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HopeLives365

LGBTQ+ and the Bible

Mark Finley

LGBTQ+ vs The Bible

In our quest for truth, today we challenge a societal norm.

Does the message of the Bible align with the current rise and acceptance of the LGBTQ plus community, or does it contradict it?

Join me as we open the Word of God and study the Scriptures.

Father in Heaven, we thank you with all of our hearts for the message of Scripture.

Open our hearts to understand your word on this very vital and important subject.

Enable me to present it with love, kindness, and compassion, but with the clarity of truth in your word, in Christ's name, amen.

The wisest man that ever lived other than Jesus, Solomon, said this in the book of Ecclesiastes.

We find it in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 and verse 7.

In the last part of that verse, he says, there's a time to keep silence and a time to speak.

And that verse has been echoing in my head, a time to keep silence and a time to speak.

Why have I chosen to speak about this subject now?

There are some specific reasons for that.

Concerned about the direction that our society is going in.

Concerned about how that direction impacts the church I love.

I'm concerned about young adults who are imbibing a message that may not align and does not align with scripture.

I'm concerned about children whose minds are being saturated with information regarding LGBTQ plus community.

You see, I'm concerned and so it's out of that concern, out of that care, out of that love that I speak today.

Now there are certain things that have led me to this conclusion, that it's time to speak now.

Here are just a few recent incidents that have motivated me to address this issue of human sexuality.

First, on July 3, 2023, the New York Post reported that at the recent New York drag queens march, activists chanted, and here are their words, we're here, we're queer, and we're coming for your children.

In recent years, such blunt, outrageous rhetoric has become commonplace.

2 years ago, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus released a YouTube video in which 81 of its members sing a song with the refrain, we'll convert your children.

Happens bit by bit, quietly and subtly, you'll barely notice it.

Have you followed at all some of the debates that are taking place in public schools today, where young children between 4 and 8 years old are required to receive and to read books on transgender, LGBTQ plus relationships, and being introduced to sexual fantasies at a very, very young age.

Children are learning about gay marriage, preferred pronouns, and gender identity, thanks to these children's books that are intentionally placed in our schools to indoctrinate our children in a non-biblical agenda.

I have a girl brain but a boy body, the book I Am Jazz says.

This is called transgender and I was born that way.

In a recent study, 65% to 94% of children who claim a gender other than their biological birth, In other words, here's a girl that has gender dysphoria and she claims that she's a boy.

She claims that she has a girl's body, but she's really a boy.

65 to 94% of them, Later in life, as they get into their mid or late teens, at that point, they recognize that they're a girl in a girl's body, or a boy in a boy's body.

Now, if they were born that way, in other words, if they were born transgender, that certainly shouldn't be happening, right?

Now, I Am Jazz, this book, is a book of 32 pages, it was published in 2014.

It was placed in many of America's public schools to target kids 4 to 8 years old.

It received a number of awards including the American Libraries Association Rainbow Project Book List Award in 2015.

It was 1 of the first books to influence children for the LGBTQ plus lifestyle.

Now if you do a Google for I Am Jazz and you look for other books, you're gonna find scores and scores of books targeted at children to change the mindset of these children toward their LGBTQ plus attitudes.

Jared Eckert, who's a research assistant for the Heritage Foundation.

Now, the Heritage Foundation is a prominent foundation in the United States that tries to preserve American values.

Children are being increasingly targeted with sexual content in schools under the guise of comprehensive sexuality education or inclusivity.

Beyond the sexual messages of the books being inappropriate for children, there are mental health concerns involved.

Now listen to what Eckert says about what the research shows regarding these, the mental health concerns.

He says, research shows that early exposure to sexual content is linked to poor mental health, risky sexual behavior, and even pornography addiction in adulthood.

Now even if kids don't fully understand what they're seeing or hearing at such a young age, they still are being influenced and impacted by that information in very significant ways.

By including or promoting books like these in the classroom, schools are, according to Eckert, harming, not helping, their children.

