Pastor David B. Curtis

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LGBTQIA+ and the Bible

Romans 1:24-27

Delivered 05/28/23

 Our culture is under attack. There is a movement to make every sexual perversion acceptable and normal. Perversions such as homosexuality, transgenderism and pedophilia. Transgenderism has become a cultural trend. The "trans" and gender redefinition issue is a fundamental attack on the family itself. Family is the bedrock of all human civilization. Humanity cannot exist without it.

The lunatic Left celebrates the transgender movement in the United States praising gender-confused individuals for their courage and passing policies to cement "gender identity" into our legal code as well as into our national discourse.

Gender ideology, the idea that gender is a fluid construct rather than an undeniable biological fact, has made its way into just about every part of our culture, from Hollywood films to public school curricula to our medical system.

As a Christian, are you shocked by this? Do you wonder how this could happen in a Christian country? I think we have to realize and admit that our culture is moving from a Christian culture to a post-Christian culture. The culture today in America is not the culture I was born into. In 1973, just fifty years ago, the board of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), under pressure from the National Gay Task Force, changed its official position by declaring that homosexuality was not an illness. So up until 1973, the board of the APA concluded that homosexuality was an illness. Our culture is quickly changing.

In 2012 the APA revised its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and it no longer lists being transgender as a mental disorder. Transgender had been listed as a mental disorder since the third edition of the DSM more than 30 years ago.  Transgender people will now be diagnosed with "gender dysphoria" (emotional stress related to gender identity).

Now before you get too discouraged, please understand that the Church has always been counter-cultural. The first-century church was certainly counter-cultural. And let me just say that if your views are cultural, I don't think you are spending enough time in the Scriptures.

The issue of homosexuality has to be dealt with on two fronts: (1) How do we deal with and treat the unsaved homosexuals, and (2) How do we deal with and treat those who say they are Christians? If that second question confuses you, you must not be aware that there are homosexual churches all over our country.

Let's start with a definition. What is a homosexual? The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as "a person, especially a man, who is sexually attracted to people of the same sex and not to people of the opposite sex."

Based on that definition, is it a sin to be homosexual? Can you help whom you are sexually attracted to? I don't think you can. I don't think that being sexually attracted to a person of the same sex is a sin. Hang on, let me explain. If you act on that attraction and engage in sex, that is a sin. Most people use the term homosexual to refer to someone who is involved in homosexual sex. This just confuses the issue because a person can be homosexual and be celibate, thus not sinning. The attraction is not a sin; it's the act that is sin. So, as not to confuse the issue, I will use the term homosexual of a person who is a practicing homosexual.

Why is homosexuality spreading so fast? Why is it becoming so widely acceptable? I think that it is because behind this sin is a movement, a sub-culture. Homosexuals have a support network. What other sin do you know of that has a support network? Have you ever heard of a liar's bar where all the liars go to drink? Have you ever seen murderers marching in the streets for their rights? Do other sins have a pride month?

When did the homosexual movement start? Most would say it was Gay Pride Week in 1970 during which twenty thousand marched in New York City. This movement is very organized. Its leaders are highly motivated, tactically trained, and heavily financed. They are skilled in communication, education, politics, and, often, religion. They are single- mindedly dedicated to one task: making the homosexual lifestyle an integrated and accepted part of American culture, thus removing the restraints and opening the flood gate of wickedness.

In a matter of a few decades, the homosexual movement has measurably transformed the nation's perception of homosexuality. It has made great strides toward disassociating homosexual behavior from sin and identifying it as a legitimate alternative lifestyle. They have had the full cooperation of the media on this (e.g., television, movies, public schools, corporations). If it is not a sin, then the restraints are gone. If it is publicly accepted, then the restraints are gone.

Those who were once hostile to homosexuality now tolerate it, and those who were once tolerant of it, now embrace it. Most people, Christians included, have gradually acclimated to the commonness of homosexual behavior. We have been and are being desensitized to its unnaturalness and sinfulness. It is now socially acceptable and very popular. It is the in thing to be gay. And anyone who speaks against homosexuality is labeled a homophobe.

The popularity and acceptance of homosexuality should not influence believers. What we need to consider is what the Bible teaches about this issue. In our day, the Scriptures are being re-interpreted to fit the homosexual agenda.

