TODAY ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
CONFORMITY IS THE NORM, AND HERE'S THE MORE DANGEROUS THING,
THE MOST DANGEROUS THING.
AND THAT IS THAT THE WORST FORM OF CONFORMITY IS THE EASIEST.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ABUSE
TO CALL SOMEONE TO REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE AND HOPE.
WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES.
I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA.
THE APOSTLE JUDE CALLED FOR CHRISTIANS TO
“CONTEND FOR THE FAITH THAT WAS ONCE
FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS.”
THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS A DEPOSIT OF TRUTH
THE FAITH THAT WAS HANDED DOWN FROM THE APOSTLES
AND OFTEN COMES UNDER ATTACK.
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM, YOU’LL HEAR FROM DR. AL MOHLER
OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
WHOSE CONTENTION FOR THE TRUTH MEANT THAT
HE HAD TO CLEAN HOUSE IN THE 1990’S
AT A MAJOR SEMINARY WHERE THE FAITH
WAS BEING COMPROMISED AWAY.
AND WE BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT A CONTROVERSY
THAT DEVELOPED IN MY OWN DENOMINATION,
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA.
IT’S A POINTER TO THE KINDS OF ATTACKS
THAT CAN HAPPEN EVEN IN CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS
THAT ARE FORMALLY COMMITTED TO THE BIBLE.
HERE’S DR. JERRY NEWCOMBE FROM OUR SPECIAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM,
HOW THE LEFT IS STEALING YOUR CHURCH.
I REALLY FEEL THAT CONFERENCES LIKE REVOICE
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP LGBT PEOPLE
FIND THEIR PLACE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
BORN IN A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH A FEW YEARS AGO
IS A MOVEMENT CALLED “REVOICE.”
WHAT REVOICE HAS DONE IS CREATED JUST A SPACE FOR
PEOPLE TO COME AND EXPERIENCE THE LORD
AND BE FREE AND BE UNASHAMED. I WRESTLED WITH THIS.
I WRESTLED WITH THIS TOO. I STRUGGLED WITH THIS.
REVOICE STATES THAT THEIR MISSION IS
ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR REVOICE
WAS JUST GETTING TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE
WHO HAD A SIMILAR LIFE EXPERIENCE TO ME.
WITH THE REVOICE MOVEMENT,
THEY WANT TO PROPAGATE THE IDEA OF THIS ORIENTATION NARRATIVE
THAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR ORIENTATION.
AND SO THE CHURCH NEEDS TO ACCEPT WHAT'S CALLED NOW,
“SEXUAL MINORITIES,” WHICH HAS BEEN TERMED BY PEOPLE EVEN IN
THE GOSPEL COALITION AND PEOPLE PROPAGATING THE IDEA
THAT SEXUAL MINORITIES, LGBTQ CHRISTIANITY, IS VIABLE,
ALBEIT MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WILL SAY CELIBATE,
BUT THEY'RE HANGING OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE PRACTICING
AND ALL OF THEM CALLING THEMSELVES CHRISTIAN.
SOME KEY PROBLEMS WITH REVOICE COULD SEEM SUBTLE AT FIRST.
IS IT OKAY TO IDENTIFY AS A “GAY CHRISTIAN”
IF ONE REMAINS CELIBATE?
AND IS HOMOSEXUAL ATTRACTION ITSELF BLAMELESS
IF HELD IN CELIBACY?
MANY IN REVOICE SAID YES.
BUT THAT, SAYS CRITICS,
LEADS ONE TO EMBRACE A FALSE, SINFUL IDENTITY.
AND IT FAILS TO ADDRESS THE FALLEN,
SINFUL NATURE EVEN OF HUMAN DESIRES THEMSELVES,
IT LEAVES ONE SHORT OF FULL REPENTANCE AND GOD’S HEALING.
AN ALLY IS SOMEONE WHO AFFIRMS THE IDENTITY AND THE PRACTICE
AND ALSO THE ONTOLOGY.
THE IDEA THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT JUST HOW A PERSON IS,
BUT WHO A PERSON IS OF LGBTQ PLUS.