1 of the things that I've been taking a look at is what is the master strategy of some of the leaders in the LGBTQ plus community to influence America?

How do you change the culture of America?

What kinds of things do you do to accomplish that goal?

Marshall Kirk and Erston Pill, LGBTQ plus advocates, wrote an article entitled the overhauling of straight America.

They talk about their master strategy for changing American attitudes on the LGBTQ plus lifestyle.

And they say, Where we talk is important.

The average American household watches over 7 hours of TV daily.

These hours open up a gateway into the private world of straits through which a Trojan horse might be passed.

They're trying to influence the public conversation.

And the idea is, talk about, talk about, talk about this alternative lifestyle every place you can, and particularly influence the media.

Because the more you influence the media, the more you can change the mindset of individuals.

And they go on to say, so far gay Hollywood has provided our best covert weapon in the battle to desensitize the mainstream.

Bit by bit over the past 10 years, gay characters and gay themes have been introduced into TV programs and films.

On the whole, the impact has been encouraging.

Well, it's encouraging if you want to influence and change the values of America.

Have you noticed the large number of characters on television now that identify with this alternative LGBTQ plus lifestyle?

So when I took a look at how this lifestyle and the promotives of it were trying to change the thinking of mainstream America and how they were attempting in every way to influence media, to have their voice heard, I felt that a voice from the Word of God should speak.

I felt that we should allow God's word to influence our thinking.

When there is a coordinated, concise effort to transform our culture, impact our children, desensitize our consciences, really, it's time to speak up.

When mass media is saturated with anti-biblical programming, with the specific purpose of influencing our thoughts regarding the LGBTQ plus lifestyle, it's time to speak up.

When books promoting this lifestyle are introduced into our schools to influence our children at a very young age, 1 can't be silent.

When major retailers promote a pride agenda targeting our families, it's time to speak up.

When culture is impacting Christian young people and seeping into our churches and our educational institutions, it's time to speak up.

So we ask the question, what does the Bible teach about sexuality?

What does the Bible teach about same-sex marriages?

Are some people born with same-sex propensities?

Are some people physically boys but psychologically girls?

Ted N.C. Wilson

LGBTQ+ vs Bible Truth Question and Answers

Welcome, friends, to this special question and answers live stream.

Many of you probably just finished watching Pastor Mark Finley's LGBTQ Plus video, First Bible Truth, and you probably have some questions still.

Some of you probably have some important things you want to have heard, and this is your time.

We're going to bring on 2 guests in just a minute here, and I'll give you some instructions on how you can send in your question.

So without further ado, let me bring on to the show Pastor Mark Finley and Pastor Ted Wilson, President of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church.

Pastor Mark, President Ted Wilson, can you hear me?

We're here at the ASI convention in Kansas City.

Now I understand you just watched the premiere of the video as well, is that right?

And, you know, this is a delicate subject.

And I thought a long time before I ever entered into this.

But the biblical truth really compelled me to really make the decision to produce the video.

And I think we're at a time both in culture and within the church that there are tens of thousands, millions of our members and people in society that are looking for a positive voice that is counterculture.

I just want to thank God for the Word of God, because that is the body of instruction from heaven that is so powerful in helping us to make correct decisions as to how to live.

Your powerful summation, Pastor Finley, in that presentation gave a number of steps as to how we ought to relate to this particular subject.

We must understand that the Bible indicates that perversions of sexual activity are sin.

All perversions, including adultery, fornication, homosexuality, God has an ideal.

But that we are to treat people with love and respect, and that love does not mean we agree with the person's particular perspective, but that we need to treat people with real respect.

And I just want to say that the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide supports what the Bible says about this subject, and that we are to engage people, to help them understand what God wants them to do, just as you were explaining.

I mean, I'm drawn to Romans chapter 12 and verses 1 and 2 because around us today, we are seeing so much pressure from society, so much pressure from current contemporary culture to believe something that goes exactly opposite from what scripture says.

When you read in verse 1 of chapter 12 of Romans, it says, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God.

