Participants:
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP210424S
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00:11 Shall we pray?
00:14 Heavenly Father, 00:15 we have gathered to worship You. 00:19 You are great. 00:21 And as the Word says greatly to be praised. 00:25 May our music, our words, our thoughts and prayers 00:30 be acceptable to You, 00:33 for we offer them in the name of Jesus. 00:38 Amen. 00:39 Amen. 00:59 Blessing and honor 01:02 Glory and power 01:04 Be unto the Ancient of Days 01:09 From every nation All of creation 01:14 Bow before the Ancient of Days 01:18 Every tongue In heaven and earth 01:21 Shall declare Your glory 01:23 Every knee shall bow At Your throne 01:26 In worship You will be exalted, oh God 01:31 And Your kingdom Shall not pass away 01:36 Oh Ancient of Days 01:42 Blessing and honor Glory and power 01:47 Be unto the Ancient of Days 01:52 From every nation All of creation 01:56 Bow before the Ancient of Days 02:01 Every tongue In heaven and earth 02:04 Shall declare Your glory 02:06 Every knee Shall bow at Your throne 02:09 In worship You will be exalted, oh God 02:14 And Your kingdom Shall not pass away 02:18 Oh Ancient of Days 02:27 You are, oh Ancient of Days 02:38 Your kingdom shall reign Over all the earth 02:43 Sing unto the Ancient of Days 02:48 For none shall compare To Your matchless worth 02:53 Sing unto the Ancient of Days 02:57 Your kingdom shall reign Over all the earth 03:02 Sing unto the Ancient of Days 03:06 For none can compare To Your matchless worth 03:11 Sing unto the Ancient of Days 03:16 Every tongue In heaven and earth 03:19 Shall declare Your glory 03:21 Every knee Shall bow at Your throne 03:24 In worship You will be exalted, oh God 03:29 And Your kingdom Shall not pass away 03:34 Oh Ancient of Days 03:42 You are, oh Ancient of Days 03:52 Oh the Ancient of Days 04:25 On the cross 04:28 Hung my pain 04:31 And the guilt 04:34 And the shame 04:37 Jesus bore my suffering 04:43 To the grave 04:46 To make me free 04:49 Oh, the blood 04:52 That was shed 04:55 It now flows 04:58 To cover sin 05:01 It washes clean, 05:05 And purifies 05:08 In its healing 05:11 Crimson tide 05:15 Jesus, He took my place 05:18 In divine exchange 05:21 Hallelujah, grace is mine 05:27 Now I will live by faith 05:31 For the One who saves 05:34 He gave all to give me life 05:43 His spirit is my present help 05:49 I'd be lost all by myself 05:54 He resurrects, 05:57 He sanctifies 06:00 He takes His power 06:03 And makes it mine 06:06 Jesus, He took my place 06:09 In divine exchange 06:12 Hallelujah, grace is mine 06:18 Now I will live by faith 06:21 For the One who saves 06:24 He gave all to give me life 06:33 I lay down all lesser things 06:37 For greater gain 06:39 He is alive inside of me 06:45 I lay down all lesser things 06:49 For greater gain 06:52 He is alive inside of me 06:58 I lay down all lesser things 07:02 For greater gain 07:04 He is alive inside of me 07:10 I lay down all lesser things 07:14 For greater gain 07:17 He is alive inside of me 07:22 I lay down all lesser things 07:26 For greater gain 07:29 He is alive inside of me 07:34 I lay down all lesser things 07:38 For greater gain 07:40 He is alive 07:47 Jesus, He took my place 07:50 In divine exchange 07:53 Hallelujah, grace is mine 07:59 Now I will live by faith 08:02 For the One who saves 08:05 He gave all to give me life 08:11 Jesus, He took my place 08:14 In divine exchange 08:17 Hallelujah, grace is mine 08:23 Now I will live by faith 08:27 For the One who saves 08:30 He gave all to give me life 08:38 I lay down all lesser things 08:42 For greater gain 08:45 He is alive 08:48 Inside of me 08:51 I lay down all lesser things 08:56 For greater gain 08:59 He is alive 09:13 The scripture reading this morning 09:14 will be taken from Genesis 09:16 1:27, 28 and 31. 09:24 "So God created man in His own image, 09:28 in the image of God, He created him, 09:31 male and female He created them. 09:34 Then God blessed them, 09:36 and God said to them, 09:37 'Be fruitful and multiply, 09:40 fill the earth and subdue it, 09:42 have dominion over the fish of the sea, 09:45 over the birds of the air, 09:46 and over every living thing that moves on the earth. 09:51 Then God saw everything that He had made, 09:53 and indeed it was very good. 09:56 So the evening and the morning were the sixth day." 10:00 May God add a blessing 10:01 to the reading and the hearing of His Word? 10:29 Hear the word roaring as thunder 10:35 With a new future to tell 10:40 For the dry season is over 10:46 There is a cloud 10:48 beginning to swell 10:54 To the skies heavy with blessing 11:00 Lift your eyes offer your heart 11:05 Jesus Christ opened the Heavens 11:10 Now we receive the Spirit of God 11:19 We receive Your rain 11:30 We receive Your rain 11:41 Every seed buried in sorrow 11:47 You will call forth in its time 11:52 You are Lord, Lord of the harvest 11:57 Calling our hope now to arise 12:06 We receive Your rain 12:17 We receive Your rain 12:28 We receive Your rain 12:39 We receive Your rain 12:50 Like a flood, like a flood 12:56 We receive Your love 13:00 when You come Like a flood, 13:04 like a flood 13:07 We receive Your love 13:11 when You come Like a flood, 13:15 like a flood 13:18 We receive Your love when You come 13:23 Like a flood, like a flood 13:29 We receive Your love 13:56 And with great anticipation 14:01 We await the promise to come 14:07 Everything that You have spoken 14:12 Will come to pass Let it be done 14:26 Thank you, Vivian and singers, and Josh, 14:30 keep playing, keep playing and keep playing. 