AND WHAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS A CHRISTIAN,
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DOES NOT MAKE AN ALLY TO ANY SIN
THAT HE HAS SHED BLOOD FOR ON THE CROSS.
AND SO IF YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN AND YOU CALL YOURSELF
AN LGBTQ PLUS ALLY, YOU'RE EITHER NOT A CHRISTIAN OR
YOU'RE IN THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE IN THE WORLD BECAUSE
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS NOT AN ALLY TO SIN.
HE PAID FOR IT WITH HIS LIFE.
AND THE BIBLE ACTUALLY FORBIDS THIS AND
THIS IS A PART WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND,
IT FORBIDS TO BE PARTAKERS WITH
THOSE WHO PRACTICE SEXUAL IMMORALITY
AND CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIAN,
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT BRINGS DEFILEMENT.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST WITH THE THINGS LIKE THE
REVOICE MOVEMENT AND THE METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH
AND THE GAY CHRISTIAN NETWORK AND NOW THEY CALL IT “Q” AND
OTHER, IT KEEPS CHANGING AND MORPHING TERMS AND NAMES BUT
IT'S THE SAME NARRATIVE.
STEPHEN BLACK OF CORAM DEO MINISTRIES WAS HIMSELF
A PRACTICING HOMOSEXUAL FOR EIGHT YEARS
UNTIL JESUS CHRIST SET HIM FREE THREE DECADES AGO.
NOW HE HELPS OTHERS BE SET FREE.
AND HE’S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DECEPTIONS IN THE CHURCH
WHERE UNREPENTANT HOMOSEXUALITY IS BEING PRESENTED
AS IF IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
IT'S BASICALLY TAKING ANTINOMIANISM,
WHICH IS A THEOLOGICAL WORD, THAT MEANS HYPER GRACE, OR
GNOSTICISM, OR THE TEACHING OF THE NICOLAITANS,
AND MIXING IT WITH THIS APA THING CALLED ORIENTATION.
YOU MIX THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND
YOU COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT GAY CHRISTIAN.
AND NOW THIS IS BECOMING PROPAGATED AND
MAINLINE CHRISTIANITY, IN EVANGELICAL CHURCHES,
THAT THEY MUST ACCEPT THIS,
IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOVING.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHILE THE REVOICE MOVEMENT
IRONICALLY BEGAN IN A PCA CHURCH
THAT IS, THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA,
THE DENOMINATION VOTED IN JUNE OF 2021
IN THEIR GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR
THAT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
THAT IT IS A SIN TO BE REPENTED OF IS TO BE THE NORM.
EVENTUALLY, REVOICE LEFT THE PCA.
WE CAN'T HAVE A LITTLE PRIVATE SIN.
WE CAN'T FOOL OURSELVES TO THINK THAT SIN STAYS WHERE WE PUT IT.
WE HAVE TO KILL IT ALL.
BUT WE'RE RENEWED AFTER THE IMAGE OF GOD,
AFTER GOD'S KNOWLEDGE, GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, GOD'S HOLINESS
AND WHY? SO THAT WE CAN DIE.
SO THAT WE COULD DIE TO SIN AND LIVE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
AND FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING ON PLANET EARTH WHO IS A CHRISTIAN,
THAT SHOULD BE REALLY GOOD NEWS.
BUT FOR TAKING SUCH A STANCE, SOME EX-GAYS
ARE BEING ACCUSED OF BEING “SPIRITUALLY ABUSIVE.”
I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED
THAT CHANGE ALLOWING THERAPY WAS HARMFUL,
WHICH IS RIDICU, I'M JUST LIKE, HOW DID YOU BELIEVE THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
DARKENED MINDS DO DARKENED THINGS.
AND SO I HAVE REPENTED PUBLICLY OF THOSE.
I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FELT LIKE I WAS MORE MERCIFUL
THAN GOD AND TRIED TO MINIMIZE SIN AND REPENTING OF SIN.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ABUSE TO CALL SOMEONE
TO REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE AND HOPE.