It's through the mercy of God that we are to to understand these things.

And Paul is appealing through the mercies of God.

Now that's interesting because that is a physical setting.

Your body is a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

In fact, the the Phillips translation says, don't allow the world to squeeze you into its own mold.

In other words, stand up for Bible truth.

It says, do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, which is key.

And that renewing, as you have so aptly indicated, is through connection with Jesus Christ, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The Bible explains it, but it's only through the power of Christ that we can live that life.

You know, I love that translation from Philip's translation, don't let the world squeeze you into its mold.

You know, as we pointed out early in the video, that the church is to be a counteracting of culture.

We are not to allow culture to shape our values, but to shape the values of culture by our actions and by our choices.

Matt, some questions that you have for us.

Yeah, well before we get into those questions, and actually let me just give the instructions real quick, so anybody that's watching, if you want to have a chance at your question being asked, go ahead and just type that comment in YouTube or Rumble.

I'm going to go through those comments the best I can and pick some of the questions to ask to Mark and Ted.

Before we do that, Pastor Mark, do you mind having a word of prayer for us?

Father in heaven, thank you with all of our hearts we thank you for Jesus, the Christ that looks at each 1 of us and all of our brokenness and the Christ redeems us by his grace, transforms us by his power, and gives us a hope of the future.

Guide us now as we give biblical answers to important questions.

Help those watching have that sense that their church upholds Jesus and the Word of God.

All right, Pastor Mark, the first question I have for you is, can you give us some practical counsel to reach people who think differently on this topic?

I think first, and Pastor Wilson, jump in on this with me as well.

I think first, Matt, it's extremely important that we reach out in love to human beings around us without compromising the biblical values that we find in Scripture.

So 1 thing that I would suggest is if you have friends that are part of the LGBTQ plus community, sit down with them, listen to their stories, Open your heart to them.

And at the appropriate time, as you see a receptivity and openness, share the Word of God with them.

Not to clobber them over the head, not to inflict guilt, but to show them the magnificence, the grace of Christ and watch his transforming power.

1, first we want to be sure in our own hearts that there's no arrogance, pride.

We want to be sure that in our own hearts we are 1 with God.

Secondly, we want to reach out in personal relationships to others, listening to their stories, understanding their heart, understanding some of the challenges and struggles they went through.

And then thirdly, uplifting the Christ of the Word, whose life is life transformational.

I wanna make a distinction between change, between conversion and conversion therapy.

We are not interested in conversion therapy.

And conversion has to do with if any man or woman is in Christ, they're a new creation.

And we want to point people always to the grace and the power of Christ.

Pastor, do you want to add anything to that?

Well, let's pick right up on that, because you have quoted from Second Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 17.

And I think this is really key in whatever practical steps you want to take in interacting with those who have this different viewpoint.

Don't clobber them over the head as Pastor Finley said with the Bible, but share the Bible and help people recognize that it is only in Christ that there is a change in character.

Verse 17 of 2 Corinthians 5, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, and that is the important operative phrase, in Christ.

It is the power of Christ working in you.

It is a submission to the power of the Lord himself.

His changing ability, the ability to change us in the sanctifying process.

He justifies us through his righteousness.

Then he sanctifies us, which means we become more and more like Christ.

So if you're in Christ, you are fully understanding that it is his power that is working within you.

And it says, if you are in Christ then, he is a new creation.

So this new person, this new creation is something that wasn't before.

Old things have passed away, the Bible says.

So the newness in Christ is that very bedrock understanding that Christ is the key to all change.

And that is a magnificent foundation of the plan of salvation.

That's why by Christ's grace and his justifying and sanctifying power that we can claim eternal life in the Lord.

Yes, there is only 1 way that we can claim eternal life in the Lord?

Yes, there is only 1 way that we can claim eternal life and that's through Jesus Christ.

Matt, you've got a lot of questions coming in.

Series

LGBTQ+ and the Bible

LGBTQ+ vs Bible Truth Question and Answers

Transcript

Parent Series

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