14:33 It's the first time I've heard that song. 14:36 It's a beautiful song. 14:38 Let it rain, let it rain, 14:42 as Pastor JB just reminded us a moment ago. 14:46 What is this? 14:47 Two weeks and then it's all over. 14:50 It's too late for Him to rain down on us. 14:53 Let that love rain down. 14:55 It's not too late. 14:56 We need it. 15:01 I wanna pray with you. 15:04 Think out loud with you with Jesus. 15:08 Oh, Jesus, how could it be too late? 15:12 Yes, You're coming soon. 15:15 Yes, this world desperately needs You, 15:21 but we're saying let it rain now. 15:26 Not for our warm fuzzies, 15:28 but let it rain now 15:30 for the depth of what You wanna do in my heart, 15:35 what You wanna do in all of our hearts, 15:38 rain down on us right now 15:42 for Your Mighty spirit, 15:45 we're praying 15:46 the name that is above every name. 15:49 Amen. 15:57 Here's a letter I'd like to read it to you. 16:01 I got it just a few days ago. 16:04 Dear pastor, 16:07 the Bible says things against being LGBTQ plus, 16:14 since I am bisexual, 16:16 does that mean I won't go to heaven? 16:20 I don't wanna put anything before the Trinity, 16:23 but I also don't wanna give up my feelings. 16:28 Could you do a sermon on God 16:30 and the LGBTQ plus community? 16:34 It would help a lot. 16:36 Thank you very much. 16:37 God bless, happy Sabbath. 16:40 And the person signs the note. 16:43 PS, please forgive any grammar, 16:48 spelling or punctuation mistakes. 16:52 I'm only 11. 17:01 Wow. 17:04 I'm only 11. 17:09 I now wanna say to this 11-year-old two things. 17:13 Number one, 17:17 the maker of all things loves and wants you. 17:20 Amen. 17:23 How can I be so sure, 17:24 because the maker of all things 17:25 loves and wants me 17:28 and if He can love and want the likes of me? 17:33 And there's no reason why 17:36 he doesn't love and wants you 17:38 bisexual or not. 17:42 Number two, 17:44 you wanted a sermon on LGBTQ plus. 17:48 Well, by God's grace here it comes. 17:52 Let's think out loud together. 17:53 You and me, you're 11. 17:56 I'm just a little bit older than that. 17:59 And we can talk and understand each other. 18:03 So since this is a series on marriage, 18:05 it makes sense to talk about 18:06 same gender or same sex marriage, 18:08 doesn't it? 18:09 Why not? 18:11 It's still a bit controversial. 18:14 The United States Supreme Court's ruling 18:16 named Obergefell v. Hodges 18:19 came out in the summer of 2015. 18:24 I suppose pretty much everybody knows 18:25 about this landmark 18:26 civil rights case 18:29 that declared that 18:31 "the fundamental right to marry 18:32 is guaranteed to same sex couples 18:34 by the 14th amendment 18:35 to the United States Constitution." 18:39 It was a five to four ruling, 18:42 but that ruling requires every one of the 50 states 18:46 and the District of Columbia 18:49 and what they call the insular areas. 18:51 That would be like Puerto Rico and Guam. 18:53 There are 13 of them on this planet, 18:56 to perform and recognize 18:57 the marriages of same sex couples 18:59 on the same terms and conditions 19:01 as the marriages of opposite sex couples 19:04 with all the accompanying rights and responsibilities. 19:10 Justice Anthony Kennedy, 19:11 who is no longer on the court 19:14 wrote the majority opinion. 19:16 And he concludes it with these words. 19:21 So you're gonna read a little bit 19:23 of the Supreme Court's rendering 19:26 on the screen right here. 19:29 "No union is more profound than marriage, 19:32 for it embodies the highest ideas of love, 19:34 fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. 19:40 In forming a marital union, 19:42 two people become something greater than once they were. 19:47 As some of the petitioners in these cases, demonstrate 19:50 marriage embodies a love 19:52 that may endure even past death. 19:55 It would misunderstand these men and women 19:58 to say that they disrespect the idea of marriage. 20:01 Their plea is that they do respect it, 20:04 respect it so deeply 20:06 that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. 20:09 Their hope is not to be condemned, 20:11 to live in loneliness, 20:12 excluded from one 20:14 of civilization's oldest institutions. 20:17 They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. 20:21 The Constitution grants them that right." 20:29 So are same sex, same gender marriages, 20:34 are they legal? 20:36 Are they valid? 20:40 Like the sociologist Mark Regnerus writes, 20:44 "Legality is validity in civil marriage, 20:49 but not necessarily in religious marriage." 