We are living in an insane world where a person who uses reason, logic, and common sense often feels isolated amid all the madness. The societal importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion supersedes the Word of God, logic, and common sense. Pastors are afraid to speak about politics, abortion, biological sex identity, the castration of children, and same-sex marriage from God's point of view written in the Bible. For the sake of 'unity,' too many Pastors believe that a metaphorical interpretation of the Bible, rather than a literal one, is best suited.
The culture worships the unholy trinity of me, myself, and I and studies me-ology rather than theology of the triune God. Morality is by a majority. Subjective, ever-changing cultural mores continue to creep into the church to replace the Bible as the final and absolute authority in the life of a Christian. The empirical laws of science and mathematics have acquiesced to moral relativism with no absolute binding principles.
People run in herds and believe up is down, 1+1=3, and a baby in the womb is just a parasitic clump of tissue, not a human being with unique DNA from the moment of conception.
According to the PEW Research Center (April 2024), 86% of religiously unaffiliated Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, as do 71% of Black Protestants, 64% of white nonevangelical Protestants, and 59% of Catholics. 25% of white evangelical Protestants think abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
In the church, some chase after "false signs and wonders" and are taken "captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ" and believe things about God that has zero biblical support (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Colossians 2:8 ESV).
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV)
The Bible says some people lack mental sanity and exhibit a deficiency of discernment, reckless, inconsiderate behavior and thought processes devoid of commonsense and a clearheaded perception of reality in both the natural and spiritual worlds, and are unable to control their lusts (Luke 11:40, 12:20, 24:25; Romans 1:14, 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:36; 2 Corinthians 11:16, 12:6,11; Titus 3:3; 1 Timothy 6:9).
Synchronicity
Synchronicity is the latest buzzword in the church referring to the interconnectedness of all things in an attempt to find meaningful coincidental experiences and common ground, harmony, and peace with people of differing religious and political leanings that can be meaningfully intertwined for the sake of unity as hidden messages that are behind them are revealed.
Synchronicity is intended to synthesize two complete opposites by having Born-Again Christians mix with unbelievers and "synthesize" by coming to a consensus where truth becomes somewhat in the middle. What happens is that the Born-Again Christian is moved very slightly away from their original biblical position of moral absolutes, and the unbeliever is moved slightly more towards faith.
The end result is that the Word of God is sacrificed in the process, which must be proclaimed as absolute truth and stated as fact. When Jesus taught, He said that some would believe, some would scratch their heads, and others would turn away. He always taught factually. It would either convict or not convict people. It was never watered down or softened, which is what is often happening in the church growth movement.
The danger of using modern-day marketing techniques, man-made organizational techniques, and human management principles is that they are changing the environment of the church and minimizing the message preached so as to make it unoffensive. You run the risk of denying the work of the Holy Spirit in motivating the church to reach out to the lost. And you run the risk of not encouraging the lost once they come to desire truth found only in the Word. The church is supposed to be tailored around the feeding of the Word for the perfecting, building up, and edifying of the saints rather than for meeting the "felt" needs of unbelievers.
Intuition plays a crucial role in interpreting synchronicity. Trusting our gut feelings can, it is believed, help us uncover the hidden messages behind these coincidences. Therefore, by honing our intuition, we can better understand how synchronicities relate to our personal journeys and spiritual growth.
It is also believed that synchronicity can catalyze spiritual growth as people are encouraged to embrace change, adapt to new circumstances, and remain open to possibilities as they are invited to reflect on their lives and align their actions with their true selves through meditation as they attune themselves to their inner voice and the world around them; journaling to document experiences and feelings. Looking back can reveal patterns and connections they may have missed, setting intentions: expressing what a person desires to attract into their life, such as love, guidance, and clarity of thought, and cultivating a mindset of openness by allowing oneself to notice and embrace unexpected events.
The process of synchronicity is built on building relationships for the sake of unity, hope, and world peace. The Bible speaks of unity and loving one another; however, the message of the Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ and not unity or hope because they are fully found in Jesus alone, who is the source of our relationships.
The Infiltration
Under the banner of unity, there is an organized effort to change the message and music of the Church to make it more acceptable to the world. 'Felt-needs,' 'how-to'… messages abound in the church. Music tends to focus on what Jesus has done for us and thank Him for it (praise) rather than thanking Him on bent knees for who He is (worship). Genuine worship requires great sacrifice and humility.
