In my opinion, the LGBTQ movement (and especially the radical “T” agenda) is the greatest threat to the evangelical church in America. Why? Because of the slow and steady march of the LGBTQ theology into the American evangelical church. The Unconditional Conference at the church Andy Stanley pastors is an excellent example of that slow and steady march.
Below is a quotation at the end of an article entitled “An Assessment of Andy’s Stanley’s Unconditional Conference” found at An Assessment of Andy Stanley’s Unconditional Conference (str.org) [emphasis added]:
If I wanted to quietly mainstream pro-gay theology and transgender ideology into the evangelical church, I would create this conference. It’s the perfect vehicle. The speakers never exegeted a single Bible verse nor explained the Bible’s teaching on sex and marriage but nevertheless advanced pro-gay and pro-trans theology to the believers in attendance. They sold parents a false security that their kids will be right with God even if they marry someone of the same sex or “transition” their bodies, but they never provided a biblical case for that view.
For those intent on reforming the church to adopt pro-gay and pro-trans theology, it was a win. That’s why the leaders of LGBTQ organizations in attendance were thrilled. The conference succeeded by hiding the key premise, creating a false dichotomy, twisting the definition of love, and leveraging the emotions of parents. Combine that with the biblical illiteracy that is commonly present in the church, and the truth didn’t stand a chance.
There’s hope, though. If we expose the hidden premise, offer a third way, adopt the biblical notion of love, and base our theology on Scripture, we can hold the line. In his final epistle before being executed, Paul wrote to his protégé, Timothy, and charged him to “retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you” (2 Tim. 1:13–14). That might sound easier than it is, but it’s worth it to stand firm, and we’re called to do it.
The objective of a conference like this is to “quietly mainstream pro-gay theology and transgender ideology into the evangelical church.” Please don’t take my word for it, read the entire assessment.
I’ve written many articles about the LGBTQ movement and what the Bible says about homosexual practice and transgender practice. In no way, shape, or form can one interpret the Bible to condone, even in the least, either one of the above practices. If you don’t know that to be the case, then take the time to learn how to study the Bible and do your due diligence! The time is now for you to “Be a Berean” per Acts 17:11 (NET), “11 These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.”
Believers must be attentive to subtle efforts to insert LGBTQ theology into the evangelical church bit-by-bit. Every follower of the Lord Jesus Christ must take to heart the warnings in the Bible about false teachers. What Peter wrote in 2 Peter 2:1–3 (NASB95) is particularly relevant [emphasis added]:
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
The NASB95 translates the Greek verb pareisaxousin as “will secretly introduce,” and it means, “13.132 παρεισάγω: to cause something to happen by introducing factors from outside—‘to bring in, to cause from outside.’ οἵτινες παρεισάξουσιν αἱρέσεις ἀπωλείας ‘who will bring in destructive divisions’ or ‘who will cause destructive divisions’ or ‘who will cause divisions which will greatly harm people’ 2 Pe 2:1.” See Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 162). United Bible Societies. Something from the “outside” is something not from Scripture that may come alongside Scripture, but is a destructive heresy.
Other relevant passages include 1 Timothy 1:6-7; 6:3-5; and Titus 1:10-11.
Every Christ follower needs to spend the time and effort to know what the Bible teaches about LGBTQ theology. Then, be ready to stand against LGBTQ theology in a kind and loving way. It is a theology that leads to damnation per 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (NASB95):
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
If you are unsure about your salvation or are not a Christian, it is vital that you continue reading.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
… please (1) read through “God’s Plan of Salvation” so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through Jesus Christ.
God’s Plan of Salvation
In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, whereby Adam’s sin was passed down to all of humanity, creating a separation between God and humanity. We cannot do anything to bridge that separation so that without God’s intervention, hell is our eternal destination. Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy, God provided us with the only means of salvation through Abraham’s lineage by sending the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, thereby fulfilling the Law, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all people. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, thereby exhausting God’s wrath against humanity. God now calls on every unbeliever to repent of their sins and completely trust in Christ alone that Jesus died for their sins and rose to life from the dead. Every unbeliever who repents and trusts in Jesus Christ will be forgiven of all their sins (past, present, and future) and born again as a new creation in Christ, possessing guaranteed eternal life with God.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.
“Sinner’s Prayer”
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever!
(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).
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