20:53 Hence the debate, the discussion. 20:58 And just two months ago, 21:01 the pope himself decided to wade into all of this. 21:04 As he issued a paper, this is not an encyclical. 21:07 This is a paper 21:09 that responds to questions about the church 21:11 and the blessing of same sex marriages. 21:14 All right. 21:15 So let's look at his words. 21:18 "For this reason, it is not licit, 21:21 that means it is not legal in Roman Catholic Churches now, 21:25 that's what he's talking about, 21:27 "to impart a blessing on relationships, 21:30 or partnerships, 21:31 even though they may be stable," 21:33 that's what it means there, 21:35 "that involves sexual activity outside of marriage. 21:39 In other words, outside the indissoluble union 21:43 of a man and a woman 21:45 opening itself to the transmission of life." 21:47 It's a union that can go on producing new human beings 21:51 and new human beings and so on. 21:52 That's what he's saying. 21:54 "As is the case 21:56 of the unions between persons of the same sex." 22:00 It's a little chopped up there, the English translation. 22:05 But his point is clear, 22:08 not in the church. 22:10 We got it. 22:12 Yeah, but what does the Bible say? 22:15 I had a co-ed from this campus 22:18 drop by for a visit here at the church the other day. 22:21 She brought her Bible with her. 22:23 She's been listening very carefully 22:25 to this marriage series 22:26 and she knew that 22:27 this Sabbath we would be focusing 22:29 on same sex or same gender marriage. 22:33 I had a... I must tell you 22:34 a valuable conversation with her for an hour. 22:38 Most of us are pretty clear on this definition of marriage. 22:44 I mean, it seems to make sense to us. 22:46 You have two records, 22:48 you have the creation story in Genesis. 22:49 You have the gospel story of the incarnation, 22:54 and between those two, 22:56 it isn't rocket science for us to say, 22:58 God, what would You say a definition of marriage is? 23:02 We know it. 23:04 Go one more time. Come on. Let's just do it. 23:06 Let's go back to the beginning. 23:08 The very first page of your Bible, 23:09 Genesis Chapter 1, we'll go to Genesis 1. 23:13 We reread the words. 23:16 Genesis Chapter 1, 23:19 six day of creation, 23:21 drop down to verse 27. 23:27 We've already asserted 23:29 in this journey of this New Year together, 23:33 one in controvertible truth. 23:36 In fact, I would suggest to you that 23:37 you can take all universal truth 23:39 and reduce it to this single line, 23:42 the maker of all things loves and wants me. 23:45 And that's why we've been coming back to it 23:46 again and again. 23:47 Now it's obvious 23:49 that we're gonna see that right here. 23:50 He loves and wants us. 23:51 Genesis 1:27, 23:53 "So God created mankind in His own image. 23:55 In the image of God 23:56 He created them male and female, 23:58 He created them. 23:59 God blessed them and said to them, 24:01 'Be fruitful and increase in number, 24:03 fill the earth and subdue it 24:06 and rule over the fish in the sea 24:08 and then the birds in the sky 24:09 and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 24:14 Which by the way does not mean 24:18 that everybody today has to get married 24:21 in order to be happy. 24:23 That's not what He's saying. 24:24 It does not mean 24:25 that everybody today has to have kids to be happy, 24:29 but you understand that if there is no marriage 24:32 between Adam and Eve, 24:33 there would be no human race, right? 24:35 So after He creates them, He says, 24:37 now be fruitful and multiply. 24:40 I'm gonna make you little creative. 24:42 I'm the big creator. I understand that. 24:44 But you become little creators. 24:46 You do something called procreation. 24:49 You share like I did. 24:51 You're gonna make somebody in your own image, 24:54 little tiny yous running around, 24:57 deliver us all on this planet. 25:01 That's what I'm asking you to do. 25:02 So be fruitful and multiply. 25:05 You know, Kirk and Chelsea are son and his wife. 25:08 I've been itching to be able to announce this 25:11 and have been told to sit on it, 25:13 but they're gonna have a third child, hallelujah. 25:16 Now hold the applause please, thanks. 25:19 They're gonna have a third child. 25:21 They already have two beautiful little girls. 25:23 Elle is seven, Isabel is three. 25:25 We call her Izzy 25:27 and now they're gonna have three beautiful little girls. 25:32 And the third one, Missy or sissy or whatever 25:35 will be born in September and so on. 25:38 Just in case they're watching online right now in Kettering, 25:40 Ohio, I need to say to them, the words of God, 25:43 be fruitful and multiply. 25:46 That's the only way you can create grandchildren. 25:51 So God unites Adam and Eve in marriage. 25:53 We all know the story. 25:56 And some believe this one sentence 25:58 is the first wedding homily ever preached on this planet 26:02 preached by the Creator Himself. 26:04 Let's take a look at it. 26:05 Just turn one page to Genesis 2, 26:07 the last, next to the last line of Genesis 2. 