There is simply no way to make the Word of God more palatable and less intimidating to the so-called unchurched 'seekers' so that Born-Again Christians can bring in more unchurched and make them 'comfortable' using an entertaining type of service with great uplifting music that is about what Jesus can do for them and not what they have to do for Him because we don't want to tell people they are sinners and make them feel bad about themselves and hurt their self-esteem.
The Hegelian Dialectic
Synchronicity has its roots in the Hegelian Dialectic, which was developed in the late 1700s by Georg William Friedreich Hegel, a German philosopher who emphasized principles of unity and wholeness in art, literature, ethics, and politics. It has since slithered its way into the church. However, its true roots can be traced back to Gnosticism, which comes from Cabalism, which leads back to Babylonia and ultimately to the Garden of Eden.
The Hegelian Dialectic is seducing the church. The softened "seeker" friendly message rarely speaks of sin directly. Instead, it is called 'wrongdoing' or 'bad choices,' 'mistake' or 'poor choices.' The reality of a literal burning hell is often overlooked. Jesus is no longer presented as Lord but as "Leader." This softened message sears the conscience and lulls the church into a semi-conscious state, no longer able to discern the very subtle watering down of the Word. The Bible says, "that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJV)
Modern evangelism, church growth, and counseling training manuals are all based on the feeling’s mode, the affective domain, not the cognitive, not the fact. They use Scripture, but they're using the process as well. You can't use this process because it's not a Godly process. God is Thesis. He doesn't question Himself. He doesn't see Himself as obverse, and He doesn't come to a consensus with the obverse.
Today, the Church Growth movement is fully involved in partnership, relationship building, and ice-breaker exercises, which produce the unfreezing—the synthesis—getting you to share (dialogue) with somebody else who's different from you. You move into the "I think, and I feel" mode of conversation for the sake of changing the person.
The truth is, you do NOT dialogue the Word of God; you preach, teach, and study it. You dialogue what you need clarification on and then you rephrase because decisions are often made based on the consensus of the relationship of the group but they should actually be based consensually on what the Word of God says.
We have a lot of separation and divorce. It's actually been the result of the breakdown of our society, the moral character that it used to have because it was built on integrity and the authority of God's Word. We have gone to vagueness, ambiguity, and tolerance of fallen human nature within the church.
The Word of God, which is the "I know" thesis (and is correct behavior according to the Word of God), has been completely changed to make it the antithesis so that it's whatever feels good.
The Biblical Theme of Leadership
The man who is an anointed Pastor-Teacher should be influencing their congregation with the biblical imperatives and not by the methods of worldly philosophy, business practice, or even by imitating politicians.
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1 NIV)
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Timothy 4:3 NIV)
"If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness" (1 Timothy 6:3 NIV)
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2 NIV)
The Focus of the Pastor-Teacher is:
- to point people to Jesus and His written Word of God.
"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus." (Acts 8:35 ESV)
"And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." (Acts 9:20 ESV)
"And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." Acts 17:2-3 ESV)
"For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" (1 Corinthians 1:22-23 ESV):
"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." (2 Corinthians 4:5 ESV)
- be a Shepherd and NOT a Visionary or CEO.
"And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15 NIV)
"I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:4 NIV)
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." (Acts 20:28 NIV)
"..shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly" (1 Peter 5:2 NIV)
- be a Watchman.
Exercise discerning leadership, keep watch over God's flock, and not be a wolf in sheep's clothes who lets the world attack the flock.
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17 NIV)
"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand." (Ezekiel 33:6 NIV)
"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." (James 3:1 NIV)
- Command and Teach Sound Doctrine.
"…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20 NIV)
"Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2 NIV)
"Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things." (1 Timothy 6:2 NIV)
"correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:25 NIV)
Subjects Most Often Overlooked from the Pulpit
- Voting Rights and Elections
According to Barna Research (Oct 2024), as many as 104 million people of faith are unlikely to vote in the upcoming US election. 32 million self-identify as a Christian who regularly attends church and won't cast their ballots. The survey revealed that large numbers of church Pastors have distanced themselves from the election and even refuse to encourage their people to vote for their person of choice but avoid addressing key social issues that the Bible clearly addresses.