Justin Lee, executive director of the Gay Christian Network writes, "It's certainly true that God designed our bodies with heterosexuality in mind; that's how new human beings come into the world. I don't think anyone can deny that heterosexual sex is the way our bodies were built to function. But does that mean that using our bodies in any other way is sinful?"

It does if the Bible says that using our bodies in "any other way" is sinful. And it does. The Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said that there is only one moral, legitimate outlet for man's God-given sex drive—marriage. Now it was God that ordained marriage and marriage is between a man and a woman. Period.

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 ESV

In chapter 7, Paul goes on to answer some of the difficulties that have been raised to him in a letter that the Corinthians sent. Paul writes, "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." I don't think that this is a very good translation. Young's Translation renders it as follows:

And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good it is for a man not to touch a woman, 1 Corinthians 7:1 YLT

"It is good for a man not to touch a woman"—the phrase "not to touch a woman" does not refer to the holding of hands or putting your arms around a woman. "Touch" is the Greek word "haptomai" which means "to attach oneself to, to apply oneself to." It directly relates to the sexual relationship within marriage. This is a euphemism for a sexual relationship. We see it used this way throughout the Scriptures. So "to touch a woman" is a euphemism for a sexual relationship, but is also metonymy for marriage. The Scriptures use the word "touch" to refer to a union such as marriage. The basic meaning of "haptomai" is to attach oneself to or to bind. In our text, Paul is saying that "it is good not to marry." I think the ESV has this translated wrong. Paul knew that marriage is a divine institution, and he knew that it was God Himself who said, "it is not good for man to be alone." Think about the depth of that statement. Man was not alone in the truest sense. Not only was he surrounded by all of creation, but even more substantially, he had a perfect relationship with Yahweh! Yet in spite of those realities, Yahweh said it was not good for him to be alone. In other words, he needed a wife.

Paul is certainly not contradicting God. Throughout the Bible, marriage is considered very highly. For example, Hebrews 13:4 says that "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled." In the Tanakh, marriage is used to suggest the relationship between God and His people, and in the New Testament, it is depicted as  a union between the Lord and His Church. The Bible holds marriage on a very high level. Paul does not have a low view of marriage; he is not denouncing marriage. Paul simply says it is good not to marry. Celibacy is a good state and not to be depreciated. And as you go through the chapter, Paul gives two reasons why he says it is good not to marry. Look at verse 26, and you will see the first reason. It is because of the distress of the intense persecution in that day. The second reason is found in verse 32 which explains that marriage brings many responsibilities that can limit one's service for the Lord.

What Paul is saying contextually, then, is this: "Considering your present circumstances and considering the responsibilities within marriage, it is good not to marry." Now that first principle (i.e., "celibacy is good") must be held in balance with the second principle which will be developed in verses 2-6. Simply stated it is this: It is natural to marry.

Paul's general rule is laid down in verse 2 when he says:

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.  1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV

Although there may be exceptions, there is no doubt as to what the norm is. Marriage is the norm. This verse makes it clear that God does not approve of polygamy or homosexual "marriages." Wife and husband here are singular. The man is not to have another man but his own wife, and the woman is not to have another woman but her own husband. That's it. Marriage is one man with one woman for a lifetime.

Paul's basic principle, therefore, is that every man is to have his own wife and every woman is to have her own husband. But a problem arises from Paul's preface to that principle in the words "because of the temptation to sexual immorality." Does a person marry in order to avoid fornication? It is one reason, but it is not the only reason.

Paul is not giving us here his doctrine of marriage. He is speaking of the danger of sexual sin for those who are single. If you want Paul's doctrine of marriage, you need to look at Ephesians 5 where you will see that he places it on an extremely high level. What Paul is doing here is answering a specific problem that was given in a specific question in relation to a specific situation existing in Corinth at that time. The situation was this: Fornication was rampant in the city. Temptation abounded on every turn. A man could not walk down the streets of Corinth without being propositioned. What Paul is saying in this passage is that the real solution to the situation in Corinth was to "Let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband." God has instituted marriage as the safeguard against such evil. Marriage is not the lesser of two evils; it is the God-ordained safeguard against immorality.

The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:3 ESV

The words "conjugal rights" are the Greek word opheilē, which according to Strong's means "indebtedness, that is, (concretely) a sum owed; figuratively obligation, that is, (conjugal) duty: - debt, due." Paul is saying that when someone gets married, there is an obligation to meet the physical needs of the spouse. Marriage is no place for celibacy.