26:09 That is why the Creator says to Adam and Eve. 26:12 That is why a man leaves his father and mother, 26:16 and is united to his wife, 26:18 and they become one flesh. 26:22 Our Creator has just defined marriage for us. 26:26 It is not simply copulation. 26:29 Those are the activities of animals, 26:33 but it's more. 26:35 What's the definition? 26:36 Let's put... Let's just put it on the screen for us. 26:39 Definition of marriage. 26:40 Marriage is the mystical union 26:43 of two human beings, one male, the other female 26:47 who are declared by God to be one flesh 26:50 for the rest of their lives. 26:53 That's pretty simple, isn't it? 26:55 You can't get more basic than that, 26:57 which is why when the Creator incarnates Himself 27:00 and becomes five fingers on each hand 27:02 and one of us on this planet. 27:05 The page and script is not changed a single word. 27:11 Watch him when he goes back to that story. 27:13 So this is over now in Matthew Chapter 19. 27:16 So move from Genesis 1 to Matthew Chapter 19, 27:19 drop down to verse 4. 27:21 He's gonna quote what we just read from the, 27:23 in the beginning chapter of the Bible. 27:25 Matthew 19:4, 27:27 "'Haven't you read,' Jesus replied," 27:30 it's a red-letter words, 27:31 "that at the beginning, 27:32 the Creator made them male and female." 27:35 That's straight from Genesis 1:27. 27:37 He goes on, "And said, 'For this reason," 27:39 still quoting, 27:41 "for this reason, 27:42 a man will leave his father and mother 27:44 and be united to his wife, 27:45 and the two will become one flesh." 27:47 Now, Jesus, the Creator 27:48 incarnates gonna add one more line 27:51 and here's the line. 27:52 "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 27:54 Therefore, what God has joined together, 27:57 let no one separate." 28:03 The Supreme Court decision in Obergefell 28:06 did not take apart what God has joined together. 28:09 You know why? 28:10 Because there is no human court 28:13 that can rewrite the definition of marriage 28:16 that God has established, impossible. 28:19 It is the one definition 28:21 the human race has been living with 28:23 for millennia now, 28:26 uncontested reality. 28:29 What the Supreme Court ruled 28:32 is that same gender unions 28:33 must receive the same protection 28:35 under United States law 28:36 that opposite gender unions have here too for enjoyed. 28:41 And you know what? 28:43 I agree, I do. 28:46 Why? 28:47 It wouldn't be fair for this nation 28:49 to deny same gender couples, 28:50 the protection of the law, 28:52 the coverage of health insurance, 28:53 the security wills and testaments upon death 28:55 and every other right 28:57 and privilege extended to citizens 28:58 of opposite sex marriage. 29:00 That's why the Supreme Court ruling ensures 29:04 that such protections and privileges 29:06 are recorded to all of this nation's citizens. 29:11 But I repeat 29:13 that ruling did not disassemble the divine biblical definition 29:18 and institution of marriage 29:19 that Jesus has just affirmed to us in red letters, 29:23 you can't touch it. 29:26 You can't break the law of marriage, 29:29 just like you can't break the law of gravity. 29:32 It can break you, but you can't break it. 29:36 What God has put together, let no one take apart. 29:41 That's clear, that's uncontested 29:43 what God has put together, 29:45 no one can take apart. 29:48 And thus, the Bible idea for ideal for human marriage 29:50 is still intended to be the reality 29:53 of life on this planet 29:54 with the following post fall exceptions. 29:59 All right, I'm gonna run some exceptions 30:00 by post fall exceptions. 30:04 Number one, exception number one, 30:07 singlehood 30:09 Jesus red letter words are not a divine command 30:13 for all human beings to marry. 30:16 How could they be? 30:17 Jesus was unmarried His entire life. 30:20 He was single when He spoke these words. 30:21 Paul himself, 30:23 the great champion of Christianity 30:24 actually suggested that 30:26 singlehood celibacy is a higher gift 30:29 than human marriage. 30:31 So only those who have the gift need apply. 30:35 John the Baptist was single. 30:36 And as far as we know, so us John the Beloved, 30:39 Elijah was single. 30:41 And so was Elisha, and so was Jeremiah 30:43 and so was Anna. 30:46 And so is the long list of who's who in Holy Scripture, 30:51 single human beings. 30:55 There is, and please understand this. 30:57 There is no biblical stigma attached to a man or a woman 31:02 who chooses to remain single. 31:05 And we ought not to judge them. 31:09 Oh, I've heard, 31:11 you know why he's been single all his life? 31:14 I'll tell you why. 31:16 That is absolutely ludicrous. 31:18 Who gave you the right to judge? 31:21 Stop it. 31:24 Singlehood is an exception. 31:26 The Creator Himself said, I'll be single 31:30 and honored singlehood. 31:34 Celibacy is a gift that the Bible recognizes 31:37 not all possess, 31:38 but now listen, listen, listen. 31:40 Sexual abstinence is what the Bible requires 31:43 of all Christians outside of marriage, 31:45 whether straight or gay. 31:49 Sexual abstinence. 