Welcome to episode #30 of The Theology on Homosexuality podcast and the Torch Leadership Foundation Institute’s “Hill, Lutzer, McKissic Lecture Series.” This Lecture Series is in honor of E.V. Hill, Erwin Lutzer, and Dwight McKissic for standing for God, truth and righteousness down through the years without compromise. My name is Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International. This podcast was created primarily to inform the Christian church about why it must stand against homosexuality, homosexual marriage, homosexual parenting, and the homosexual agenda. The biblical portrait of marriage, family and sexuality has sadly come under attack in our society and it is time for the church to stand up and to educate our culture about the dangers of same-sex marriage and the same-sex agenda while at the same time to promote God’s idea of marriage between one man and one woman, God’s view of the family structure, and God’s view of sexuality as being permissible and pleasurable within the safety and sanctity of marriage. The normalization of homosexuality and everything that pertains to it is probably the greatest danger facing our world today. Thus, it is imperative that the body of Christ choose to stop ignoring this prevailing issue and stand up for what God says on this matter before it completely destroys our country. This podcast is designed to equip pastors, church leaders, and Christians everywhere to take a firm stand for God against homosexuality and the homosexual agenda, in the spirit of love, grace and truth, so that we will not be responsible for allowing this nation to implode on our watch.
Our Theology on Homosexuality passage from the Word of God today is Jude 1:7. It reads, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this passage from the “David Guzik Commentary on the Bible”:
These two cities also stand as examples of God’s judgment. Their sin — which was most conspicuously homosexuality, but included other sins as well — brought forth God’s judgment.
Sodom and Gomorrah were blessed, privileged places. They were situated in a blessed area.
Jude refers to the account in Genesis 19:1-38, where the homosexual conduct of the men of Sodom is described. Ezekiel 16:49 tells us of other sins of Sodom: “Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Sexual depravity was not their only sin, but it was certainly among their sins, and Jude makes this plain.
The sins described in Ezekiel 16:49 show that Sodom and Gomorrah were indeed prosperous, blessed areas. You don’t have fullness of food, and abundance of idleness if you don’t have material blessings. But despite their great blessing from God and material prosperity, they sinned and were judged.
In Genesis 19:1-38, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with fire from heaven. But that wasn’t the end of their judgment by fire. Far worse than what happened in Genesis 19:1-38, they suffered the vengeance of eternal fire.
This example gives two lessons. First, it assures us that the certain men causing trouble will be judged, no matter how much they had been blessed in the past. Just as Sodom and Gomorrah were once wonderfully blessed but eventually suffered the vengeance of eternal fire, so will it be with these certain men. Second, it warns us that we also must continue walking with Jesus. If the blessings of the past didn’t guarantee their future spiritual state, then neither does ours.
Our Theology on Homosexuality quotes today are from Dwight McKissic and Chuck Colson:
Dwight McKissic said, “How do Kingdom citizens relate to gays and a new gay-friendly America? What are saints to do now that we recognize that we live in Sodom? I’ll tell you what we must do. We must love the homosexual unconditionally, while we preach and practice grace, love, and truth uncompromisingly.”
Chuck Colson said, “I know what it means to be redeemed from my sins. Now I live to help others find that redemption behind bars and in the culture. My prayer is that those who feel bound to homosexual behavior or any other sin will realize they don’t have to live in defeat. Freedom awaits them if they forsake their ways and follow Christ—no matter how strong their temptations.”
Our Theology on Homosexuality topic is titled “We Must Act Now” part 3 from “The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage: 6 Things You Need to Know About What’s Really at Stake” by pastor Erwin Lutzer. And, I want to remind you to take advantage of our special offer. If you appreciate this podcast and lecture series, please feel free to purchase a copy of this book — “The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage: 6 Things You Need to Know About What’s Really at Stake.” It is available on our website, TorchLeadershipFoundation.com, for just $20.
Dr. Erwin Lutzer continues with the following…
FIGHTING LIKE CHRIST
There are two dangers we must avoid at this hour. The first is to retreat from the fray because we believe we can’t stop the tide of same-sex marriage legalization, and thus “whatever will be will be.” Years ago, in a letter to his supporters, James Dobson pointed out that even if evangelicals choose to run and hide, they will not be able to do so indefinitely. He asked: At what point will we be willing to defend what we believe?
