rabble-rousers or anarchists, these were men and women rooted in the Word of God, who held to their convictions with an unyielding resolve that should stir every believing heart.
The bloody era of the Reformation encapsulates the severity of what was at stake. Men like William Tyndale, who was strangled and burned at the stake, gave their lives so that the Bible could be read in the vernacular. Tyndale’s crime? Translating the Scriptures into English so that even the common plowboy could have access to God’s Word. He wasn’t doing this to try to undermine civil order. Rather, his mission was to ensure that the true gospel could be understood by the people, free from the convoluted doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
Then there was Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, burned alive in Oxford for their belief in the authority of Scripture over church traditions, the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and the rejection of papal authority. These were educated men who had much to lose in terms of earthly goods and reputation. Yet, when they were given the choice to recant these specific beliefs or die, they chose the latter. Why? Because they understood that allegiance to these core tenets of the gospel was far more important than sparing their earthly lives. Their deaths were not in vain but served as a roaring declaration that such foundational truths could not be suppressed.
John Huss, a predecessor to Martin Luther, met a similar fate. He was burned at the stake for heresy, a charge leveraged against him for his criticisms of the moral failings and theological errors within the Roman Catholic Church.
Jerome of Prague was not merely a close associate of John Huss but a compelling theologian and philosopher in his own right. He was a master of multiple languages and well-versed in both the Scriptures and the early church fathers. Having studied at the universities of Prague, Oxford, Paris, and Heidelberg, Jerome was an intellectual force to be reckoned with. He was deeply influenced by the teachings of John Wycliffe and his fellow countryman John Huss. Together with Huss, Jerome sought to reform the Roman Catholic Church, challenging its excesses, doctrinal errors, and unbiblical practices.
But Jerome’s brilliance and commitment to the gospel would put him on a collision course with the Roman Catholic hierarchy. He was arrested and charged with heresy, much like his friend Huss. Jerome initially recanted his views under the threat of execution but later revoked his recantation, unable to betray his conscience and the truths he found in the Scriptures. In 1416, about a year after the execution of John Huss, Jerome too was burned at the stake. But even as the flames rose around him, he did not waver. Jerome displayed remarkable courage and composure, reportedly singing a hymn—specifically, the liturgical Latin hymn known as the “Te Deum,” a hymn of praise to God—as he met his gruesome end…
By ensuring that respondents actually attend church, we were able to take the pulse of what active churchgoers truly believe and while some of it was positive, the church has its work cut out for it.
Family Research Council’s Center for Biblical Worldview released the results of an extensive survey Wednesday on the views of adult churchgoers in America on social issues and worldview. While the vast majority of respondents said that it is important for Christians to have a biblical worldview, experts remain concerned about the mixed responses on social issues like abortion and basic doctrinal questions.
The survey was conducted in June by George Barna, a senior research fellow at the Center for Biblical Worldview, and comprised the responses of 1,009 adults who attend worship services at least once a month. Respondents answered 60 questions ranging from their views on political affiliation, elections, abortion, transgenderism, and marriage to their personal Bible reading habits and biblical interpretations, worldview beliefs, favorite ministries, and more.
Center for Biblical Worldview Director David Closson, who served as manager for the project, noted that the survey’s singular focus on regular churchgoers provided uncommon revelations.
“FRC’s latest survey is unique because it gives insight into what the nation’s most devout churchgoers believe,” he told The Washington Stand. “To achieve our results, we employed a methodology that screened out those who do not attend church. In other words, we did not rely on religious self-identification. To qualify for our survey, you needed to attend church at least monthly.”
The survey found that 72% of respondents attend church weekly, with 28% saying they attend at least once a month. “By ensuring that respondents actually attend church, we were able to take the pulse of what active churchgoers truly believe,” he explained.
Closson went on to describe the data points that gave him hope. “I was encouraged by a number of findings, including the high percentage of those who indicated that they desire their church to offer additional worldview training on social and political responsibility, abortion, the value of human life, and human sexuality,” he told TWS.
“I was also encouraged that 88% of adult churchgoers indicated that they believe it is important for Christians to have a biblical worldview. The fact that 94% of churchgoers are registered to vote also demonstrates that efforts to register church members have been largely successful.”
But Closson was also disheartened by some of the results, including “an alarmingly high percentage of churchgoers who failed to answer correctly some basic doctrinal questions.” “For example,” he continued, “only 41% of churchgoers said they believe that people are born into sin and can only be saved from its consequences by Jesus.
In places like John 14:6, the Bible is very clear that people are only saved from their sin and reconciled to a holy God through faith in Jesus. Findings like this demonstrate that many of our churches need to redouble their efforts at teaching basic doctrinal truths.”
Closson further discussed his reaction to what the survey revealed about churchgoers’ views on abortion.
“I admit that I was surprised,” he acknowledged. “Although it was encouraging to see that an overwhelming percentage of regular churchgoers identify as pro-life (63%), it was surprising to see that only 65% of respondents claimed the Bible identifies when life begins.