31:52 If you fiddle around with sex outside of marriage, 31:57 you are playing with dynamite 31:59 and it will kill you spiritually. 32:02 It will kill you spiritually. 32:07 The Creator knows what He's talking about. 32:11 And part of loving Him is trusting Him 32:14 and believing that He knows. 32:16 All right, so here are 32:18 some post fall exceptions to marriage. 32:20 Number one, 32:21 there is the exception of singlehood 32:23 and number two, 32:24 there is the exception of remarriage. 32:26 Remarriage upon the death of a spouse. 32:28 The great father, Abraham is heartbroken 32:30 after he buries Sarah, his life companion, 32:35 eventually remarries, he's lonely. 32:37 It's okay to remarry. 32:39 Far as we know, 32:41 that Joseph who marries the young Virgin 32:42 Mary who gives birth to the Son of God, 32:44 son of man, 32:46 Joseph himself already had a family, 32:49 his wife deceased, 32:50 and he remarries this young teenage girl. 32:54 That's okay. 32:56 We know that 32:58 they're older than Jesus, 32:59 because the way his stepbrothers treat Him, 33:01 they treat Jesus like an older brother, 33:03 just a pain sometimes. 33:08 All right. 33:09 So remarriage, 33:11 one of the post fall exceptions to marriage is remarriage, 33:13 remarriage upon the death of a spouse 33:15 and remarriage upon the death of a marriage through adultery. 33:21 It is a sad and tragic story, 33:24 but it happens on this fallen and unideal planet. 33:29 But there is a third exception to marriage 33:33 between a man and a woman, 33:35 an exception created by culture and not by the Creator. 33:38 And the question is, 33:39 is this third exception valid with God? 33:45 That's what a gay young Christian man 33:48 named Justin Lee 33:49 is wrestling with. 33:51 He's written a book. I've read the book. 33:52 The title of the book is Torn. 33:54 It's an engaging first person testimony 33:57 that Justin Lee grew up in a Christian family. 33:59 He had a loving mother. He had a loving father. 34:01 He had a loving brother, 34:02 but somehow something inside of him 34:04 began to experience same gender attraction. 34:07 He tried to deny it. 34:08 He tried to just say, it's not there. 34:10 He tried to pray it out of himself. 34:12 In fact, he even begged God to kill me. 34:17 I can't live with this. 34:23 As other gays and lesbians 34:26 who are believers have prayed. 34:30 You don't understand the angst. 34:32 You do not understand the angst. 34:38 Anyway, he spends a whole chapter in his book, 34:40 title of the chapter, Why are people gay? 34:42 And it's a lot of research and it's very well expressed, 34:45 but he ends it. 34:46 He ends that chapter with this concluding paragraph. 34:48 Justin Lee writing. 34:50 Why are some people attracted to the same sex? 34:53 The truth is, we don't know for sure, 34:55 The biological theories have the most evidence 34:57 to support them right now, 35:00 but even they have lots of questions, 35:02 and at this point we can't prove anything. 35:05 We can only make educated guesses. 35:08 And guess what? 35:09 The Seventh-day Adventist Church comes along. 35:11 And after the Obergefell ruling in the summer of 2015, 35:15 that fall the North American division 35:17 of Seventh-day Adventists 35:18 issues its own statement on marriage. 35:21 And we will note a line that ends in green 35:23 with Justin Lee right now. 35:25 "In view of the fact that 35:26 scientists and other experts 35:28 have not reached a consensus 35:29 concerning the factors leading to sexual orientation, 35:33 usually understood to involve the complex roles 35:35 of nature and nurture. 35:37 The Adventist Church does not presume 35:39 to have settled the scientific and social questions 35:43 regarding the cause 35:44 of non-heterosexual orientation." 35:50 But as Justin Lee continues his story, 35:51 he tells of meeting ex-gays at conferences 35:55 who are publicly claiming to be healed. 35:59 Now his response is nuanced 36:02 and I think it's rather bright. 36:04 Let's put Justin Lee back on the screen here. 36:07 The testimonies of these gays upfront are ex-gays. 36:10 'The testimonies were powerful reminders 36:13 of how God changes lives. 36:15 It was largely faith in God 36:16 that enabled them to overcome 36:18 a history of sexual addiction and substance abuse." 36:21 Now keep reading. 36:23 "But there was one thing missing 36:26 in all their testimonies. 36:28 None of them seem to be becoming straight. 36:31 They had changed their behaviors 36:33 sometimes in dramatic ways. 36:35 Some had not had any sexual contact in years. 36:38 Others had gone so far 36:39 as to date and marry a member of the opposite sex. 36:43 But almost universally when I asked." 36:46 So he gets along with these upfront speakers 36:48 who come to share their testimony. 36:50 When he gets alone with them. 36:52 'When I asked, they confessed that 36:54 they still had the same kind of same sex attractions 36:59 that I did." 37:03 Hmm, 37:04 now does that negate these public speakers 37:10 being truly redeemed, truly rescued, 37:13 truly renewed in their experience with Jesus? 