THERE ARE MANY TODAY, NOT WELL PROCLAIMED IN OUR CULTURE
WHO HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM THEIR HOMOSEXUALITY
THROUGH THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE BEEN FREED BY THE POWER
OF JESUS CHRIST FROM HOMOSEXUALITY THROUGHOUT
THE UNITED STATES BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
THEY HAVE BEEN EITHER FREED
BECAUSE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS AND
THEY’VE BEEN DISCIPLED BY THE CHURCH,
THEY HAVE BEEN FREED THROUGH MINISTRY WITH
RESTORED HOPE NETWORK AND WHAT WE GET THE EXCITING JOB OF DOING
IS WALKING ALONGSIDE OF THEM AS THEY ARE OVERCOMING
THOSE STRUGGLES AND WORKING THROUGH
ALL THE RELATIONAL ISSUES THAT ACCOMPANY IT.
I HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE WHO SILENTLY STRUGGLED
IN THE CHURCH WITH HIS OWN HOMOSEXUAL TEMPTATIONS.
AFTER ABOUT 7 YEARS OF STRUGGLING I FINALLY GAVE IN AND
SAID I'M TIRED OF RESISTING THIS, I NOW DECLARE MYSELF GAY.
I ATTEMPTED FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS TO IDENTIFY
AS BOTH GAY AND CHRISTIAN
AND FIND A WAY TO MAKE THE TWO OF THEM HARMONIOUS.
BUT IN 1984 GOD MADE IT CLEAR TO ME
THAT I HAVE BEEN KIDDING MYSELF AND
THAT IF I WANTED TO WALK IN TRUTH,
I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO SAY NO
TO WHAT HE COMMANDED ME TO SAY NO TO
AND YES TO WHAT HE HAD CALLED ME TO.
I WAS NOT CONVERTED OUT OF HOMOSEXUALITY,
I WAS CONVERTED OUT OF UNBELIEF.
WHEN I CAME TO CHRIST, I CAME TO CHRIST IN A CHURCH THAT SAID,
LOOK, HOMOSEXUALITY IS FOUND IN THE FLESH.
IT'S FORBIDDEN IN THE LAW AND IT'S OVERCOME IN THE SAVIOR.
NOBODY SAID, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO STRUGGLE WITH THIS
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
OR IF YOU ARE GAY, YOU'RE CALLED A SINGLENESS OR
IT'S FINE. WE'LL GET A GAY BOWLING LEAGUE
IN THE CHURCH AND YOU'LL HAVE FRIENDS.
I MEAN, THAT NONSENSE JUST DIDN'T EXIST
IN EVANGELICALISM.
I THINK REVOICE GIVES A SPACE FOR THE CHURCH TO GET TRAINING
ON SUCH PIVOTAL ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING THE CULTURE RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU WANT THE BIBLE TO SAY SOMETHING,
YOU CAN TWIST IT HARD ENOUGH
TO MAKE IT SAY WHAT YOU WANT IT TO SAY.
IN MY OPINION, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PRO-GAY THEOLOGY IS,
IT IS A TWISTING OF SCRIPTURE TO
ACHIEVE A GAY AFFIRMING POSITION FROM A BIBLICAL BASE.
BUT WE ARE CALLED TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH,
NOT TO TWIST IT AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD SAY WITH
INTELLECTUAL INTEGRITY THAT WHEN YOU RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE BIBLE,
YOU CAN COME UP WITH A GAY AFFIRMING POSITION.
THE IDOL OF OUR DAY, IS LGBTQ PLUS.
AND THE REASON I SAY IT'S AN IDOL IS
YOU ARE DEMANDED TO BEND THE KNEE TO IT.
YOU WILL LOSE YOUR JOB.
YOU DON'T USE FALSE PRONOUNS.
IT SURELY DOES SEEM LIKE PEOPLE ARE BEING BRAINWASHED TODAY.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE ARE BEING BRAINWASHED IS BY THE
SLOGANS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH, SLOGANS
THAT FALSIFY THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL TO RENEW YOUR LIFE
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LAW OF GOD
AGAINST WHICH TO MEASURE YOUR LIFE.