Paul's purpose here is to stress the reality of the sexual temptations of singleness and to acknowledge that they have a legitimate outlet in marriage.

Now the Scriptures clearly teach that marriage is between a man and a woman. Therefore, all sexual activity outside of monogamous, heterosexual marriage (e.g., homosexuality, fornication, polygamy, adultery, bestiality, etc.) is sin.

There are no examples of homosexual marriages in the Scriptures—not one. That is because there is no such thing as same-sex marriage. And there are also no instructions on homosexual relationships.

Justin Lee writes, "I now believe that homosexual behavior is appropriate within the confines of a committed, loving, monogamous, lifelong, Christ-centered relationship. Essentially, I'm arguing that a Christ-centered marriage is a good thing, regardless of the gender of the people involved."

Well, he is wrong. Marriage is between a man and a woman. And the Bible teaches that homosexuality is sin. But in our day, the media, educators, and government agencies are increasingly portraying homosexuality in a favorable light. Tragically, the most potent endorsement of the homosexual movement has come from the organized Church. In the literature of fifty years ago, it is difficult to find any serious defenses of homosexuality by professing Christians. One of the first, and certainly the most significant, was Derrick Sherwin Bailey's Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition, published in 1955. Only sixteen years after Bailey's work, a United Methodist Church in San Francisco married two homosexual men, to the applause and cheers of five hundred others. Ten years later, the First United Methodist Church of Boulder, Colorado kept Rev. Julian Rush as minister of youth and education despite his publicly acknowledged homosexuality and his active role in Denver's Gay and Lesbian Community Center. Later, two admitted homosexuals were ordained to the Methodist ministry.

How Christianity deals with homosexuality is of paramount importance to the homosexual movement because in spite of our "post-Christian era," Christianity remains a powerful force in America.

Religion and morality have always been two sides of the same coin. Nothing affects attitudes, behavior, and tolerance levels like religious beliefs. Therefore, if any cause is to find acceptance, it must win over the churches. This is especially true of any cause that apparently violates traditional Church Doctrines.

How the Church portrays the homosexual lifestyle will determine the beliefs of many, whether or not that portrayal is in harmony with the Scriptures. It would be easy to conclude that only liberal churches endorse the homosexual lifestyle. But in reality, the largest homosexual denomination in the country is the "evangelical" Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC).

The first Metropolitan Community Church was founded in Los Angeles in 1966 by Rev. Troy Perry, a former ordained Pentecostal minister and author of The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay. In six years, Metropolitan boasted more than thirty-nine chartered congregations and forty-three missions and study groups, with a combined membership exceeding seventeen thousand. In ten years, it grew to sixty-seven thousand members in well over a hundred locations across the world.

Their doctrinal statement was solidly evangelical. They believe in the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, the resurrection, and salvation by grace. They promote evangelistic outreach. They perform evangelical weddings, but with one twist—most couples married are of the same sex.

Tony Jones, who is an author and church leader in the Emergent Church Movement, believes that "gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and queer individuals can and should live out their sexuality in—and blessed by—the Christian Church." Well, I say that he ought to read his Bible a little more.

Let's look at what the Bible has to say about this issue. The Church must stand on the Scriptures and the Scriptures alone. Paul specifically addresses homosexuality.

For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Romans 1:26-27 ESV

The phrase, "gave them up" is from the Greek paradoken, which is the first aorist active indicative of paradidomi. It means: "to turn someone over to judgment." It is a verb that is put in the active voice to stress the activity of God. God is acting in a positive, overt move of judgment. Paul says three times in Romans 1 that "God gave them up." What did He give them up to?

Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, Romans 1:24 ESV

Here Paul says that God gives them over to "impurity." The Greek word here is akatharsia, which literally means "the contents of a grave." It came to mean "rot or filth or decay or even dirt." Its moral meaning has to do with sexual vice and sexual sin. In Paul's thinking, it primarily refers to perversion of the sexual area of life. So, men are given up to impurity by a judicial act of God.

Paul says at the end of verse 24 that God gave them up " to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves." In other words, they pervert God's intended use for the body. They turn to fornication, sexual activities, sexual deviations, sexual perversion, sexual promiscuity. It kind of sounds like our society. God's will is that we abstain from sexual sin. Believers are to live a life free of sexual sin. We are to live holy.