37:16 Not at all. 37:17 Of course that's a valid, powerful testimony. 37:21 But what Justin Lee is describing 37:23 is that even when you do not engage 37:24 in same gender sex 37:26 and are celibate as he is, 37:28 the same gender attraction does not necessarily go away 37:33 for some people ever go away. 37:37 And they are still Christian. 37:38 They are still believers and disciples of Jesus. 37:46 Rebecca McLaughlin, 37:48 in a book confronting Christianity, 37:49 12 hard questions 37:50 for the world's largest religion. 37:52 It was a golden medallion award 37:54 in the Evangelical Press a couple of years ago. 37:56 I've read the book. 37:57 Describes her own struggles with same gender attraction. 38:01 So we'll put her on the screen. 38:05 Oh no, no, no, no, no. 38:06 Before we get to her, 38:11 this is really important. 38:14 So, Justin Lee is saying, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo. 38:17 So how do you explain this? 38:21 Have these guys been healed or not? 38:23 Are they telling the truth or not? 38:25 Now watch how he handles this. 38:28 Part of the problem was 38:29 that neither these leaders nor their audiences 38:32 were careful to distinguish 38:34 between sexual behaviors and sexual attractions. 38:39 When people like me said we were gay, 38:42 it was because of our attractions. 38:44 I'm still attracted. 38:45 I'm not practicing, but I'm still attracted. 38:47 When the ex-gay leaders stand upfront and say 38:50 they aren't gay. 38:51 It's because of their behaviors. 38:53 I'm no longer living that way is what they're saying. 39:00 Hmm. 39:03 Interesting. 39:05 Just using the word in a different way. 39:10 Now let's go to Rebecca McLaughlin. 39:13 'Mine is a story of a girl 39:14 who found herself from childhood 39:16 falling in love with older and accessible girls, 39:20 but hoped and prayed she would grow out of it. 39:23 A dream that finally died in grad school," 39:25 by the way, no small grad school, 39:27 Cambridge University, 39:29 where she got her PhD in Renaissance literature. 39:31 Okay? 39:32 "But this dream died in grad school. 39:34 It's a story of silence and quiet loss, 39:36 as my heart got stuck to people who could not want me back. 39:42 It's a story of never touching another woman in a sexual way, 39:45 but always longing for more intimacy. 39:48 Sometimes more than I knew I could have.' 39:55 You can just feel that. 39:58 And then she pivots to a stunning line 40:02 that I hope you'll take away with you today. 40:04 One line, here it is. 40:07 "Blue blood heterosexuality 40:10 is not the goal of the Christian life, 40:13 Jesus is." 40:15 Yes. 40:17 Take a look at that. 40:18 Blue blood heterosexuality 40:20 is not the goal of the Christian life, 40:23 Jesus is. 40:25 You see the difference? 40:27 It's a huge difference. 40:29 And who is this Jesus? 40:30 He's the maker of all things who loves and wants me 40:32 and who loves and wants you. 40:34 And what does Jesus want us to do? 40:36 Listen, it is neither the goal of Christ Jesus, 40:40 nor the mission of the church of Christ 40:42 to seek to turn every LGBTQ plus member 40:46 into a heterosexual Christian. 40:49 Heterosexuality is not the end game. 40:52 It is not the end goal. 40:54 In fact, in all honesty, 40:55 marriage is transit at best right now. 40:58 You don't believe it? 41:00 Turn three pages further in Matthew, 41:01 go to Matthew Chapter 22, 41:03 watch these red-letter words now. 41:05 'At the resurrection, 41:07 people will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 41:10 they will be like the angels in heaven.' 41:14 Hmm. 41:16 Angels? 41:18 Angles apparently who are aromantic or asexual 41:21 or maybe we should call them supra sexual. 41:23 We will be like them. 41:26 So I'm asking you a question. 41:27 Why would the church then consider it her mission 41:29 to turn all people into heterosexuals 41:31 with opposite sex attraction? 41:34 We're not even headed that way. 41:45 I wanna say a word to the parents 41:46 who are listening right now. 41:48 And I know you're listening. 41:51 My dear parents, 41:53 if you have a child 41:55 who is a part of the LGBTQ community, 41:59 your mission is not to pray that child 42:04 into heterosexuality, 42:07 your mission, please. 42:12 Your mission is to love that child 42:15 until your dying day 42:18 or until Jesus returns. 42:22 Only you know the depth of the pain. 42:26 The members of the LGBT community 42:29 know the depth of the pain in coming out, 42:34 but nobody can know the pain of a parent 42:36 in receiving the coming out. 42:41 And it is a deep pain. 42:45 Most of you are in pain together. 42:49 There are times when LGBTQ members say, 42:54 "I reject you as my parent." 42:58 There are times 42:59 when gay or lesbian children say, 43:10 "I thoroughly disagree 43:13 with your position. 43:15 And because of that, I'm not coming home again." 