Among those are people who are "people of faith defined by their beliefs regarding sin and salvation as Born-Again Christians, 41 million are expected to not to vote); self-identified Christians who regularly attend church services, 32 million are not likely to vote; and voting-age adults who regularly attend an evangelical church, 14 million are expected not to vote). The research also indicated that 46 million adults who attend Protestant churches and 19 million who attend Catholic churches are not likely to vote.
Barely more than half of Christian churches (56%) took the simplest election-related action, that of encouraging congregants to vote in November. Slightly less than half of Christian churches (48%) were said to have provided congregants with written information about the Bible's stand on specific issues.
Less common church activities included registering new voters (an action attributed to 26% of Christian churches), inviting or hosting candidates to speak at the church (26%), providing voter's guides (24%), and recommending that people vote for specific candidates (24%).
The most common reason, offered by two-thirds of the non-voters (68%), was a lack of interest in politics and elections. Other common reasons included disliking all of the major candidates (57%), feeling that none of the candidates reflect their most important views (55%), and believing that their vote will not make a difference (52%). Half of the non-voters said they would avoid voting because the election has become too controversial for their liking (50%).
One of the most important findings of the research is the depressed voting intent of "people of faith." The survey defined "people of faith" as either someone who described themselves as "a person of religious faith" or as someone who associated with some recognized religious faith (such as Christianity, Judaism, Mormonism, Islam, etc.). Based on that filter, 79% of Americans qualified as a person of faith. In total, 66% of Americans 18 or older identified as Christian, thus constituting more than four out of every five adults (83%) who view themselves as a person of faith.
What is astounding in this research is that too many Pastors are refusing to inform their congregation that God clearly wants them to be pro-life just as He is, which logically would include voting against abortion and pro-choice candidates. Pastors are telling their congregations not to vote even though there is overwhelming biblical support for Christians to participate in voting for the future of their country because God established governmental authority, and they are responsible for keeping it. Refusing to exercise their responsibility to lead and guide their congregation in politics is not for the sake of unity but because of fear.
"For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." (Romans 13:4 NIV)
Christians are to support biblical values wherever they live.
"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV)
The same principle remains true today: vote and support leaders who most closely align with their biblical convictions.
Jesus commanded Christians to be "salt and light," which includes voting.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." (Matthew 5:13 NIV)
The only way a Christian can authentically claim to live their life fully for God is to be active in helping to determine who leads on school boards, represents them in Congress, the Senate, and the White House, and will determine the future laws that impact us, our children, and future generations.
Churches of the regular attendees were most likely to have addressed the topics of religious freedom (67%) and poverty (63%). Roughly half recalled receiving a teaching concerning abortion (49%). Slightly fewer remembered teaching concerning matters related to crime, law and order, and law enforcement (45%). About four out of 10 congregants recalled teaching pertaining to same-sex marriage (42%). Only one-third cited teaching regarding the role and authority of government (34%) or the Israel-Palestine conflict (33%). One out of four had been exposed to a teaching about transgenderism (27%) and immigration and border security (25%). The least taught-on topic among those evaluated was artificial intelligence (18%).
Barna discovered that about one out of every six likely non-voters said they would probably vote if their church taught them that voting is a biblical responsibility for every Christian. One out of seven of the likely non-voters indicated that they would be likely to vote if family or friends convinced them of the importance of voting; if the election was so close they believed their vote might actually make a difference; or if they received an unbiased, objective briefing about what each of the major candidates supports and opposes.
Without naming specific candidates or their Party affiliation, a Pastor should encourage the congregation to both register and vote in every election according to their biblical values.
- Abortion - Pro Life Vs Pro Choice
According to the Bible, human life begins before a person takes their first breath.
"...then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." (Genesis 2:7 ESV)
Although there is not 100% consensus among scientists, 97 percent believe it is an empirical and irrefutable fact that individual human life begins at conception when the 23 chromosomes of the father's sperm fuse with the 23 chromosomes of the mother's egg to create a single-cell embryo or zygote containing 46 chromosomes with 30,000 genes combined to determine its unique DNA code containing all of a person's physical characteristics: sex, facial features, body type, the color of hair, eyes, and skin.