THANKFULLY, THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA TOOK A STAND
ON THE BIBLE AND REPELLED THE REVOICE MOVEMENT.
BUT THAT’S JUST ONE OF THE MANY
CHALLENGES FACING THE MODERN CHURCH.
ONE MAN WHO HAS BEEN A HERO IN THE FAITH FOR FACING
SUCH CHALLENGES IS DR. ALBERT MOHLER,
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
WHEN HE WAS NAMED PRESIDENT AT THE AGE OF JUST 33 IN 1993,
THE FLAGSHIP SEMINARY OF SOUTHERN BAPTISTS
HAD WALKED AWAY FROM BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
AND ENTERED A FULL SLIDE INTO LIBERALISM.
DR. MOHLER TOOK A STAND AND
THAT’S WHY I WAS SO PLEASED TO HOST DR. MOHLER HERE
AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND
OUR KINGDOM COME CONFERENCE RECENTLY,
WHERE HE ENCOURAGED US TOWARD
KEEPING THE FAITH IN A FAITHLESS AGE.
THE FIRST TWO VERSES OF ROMANS CHAPTER 12, PAUL WRITES,
WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE DO NOT COMES BEFORE THE DO,
WHICH TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT OUR FALLEN STATE.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BE TOLD, DON'T DO THAT, DO THIS.
DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD,
BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND.
ALRIGHT? THERE'S A LOT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HERE.
IT COMES DOWN SO OVERWHELMINGLY TO HOW, FIRST OF ALL, WE THINK.
DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED HOW?
BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MINDS. OKAY?
NOW PAUL ISN'T SAYING THAT CHRISTIANITY IS A MIND GAME.
HE IS SAYING VERY CLEARLY THAT
IF YOU DON'T THINK LIKE A CHRISTIAN,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN.
IF YOU DON'T THINK THROUGH THESE ISSUES
ON THE BASIS OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH.
IF YOU DO THINK THROUGH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE GOSPEL,
IF YOU DO NOT THINK ABOUT WHAT THE SCRIPTURE COMMANDS OF US,
IF YOU'RE NOT THINKING THAT WAY,
YOU ARE GOING TO BE CONFORMED TO THE WORLD.
NOW, IT'S VERY EASY FROM WHERE WE SIT, OKAY,
LET'S JUST LOOK AT EACH OTHER SQUARELY AND HONESTLY,
IT'S VERY EASY FROM WHERE WE SIT TO SAY THAT IF YOU LOOK AROUND,
AND FRANKLY YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK VERY FAR,
IT'S EVEN EASIER IN AN OLD ESTABLISHED CITY,
SAY ON THE EAST COAST,
BUT YOU CAN SEE EVEN CLEARLY RIGHT HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY,
THE EVIDENCE OF PROTESTANT LIBERALISM AND LIBERAL THEOLOGY
AND THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THEOLOGICAL LIBERALISM
IS TO CONFORM TO THE CULTURE. THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY DO THAT.
THAT'S THEIR PRINCIPLE.
THAT'S WHY BEFORE IT WAS CALLED LIBERALISM,
IT WAS CALLED MODERNISM BECAUSE THEIR MOTTO WAS,
YOU NEED TO MODERNIZE THE FAITH FOR A NEW AGE.
YOU NEED TO GET THE FAITH, YOU NEED TO TRANSFORM IT.
THE VIRGIN BIRTH DOESN'T BELONG HERE ANYMORE
BECAUSE IT'S NOT A STEP WITH THE MODERN AGE.
WELL, OF COURSE, AS YOU WELL UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC,
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE.
IF THE VIRGIN BIRTH DOESN'T FIT IN THE MODERN AGE,
THE DEITY OF CHRIST DOESN'T BELONG IN THE MODERN AGE.
THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST CERTAINLY IS.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO START GIVING DOCTRINES AWAY,
THERE'S NO END TO THE DOCTRINES YOU WILL GIVE AWAY.
AND BY THE WAY, THE PERPETUAL CHALLENGE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
IS NOT CONFORMING TO THE WORLD, BUT RATHER STANDING.