43:19 None of us understands, 43:21 only those who endure together, 43:27 but in this time of immense hurt 43:28 and confusion and confusion and sadness, 43:33 it is also a painful but profound opportunity, 43:36 mom and dad 43:38 and LGBT person 43:44 to demonstrate unrelenting love to the other 43:48 in the midst of this crisis. 43:51 You have nothing to gain 43:52 to cut your love off from each other. 43:55 Either side love, 43:58 put your arms around each other, weep. 44:03 It represents a broken dream, 44:04 not just for parents, but for the child. 44:08 Some dreams have to be buried. 44:11 They cannot be returned to parent or child. 44:17 It's not a question of blame. It's not a question of cause. 44:21 It's simply an opportunity for you both 44:23 to now live out the radical love of Jesus. 44:28 Parents to your children and children to your parents. 44:31 And oh my, may I say this? 44:32 It is not the time 44:34 for the church of Christ to rise up in anger 44:36 or disgust or righteous indignation 44:39 and expel that errant member. 44:41 You're out of here. 44:44 Why would you do that now? 44:48 I listened to a testimony this week 44:50 from a graduate 44:52 of our theological seminary here on campus, 44:55 who has lived with same gender attraction 44:58 since his early teen years, 45:00 but has remained celibate nonetheless. 45:03 It's a moving testimony. 45:05 It's beautiful how he described his mother 45:07 stunned on that day 45:08 when she learns this for the first time 45:10 and takes a day or two 45:11 just to recover from what he's told her. 45:13 And he broke down in the sob uncontrollably, 45:19 but how that mother two days later 45:21 becomes a staunch supporter of her gay child. 45:26 And he loves her to death and she loves him to death, 45:29 but it was sad when he had to tell, 45:32 tell about their home congregation, 45:34 how it rose up in opposition 45:35 to the very fact that one of their own 45:37 would continue to call himself gay. 45:39 You're supposed to get over being gay 45:41 and in no uncertain terms, 45:43 pushed away that young man and his family 45:45 from that congregation. 45:47 He still loves Jesus. He still works for the church. 45:52 No. 45:53 We at Pioneer Memorial Church 45:55 on the campus of Andrews University 45:57 cannot become a congregation like that? 45:59 No, no. 46:00 It is possible some congregations glory 46:02 in their purity, 46:04 but we will glory in the Christ 46:06 who has called us to be love on the move. 46:09 That was a powerful children's story, wasn't it? 46:11 That animation. 46:13 That's our mission statement. 46:15 Those are our watch words. Love on the move. 46:19 Straight, gay, lesbian, 46:20 transgender sinner saved by the grace 46:22 and the love of the maker of all things 46:23 who loves and wants us, that is who we are. 46:27 We are a menagerie of broken people 46:30 at the Pioneer Memorial Church. 46:32 We are broken, 46:35 but we gather together every Sabbath in hopes 46:37 that somehow in the deepest of our pain 46:41 where the breakage is so severe, 46:44 that a word from the Lord Jesus might yet speak hope to us. 46:49 A menagerie of broken people 46:51 reminds me of what Martin Luther once wrote. 46:55 And by the way, it appears in of all places, 46:57 The Great Controversy. 47:00 So this is Martin Luther writing. 47:05 "May God of His mercy 47:08 preserve me from a church 47:09 in which there are none but saints. 47:15 I desire to dwell with the humble, 47:17 the feeble, the sick 47:19 who know and feel their sins 47:21 and are grown and cry continually to God 47:23 from the bottom of their hearts 47:25 to obtain His constellation and support." 47:28 That is a powerful depiction 47:29 by the way of the LGBTQ plus community 47:32 who are believers crying out. 47:39 Martin Luther, me too. 47:43 We too, we too. 47:48 The truth is we are all broken. 47:51 I hope you didn't miss last Sabbath. 47:53 Me and my friends 47:55 David and Beverly said, let's check. 47:57 I sat right over there listened intently. 48:00 And they made this point and reiterated it 48:03 and I could not shake it. 48:04 We are all broken they said. 48:07 Sunday morning when I go to my prayer journal, 48:09 I just take that one line. 48:10 We are all broken and I start responding to that 48:13 in a way that's dealing with my own brokenness. 48:17 We are all broken. That's the truth. 48:22 You may look fine to me today, 48:24 but there is inside of you a jagged and broken piece. 48:27 You cannot deny, we are all broken. 48:30 I may look fine to you today, 48:32 but there is inside of me a broken and jagged piece, 48:35 which I cannot deny. 48:37 We are all broken, 48:39 straight, lesbian, gay, transgender, 48:42 queer, heterosexual. 48:43 It doesn't matter who we are. 48:45 We are all broken. 48:51 And that line stays with me. 48:54 Blue blood heterosexuality 48:56 is not the goal of the Christian life, 48:59 Jesus is. 49:02 So I say, humbly, 49:06 I invite you humbly 49:09 to join me in resolving today 49:13 that we will become a part of Jesus' church of the broken 49:19 right now, right now. 49:23 Oh God, 49:26 we're all broken. 