The Bible clearly teaches that an unborn child is a human being and deserves to be protected. It also provides a clear precedent for speaking out against abortion and other injustices and promoting righteousness in society and before law-makers (See Exodus 8:1; Daniel 4:27; 5:11-24; Isaiah 13-23; Jeremiah 46-51; Ezekiel 25-32; Amos 1-2; Obadiah; Jonah; Nahum; Habakuk 2; Zephaniah 2; Matthew 14:3-4; Luke 3:19; Acts 24:25).
"Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?" (Proverbs 24:11-12 ESV)
"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute." (Proverbs 31:8 ESV)
Historical and traditional Christian teachings opposing abortion had been unanimous throughout history until the twentieth century when lukewarm church leaders began to infer that a fetus had a lower moral status. Hence, abortion was permissible in some circumstances based upon a couple of verses that are interpreted as God' ventilating' the fetus.
"Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." (Genesis 2:7 ESV)
"As you do not know the way the spirit (breath) comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything." (Ecclesiastes 11:5 ESV)
- Open and Affirming Churches
Under the guise of unity, the enemy has successfully seduced churches to choose a different path to fulfill the Great Commission by becoming 'Open and Affirming' rather than becoming places of supernatural transformation. The subjective, ever-changing cultural mores continue to creep into the church to replace the Bible as the final and absolute authority in the life of the Born-Again Christian.
Many churches see themselves as a place where people are welcome, no matter their behavior or where they are on their journey of faith. Some within the church believe the only way it can help all people face tomorrow in the power of God's love is by becoming a diverse and inclusive congregation – multiracial, multigenerational, and multicultural – offering a warm, non-threatening environment to all.
It is believed that by being 'Open and Affirming,' they show a willingness to offer membership to everyone who could profit from belonging because they are willing to tackle the challenging issues of the day with moral passion and genuine tolerance.
Churches that are not 'Open and Affirming' have, in their view, adopted a sectarian mentality that insulates themselves from the culture and causes the burning of bridges that connect the church with the unchurched.
On the surface, that seems reasonable. The Kingdom of God does include all of God's children. Jesus came to seek out the oppressed, and He associated with many who were considered outcasts of society, such as a prostitute, a tax collector, and a leper. He accepted the individuals for who they were yet did not condone what they did.
No one should ever discriminate against anyone because of their age, beliefs, gender, ethnicity, skin color, sexual orientation, or perceived sexual orientation. However, the real meaning behind being 'Open and Affirming' is becoming a church that accepts not only the individual but specifically their lifestyle and sexual behavior.
The Bible does not make a distinction between biological sex and mental sexual gender. Abnormalities, mutations, and gender confusion are a result of the Fall in the Garden of Eden. A person's inclination to act like the opposite sexual gender is ultimately due to sin entering the human race, which caused the DNA to mutate and break down through entropy and into many variations. Sexual gender anomalies and same-sex attraction are either psychological and or genetic mutation issues.
Sin is what causes a person to do or desire those things contrary to God's desires, which are revealed in the Bible. When a person sins, they are essentially saying, "God, I know better than you do because I am god," which is precisely what occurs when a person says they are a different gender than their actual biology indicates (see Genesis 3:1-14). When Adam and Eve sinned, they were punished in ways that were different from each other.
- Same-Sex Marriage
Same-sex marriage is about overthrowing cultural norms that have for centuries set traditional marriage apart from other household forms based on tradition, legal precedent, and social science evidence.
Marriage has always been correctly and appropriately discriminatory, as when it denies a man the right to marry his mother, daughter, sister, a child, someone already married, or someone of the same gender.
It is erroneous to assert that homosexuals are being denied the right to enter the marriage union when the immovable foundations of natural law dictate that marriage is, by definition, a heterosexual institution - a union between one man and one woman - because men and women are the only categories of human beings that can bring forth the next generation.
Limiting marriage to one man and one woman cannot be considered discriminatory. It is a necessary condition for marriage. The church's obligation to protect the sanctity of marriage is based upon creation, nature, human physiology, the authority of Scripture, protecting family and children, and safeguarding the ability to build solid and sustainable societies based on sound moral values.