For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; Romans 1:26 ESV

The word "relations" is the Greek word chresis, which is a very well-established term for sexual intercourse. And that is exactly what he's talking about. They carry on a sexual activity contrary to the intention of the creator. The word "natural" here is phusikos which means "in keeping with how God has designed people," and "unnatural" refers to behavior that is contrary to how God has made us. In the Greek text, the words translated "women" (thelus; v. 26) and "men" (arsen, v. 27) mean "females" and "males." Paul's language is the language of sex.

Homosexuality is an unnatural relationship to oneself and to one's body. And, consequently, if we believe the words of Paul, it is contrary to God's order. This is the teaching of the whole of the Bible. In other words, the apostle says that the relationship of heterosexuality is that which is natural. Natural here means "in keeping with how God has designed people," and unnatural refers to behavior that is contrary to how God has made us. When man forsakes the author of nature, he forsakes the order of nature. I believe that the norm is for people to be sexually attracted to the opposite sex, and when people are not, I think it is a defect because that is not how it is supposed to be. Is it a genetic defect or a hormonal defect? I don't know. Why do some people have this defect? I guess that is the way Yahweh made them.

Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?  Exodus 4:11 ESV

Some people are born deaf, some are born blind, some are born with other debilitating diseases or deformity. Why? That's just how it is, and you have to deal with your defects. It is not a sin to be attracted to the same sex, but it is a sin if you act on it. I do believe that God can change people. But if He doesn't change the heart of a gay person, and he is a Christian, then they must live celibate. I know that that would not be easy, but many people live with defects that are not easy. Life is not always easy.

and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.  Romans 1:27 ESV

"Consumed with passion for one another"—I am told that there is a level of lust among homosexuals that is not known among heterosexuals. It is not unusual for the average homosexual male to have 300 partners per year. It is not uncommon for them to have to go to the hospital and have all manner of articles extracted from deep within them.

In the book, Where death delights; the Story of Dr. Milton Helpern and Forensic Medicine, Chapter 13 explains why "brutal, multiple wound cases" denote a homosexual murder. Dr. Helpern, who was the Chief Medical Examiner for New York City, says, "I did 60 thousand autopsies, and I am not one to make a judgment on lifestyle, but I would warn anyone who chooses a homosexual life style to get ready for the consequences." In 60 thousand autopsies, he said, "I can take one look at a corpse and tell you if it was killed by a homosexual because of the massive mutilations."

Any study of the homosexual community shows a higher rate of suicide, lower tolerance to disease and sickness, a shorter life-span by 25-30 years, the likelihood of infections and debilitating and deadly diseases, and the decreased likelihood of a stable, nurturing family life.

There is a burning level of lust that is beyond anything that a heterosexual understands. There are frequent murders and other crimes that are beyond description.

The commentator Scroggs attempts to minimize Paul's negative remarks on homosexuality by arguing that he is simply drawing on Hellenistic Jewish tradition that probably only pederasty is being condemned. Pederasty from the Greek means "a lover of boys." It is used of one who practices anal intercourse especially with a boy. But Paul says, "Men with men."

Contemporary homosexuals insist that these verses mean that it is perverse for a heterosexual male or female to engage in homosexual relations, but it is not perverse for a homosexual male or female to do so since homosexuality is such a person's natural preference. This is strained exegesis unsupported by the Bible. The only natural sexual relationship the Bible recognizes is a heterosexual one (Gen. 2:21-24; Matt. 19:4-6) within marriage.

Paul condemns homosexual behavior in 1 Corinthians 6.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV
the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 1 Timothy 1:10 ESV

The Greek word here translated in these verses as homosexuals is arsenokoitai, which is a compound word derived from—arsen (man) and koite-(bed). Both of these words are found in the Septuagint version of Leviticus 18: 22 and 20:13.

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.  Leviticus 18:22 ESV
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.  Leviticus 20:13 ESV

There are no instances of the word (arsenokoitai) prior to Paul. Even many revisionist scholars agree that Paul coined the term from Leviticus. Paul was reiterating the holiness code from Leviticus. This clearly tells us that arsenokoitai referred to homosexual behavior. Paul condemns this sin because it is unrighteous behavior.