49:30 Let him who is without sin, 49:32 let him who is unbroken throw the first stone. 49:36 There's not a soul that can move 49:38 and pick up that stone. 49:40 You took it instead. 49:44 It's not blue blood heterosexuality 49:47 that we seek. 49:49 It's the red blooded redemption of our Lord, Jesus Christ 49:53 on the cross of Calvary, 49:55 the healing, the depth of a healing 49:58 that we all can experience together. 50:03 So dear God, do whatever You wish. 50:06 Keep this little congregation 50:08 on the campus of this great university, 50:11 a place where Jesus' love is on the move. 50:17 We pray in His name. 50:20 Amen. 50:23 Connect card today, 50:27 pmchurch.org/connect. 50:28 Here you go. 50:30 I wish to be part of Jesus' church of the broken. 50:31 Yeah, me too. 50:33 Yeah. I put a check mark there with you. 50:35 I believe Jesus has the power 50:37 to enable me to live true to Him and His purity, 50:39 same gender 50:40 or opposite gender attraction notwithstanding. 50:46 You're a believer in the Lord Jesus. 50:49 You put a check mark there. 50:51 I believe. 50:53 I believe Jesus has the power 50:54 to enable me to live true to Him 50:57 and His purity, 50:58 same gender or opposite gender attraction 51:00 notwithstanding. 51:02 And then I'm gonna put here, please pray for me. 51:06 You don't have to put any details, 51:08 but if you put your name and an email address, 51:12 I'll personally pray for you. 51:15 All right. 51:18 It will be an honor too. 51:20 Finally, I wish to follow Jesus and be baptized. 51:25 So you can write a new chapter. 51:28 You can't change everything inside, 51:32 but you can give your heart to Him, 51:35 and you and Jesus 51:37 can write the best chapter 51:41 that has ever been written in your life 51:45 when you walk with Him. 51:47 If you've not been baptized, 51:48 straight, gay, doesn't matter, lesbian. 51:52 If you have not been baptized 51:54 and you wanna walk with this Jesus, 51:55 put a check mark there, put an email address. 51:58 We'll be in touch with you electronically. 52:01 Explore what that means. 52:05 There's a beautiful gospel song. 52:06 And that's how I wished that we would end today. 52:10 There is a fountain filled with blood drawn 52:12 from Immanuel's veins 52:14 and sinners plunged beneath that flood 52:17 lose all their guilty stains. 52:20 And that all is a promise for all of us. 52:24 Amen. 52:43 There is a fountain 52:48 Filled with blood 52:50 Drawn from 52:53 Immanuel's veins 52:57 And sinners plunged 53:01 Beneath that flood 53:04 Lose all 53:07 Their guilty stains 53:12 Lose all 53:14 Their guilty stains 53:19 Lose all 53:21 Their guilty stains 53:26 And sinners plunged 53:30 Beneath that flood 53:34 Lose all 53:36 Their guilty stains 53:52 The dying thief 53:56 Rejoiced to see 53:59 That fountain 54:02 In his day 54:06 And there 54:08 May I though vile as he 54:14 Wash all 54:16 My sins away 54:21 Wash all 54:23 My sins away 54:28 Wash all 54:30 My sins away 54:35 And there may I 54:39 Though vile as he 54:42 Wash all 54:45 My sins away 54:53 Dear dying Lamb 54:57 Thy precious blood 55:00 Shall never lose 55:04 Its power 55:07 Till all the ransomed 55:12 Church of God 55:14 Are saved 55:17 To sin no more 55:22 Are saved 55:24 To sin no more 55:29 Are saved 55:31 To sin no more 55:36 Till all the ransomed 55:41 Church of God 55:43 Are saved 55:46 To sin no more 55:54 E'er since by faith 55:58 I saw the stream 56:02 Thy flowing wounds supply 56:09 Redeeming love 56:13 Has been my theme 56:17 And shall be 56:19 Till I die 56:24 And shall be 56:27 Till I die 56:32 And shall be 56:35 Till I die 56:39 Redeeming love 56:43 Has been my theme 56:48 And shall be 56:51 Till I die 57:01 Before you go, let me take an extra moment 57:02 to share with you an opportunity 57:03 to get into the Bible in a fresh, new way. 57:06 All across the world, more and more people 57:08 are hearing the call 57:09 to examine scriptures for themselves. 57:11 If you felt drawn to learn more about God's Word, 57:14 but you don't know where to start, 57:15 or you're just looking 57:16 for a more in-depth examination of Bible truths. 57:19 Then I have something right here 57:20 that I believe you're going to enjoy. 57:22 I want to send a series of guides 57:24 to get you started. 57:25 This one's entitled, "Why does God allow suffering?" 57:27 This guide begins with a story 57:29 and the introduction of the subject 57:30 into a series of focus questions. 57:33 You'll be learning portions of the Bible 57:34 you may never have known before. 57:35 And when you're through, 57:37 you'll be able to share with others, 57:38 some of these inspiring Bible truths. 57:40 So just call our toll-free number, 57:41 it's on the screen, 57:43 877, the two words HIS-WILL. 57:45 Our friendly operators are standing by 57:47 to send these study guides to you. 57:48 Once again, that's 877-HIS-WILL. 57:52 Call that number. 57:53 And then again, 57:54 join me next week right here at the same time, 57:58 New Perceptions. |
Revised 2021-05-23