In the New Testament, the oneness of male and female in marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and His Church. Every Christian is to live in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness – period!
When historical Christian tradition is examined from the first Century on through the ages, it is clearly seen that the Christian church's moral teaching tradition has declared any other behavior to be contrary to God's will.
- Sexual Gender and Non-Binary
Contrary to the uninformed dilusions of some, the Bible does not recognize six different sexual genders – and King David did not have a homosexual lover. However, Hebrew writings do reveal that six physical distinctions could be characterized as deformities. When a Born-Again Christian uses someone's preferred gender pronoun that corresponds with their expressed sexual gender identity, they are bearing false witness against them (Exodus 20:16).
Many people who identify as non-binary see themselves as those in the Bible who are eunuchs. However, eunuchs were not non-binary people. The word 'eunuch' comes from the Hebrew word 'saris,' which means incapable of marriage, an emasculated human male (ISBE). Eunuchs were slaves who their Masters trusted to watch over their wives and daughters, be their couriers or diplomatic emissaries, military leaders, or fulfill other trusted roles. Interestingly, even though castration was forbidden in ancient Israel because God had commanded humans to be fruitful and multiply, they still did it anyway (see Genesis 1:28)
In the beginning, God created heaven and earth, then created human beings as only male and female in His image and likeness to be joined together to reflect His love and relationship to His bride, the Church universal (Genesis 1:26-27). Scientific evidence and the natural order of Creation dictate procreation for every species' survival. Because God's character and nature are love, He would never create someone opposed to the design of His natural order and then say it is wrong to be like that.
"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. In the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:26-27 ESV)
The Bible declares that "God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created him (Heb: 'oto' = in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly self); male (Heb: 'zakar' = a biological male) and female (Heb: 'neqebah' = a biological female) He created them" (v27).
The verse is not a figure of speech that expresses two contrasting parts. When God created them as male and female, He did not add the words 'for your God is neither male nor female' or use non-binary gender pronouns.
God created human beings as only 100% male or female with anatomical differences and gave them very specific prescriptive roles for each sexual gender (see Genesis 1:1-28, 2:1-24; also Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6; 1 Corinthians 11:11; Ephesians 5:21–32; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). God did not create any trans-gender human beings.
The Biblical record shows that sexual union was established exclusively within the context of male-female relationships and formalized in the ordinance of marriage. Based upon the authority of the Old and New Testaments, it is evident that normal sexual behavior is that which functions according to its design. Yet, emotions have replaced human biological science. A human male can say they are a female, or vice versa, even though their chromosomes and anatomy are genetically the opposite of what they say they are, which ensures there will be no survival of the species. Charles Darwin must be spinning over in his grave.
The facts are that sexual gender is, and always has been, relevant in the Bible. Sexual gender is essential to God. He is strong yet gentle, defends, and nurtures; He is independent and social because He is like a good father and a good mother. He created both male and female "in his image" (Genesis 1:27 NIV). It reveals that humans are the only beings in the universe made in the image of the Creator of all things. The aspects of men and women equally reflect parts of God's nature.
God is not sexual gender-neutral. He does not say anything about there being a non-binary gender. From the beginning of Creation, God made humans male or female. God chose to incorporate gender sexuality as part of His "very good" Creation (Genesis 1:31 NIV).
The cultural metaphysical term "non-binary' is used to describe anyone whose gender is not included in the socially constructed roles of male or female, which could include dysphoria. Some may experience a more fluid sense of identity or always stay near to their way of presenting how they see themselves.
Others may not identify with any gender at all. Because of this, there are so many different identities that it would be impossible to name them all. A person could be a woman who wears makeup and dresses but still identifies as non-binary. They might even use she/her pronouns. Her gender identity is more about how she sees herself and not from anyone else's point of view.
The Bible tells us that God did not create people with a non-binary identity or those who have more than one gender, nor did He let them decide what they would be. There is no sex spectrum. Sexual gender is an "or" proposition, not a "both/and" proposition (See Deuteronomy 22:5; Psalm 139:13). Throughout the Bible, the vast majority of men and women are shown living within the biology they were born with.