Could a Christian be involved in homosexual sex? Believers, Christians are not exempt from any sin. I heard a person say that "No homosexual can be in Christ." What about adulterers, or liars, or drunkards? Can they be in Christ? I have personally known two Christians that were involved in homosexuality. One of them died of AIDS. The other I counseled and shared with him what the Bible said about homosexuality. He repented of the sin and is now married with children and is faithfully serving Christ.

Jerry Arterburn was a believer who got involved in homosexuality. He wrote a book called, How Will I Tell My Mother? Let me share with you some of the things that he said about it. "The first homosexual advance came at a church camp and the second at a church picnic. The process of my converting to a homosexual lifestyle didn't happen overnight. It was so gradual I didn't even know it was happening, because in the beginning, I thought I was merely making new friends. It was the first time I felt truly accepted. The feeling of being accepted was overwhelming. That acceptance, more than any other aspect of the gay world, hooked me into the culture." Jerry repented of homosexuality and later died of AIDS.

Let's talk about transgenderism. "Transgender" is represented by the "T" in the popular initialism LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, with the "+" standing in for any other designation).

While the demographics are difficult to come by, transgenderism may be the smallest group within the larger LGBTQIA community. For comparison, homosexuality may represent 1–2 percent of the US population (with men outnumbering women), bisexuality 2–4 percent (with women outnumbering men), intersex 1–4 percent, asexuality 1 percent, and transgenderism at 0.6 percent based on a broad definition of the term (though some researchers have it even lower than 0.1 percent). [Statistics on the population of LGBTQIA population in the United States and in the world are notoriously difficult to estimate. See Gary Gates, "How many people are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender?" The Williams Institute, April 2011; "A Survey of LGBT Americans: Attitudes, Experiences and values in changing times" from the Pew Research Center, June 13, 2013; "Sexual Orientation and Health Among U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2013," National Health Statistic Report, June 14, 2014; "How sexually dimorphic are we? Review and synthesis," American Journal of Human Biology 12:151–166; and "How Many Adults Identify as Transgender in the United States?" The Williams Institute, June 2016.]

Even though by definition transgenderism is not the same thing as homosexuality, there is enough overlap between the two that some regard transgenderism as homosexuality by another name. For example, if a transgender individual is biologically male but perceives his identity to be female and is sexually attracted to men, it would be considered a homosexual attraction for those who see the individual as male.

What does the Bible say about transgenderism? The Bible teaches that God made us male or female, and no matter our own feelings or confusion, we should act in accordance with the biological reality of God's design.

The Bible knows no other gender categories besides male and female. We know from Genesis 1 and 2 that the categories of male and female are a part of God's design for humanity. Indeed, when God created the first human pair in his image, he created them male and female (Gen. 1:27). He made the woman to be a complement and helper to the man (Gen. 2:18-22).

Notice what Moses writes.

"A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.  Deuteronomy 22:5 ESV

This verse is found in a section of Deuteronomy 22 which focuses on the respect for both human and animal life (verses 1–8). Verses 9–11 remind people not to mix what should remain distinct while the last half of the chapter covers regulations for protecting the integrity of marriage and individuals sexually wronged by others.

Deuteronomy 22 contains laws pertaining both to the sixth and seventh commandments that prohibit murder and adultery. The judgment on cross-dressing in verse 5 is that it is an "abomination" (toebah) to God. The Hebrew toebah is used throughout the Tanakh for ritual and ethical activities that God detests including idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:25) and sexual immorality (Leviticus 18:29).

It may be in that context that any behavior which dissolved distinctions between the sexes offered support for pagan versions of prostitution or goddess worship. However, even if prostitution or goddess worship is not the context, the text does not support behavior which disrespects a biologically based gender.

When read within the context of both Genesis 1:26–27 and Deuteronomy 22 as a whole, this behavior is prohibited because it does not respect the sanctity of human bodies as male and female, for whatever reason those distinctions are dissolved. Humanity survives and thrives as female and male.

A common assumption among some doctors is that there is a biological basis for transgenderism, but years of research and debate within the medical community regarding the cause of transgenderism have been inconclusive.

Dr. Paul McHugh, the university distinguished service professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explains: "Transgendered men do not become women, nor do transgendered women become men. All (including Bruce Jenner) become feminized men or masculinized women, counterfeits or impersonators of the sex with which they 'identify.' In that lies their problematic future."