Additionally, among those who believe the Bible speaks to the question of when life begins, only 52% of those folks said that life begins at conception. From reading passages such as Luke 1:39-45 and Psalm 139:13-16, it is clear that the Bible affirms the personhood of the unborn from the moment of conception. Our report indicates that churches need to spend some more time emphasizing these biblical truths.”
…and most recently, the church performed a live rendition of Kendrick Lamar’s profanity-laden N95, which is rife with obscenities, blasphemy, and objectification of women.
Now in their latest demonstration of debauchery, Church by the Glades performed a cover of a song by a heavy promoter of sexual immorality, drunkenness, and drug use. That song was Where You Are by John Summit. Here are some of the lyrics, which reference the “afterglow” after having sex…
This past Mother’s Day, one prominent Southern Baptist megachurch turned its congregation on to a blaspheming rapper who regularly drops the F-Bombs, takes the Lord’s name in vain, and objectifies women in his music. I mean, isn’t this the kind of role model our children need in church these days?
This “church” performed a sanitized version of Lunch Money Lewis’s song, Mama, and fed it to the goats. If you’re brave, you can check out the lyrics of one of Lunch Money Lewis’s other songs, Bills, and you will instantly see that this is precisely not the kind of role model churches should be parading on stage for their kids. And while the song they performed was a different song, the original lyrics in the song still contained profanity. For example, they changed the phrase “whooped my a**” to “whooped my tail.”
But I don’t care if they sanitized the lyrics, you can put perfume on poop, it’s still poop. The problem is now kids will like that song, go home and YouTube this clown, and listen to his other blasphemy, profanity-ridden words of death when they should be going home and opening the Bible to read the words of life instead.
Well, that’s Church by the Glades, again. Church by the Glades has gained notoriety for its provocative and secular performances, incorporating elements like the Stormtrooper Dance, Disney Medleys, and covers of Beyonce’s Freedom—and most recently, the church performed a live rendition of Kendrick Lamar’s profanity-laden N95, which is rife with obscenities, blasphemy, and objectification of women.
Now in their latest demonstration of debauchery, Church by the Glades performed a cover of a song by a heavy promoter of sexual immorality, drunkenness, and drug use. That song was Where You Are by John Summit. Here are some of the lyrics, which reference the “afterglow” after having sex.
Do you dream alone under the moon? Is it brighter, brighter when I’m with you? Is the afterglow strong enough? To light this fire, fire back in us? Uh-oh
Here’s a short clip of the performance below. To see the entire charade, use this link.
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Who is John Summit? He’s a rave DJ and musician who has openly made light of using drugs such as ecstasy at rave events.
If you’re not aware, “ket” is short for ketamine, a tranquilizer drug that is heavily abused in the rave scene.
But here’s the worst part—Church by the Glades is now tacitly promoting and endorsing this lifestyle and putting their stamp of approval on all of these things by playing this guy’s music and calling this “worship service.”
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Southern Baptist Megachurches have left the Gospel and gone Woke / apostate / pagan / heathen, etc. Take your pick. Surreal, they blaspheme the Lord and the Gospel. Maranatha, Pastor Steve <><
BY MICHAEL SNYDER/END OF THE AMERICAN DREAM JULY 27, 2023
Do you believe in God? If so, you belong to a portion of the population that is steadily shrinking.
Yes, a majority of Americans still think that God exists, but the trend is clearly going in one direction. So are we headed down the same road that so many post-Christian nations in western Europe have already gone down?
According to a shocking new survey that Gallup has just released, the percentage of Americans that believe in God has plunged to the lowest level that they have ever recorded…
The percentages of Americans who believe in each of five religious entities — God, angels, heaven, hell and the devil — have edged downward by three to five percentage points since 2016. Still, majorities believe in each, ranging from a high of 74% believing in God to lows of 59% for hell and 58% for the devil. About two-thirds each believe in angels (69%) and heaven (67%).
74 percent may sound high, but it is important to note that this includes anyone that may believe that any sort of a “god” exists.
So this figure would include people from many different religions.
Overall, the percentage of Americans that believe in God has fallen by a whopping 16 points just since 2001…
Gallup has used this framework to measure belief in these spiritual entities five times since 2001, and the May 1-24, 2023, poll finds that each is at its lowest point. Compared with 2001, belief in God and heaven is down the most (16 points each), while belief in hell has fallen 12 points, and the devil and angels are down 10 points each.
Church attendance has been steadily declining over the years as well.
In fact, a different Gallup survey discovered that church attendance is down by about 10 percentage points since 2012…
U.S. church attendance has shown a small but noticeable decline compared with what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. In the four years before the pandemic, 2016 through 2019, an average of 34% of U.S. adults said they had attended church, synagogue, mosque or temple in the past seven days. From 2020 to the present, the average has been 30%, including a 31% reading in a May 1-24 survey.
The recent church attendance levels are about 10 percentage points lower than what Gallup measured in 2012 and most prior years.