Biological males have significant physiological advantages over biological females. In sports, the performance gap between males and females reveals itself at puberty and can be as high as 50%. Biological males have 15-20x more testosterone than biological females, and their bone mass is 26-45.5% more than females. Biological males have a higher red blood cell count, lower fat, more muscle, 80% greater tendon strength, and lung capacity.
The Bible is the final source of truth for the Born-Again Christian, not the traditions or esoteric ramblings of fallen human beings. It is filled with God's wisdom and knowledge and remains the only and absolute authority for all things related to God's mind and His handiwork. It is the only reliable source for human beings to learn about their Creator and hear His voice.
God has given three conditions to know Him intimately;
1. "if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding"
2. "if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding"
3. "if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures"
"then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:1-6 ESV)
The Bible tells us that the man Jesus is our Lord, provider, and protector, and those who are Born-Again are corporately designated as female (Ephesians 5:23–33). These truths demonstrate that God does not show favoritism regarding gender (see Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9).
Jesus set the example as a model for both male and female followers who are called to empty themselves and become humble, obedient servants, even to the point of death (1 Peter 2:21-23; see also Philippians 2:5-8). Sadly, it is true that with the entrance of sin and its deathly consequences into the world in the Garden of Eden, there are gender disorders of various types. People affected by such disorders should most certainly receive compassion and support from the church.
There is no sex spectrum where people can choose to identify as male or female, regardless of their anatomy, which is irrational and has no basis in scientific reality. In humans, reproductive anatomy is unambiguously male or female at birth more than 99.98% of the time.
- Transgender Vs Sexual Gender
Sexual gender is not a matter of opinion but a scientific fact that it is physical. Non-binary sexual gender is a distorted conception of life resulting from abnormalities, personality disorders, and possible abnormal biological mutations. There is no third type of sex cell that exists in humans. Sex is binary – period!
Biological men who say they identify as female and women who say they identify as male, or any gender identity combination, is psychologically dangerous and is an anti-scientific trend toward the outright denial of the authority of the Bible and the fact that the Creator of all things determined biological sex. God's Word is absolute truth (John 17:17).
Human beings hypothesize, theorize, formulate, speculate, and postulate because they do not have the infinite mental capacity to know everything in this life. The Bible must be the most important source of authority in a person's spiritual life.
The Bible is the authoritative source for the proclamation of the church and the norm by which that proclamation is tested. It cannot be changed by any additions, subtractions, or modifications offered by anyone, no matter what position or authority they claim to hold. Once a person attempts to conflate various verses, supplement, supersede, distort, or subtract from the Bible, they enter into heresy.
When a person totally falls in love with Jesus, the Creator and Lord of all things, they are empowered to "put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within." Then they will be able to:
"Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. In its place, you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, (male or female) circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us." (Colossians 3:5-11 NLT)
The Bible says that every human being is "without excuse" when they stand before God (Romans 1:20 ESV). Every person fails to honor and give thanks to God. Every person falls short of the glory of God. No one is conditionally righteous, not one.
When a Born-Again Christian judges the behavior and beliefs of their fellow humans, they had better do so with a great deal of humility. Every person, whether straight, LGBTQIAS+, or celibate, has only one righteous plea to make before their Maker: 'Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.' It is only when God has heard that appeal through Jesus's death and resurrection that there is any hope of abundant and eternal life for any of us.
In Christ, every human being can be justified in faith. God draws everyone to inherit His Kingdom. The choice to transition from sin by becoming Born-Again is theirs to make. Thanks be to God for His incredible mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christians are to treat one another as brothers and sisters - first and foremost. They are one family united by Jesus' shed blood. The 'natural' desire in the Bible makes sense in a procreative sense but not in a 'sexual' sense (See Romans 1:26-27). I firmly believe that there are far more 'heterosexuals' who need to have their sexuality transformed and sanctified than there are in the LGBTQIAS+ community.
The church must accept those who have sexual gender challenges just as they would anyone with any emotional or physical health issue. They must not be turned away from such things as small groups, church functions, or mission trips. The church is to be a spring of healing and fulfill the commandments of God. It must openly offer and affirm to those who desire to be set free, the way that is found only in Jesus, and show kindness and grace to them as they are learning what the Bible says about sexual gender behavior. The ultimate challenge for every Christian is to allow the Holy Spirit to transform them "into His likeness with ever-increasing glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).
