“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 1:18-20 ESV
Alright, in the last article we were careful to set up this one. How’s that? By making sure we aren’t self-righteous. By making sure we remember that our God is perfectly holy and He doesn’t overlook sin so, therefore, we’re always living and moving in that ocean of grace that washes us clean. A self-righteous Christian, always offended by every little thing, always looking at others with the hairy eyeball, seeking any slip-up…usually a social sin rather than an actual sin, by the way, is a contradiction in terms. It’s like a happy Cowboys fan. It’s like a good South Carolina driver. To this we took the Christian church (and ourself) to the woodshed.
Christians should be known by their love for one another (John 13:35). Instead, we often bicker and quarrel over trivial matters. We should be known as wise and reasonable (Philippians 4:5) to all. We should be patient when beset by turbulent waters (Romans 12:12). We should bless those who persecute and malign us (Romans 12:14; 1 Peter 4:14). Likewise, we should never slander our leaders or bosses but honor everyone (1 Peter 2:13-20; 1 Timothy 6:1-2). We should be able to control ourselves sexually (Romans 13:13-14). We should be able to rightly handle the great doctrines of Scripture by applying ourselves to prayerful study of the word of truth under the supervision of godly men and leaders (2 Timothy 2:14-16).
And lastly, as for the issue at hand, we must be able to patiently teach and correct the enemies of God (2 Timothy 2:26).
The following is for us as we “get in the ring” with the opponents (2 Timothy 2:25) of Christ. Yes…we’re in a fight (1 Timothy 6:12) and the tactical philosophy put forth here rests upon our dedication to Him in holy living. As mentioned in the previous post, too often the church is rightly assailed for its failure to live up to the basic standards of the faith. We should shudder with great fear before the holy God that His name is brought low through our conduct (Romans 2:23-24). A personal life that doesn’t match our confession is in direct contradiction to the clear reading of the Lord’s word/law:
“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:20-26 ESV
With this said let’s turn to how to engage this craziness of Pride Month and the whole LGBTQ movement.
Like all things opposed to Christ the movement is a counterfeit gospel in parts. By that we mean that it offers its adherents false meaning, purpose, community, joy and hope. It posits a phony system of ethics based on flawed presuppositions. We fight the good fight of faith by understanding this and using the sword of truth to shred the flimflam structural system upon which it rests. Like a tractor-trailer barreling through a roadblock of leaves is the Christian truth confronting any human philosophical system (1 Corinthians 1:20).
Dr. Greg Bahnsen taught that every unbelieving worldview can be assailed by going after its central systemic weaknesses. Instead of arguing around the main points, the Christian should refuse to grant the unbeliever what Bahnsen called “the great exemption.” Don’t accept false premises. Don’t allow the “borrowing” of Christian premises. Make them stand upon their own presuppositions. What you’ll notice is that all ideologies opposed to Christ must presuppose Him (or borrow biblical principles, in another way of saying it) in order to make their arguments. If you want to be an effective defender of the faith, drill down on this formula because it’s everywhere.
First, all worldviews/arguments are arbitrary outside of Christ. This is to say that they assume an absolute authority they can’t account for.
Second, they proceed with un-argued philosophical bias. In other words, they assume something is foundational without proving it.
Third, non-Christian systems of thought have internal contradictions that destroy their castle from the inside. In another way of saying it, they have dialectical tension.
Fourth, if one were to accept their motley mash of premises and reasoning you reach absurd conclusions. In other words, you can reduce their argument to absurdity.
The LGBTQ movement is certainly no exception.
They start instantly by claiming the moral authority to demand that their movement be celebrated. This is arbitrary because in a godless universe who cares what anyone thinks? Why is tolerance better than love in a chance-riddled universe. The demand that others celebrate homosexuality and transgenderism rests upon a philosophical basis that the LGBTQ movement can’t account for in atheism. Atheism doesn’t support tolerance or diversity.