NOW, HERE'S THE ISSUE.
THE REASON PAUL SAYS WHAT HE SAYS HERE,
AND THE REASON EVEN FOR HIS WORD ORDER
IS THAT CONFORMITY IS THE NORM.
OKAY? SO LET'S JUST LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER.
HONESTLY, HERE'S THE PROBLEM.
CONFORMITY IS THE NORM, AND HERE'S THE MORE DANGEROUS THING,
THE MOST DANGEROUS THING.
AND THAT IS THAT THE WORST FORM OF CONFORMITY IS THE EASIEST.
THE GREAT SOCIOLOGICAL FACT RIGHT NOW THAT EVERYONE IS
SAYING IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF THE FACT YOU WILL FALL INTO LINE,
YOU SHOULD FALL INTO LINE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER,
IS THE L-G-B-T-Q REVOLUTION.
IT'S AN AGE THAT IS MARKED BY A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF
THE HUMAN BEING, WHICH REQUIRES THE DISPLACEMENT OF GOD.
WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER
DR. KENNEDY SPEAKING ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE WORLDVIEW,
THE GREAT SOCIAL FACT THAT HE WAS PRESSING AGAINST
HE AND PEOPLE LIKE FRANCIS SCHAEFFER
SUMMARIZED AS SECULAR HUMANISM.
WELL, ALL I WANT TO TELL YOU IS YOU UPDATE IT AND
IT'S THE SAME SOCIAL FACT.
IT'S THE SAME THING, IT'S THE SAME REVOLT, IT'S
THE SAME SECULAR WORLDVIEW OF AUTONOMOUS HUMAN INDIVIDUALISM.
IT'S THE SAME WORLDVIEW JUST UPDATED
AND FRANKLY KIND OF SUPERCHARGED.
THEY'RE READY NOW TO SAY,
YOU GET IN LINE OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE FIRED.
THEY'RE READY NOW TO SAY YOU GET IN LINE OR
YOU CAN'T GET IN THIS PROFESSION.
THEY'RE READY NOW TO SAY YOU GET IN LINE OR
YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR TEACHING POSITION AND
YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT OF THIS UNIVERSITY.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE OFF OF THIS FACULTY.
YOU GET IN LINE, WATCH THIS. THIS IS COMING.
I AM NOT USING THIS AS A SCARE TACTIC.
I WANT TO LOOK AT YOU. AND I'M SAYING,
AS HONESTLY AS I KNOW, AT SOME POINT THEY'RE
GOING TO SAY, YOU GET IN LINE OR WE'RE TAKING YOUR CHILDREN.
THE FORMS OF COERCION ARE COMING AND THEY'RE COMING FAST.
WE NEED TO BE READY FOR IT.
AND BY THE WAY, THIS MEANS THAT WHAT WE NEED IS THE PREACHING OF
THE WORD OF GOD, THE ORDINARY MEANS OF GRACE.
THIS IS WHERE BEING A
REFORMATION PROTESTANT REALLY HELPS.
SO THE ANSWER TO THIS, WHAT IS IT?
TEACH THE WORD IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON,
AND IT COMES DOWN TO STANDING FAST AGAINST THE CULTURE
AND KNOWING HOW IT USES ALL OF ITS PRESSURES OF COERCION
AND SAYING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET MY KIDS,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THIS SCHOOL,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THIS PROPERTY.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE CAN LOSE THE PROPERTY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE THE PARENTHOOD.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S AT STAKE & FIGHTING BACK.
GIVE NO INCH AND DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD
BECAUSE THE GREATEST DEATH, THE GREATEST DANGER, THE
GREATEST TEMPTATION IS TO BEGIN TO THINK LIKE THE WORLD THINKS
IN ORDER TO GET ALONG EASIER.
ALL THAT REQUIRES IS YOUR SOUL. THAT'S ALL THAT IS REQUIRED.