I would say to the church, put away your bigotry and prejudice against those who are not like you and walk in the merciful and kind goodness of God that "leads to repentance" and in the ministry of reconciliation and forgiveness so that you can fulfill God's Great Commandment by loving one another (Romans 2:4; 1 Corinthians 5:18-21; Matthew 22:32-40).
Suppose the church is to be a spring of healing and fulfill God's commandments. In that case, it must openly offer and affirm to those who desire to be set free - whether from their homosexuality or heterosexuality - the way that is found only in Jesus. The ultimate challenge for every Christian is to allow the Holy Spirit to transform them "into His likeness with ever-increasing glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).
I know of thousands who the power of God's love has transformed. Ever since then, I have been keenly aware of the LGBTQIAS+ societal needs. Sadly, decades later, sexual orientation is still a serious issue that is not directly addressed in today's church.
Christians must allow Jesus to be the healer through them by looking at others as He sees them - lost sheep in need of a Shepherd. Without condoning their behavior, they should let God' work out' the sins and failures of others. When they do, they will see the lives of everyone they touch healed and transformed into Christ's image and likeness, fulfilling the Great Commission.
Be Sober
The opposite word for 'dialectic' in the Bible is "sober." The Born-Again Christian is to not think more highly of themselves than they should. The dialectic process says, "I'm important, so I can justify what I'm doing."
"For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (Romans 12:3 ESV)
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13 ESV)
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 ESV)
A 'sober' person can see the whole situation from God's point of view. Healthy sheep beget healthy sheep, and spiritually healthy church-goers beget more healthy church-goers over the long run so that they will grow spiritually and holistically in numbers.
The Plumb Line - The Commandments of God
The written Word of God, the Bible, is the plumb line that will change us and not sermons and counseling that address the 'felt needs' of fallen human beings within the community to draw them into the church. The Bible calls "felt needs" the "lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (John 2:16 KJV).
The historical agenda of the church is to bring people to Jesus so that they can have their sins covered through His shed blood. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." He didn't say, "I am the feeling." The ONLY way to bring a person to the realization they are a sinner and need a Savior is to proclaim the Law through the truth of His Word, the Bible, and not through feelings.
Because people are motivated by the desire to receive the approval and recognition of others and avoid their disapproval, they will often delegate authority and arbitrary control to others, such as church leaders, politicians, etc., for the sake of unity.
"And God spoke all these words: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
(1) "You shall have no other gods before me.
(2) "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
(3) "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
(4) "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
(5) "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
(6) "You shall not murder.
(7) "You shall not commit adultery.
(8) "You shall not steal.
(9) "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
(10) "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:1-17 ESV)
Behavior is based upon these Laws of God because every human being falls short of God's glory and cannot save themselves or anyone else (Romans 3:23).
Synchronicity requires changing the laws of God to save a relationship with someone so we can get along through compromise. Beliefs are then based on feelings and not the Word of God, to which we are held accountable, not how we feel or think about it.
The ministry of Jesus wasn't built on "I think, I see, I feel, therefore it must be real." It was built on "I know." Jesus made sobering statements about tolerance, diversity, and unity:
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16 ESV)
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:6-7 ESV)
"Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." (Luke 12:51 ESV)
First and foremost, God gave the Ten Commandments to reveal His glory, holiness, and character. They are the only words in the Bible He wrote directly without an intermediary! (Exodus 34:1-4, 27;29; Deuteronomy 10:1-5; 2 Peter 1:21). They were called the 'Decalogue' by the early church fathers, which means "the ten words," (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13, 10:4) "the words" spoken by God (Yahweh) (Exodus 20:1; 34:27; Deuteronomy 5:22; 10:2), or "the words of the covenant."
God, who is love, spoke directly to Moses and said, "I am the Lord" (Exodus 6:2 ESV). He declared His absolute divine authority over all things and His interest in redeeming them from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 15:13). The foundation of the Ten Commandments is love. Jesus said that all the Laws are based on the greatest commandment.
"Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him,"' You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' "This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it:' You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:35-40)
God spoke the Ten Commandments to Moses and then personally wrote them on stone tablets to last forever - twice!! (Exodus 20:1; 32:19).
