{"id":2008,"date":"2024-01-05T13:28:29","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T13:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=2008"},"modified":"2024-01-16T18:26:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T18:26:52","slug":"a-warning-to-churches-that-condone-the-lgbtq-agenda-introduction-part-1-of-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/?p=2008","title":{"rendered":"A Biblical Warning to Churches that Condone the LGBTQ Agenda: Introduction (Part 1 of 9)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I.  INTRODUCTION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 10, 2022, Dr. Robert Gagnon wrote an excellent article about Andy Stanley\u2019s position on homosexual and transgender practice.  The article is entitled \u201cAndy Stanley\u2019s Circle and Line: A Response from Robert Gagnon.\u201d  Dr. Gagnon\u2019s article is at the website of Wesley Bible Seminary, and the link is https:\/\/wbs.edu\/news\/andy-stanleys-circles-and-lines.  <\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evangelical churches and believers (Christ-followers) MUST speak out against those people who preach, teach, and support an unbiblical, damning theology that condones the LGBTQ agenda.  Consistent with Dr. Gagnon\u2019s call to action, my plan is post a series of eight articles that address each of the offender list texts, except for 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (which I\u2019ve already addressed in earlier articles), identified by Dr. Gagnon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

II.  EXPANDED LIST OF OFFENDERS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heretofore, the \u201coffender list\u201d I\u2019ve focused on is 1 Corinthians 6:9\u201310 (NASB 2020), which reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

9<\/sup> Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, 10<\/sup> nor thieves, nor the<\/em> greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Gagnon\u2019s article lists additional offender lists:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Those who fail to repent, especially as regards egregious sexual sin, do not inherit the Kingdom of God. That Paul understood this principle from Jesus is evident from his vice or offender lists, which typically put sexual sins either second after idolatry or even first (1 Thess 4:2-8; Gal 5:19-21; 1 Cor 6:9-10; 2 Cor 12:21; Rom 1:18-32; Col 3:5-10; Eph 4:17-19; 5:3-6; 1 Tim 1:9-11).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Even a quick read of these other lists reveals the egregious nature of sexual sin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

III.  DR. GAGNON\u2019S CALL TO ACTION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you believe the serial and unrepentant sinners on these offender lists are on the road to hell, Dr. Gagnon\u2019s call to action is highly evangelistic [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Stanley\u2019s succumbing to the spirit of secular culture is not the first act in a partial Evangelical slide into apostasy. However, given his visibility as a prominent \u201cEvangelical\u201d pastor, it will hasten the slide. The faithful must exercise boldness of speech in exposing this deception of the church, and do what it can to accelerate the education of an increasingly impoverished body of Christ.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

Do not be deceived. Wake up and have the mind of Christ, who is in the business of doing the hard work of redemption from sin, whatever the prevailing cultural mindset may happen to be, and whatever the cost for remaining faithful to the Creator.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

By exercising boldness in speech to expose this deception, a believer is carrying out the Great Commission according to Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 1:4-8. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

IV.  CONCLUSION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, evangelical churches and Christ-followers MUST speak out against those people who preach, teach, and support an unbiblical, damning theology that condones the LGBTQ agenda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consistent with Dr. Gagnon\u2019s call to action, my plan is post a series of articles that address each of the offender list texts, except for 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, identified by Dr. Gagnon.  Please note that I have written the following blog articles about 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 The NRSVue Bible Translation of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: Keeping Practicing Homosexuals on the Road to Hell (February 10, 2022)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u00b7 Why Must Those Persons on the Offender List of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Display \u201cserial and unrepentant\u201d Behavior? (April 1, 2022)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u00b7 The Ramifications of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 on the Modern Liberal Church (October 6, 2023)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN, what is today’s best course of action?  Allow today to be \u201cthe day of your salvation\u201d right now!  Please (1) read through \u201cGod\u2019s Plan of Salvation\u201d so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d meaning every word.  If you do, you will be reconciled to God \u2013 saved – through Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon your salvation, you must begin two basic practices.  First, you must read the Bible daily.  The Gospel of John is an excellent place to start reading. Also, you should learn how to study the Bible.  The book How to Study the Bible<\/em><\/strong> by Robert M. West (Barbour Books) is excellent.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, you must find a spiritually solid Bible-believing church that: (1) teaches that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, (2) believes in the doctrine of the Trinity, and (3) teaches that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works of any kind.  Contact me, and I will try to locate a solid Bible-believing church in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s Plan of Salvation<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe.  As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him.  For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve.  But Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, whereby Adam\u2019s sin was passed down to all of humanity, creating a separation between God and humanity.  We cannot do anything to bridge that separation so that without God\u2019s intervention, hell is our eternal destination.   Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy, God provided us with the only<\/u><\/strong> means of salvation through Abraham\u2019s lineage by sending the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, God\u2019s only unique Son.  While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, thereby fulfilling the Law, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all people.  Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Jesus\u2019 sacrifice on the cross, thereby exhausting God\u2019s wrath against humanity.  God now calls on every unbeliever to repent of their sins and completely trust in Christ alone that Jesus died for their sins and rose to life from the dead.  Every unbeliever who repents and trusts in Jesus Christ will be forgiven of all their sins (past, present, and future) and born again as a new creation in Christ, possessing guaranteed eternal life with God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25;  Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life.  I know I\u2019m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell.  But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven.  I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation.  Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior.  Thank You so much for saving me.  I am now Yours forever!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or “fair use” is available and\/or to secure direct permission for specific works.  The quotations from commentaries are considered to be “fair use.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNASB2020\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked “NCV” is taken from the New Century Version.  Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scriptures marked “NET” are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae  http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.  All rights reserved”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked “GW” is taken from the God’s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations.  Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible\u00ae, Used by Permission HCSB \u00a91999,2000,2002,2003,2009 Holman Bible Publishers.  Holman Christian Standard Bible\u00ae, Holman CSB\u00ae, and HCSB\u00ae are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I.  INTRODUCTION On October 10, 2022, Dr. Robert Gagnon wrote an excellent article about Andy Stanley\u2019s position on homosexual and transgender practice.  The article is entitled \u201cAndy Stanley\u2019s Circle and Line: A Response from Robert Gagnon.\u201d  Dr. Gagnon\u2019s article is at the website of Wesley Bible Seminary, and the link is https:\/\/wbs.edu\/news\/andy-stanleys-circles-and-lines.    Evangelical churches […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[319],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lgbtq"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2008"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2012,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2008\/revisions\/2012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}