Second, LGBTQ advocates are guilty of never proving their point in the first place. They demand that others treat them a certain way because it’s right. But what system of ethics and metaphysics allows them to arrive at such a conclusion? Do you see un-argued bias? Christians are commanded by the sovereign and good God to love all people as we love ourselves because this is consistent with His holy character.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 ESV
This connects metaphysics (ultimacy) with epistemology (knowledge…through God’s word/law) and runs to ethics (love your neighbor) without contradiction. Thus, only Christianity provides the logical basis for actual and true tolerance. Christian ethics aren’t arbitrary and we should explain this to LGBTQ advocates. Tell them! God is so holy and loving that He sends His blessings, like sunshine and good things, upon even those who hate Him. This means that we Christians must behave accordingly. A true Christian ethic is to love our LGBTQ neighbor, share the gospel with them, call them to repentance, and yet never abuse, malign or injure them in any way! Christians and Christians alone have the logical system of philosophy (Scripture) that explains why gay and transgender people deserve the same legal rights against aggression that everyone else does (Romans 13:3-4).
Don’t forget this! The true Christian system demands that all people be treated the same before God’s avenger – the civil magistrate. That’s the only logical understanding of Matthew 5:43-48 and Romans 13:1-7. If a Christian commits a crime (force, fraud or harassment) against an LGBTQ person, God Himself demands that justice be done. In the New Testament era – on this side of history, in the great shadow of Calvary – no force can be used by Christians to convert anyone, nor penalize them for private sin. Private sin is met with the gospel’s call to repentance. Not regulation or force. Public crime, as defined by God alone in Romans, is to be avenged by the civil magistrate (His avenger).
Explaining this will expose LGBTQ advocates to the glory of God’s wisdom and love…and His judgment in the age to come if they insist on continuing along the path of sexual defiance (Romans 2:4). No other worldview can do this! The worst thing that can happen to a gay or transgender person in the Christian worldview (politically speaking) is that they’re frustrated by others’ refusal to agree with them. They are, on the contrary, protected just like everyone else in regard to property and person from their neighbor’s aggression. This is God’s wisdom. The church will not, in the name of Christ, ever touch them, nor will they condone them. The church will call them to repentance – and this, yes, with love and patience.
Third, the internal contradictions of unbelief reveal themselves with a vengeance in the current LGBTQ crusade. A few examples will suffice.
If disagreeing with them is intolerance then why isn’t disagreeing with Christians intolerant too? If you can’t be criticized for being gay or transgender because that’s the way you were born, then why aren’t Christians granted the same exception? If you were born gay why can’t I be born a bigot? Or a thief? Or a rogue? You see, by rejecting the word of the Lord, tolerance means nothing of the sort and leads to the tyrannical abuse of others who disagree. The LGBTQ movement has become a tyrannical one due to the gravitational pull of sin’s logic. Christ will have His peacemakers go forth in freedom, debating, reasoning and persuading others to come and repent and be saved. The false gospel of the LGBTQ crusade will allow no dissent.
The desire to escape God’s word is man’s greatest folly because he always ends up having to adapt some form of ethical shelter in a world of absolutes. Man’s ethical systems are like a guy raising an umbrella in a tornado. If there’s no absolute God, there’s no absolute morality. And if there’s no absolute morality then why do I absolutely have to celebrate transgenderism?
Again, the Christian commandment the Lord gave us in Matthew 5 is the only true ethic. It alone combines the logic of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and law.
Finally, the LGBTQ philosophy can be reduced to utter absurdity with superlative ease. One example: if no one can be criticized for a belief firmly held then no one can be criticized. The movement completely self-destructs because it’s based on the critique of those who disagree. But if to disagree is unethical then we must all agree…with everything. That makes no sense. Distinctions have to be made. The only way to prove the philosophy of moral relativism is to agree with everything. And if you agree with everything than the LGBTQ advocate must agree with the Christian in order to rationally follow his/her/they/them’s core principles.
Follow that? I know. It’s absurd.
The very moment a relativist disagrees with something he proves that he isn’t serious. So, indeed, invite the opponents of Christ to reason. Tell them the logic of God’s love as well as of His holiness. Tell them of His incredible offer to forgive them, to restore them, to wash them clean and bring them safely to Heaven’s spotless shores if they will turn back from sin and come to Him humbly. Tell them. Tell them the truth.
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