The tablets were later put in the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 20:1; 32:19). They are unchanging moral truths and the personal objective standards for how every individual human is to live. The Commands are at the heart of God's love relationship with every individual human being and are unique and historically significant for all time.
Rules For Righteousness
The Ten Commandments are rules for righteousness in the family to follow so that the home will be a happy and healthy place to raise children and build a strong marriage. Broken homes have broken people inside them, who have children who will have broken homes, producing more broken people.
God initially gave the Ten Commandments to establish a covenant with Israel. The Hebrew word most often translated as "covenant" in the Old Testament is 'Berit.' The word 'bond' means two or more people are bilaterally bound together, as in a legal contract, and have equal privileges and responsibilities.
The New Testament word for "covenant" is 'diatheke,' which has also been translated as "testimony" and "testament." It means a set agreement or contract with complete terms determined by the initiating party and fully affirmed by the one entering the agreement.
The Covenant was unilateral. Israel was a recipient and not a contributor to the contract. They were called to accept God's offer, keep it as He defined it, and receive the results. God assured them He would not withhold His agreement from them.
At first glance, the only motive for obeying the Ten Commandments is to avoid punishment. However, the true motivation for obeying them is to show loyalty and love for God and to reveal His true character by treating fellow human beings as you want to be treated, which is inseparable from your relationship with God.
The Ten Commandments are not arbitrary. They give us the knowledge of right and wrong and define the parameters where love cannot exist. However, they were not given, nor were they able, to make a person righteous, perfect, or to save them (Galatians 3:11; Romans 3:20). The Commandments reveal human sinfulness and show there is no way to keep the law to avoid condemnation. Jesus did not come to abolish or do away with the Ten Commandments. Instead, He came to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-18).
God gave us the 9th Commandment, which explicitly prohibits a false witness from telling untruths about another person and commands truthfulness of speech to and about others in any circumstance.
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16 ESV)
Human beings are to live in accordance with their design because it is absolutely critical to human flourishing. Sex and gender are binary by their very nature. There are men, and there are women by God's design for humanity. Pronouns describe objective reality. When a person uses a person's "preferred" pronouns, they are describing a subjective reality that is contrary to the Word of God and against empirical biological science. When a person uses a false pronoun to describe a man or a woman, they are bearing false testimony against their neighbor. The moral obligation of every person before God is to speak the truth in love and humility, even if their neighbor may take offense.
Christians are to speak the truth to their neighbor and about them. This Commandment guards a person's reputation, and it should govern our tongues, hearts, and ears.
Christians must teach their children honesty by living their lives before them in what they say and what they do. The home should love the truth, speak the truth, and live the truth so that they will be faithful witnesses for Jesus to their neighbors and co-workers. A home that is not built on truth will ultimately crumble into chaos. Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:5 ESV). Promises made must be promises kept. Tell children that when they tell the truth and speak the truth, they act like Jesus.
"Be Ye Transformed"
God gives anyone who humbly surrenders their life totally to Jesus Christ—the Creator and Lord of the Universe—the ability to be changed if they desire to be changed. The ultimate challenge for every Christian is to live a holy life by allowing the Holy Spirit to give them a new nature and transform them "into His likeness with ever-increasing glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).
Suppose Christians openly welcome people to become disciples of the risen Lord and do not teach them that through Jesus. In that case, they have the power and ability to be changed from the inside out, and they do not have to remain just as they have always been, living according to the old fallen nature; they negate the work of the Cross and fall far short of fulfilling God's good, acceptable and perfect will. (See Romans 12:2)
Becoming truly open and affirming means walking in holiness and fulfilling God's Law through the ministry of reconciliation and forgiveness by loving one another. All people must be openly welcomed into the church, where their dignity and legal rights will be affirmed. However, that does not mean avoiding or ignoring controversial subjects for fear of a negative response.
Sources:
Adapted from the National Human Genome Institute Fact Sheet 2021
https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Y-Chromosome-facts
Excerpt from https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-dangerous-denial-of-sex-11581638089
- Mayo Clinic - https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/overview/83686#Clinical-and-Interpretive
- PubMedhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12830370/
- PubMed, NY Times, Med https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8477683/