THE SAME GOD WHO SAID, THOU SHALL AND THOU SHALT NOT;
THE SAME GOD THE BIBLE TELLS US WHO SO LOVED THE WORLD
THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THE WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM
WOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
THAT SAME GOD TELLS US HOW HIS PEOPLE ARE TO LIVE.
NOT ONLY THAT, BY THE WAY, THAT'S NOT ALL THERE IS.
HE NOT ONLY TELLS PEOPLE HOW THEY ARE TO LIVE, HE SAYS,
I'VE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSING AND CURSE.
CHOOSE LIFE AND LIVE.
THIS IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE.
OBEDIENCE.
THIS IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO DEATH.
DISOBEDIENCE.
SO HALFWAY THROUGH THE MESSAGE, THERE'S ANOTHER PART WHICH IS
THE CALL TO STAND. OKAY?
SO IF YOU'RE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT TRANSFORM
BY THE RENEWING OF THE MIND, WHAT IS IT WE'RE CALLED TO DO?
I JUST WANT YOU IN TWO MINUTES TO BE REMINDED
OF HOW CLEAR THE BIBLE IS ABOUT STANDING,
AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK
WE CAN UNDERSTAND ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY.
EXODUS 14:3, STAND FIRM.
2ND CHRONICLES 20:17 STAND FIRM.
EZEKIEL 22:30 STAND IN THE BREACH.
ROMANS 5:2 GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND.
1ST CORINTHIANS 15:1, THE GOSPEL IN WHICH YOU STAND.
1ST CORINTHIANS 16:13, STAND FAITH IN THE FAITH.
BE STRONG. GALATIANS 5:1 STAND FIRM. THEREFORE
EPHESIANS 6:11 THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND.
SECOND THESSALONIANS 2:15, STAND FIRM,
1ST PETER 5:12, STAND FIRM.
OKAY, SO WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TELL US TO DO?
STAND FIRM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THAT IS THE SECOND HALF OF THE MESSAGE.
YOU GOT IT?
MY CLOSING WORD TO YOU IS FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL,
1ST CORINTHIANS 15:58
STAND FIRM. LET'S PRAY. FATHER, WE'RE JUST SO THANKFUL
FOR ALL YOU HAVE GIVEN US IN YOUR WORD.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR WARNING US ABOUT THE
DANGER OF CONFORMING TO THIS WORLD.
FATHER, MAY IT NOT HAPPEN.
MAY IT NOT HAPPEN IN OUR MINDS, IN OUR HEARTS, IN OUR CHURCHES
AND OUR FAMILIES IN THIS CULTURE.
FATHER, MAY WE STAND FIRM IN EVERY WAY
YOU HAVE CALLED US TO STAND.
AND THAT MEANS TAKING A STAND.
THAT WILL MEAN TAKING A STAND IN THE CULTURE,
TAKING A STAND IN THE POLITICS, TAKING A STAND IN THE SCHOOLS,
TAKING A STAND IN THE MARKETPLACE,
TAKING A STAND IN THE PROFESSIONS,
TAKING A STAND EVERYWHERE YOU PUT US.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TAKING A STAND IN THE PULPIT AND
MAKING CERTAIN THAT THERE IS NO UNCERTAIN SOUND.
SO GOD, IT MAKES US HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY,
TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS, TO BE WARNED AND TO BE COMMANDED
AND TO BE SENT OUT INTO THE WORLD.
FATHER, WE DO SO PRAYING THAT THIS WILL BE
BY YOUR GRACE ALONE, FOR YOUR GLORY ALONE. AMEN.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU.
HI, I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
AS A TEENAGER IN SOUTH FLORIDA, DR. AL MOHLER USED TO COME
TO MY DAD FOR ANSWERS TO DIFFICULT QUESTIONS.
AND MY DAD HELPED GIVE HIM A FRAMEWORK
FOR SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH A BIBLICAL LENS,
AND FOR HAVING CONFIDENCE IN THE FACE OF SCOFFERS.
WHEN DR. MOHLER ARRIVED AS PRESIDENT
AT THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN 1993,
VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE FACULTY THERE
HAD GIVEN UP BIBLICAL AUTHORITY,
AND HAD COMPROMISED KEY DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH.