Princeton philosopher Robert P. George put it this way: "Changing sexes is a metaphysical impossibility because it is a biological impossibility."

Anyone familiar with the new term, cisgender? It pertains to those whose gender identities align with the sex they were assigned at birth—in other words, to non-transgender people.

The Biden administration released official guidance recommending irreversible and life-altering surgery for minors too young to apply for a learner's permit. Today our government provides hormone blockers to delay puberty so that children will have time to enter adolescence before they make the choice of how to resolve their gender incongruence. This comes with the potential risks of sterility, of negative impacts on bone mass and brain development, and of false identity assignments in light of the fact that the majority of children diagnosed with gender dysphoria will not carry that diagnosis into adulthood.

How do we respond to Homosexuals and Transgenders? Yeshua said:

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:43-44 ESV

Yeshua is teaching that we are to love our enemies. This is completely radical teaching! This is powerful teaching about the inclusiveness of love. The kind of love that Yeshua advocates even embraces our enemies.

Considering that 41 percent of individuals who experience gender dysphoria will attempt suicide and that the rates of suicide are still abnormally high among those who have fully transitioned. [See "Suicide Attempts among Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Adults: Findings of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey," The Williams Institute, January 2014.] I think these people need to be shown the love of God.

Our arguing with the unsaved about certain sins is not what we are called to do. We are called to lovingly present them with the Gospel of Christ. We do what the Church has always done—seek to win the lost to Yeshua the Christ. And condemning people is a terrible evangelism strategy. Paul told us to stop judging people outside the Church. Those who claim to be believers need to be rebuked for their sin and shown the truth of the Scriptures.

Don't look to government to support Christian values. And don't waste your time trying to get the government to change. Yeshua, Paul, Peter, or John spent zero time trying to change the government. Paul often appeared before government officials, but he never tried to get them to change the laws of the land.

Believers, we are to be the conscience of our society. We must lovingly take a stand against sin. We must say what the Bible says. We have a moral obligation to teach the truth of God—no matter what our society says.

How do we fight back against the cultural push of homosexuality and transgenderism? Stop watching shows that constantly push this stuff. Go to your school board meeting and confront them about this trash that they push in schools. Stop supporting businesses that promote the LGBTQIA+ agenda. Disney has just launched its third round of layoffs, with 2,500 job cuts. Despite objections from the public about pushing woke politics, the company has remained defiant, even doubling down on LGBT and social justice issues. And it is costing them.

We may soon be talking about Bud Light as a former beer brand based on the latest news. Literally no one is buying the product and it's rotting on the shelves. Bud Light has told wholesalers it's buying back unsold cases of beer that have passed their expiration dates because sales have dipped to a new low according to an exclusive report.

Target made the connection between radical gender ideology and Satanism even more obvious when the retailer chose to sell a Satan supporter's trans merch. Many Target locations across the country feature massive June Pride month displays on an annual basis with items this year ranging from "tuck friendly" bathing suits for transgender people to mugs that say "gender fluid." Drag Queen 'Lil Miss Hot Mess' is writing children books stocked on Target shelves. He admits drag is a political tool used to destabilize a child's early understanding of sex.

A Target insider told Fox News Digital that many locations, mostly in rural areas of the south, have relocated Pride sections to avoid the kind of backlash Bud Light has received in recent weeks after using a transgender influencer in a promotional campaign.

Outdoor apparel brand, The North Face, has partnered with a "drag queen" yelling "COME OUT" to sell LGBTQ+ apparel to kids. https://www.disclose.tv/id/m8taviut95/

Ford Motors has become the latest target for conservatives after an old commercial showing a rainbow-wrapped Raptor went viral. Do you think that there is a big market for gay trucks?

We need to fight back with our money. Target has lost 9 billion in week. Bud Light has lost 15.7 billion. We don't need them, but they need us. Stop buying from those that push this depravity. Make some sacrifices to stand against this evil.

It's easy to see that this is where our culture is headed. It's not laws that need to be changed; it's men's hearts. And that only happens by grace through faith in our Lord Yeshua the Christ. Our culture is changing; the Bible is not. Let's make sure our beliefs come from the Bible and not from our culture. The Church is to be counterculture.

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