The American people are increasingly losing faith in organized religion, and it certainly doesn’t help that almost every day there is a story in the news about some member of the clergy that has committed some sort of horrible crime. For example, just today I came across a story about an “executive pastor” that stole $130,000 from his own church…
A New Hampshire executive pastor has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing around $130,000 from his church to pay off gambling debts and make purchases.
Gregory Neal, of Barrington, 45, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday and ordered to pay back the Journey Baptist Church and the insurance company that covered a portion of the losses.
Sadly, many Americans are also losing faith in the traditional Christian values that this nation was founded upon.
According to one recent poll, approximately two out of every five young adults in the U.S. believe that marriage is “an outdated tradition”…
Are there wedding bells in your future? If you’re young and in love, the answer is — probably not! A new survey finds that two in five young adults think marriage is an outdated tradition. Moreover, a staggering 85 percent don’t think you need to get married to have a fulfilling and committed relationship.
Interestingly, the poll, commissioned by the Thriving Center Of Psychology, found that more women (52%) than men (41%) have this view of marriage. So much for saying yes to the dress!
Our society is not going to survive if we keep going down this path.
Meanwhile, the numbers for those on the other side of the battle for our culture just keep improving.
A very high percentage of our national leaders have graduated from Ivy League schools, and the demographics at those schools clearly demonstrate where America is heading.
At Yale, 29 percent of the current study body identifies as LGBTQ+…
According to Yale Daily News, around 29% of its responding student body identified as something other than straight, as the school boasted that it “welcomed the largest and most diverse class in University history.”
More specifically, 14% said they were bisexual, 6% gay/lesbian, 8% “questioning,” and 1% asexual.
At Harvard, that figure has risen to 21 percent and it is set to go even higher…
Over at Harvard, the 2023 class had about a 21% non-straight population, according to the Harvard Crimson. But the school is ready to outdo itself, as the class of 2025 will increase that number to 29%. That rate is a more than 18% increase from the class of 2017, which was represented by an 89.9% straight student body.
We are rapidly becoming the polar opposite of the society that our founders once established.
If our country ever needed a “great awakening” it is now.
Because the clock is definitely ticking.
Many Americans live their lives as if there will never be any consequences, but the truth is that none of us know what day will be our last.
In recent years, so many people that I deeply cared about have suddenly passed away.
And it is just a matter of time before our entire society experiences a sudden shock that will literally change everything in a single moment.
Earlier this week, I was alarmed to read that NASA did not even know about a large asteroid that almost hit our planet until it had already gone past us…
An asteroid called 2023 NT1 reached as close as around 62,000 miles from Earth – about a quarter the distance between Earth and the moon – on July 13.
But it wasn’t until two days after its close approach that NASA scientists detected it, because it was coming from the direction of the sun and was obscured by light.
2023 NT1, which is now moving away from Earth at a speed of about 25,000 miles per hour, is up to 200 feet in diameter – bigger than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Did you hear about this in the news?
Most people did not.
This particular asteroid was not big enough to kill millions of people, but scientists tell us that it is just a matter of time before such a giant space rock does come along.
When that day arrives, what will you do?
Will you cry out to God?
Perhaps you will, but more Americans than ever don’t want anything to do with Him, and that is extremely unfortunate.
The Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) leadership is enamored with social justice and critical race theory, rather than the Bible. I identify with old fashioned, old school, rank and file, salt of the earth Baptists and other like minded Christians, hence our exit from the SBC one year ago. I enjoy worship and fellowship with Bible believing, Christ exalting Christians, not religious bureaucrats who place culture before truth. In Christ, Pastor Steve <><
In the midst of a progressive shift and growing divide within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), social justice has become the dividing line that some are not willing to cross and others are not willing to go without. The social justice movement in the SBC has caused quite a bit of turmoil and has led to the denomination passing resolutions affirming Critical Race Theory and other anti-biblical ideologies. But until recent months, the rejection of sound biblical theology in favor of such worldly ideologies hasn’t been quite so brazen.
It seems like every week, the SBC takes up a new pet issue. If it wasn’t softening its stance on homosexuality, it became about the #churchtoo “believe women” movement, or the “racial reconciliation movement,” or women pastors. Now it seems like gun control is on the table—and some of its top leaders are spending your tithe dollars to promote it.
In fact, after the Covenant School shooting in TN by a transvestite several weeks ago, Brent Leatherwood, who has three children enrolled in this school, has become one of the state’s top advocates for stricter gun control. Not to get into the politics of why stricter gun control is such a ludicrous policy, but Leatherwood has become a rogue agent in this movement clearly not representing the consensus of Southern Baptists as a whole.
But it isn’t just Leatherwood—the Baptist Press, the propaganda arm of the Southern Baptist Convention also known as the Baptist Pravda, is now promoting a gun-control ministry that teaches that young men caught up in violent lifestyles cannot be eternally saved until we as a nation enact laws and policies that save their lives in the present.