MY DAD WAS SO PLEASED AS HE SAW DR. MOHLER CLEAN HOUSE,
AND BRING THAT KEY SEMINARY BACK TO BIBLICAL FAITHFULNESS.
THAT’S A BATTLE THAT USUALLY HAS TO BE FOUGHT
IN EVERY GENERATION,
AND TODAY IT’S THE WOKE RADICALS WHO ARE TRYING
TO INFILTRATE CHURCHES AND UNDERMINE BIBLICAL TRUTH.
DISCOVER HOW IT’S TAKING PLACE IN OUR UPDATED DOCUMENTARY,
HOW THE LEFT IS STEALING YOUR CHURCH,
WHICH WE’LL SEND YOU AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION
TO THE ONGOING WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
THIS EYE-OPENING PROGRAM WILL SHOW YOU HOW THE RADICAL LEFT
HAS LEVELED ITS SIGHTS ON THE BODY OF CHRIST.
ITS GOAL IS TO MOVE PASTORS AND CHURCHES
WHO HOLD GREAT SWAY IN THE CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITY
TO THE LEFT ON ISSUES SUCH AS GENDER IDENTITY,
IMMIGRATION, RACISM, AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
FUNDING FOR THESE EFFORTS HAVE COME FROM GEORGE SOROS,
THE OPEN SOCIETIES FOUNDATION,
THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION, AND MORE.
DISCOVER HOW, AND SEE HOW DENOMINATIONS
FROM THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
TO THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
ARE BEING INFILTRATED BY THOSE WHO WOULD UNDO BIBLICAL TRUTH.
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A GENEROUS GIFT OF $50 OR MORE,
WE’LL SEND YOU THE DVD OF
HOW THE LEFT IS STEALING YOUR CHURCH,
PLUS A NEW HARDCOVER EDITION OF THE CLASSIC BOOK
CHRISTIANITY AND LIBERALISM, BY J. GRESHAM MACHEN.
THIS PAST YEAR MARKED
THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS GREAT BOOK, AND
WE REPUBLISHED IT WITH A NEW FOREWORD FROM DR. PETER LILLBACK
BECAUSE MACHEN’S MESSAGE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
HE SAW THAT UNBELIEVERS WHO REJECTED BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
WERE USING CHRISTIAN WORDS AND AFFIRMING CHRISTIAN IDEAS,
BUT POURING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MEANINGS INTO THEM.
AS THE APOSTLE PAUL PUTS IT,
SUCH PEOPLE HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF GODLINESS,
BUT DENY ITS POWER AND ARE TO BE AVOIDED.
DISCOVER HOW LIBERAL UNBELIEF SEEPS
INTO CHURCHES AND INSTITUTIONS, AND HOW TO OPPOSE IT,
IN CHRISTIANITY AND LIBERALISM BY J. GRESHAM MACHEN.
WE’LL SEND YOU OUR NEWLY-PUBLISHED,
HARDCOVER EDITION OF IT, WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY PETER LILLBACK,
ALONG WITH THE DVD DOCUMENTARY,
HOW THE LEFT IS STEALING YOUR CHURCH,
AS THANKS FOR YOUR DONATION OF $50 OR MORE.
OR, WE’LL SEND YOU THE DVD AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIFT.
YOUR GIFT ENABLES US TO CONTINUE TO PROCLAIM TRUTH
AND HELP CHRISTIANS APPLY THE BIBLE TO ALL OF LIFE
THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC OUTREACHES.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
THE FORCES OF THE CULTURE WORK TO EXERT
GREAT PRESSURE UPON THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST.
IN MANY CASES, THOSE PRESSURES RESULT IN CHURCHES
AND DENOMINATIONS COMPROMISING THE TRUTH
IN ORDER TO SEEM MORE “RELEVANT” AND CONTEMPORARY.
IT LEADS TO PUTTING ASIDE DIFFICULT TRUTHS,
AND SHAPING THE FAITH TO FIT
CURRENT CONCEPTIONS OF SCIENCE AND MORALITY.
