The Coming Purge
The public acceptance, celebration, and acceleration of homosexuality is staggering. It seems the President can hardly wait to praise athletes, or others, who come out of the closet.
The general public repeatedly elects pro-gay politicians. Money trumps morality. Skin trumps sin. Regardless of ethnicity, people favor “race” over “grace.” Even many “conservative” public figures view homosexuality as a non-issue.
I happened to be preaching in the United Kingdom when the government announced that reading Scripture passages which forbid sodomy would be considered a “hate-crime.” It is likely that America will follow suit VERY soon.
I am not surprised at all that liberal churches embrace “alternative lifestyles” as the norm. This has been in the making for decades.
But Sodom in the Sanctuary will divide many congregations. Even now families are leaving Bible-based churches. A pastor related how parents and grandparents left his church because their children and grandchildren had opted for same-sex relationships. They became upset when their pastor preached those passages which addressed biblical morality. This pastor was not harsh or hateful—he only echoed the plain teaching of Scripture. Blood relation trumped biblical revelation. As is often the case, the issue of “kin” triumphed over the issue of “sin.”
Superficial and surface spirituality will be unmasked. For many the drawing power of culture is stronger than the transforming power of Christ. But the coming purge, and the sure-to-follow persecution, will purify the church.
Standing for Truth in moral matters will be costly for Christian churches, educational institutions, and organizations. Already professing evangelical establishments are hedging in the moral arena. To avoid the purge, MANY will merge with the apostasy. Jesus did not come to bring peace always, but at times a sword. Get prepared for the unexpected and the unexplainable as choices must be made because of Sodom in the sanctuary.
Harold Vaughan
Postscript: Divorce was once rare in our culture, but it has become so common that few families are untouched by it on some level. The same thing is happening with the issue of homosexuality. Churches and Christians must minister to ALL people with the gospel message. Name calling and vitriolic speech need to be replaced by “Grace and truth” speech. As the culture spirals downward, God is calling us to engage those conflicted with gender identity issues, sexual abuse, and same-sex attraction. The gospel rescued many from moral sin in the early church and will do the same today—Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind…shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus(1 Cor. 6:9-11). A Spirit-filled church will minister with compassion to this broken generation without compromising the moral code of Scripture.
Brother- excellent comments and warnings. Things are indeed escalating and being facilitated rapidly. Just this Sunday a homosexual pair of women brought 4 children to our services in Lander. This is their 4th or so visit. The red state of Wyoming just legally became a gay marriage state by judical fiat in Denver.The issue has been addressed in the Sunday school and preaching in a “speaking the truth in love” fashion. These woman have some real needs and God has given me opportunity to personally discuss this sin and the gospel with them. These opportunities are soon going to be the norm,thanks for giving your readers some forethought.
Pastor Wayne King
Lander Ind. Baptist Church
This is new territory…
How should you/we counsel a legally married same-sex couple, if they were to accept Christ– in terms of their state-sanctioned and legally binding relationship?
I teach discipleship class in my church, and I need to be prepared to answer such questions. To be honest, some of these issues we may be soon facing had never occurred to me before.
Well stated Harold. As believers we need to stay consistent; preaching against “all sin”. Sadly many in the Church lost their authority to preach against homosexuality when they first failed to preach against abortion. Partiality to God’s Law, that is “cherry picking” what sins we “call out” makes the message hard to swallow. It’s like trying to pick the pick the speck from a brother’s eye while having a beam sticking out of ours. It then looks to others as hating a group (homosexuals) rather than hating sin.
Well said Brother Harold, we are to watch and pray for we know not when the time is. Mark 13:33
Harold. Thank you so much for the gospel centered and Biblical approach on this issue. We preach Christ and therefore on the issue of homosexuality and its social celebration, Biblical Christians who love Jesus should say, “Homosexuality is wrong but we love you.” Therefore, we do not approve of this sin because if we did, we would not love you. But, our Jesus is your hope and we will lovingly show You Him so that you can be set free from sin just as we have been.
Amen Bro. Harold,
People change, culture changes, and philosophies change but the word of God does not change. God’s word was written for all people in all places for all time, no exceptions. Therefore, we must at all costs . . . “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered
unto the saints.” We are commanded to preach the truth as it is in Jesus. However, as you have indicated we must preach the truth with love. All praise and glory to our soon coming King. DEAR BROTHER, PREACH THE WORD!!
Excellent, Bro. Harold. Glad you added the postscript, too.