In an article titled Exegete the Culture, Philadelphia pastor of Great Commission Church which runs a ministry called ManUpPHL (Man Up Philadelphia) explains:
“When you’ve got kids getting killed around you that’s 13 and 15 years old, your life expectancy is not, ‘I’m going to have a wife and a few kids and a house with a picket fence…all of a sudden the trajectory minimizes and shortens, and all of a sudden you’re starting to think, ‘Hey, I’ve got to do all I’m going to do now. So, I’ve got to get a car now. I’ve got to have a child now. If I want this jewelry, I’ve got to get that now.”
“And most of them don’t have the jobs or the income to get it, so what do they do? ‘Ah, I’ve got to get a gun. And if I get a gun I can get it, because he got it and I’ll just take his.’”
According to a testimony during a public hearing in front of the Philadelphia city council, ManUpPHL pays its mentees 15 dollars an hour not to engage in gun violence. Let that sink in for a moment and imagine how that might turn out.
Anderson, who is also the State Director of Evangelism for the SBC in PA, however, continues to explain in his article at the Baptist Press that all of this social justice is necessary because they can’t be saved eternally without it. “There’s a psychological warfare that’s eating them alive,” he said, referencing peer pressure, social media and a lack of communication skills according to the article. “We’ve got to save their life in the present before we can save their life eternally.”
Make no mistake about it, this is the kind of ideology that has taken over the Southern Baptist Convention and when you send money to the cooperative program, you’re paying for this kind of propaganda to be spread throughout your churches.
Todays’ Church has capitulated in regards to the abomination of sodomy / homosexuality / LGBT. The Church has even joined the movement. When the only major pushback against sodomy in Canada or the United States of America comes from Muslims, this speaks volumes to those with ears to hear.
Maranatha, Pastor Steve <><
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…” (Leviticus 20:13)
When confronted with these Biblical commands, the LBGTQ (lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, queer) community responds as one would expect. They cannot dismiss these commands flatly; the Scriptures speak too clearly to the issue. To legitimize their homosexual lifestyles, they must overcome the obvious meanings of these verses. To deny the application of these Biblical texts to the present day the homosexual community employs several methods. These methods fit into three categories…
Orientation
According to the homosexual community, these verses appeared in an age void of scientific knowledge. The progress of recent science, they say, gives rise to a new classification of humans. Homosexuals cannot help themselves, proponents state. They have a physically inherited condition, called orientation, which causes them to manifest same-sex desires. The LBGTQ people describe it this way, “God made me this way,” thus overcoming these verses and legitimizing their homosexual behavior.
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Despite continued efforts, however, no legitimate scientific discovery confirms the claims of a “gay gene.” In fact, numerous studies reveal no existence of a “gay gene.” These studies reveal a host of factors that could influence a person to homosexual behavior. However, research has not yet found a “gay gene.” (1)
As we all know, genes direct many physical manifestations in our bodies: eye color, height, color of skin, and a multitude of other features. Further, many gene anomalies cause birth defects, e.g., Toy-Sachs disease, Angelman Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anemia, and a long list of other defects. Whether the genes produce normal or abnormal effects, they do not determine ethical behavior. No “gay gene” forces particular sexual behavior. (2)
Even if scientists do discover some physical factor that influences one to experience same-sex desires, the force of these verses remains unchanged. Every person on earth experiences the “uncontrollable” urge for sin(s) that plague them. Rapists, murderers, thieves, and adulterers, to name only a few sins, describe their behavior in the same fashion as homosexuals: uncontrollable urges that compel their behaviors.
The fact that they describe their behavior as an “orientation” does not relieve them from the Biblical description of sin. The Bible describes all humans born from the seed of Adam as posing Adam’s sinful nature. What some call an “orientation” God calls a sinful nature, driven to commit sins of all kinds. Thus no description of sinful behavior as an “orientation” escapes God’s declaration of its behavior as wickedness.
Furthermore, the treatment of homosexuality as an orientation, or SSA, existed in cultures centuries ago, prior to Sodom and God’s giving the Law to Moses and Israel, as well as during Christ’s earthly ministry.
Simply stated, the LBGTQ community cannot overcome these verses with a physical explanation that science has discovered since the time of the writing of these verses from Leviticus. Furthermore, an uncontrollable urge does not legitimize any behavior. Nor does it prevail over the directions of God’s commands.
Meaning of the texts
In their attempt to overturn these verses in Leviticus, homosexuals reject the meaning of the practices described there as applicable to them. They claim these references depict the behavior of cultic temple prostitutes. Further, they say it includes pederasty. Or they claim it refers to violent homosexual patterns existent solely in those days. In any event, the LBGTQ people assert these verses do not describe their behavior: loving, consensual same-sex relationships.
Contrary to their conclusions, the peoples of the era of Leviticus practiced the same kinds of homosexual practices prevalent today. In fact, research from non-Biblical sources describes the prevalence of homosexuality in that time. Middle Assyrians, Egyptians, Canaanites, Mesopotamians, and inhabitants of the ancient near east indulged in same-sex behavior without restrictions.