AND IN CASES WHERE CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS
STICK TO THE TRUTH,
IT OFTEN LEADS TO THE DEPARTURE OF THOSE WHO ARE,
IN THE WORDS OF PAUL, “IN LOVE WITH THIS PRESENT WORLD.”
MAYBE YOU’VE HEARD OF THE RISE OF SO-CALLED EX-VANGELICALS.
EX-VANGELICALS ARE THOSE WHO WERE ONCE
IN EVANGELICAL CHURCHES BUT HAVE WALKED AWAY
AND DECONSTRUCTED WHATEVER FAITH THEY HAD.
THEY’VE DEVELOPED A VIRTUAL COTTAGE
INDUSTRY OF BOOKS AND ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS,
AND TWEETS ABOUT HOW BADLY DAMAGED THEY FEEL
FROM GROWING UP IN A BIBLE-BELIEVING CHURCH.
BUT WHEN YOU DIG DOWN A LITTLE BIT,
YOU FIND THAT A COMMON THREAD EMERGES
FROM JUST BELOW THE SURFACE OF MOST OF THESE STORIES.
THAT THREAD IS A REJECTION OF GOD’S STANDARDS FOR MARRIAGE,
GENDER, AND SEXUALITY, WHICH ARE REPLACED
WITH THE CULTURE’S VIEWS OF THOSE THINGS.
IN THESE EX-VANGELICAL LIST OF COMPLAINTS, TEACHINGS ON PURITY,
MODESTY, AND BIBLICAL GENDER ROLES ARE PAINTED
AS PRODUCTS OF THE HANDMAIDEN’S TALE,
AND AN EAGER LIBERAL AUDIENCE,
THAT’S NEVER MET AN ACTUAL CHRISTIAN, LAPS IT UP.
BUT, IN THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLE JOHN,
AND THIS IS EXACTLY THE DANGER OF RELYING ON OUR
OWN INTUITIONS AND THE CULTURAL WINDS TO GUIDE US.
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUT OF STEP
WITH THE SURROUNDING CULTURE.
HOW COULD IT NOT BE?
GOD’S WILL IS EXPRESSED IN HIS COMMANDS
AND THE UNBELIEVER DOESN’T PAY ANY HEED TO HIS VOICE.
WHEN WE PUT OUR EMOTIONS UP FRONT AND
LET OURSELVES BE GUIDED BY WHAT FEELS RIGHT,
WE QUICKLY FALL IN STEP WITH THE CULTURE
AND BECOME LIKE UNBELIEVERS, BECAUSE
IT’S EASIER TO NOT STAND IN OPPOSITION TO THE WORLD.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE LIKED AND POPULAR,
AND TO BE COMPLIMENTED AS BEING OPEN-MINDED AND PROGRESSIVE.
BUT OUR FEELINGS ARE NOT RELIABLE GUIDES TO REALITY.
GOD IS THE ONE WHO CREATED THE WORLD AND US AND
HE’S THE ONE WHO DEFINES REALITY.
GOD’S DESIGN IS STILL TRUE, AND IT’S STILL BEST AND
HE HASN’T GIVEN IT TO US IN ORDER TO CRUSH OUR JOY,
BUT FOR OUR GREATEST SATISFACTION AND FLOURISHING.
THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH GOD’S DESIGN-IT’S WITH OUR SIN.
HEAVEN FORBID WE OBEY OUR SIN
RATHER THAN THE VERY WORD OF GOD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE EVER IN SOUTH FLORIDA,
WE’D LOVE FOR YOU TO COME WORSHIP WITH US HERE AT
CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN FORT LAUDERDALE.
OR YOU CAN JOIN US VIA LIVESTREAM AT CRPC.TV.
AND MAKE SURE TO CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT
FACEBOOK, TWITTER-X, INSTAGRAM, AND ON YOUTUBE.
AND NOW HERE’S A LOOK AT THE NEXT TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
WE DEFINITELY HAVE OUR FREEDOMS BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO ARE WILLING
TO STAND ON FREEDOM'S RAMPARTS AND LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR US.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES