Be On Guard

But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, "In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." Jude 1:17-18
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Peter 2:19

I listened to one of the most deceitful things that I have heard in a long time yesterday. It was the pastor of a mega church announcing his homosexuality to his congregation. His motivation was to spare teens who are grappling with their sexual identity from the anguish that would drive them to suicide. His message was that you are who you are and that is fine with God. Anything in the Bible that leads you to believe it is wrong is to be ignored. He stated clearly that he believes the Bible is inspired but not true in all of the teachings. He urged his congregation to listen to Paul when he teaches on Jesus, but ignore his teachings on homosexuality because Paul basically didn’t even understand sex between a man and a woman much less the subject of sexual orientation.

Of course it was all baptized under the covering of love and acceptance i.e. approval. I agree with the love, but I don’t agree with the acceptance/approval. I went to church with a man who was a convicted pedophile. He’s attracted to children. I can love him and try to understand his brokenness, (he was molested as a child) but I will never approve or accept that this is the way his desires take him. We are a fallen race and never is it more apparent than in our sexuality. I am not suggesting people deny their sinful bents, I am proclaiming that Christ came to set the captives free and to make us whole and healthy human beings. Tiger Woods is a heterosexual and yet he is terribly bent and needs the healing power of God. He is a slave to his sexual appetites. To tell him that is just the way he rolls and we all accept that is to condemn him to the lifestyle of a roaming dog. Never free to bond to and really love a woman. Never free to be a wholesome example for his children through the redemption that is available through the cross of Jesus Christ. I pray that someday he will find his way to the cross of Christ who came to set the captives free.

I think one of the most disturbing things about this pastor's message was to observe the people in his congregation giving hardy approval as he twisted the word of God and justified himself. He was granted several standing ovations and other signs of approval. In Romans 1:32 the Apostle Paul warns us of those who “although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

Seeing all these things that are coming to pass what manner of people should we be? Beloved friend, my purpose in writing of this is to say, “Arm yourself for battle. In these last days difficult times are upon us. Ground yourself in the word and love of God.” "Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:17-18