Will parents object if their children are routinely indoctrinated in homosexual ideology or occultism in the public schools? Will we object if the state tells us as pastors what we can (or can’t) say from the pulpit? And I ask, what will you do when people in America start being imprisoned for stating their beliefs about homosexuality? Such a specter is not so unimaginable. It’s happening in other parts of the world. In Sweden an evangelical pastor who preached a sermon on Sodom and Gomorrah was convicted of “verbal violence” against homosexuals and sentenced to a four-week prison term.
Recall that Queen Esther thought she would be safe if she remained silent in the court of the evil king Ahasuerus even though the Jews were about to be persecuted. But her cousin Mordecai perceptively said, “Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews…. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Fearfully, but obediently, she spoke to the king, and disaster was averted.
We’ve been brought to the kingdom for such a time as this, and we cannot run and hide. We cannot retreat. Even though same-sex marriages are now legal in some states, we must still work toward a change in legislation and in the collective national mood.
The second danger we must avoid is to become so involved in our same-sex marriage debate that we forget that the primary message we have for the world is that Jesus died on the cross for sinners. We are to be agents of grace, mercy, and forgiveness in a harsh and cruel world. We cannot let our cultural revolution obscure our primary calling. We must exercise that calling within the context of our cultural debate.
How can we meaningfully be engaged in a massive cultural and moral struggle without diverting the attention of the world from its need for faith in Christ? Since the answer cannot be to retreat, we must fight; but we must fight like Christians—or more accurately, we must fight like Christ. We have responsibilities in three areas.
WHAT CAN I DO?
We thank God for the Christian media; but at least for the foreseeable future, the secular media will not help us. We can no longer expect to call this nation back to God by public outcries. We cannot appeal to a “moral majority” when, in fact, none exists.
There is, in my opinion, only one answer: Every single Christian must become an activist, assuming the delicate task of taking a firm but loving stand on the issues and yet presenting the spiritual healing of Christ to a society afflicted with a disease called sin. John Q. Citizen will never be convinced about the credibility of the Christian faith until he becomes personally acquainted with someone who lives out the Christian life, applying its values to every situation.
Many Americans think they don’t know anyone personally who is a born-again Christian; they don’t know anyone who is pro-life and yet loves women who have had an abortion. Nor have they met someone opposed to same-sex marriages who does not hate homosexuals. They have never met anyone who would oppose an occult curriculum in the public schools and yet be a genuinely caring individual. In fact, they likely know such a person but he or she has remained silent for fear of being thought of as a fanatic or a religious nut.
The church must begin today to equip believers to lovingly live out their values in the neighborhoods, hospitals, factories, and business offices of this land. Only one-on-one can we model the love of Christ and change the misrepresentations that are perpetrated almost daily by the media. Credibility at the grassroots of American life can only be restored by the grassroots. Only you and I personally can move the debate to higher ground.
Those who are not on the front lines of battle are not exempt from conflict. Parents whose children are grown, or those who work in vocations seemingly unaffected by the clash of values, must be enlisted. During World War II, it was estimated that for every person on the front lines there were twenty who provided the support systems. We cannot leave the battle to those who are dodging bullets in the trenches.
Older parents must stand with younger ones whose children are subjected to pro-homosexual teachings in the schools. Christian college students must rally their peers who are being discriminated against because they do not accept the politically correct liberal agenda. Every believer must be willing to come to the aid of another, bridging all age, vocational, economic, and racial barriers. No one should feel that he or she is in this conflict alone.
We must overcome our reluctance to make our views known in our neighborhoods, at work, and among our friends. We cannot be followers of Christ and consider our reputation to be of more value than standing for the Christ who has saved us. We cannot be intimidated by frivolous lawsuits, harassment on the job, or even death threats. The lordship of Christ means just that: He is our one and only Lord.
When we are misrepresented, we must respond as Christ did: He refused to lash out in anger and did not resort to dramatic outbursts of power to “even the score.” He confronted His accusers with truth, yet remained fully in control of His responses. He knew that conflict with evil men was God’s plan for Him. Like Queen Esther, we have all come to the kingdom for such a time as this. We must stand for truth at every level and yet realize that what men and women need most is to see Jesus. A mind focused on truth is powerful only when combined with a changed heart.
—PRAYER—
Now, if you are listening today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, allow me to show you how.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9-13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Until next time, my friend, may God bless you and keep you!
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University School of Divinity. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for over twenty-seven years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com. Follow Daniel Whyte III on Twitter @prophetdaniel3 or on Facebook.
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