They had “gay parades” like those present in our day, even having cross-dressing males portraying childbirth. Their homosexual practices included loving, consensual, faithful relationships between same-sex partners, a preview of same-sex marriage in our day. Society of that day included open, free homosexual behavior without legal restraint. Societies of that day accepted it. (3)
Therefore, homosexuals have drawn false conclusions regarding the era of Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13. Sadly, the same-sex preferences exhibited by many today mimic the behavior of ancient days. The exclusion of these texts by the homosexual community fails to dismiss the present relevance of the texts. Factual evidence contradicts their conclusions.
Rejection of Archaic laws
In a final attempt to refute the commands of Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13, the LBGTQ community rejects them with the claim that these decrees applied only to a bygone era. They combine this opinion with a previously discredited claim that this early society did not understand same sex behavior as the currently understood sexual orientation. They claim that these laws have no more application presently than do the ancient food and clothing laws required by God of Israel in that era.
The New Testament does not repeat these “silly” laws, so they say that the laws commanded against homosexuality no longer apply. Therefore, as their logic concludes, these laws against homosexuality no longer apply to our day.
To follow this logic, then, the other laws against sexual immorality mentioned in the context of these verses would also disappear. These commands forbid heterosexual immorality of all types, bestiality, and incest. The emphasis upon the legitimacy of homosexuality has encouraged an increase in these awful practices, which rely upon these same arguments.
To make these claims shows a complete misunderstanding of God and his ways with Israel. God as supreme lawgiver did give a multitude of laws. They covered a variety of aspects of Israel’s society at that time. For example, he gave them purity laws, e. g., the so-called “silly” laws regarding clean and unclean foods, land and sea creatures, illnesses, others.
At first glance, they do appear foolish. But, God had a reason for requiring them. It taught them that a difference exists between clean and unclean behavior. Additionally, he taught them that, because of his holiness, the Israelites could not approach him in an unclean fashion. He required personal purity from those who desired fellowship with him. In addition, God gave some of these restrictions for health protections.
To direct their worship of him, God established a series of ceremonial laws. These laws governed Israel’s worship of God. God outlined offerings appropriate for various sins. The laws, which governed these offerings, described sacrifices the people could present to God to atone for their sins.
Further laws provided direction on punishments appropriate to the violation of God’s laws. Some of the laws, civil laws, gave guidance to Israel for their society. They promoted justice and equity.
One set of laws applies to the texts from Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13. These commands fit in the moral laws of God, sometimes called the Holiness Code. In Exodus 20, God outlined the moral laws that he demanded of Israel. Subsequently, he revealed further explanation and application of these laws. The commands stated in these texts further amplify parts the moral laws from Exodus 20.
To a certain extent, the homosexual community rightly explains that some of these laws no longer apply. For example, the purity laws, i.e., food, clothing, animals, etc., no longer apply. God no longer defines certain things as unclean. (See God’s vision to Peter recorded in Acts 10.9-16 where God redefined this distinction.)
God provided a means by which sinners can approach him: through his son Jesus Christ. Jesus offered himself as an atoning sacrifice to God on behalf of sinners like you and me. Jesus calls men and women from every society and nation to come to him in faith for cleansing from their sins that his sacrifice provides. Everyone who trusts Christ when he calls them by his Holy Spirit receives his promise. God accepts as clean everyone who comes to him through faith in Jesus, because of what Christ’s sacrifice accomplished on their behalf. The sacrifice of Christ renders the purity laws obsolete.
The societal laws no longer apply. God does not deal solely with Israel as outlined in the Old Testament.
The ceremonial laws’ existence ceased, too. The book of Hebrews as well as parts of the Gospels in the New Testament describe in full detail how Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament ceremonial laws in his life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
However, God has not canceled the holiness code. The New Testament repeats them, some with more complete explanations than revealed in the Old Testament. God still requires that humanity obey them, including the laws stated in Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13. You can find these specific offenses repeated in the Gospels, Romans, Paul’s letters to the Church at Corinth, and other places.
Contrary to the LBGTQ interpretations, the commands issued in Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13 still apply today.
Explanation of Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13
A few words of explanation will help you to understand God’s commands, quoted here again for easy reference.
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…”(Leviticus 20:13)
The first part of each verse states the normal sexual relationship: a
man and a woman. But not just any man and woman. From the beginning of the creation of mankind, God created them male and female. He established marriage between a man and a woman, not between same-sex people. (4) Same-sex intercourse violates God’s created order.
Next, God described abnormal, same-sex intercourse. A man shall not perform sexual intercourse with another man as he would with a woman. The description given illustrates unrestrained, unforced, “loving” consensual homosexual behavior. All the surrounding nations approved unrestrained homosexuality. God rejected it, even though none of the surrounding nations did.
God did not condone in Israel the kind of homosexual practice flaunted then and today. His law as given to the Israelites became the first such law against homosexuality. Further, he still rejects it as an abomination, which he called it in these texts. (5)
Clearly, the attempts of the LBGTQ society fail to sustain their assertions that these texts, which condemn homosexuality, do not apply today. They do.
Sadly, many professing Christians and nonChristians have accepted the errors of the LBGTQ as true. They have fallen for the lies of the enemy, satan, who seeks their destruction. (6) The devil bases his strategy upon deceit and distortion of God’s plan and purpose for mankind.
The devil lies when he says that God did not say what he said. He distorts God’s purposes for mankind when he blames God for withholding
pleasure from them. Perhaps you can recognize these tactics as the same ones he used in the Garden In Eden upon Eve. She, too, wanted to satisfy her own desires in contradiction to God’s clear command. (7)
God made provision for sinners of all kinds regardless of the sins they have committed. All who come to him, professing believers and non Christians alike, who turn from their sin and trust Christ’s sacrifice for them, find pardon and forgiveness of sin. Perhaps this describes you today. I urge you to come to Christ and find relief from your sin.
To every believer, God sends his Holy Spirit to indwell him/her. His presence not only confirms God’s promises but also provides the power to overcome the lusts of the flesh. All sin, even homosexuality, begins with lusts of the flesh, which leads, uncontrolled, to sinful practice. (8) However, the indwelling Holy Spirit provides the child of God the power to subdue fleshly lusts and walk in victory over them. (9)
I pray that God by his Holy Spirit will come to you today, granting you new life in Christ by faith. I pray that he will continue his work in your life to bring you victory over the sinful, uncontrollable fleshly lusts that war against your soul.
References
Harrub, Brad, Ph. D., Thompson, Bert, Ph. D., and Miller, Dave, Ph. D. “This Is The Way God Made Me,” A Scientific Examination of Homosexuality and the ‘Gay Gene’”. Available at this website: http://www.trueorigin.org/gaygene01.asp. You can find additional information on this topic at the following site: https: http://www.apologeticspress.org
A new UN report argues that religious freedom is “not incompatible with equality for LGBT persons.” However, by reading the report, it appears that this understanding of “compatibility” means that long-held religious beliefs and traditions must be subservient to the LGBT ideology.
BY ARIELLE DEL TURCO/THE WASHINGTON STAND JULY 06, 2023
Last week, the U.N.’s Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, presented a report to the 53rd Session of the U.N. Human Rights Council arguing that religious freedom is “not incompatible with equality for LGBT persons.” However, by reading Madrigal-Borloz’s report, it appears that his understanding of “compatibility” means that long-held religious beliefs and traditions must be subservient to the LGBT ideology.
In his remarks, Madrigal-Borloz stated: “Paying attention to the voices and practices of inclusive communities can help to shift narratives claiming that the exercise of freedom of religion or belief is incompatible with the equal enjoyment of human rights by LGBT persons.” His report was received warmly by many of the member states whose diplomats were present in the room. Yet, Human Rights Council members should beware of the blatant violations of religious freedom that Madrigal-Borloz’s report is promoting.
The core idea of the report is deeply concerning: that religious communities and LGBT ideology would not come into conflict if only religious communities would interpret their own doctrine correctly. Madrigal-Borloz put it this way:
“In some cases, religious narratives have been deliberately used to justify violence and discrimination — often in defiance of the doctrine of those faiths, and also beyond the scope of the right freedom of religion or belief.”
So, now if we hold to biblical truth, we are apparently just misinterpreting our own doctrines. He insinuates that religious believers who do not embrace the LGBT ideology are misinterpreting their own religion. It is the height of arrogance for a U.N. expert to suggest that his interpretation — informed by the LGBT activist groups who submitted comments for his report — understands the teachings of major world religions better than their own religious leaders or the thousands of years of tradition that often inform their beliefs.
This sows seeds of divisions inside religious communities, pitting so-called “LGBT-affirming” religious adherents against those who hold to a more traditional understanding of their religious texts and doctrines.
The report goes further in a section on “hate speech and incitement,” citing submissions from activist organizations which “expressed concern about interpretations of religious doctrines that place homosexuality and gender nonconformity within a discourse of immorality and sin, describing the power that such discourse can have on the social acceptance of LGBT people, particularly when propagated by religious and belief leaders.”
Madrigal-Borloz not only haphazardly perpetrates the idea that religious groups are interpreting their own religions incorrectly, but also that articulating their understanding of sin can be considered hate speech or even incitement to violence.
The report bemoans laws that affirm natural marriage and family structures. In one instance, it criticizes Hungary for having “passed a law that effectively banned adoption by same-sex couples, applying a strict Christian conservative viewpoint to the legal definition of a family.” Yet, this is not simply a “strict Christian conservative” viewpoint; it is one that affirms natural law and biological reality. Painting this as an extreme Christian position ignores the thousands of years of human history that recognized natural family structures, including those that were not shaped by Christian ideas.
As if anticipating this argument, the report goes on to state, “The concept of a ‘natural’ order as the guiding principle of human and social existence is also present in conservative doctrine.” This is a laughable attempt to make basic reality seem evil or scary. The word “natural” does not deserve scare quotes — it should be accepted and respected.
In an obvious attack on religious freedom, the report openly takes aim at religious exemptions. For example, it notes that in some countries, “including the United States and Australia, government-funded foster care and adoption agencies can reject prospective families based on sexual orientation, gender identity and faith.” The report rejects the idea that religious institutions should have any autonomy regarding their internal policies, arguing that this could hinder “diversity-oriented education, comprehensive sexuality education, and gender equality.”
The report cites unspecified “obligations” under international human rights law to “ensure that LGBT consumers are not discriminated against.” It quoted the U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, who said, “It is not permissible for individuals or groups to invoke ‘religious liberty’ to perpetuate discrimination against … lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex persons, when it comes to the provision of goods or services in the public sphere.” The report specifically alludes to incidents in the U.S. where wedding vendors were asked to create a unique product for same-sex marriages, which went against their religious conviction.
Perhaps most surprising is the report’s emphasis on “access to spirituality” for LGBT-identifying people. After noting that many LGBT-identifying still consider religion to be part of their identity, the report states:
“To leave, and sometimes be forced to leave [a religious community] because of exclusionary practices or teachings can have significant implications for identity and spiritual wellbeing. In many cases, the painful departure from their religious or spiritual community has life-long impact on the mental wellbeing; in others, the option is not just to leave: it can be the taking of one’s life.”
Religious communities should not be cruel to those choosing LGBT lifestyles over their faith. However, it is inappropriate for a U.N. expert to suggest that religious communities should change their beliefs and practices in order to benefit those who wish to violate religious tenets and still identify with a given faith.
This paragraph also ominously suggests that anything short of affirming LGBT identities and behaviors — regardless of whether it violates their religious texts or traditions — could lead to mental illness or even suicide. That accusation — which the report offers no evidence for — is a bully tactic that intentionally vilifies religious communities to coerce them to change.
At the outset, the introduction to the report states that it will explore how religious freedom intersects with “all other rights on the basis of which lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and other gender diverse (LGBT) persons have a right to a life free from violence and discrimination.” Of course, LGBT-identifying people should not be subject to violence — they should be treated with the same human dignity we are all owed as image bearers of God.
But Madrigal-Borloz wants more than that; he wants faux “rights” for LGBT-identifying people elevated over universally agreed upon human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as religious freedom (Article 18) and freedom or speech (Article 19). This is the exact opposite of what the Human Rights Council should be doing. If the Human Rights Council has any shred of credibility remaining, they would reject this fundamentally flawed report.
Nearly every line from Madrigal-Borloz’s report is troubling. It represents a bold insistence that religion must be subservient to LGBT ideology. If you only have the freedom to hold and live out certain LGBT-approved religious beliefs and practices, then you have no religious freedom at all.
For centuries, the professing Church in America has basked in a cocoon of comfort and safety, protected by the constitutional promise of religious freedom and the tolerance of a nation that has largely shared the moral values of Christians. Our faith has existed untroubled, in an idyllic echo of early Christian Rome before Nero’s reign of terror. The experience of the American Christian, ensconced in peace and prosperity, has been a stark contrast to the oft-fiery trial of faith depicted in the scriptures and most of the Church’s history.
However, an unsettling shift is now palpable. The formerly mild climate is growing increasingly hostile towards Christians who, fearlessly and uncompromisingly, align themselves with biblical truth and morality. Observing the signs of the times, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that God appears to be lifting His restraining hand, allowing the societal forces of evil to gain momentum, while simultaneously refining His church and separating the sheep from the goats.
Hebrews 11:32-39, often referred to as the “Faith Hall of Fame,” chronicles the trials, tribulations, and triumphant faith of Old Testament saints. In this passage, the writer holds up a mirror with a startling reflection of the unfolding tribulations of the modern Christian church in America.
This exploration into the gritty realities of faith provides a strong reminder that the reward for true faith is not always immediate, not always earthly, and certainly not always pleasant. Initially, the passage celebrates the victories achieved through faith. Believers “conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.”
Yet, the narrative takes a turn, plunging into a stark chronicle of persecution. Many faced mockery, flogging, chains, and imprisonment. Sound familiar? They were stoned, sawn in two, and slain by the sword. They wandered in deserts, mountains, and caves, clothed in skins of sheep and goats. They were canceled.
This part of the text echoes with an eerie resonance. According to some extra-biblical traditions, the prophet Isaiah may have been the one who was sawn in half, though we cannot affirm this with absolute certainty. What is clear, however, is that these saints faced persecution with unflinching resolve, revealing the strength and substance of their faith.
Fast forward to our current era. Christians in America who hold fast to the exclusivity of Christ, adhere to a biblical sexual ethic, and boldly speak out against the onslaught of immorality, particularly concerning homosexuality, transgender ideology, and abortion rights, are finding themselves in the crosshairs of an increasingly secular and intolerant society.
The persecution faced by such Christians may not mirror the physical brutality depicted in Hebrews 11—at least, not yet. Still, we must understand that persecution takes many forms and that the modern forms we face today, in the context of our society, can be just as devastating. For example, being “canceled” or fired from a job because of one’s biblical convictions can wreak havoc on a family’s ability to provide food and shelter.
Social ostracization, particularly in our interconnected world, can inflict deep emotional and psychological wounds, leading to the same kind of despair that it seems many of the prophets of the Old Testament faced. To many, it can be as torturous as physical pain, as deadly as a sword—a pain that only the hope found in Christ can mitigate. In the face of such adversities, our society seems to have an unspoken message: ‘Conform, or bear the consequences.’ The vilification and marginalization of Christians, once unthinkable in America, is becoming a contemptible reality.
Nevertheless, as we stand on the precipice of this new era of persecution, we must not be overcome by fear or led into compromise. We are called to stand firm, as those saints of old, taking to heart the declaration of the Apostle Paul: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). In the midst of trials, we can find solace and strength in the unwavering promises of God.
The ultimate victory belongs to those who keep the faith, those who, like the heroes of Hebrews 11, valiantly persevere through the crucible of persecution. Our reward, beyond the confines of this temporal world, lies in the sovereignty of God, who transcends all earthly powers, orchestrates the unfolding of history, and stands immutable against the shifting tides of societal norms and trends.
Remember, as we face our own trials, the writer of Hebrews reminded us of these men and women of indomitable faith—they are our predecessors. They are our cloud of witnesses, their courage and fortitude illuminate our path forward, and their lives are a symphony of perseverance and faith that ring out from these pages of Scripture.
In our world, marked by turbulent change and shifting societal standards, our unwavering conviction and resolve become more than virtues; they become lifelines. As we step into the days ahead, we must face the storm not with trepidation but with a firm faith rooted in the infallible Word of God.
Our strength cannot lie in our own capabilities or personal strength but rather in our complete and utter reliance on God. As we walk through the valley of societal turmoil, hold fast to the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Do not lose hope, but lean into God’s strength and know that in our weakness, His power is magnified. Our faith will not merely survive but shine even more brightly in the darkness, reflecting the light of our Savior, our only hope in the storm. In the end, we are not called to conform to the world but to be separate, to stand against the sin and evil of the world, and remain committed to the truth of the Gospel and the power and grace of our Lord.
From the sprawling Southern California campus of Saddleback Church to the towering spires of First Baptist Orlando, the tension within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) continues to escalate, manifesting itself in controversial theological debates and many leaders now demanding the denomination draw lines in the proverbial sand.
Saddleback Church, formerly pastored by the notorious seeker-sensitive Rick Warren and now led by the equally egregious Andy Wood, has landed itself in hot water with a certain sect of Southern Baptist leadership for lifting its middle finger to the Baptist Faith and Message to ordain women to the pastorate. Prior to Warren’s retirement, his move to ordain three women to the pastorate prompted an investigation by the Southern Baptist Convention’s credentials committee, which, after significant delay and much public debate, eventually landed a decision to disfellowship Saddleback.
The protracted delay, prompted by an inability of the Southern Baptist Convention to even define the word “pastor” in 2022, before the decision was reached, combined with the political undertones evident throughout the process, has raised more questions than they’ve answered. Yet, many in the SBC are puzzled and alarmed by the divergence in priorities. While Saddleback faces censure for its stance on female pastors, other—equally if not more—alarming issues are being completely ignored.
As we speak, Saddleback is not taking the disfellowship lightly. They have announced plans to challenge the decision at the forthcoming annual SBC meeting in June 2023. Rick Warren, the church’s founding pastor, is openly opposing the Southern Baptist stance on female pastors in a move that has sent shockwaves through a narrow channel of SBC leadership, namely Denny Burk, who argues that Warren is publicly demanding changes to its doctrine.
But while the question of female pastors draws heated debates within the SBC, an even more alarming issue lurks in the shadows. First Baptist Orlando, Florida’s flagship Southern Baptist megachurch, has been implicated multiple times, openly and clearly, in controversial actions that are far worse than even those at Saddleback. First Baptist Orlando is knowingly advancing a pro-homosexual agenda—and nobody seems to care.
Despite fervent research efforts revealing that the church is baptizing openly gay practicing people, extending them full membership and service privileges, and even allowing these homosexuals to baptize other members, the SBC remains silent and the same leadership decrying Saddleback is openly praising the North American Mission Board, whose former vice chair is one of the lead pastors at First Baptist Church Orlando. The lead pastor of First Baptist Orlando, David Uth, has even declared his intention to partner more with the North American Mission Board to plant more churches embodying this contentious unbiblical stance.
These sobering findings, brought to light by The Dissenter and Justin Peters Ministries, have caught wind among a handful of conservative pastors within the Southern Baptist Convention, but the vast majority of leadership continues to ignore the problem.
Saddleback Church’s decision to ordain women and the Southern Baptist Convention’s subsequent response has indeed opened a proverbial Pandora’s Box. However, it’s disconcerting to observe that other matters of potential dispute seem to be disregarded. Is it political? Obviously so—NAMB pulls a lot of strings in the SBC and carries a lot of weight. How dare any Southern Baptist leader speak ill of it?
As Rick Warren challenges traditional interpretations and the SBC continues its silence on other pressing issues, the question remains: where will these tensions lead the Southern Baptist Convention, and indeed, the wider Christian community? Only time will tell for sure, but it sure looks like the ship has already sunk.
Even Steven 