Living with Tozer's God

Article: "Avoiding Controversy" and The Darkening Line

We're going to take a break this week from Tozer's book to address an issue that concerns me because it seems to be happening more and more. It was only a momentary 'flash' in the media, but a local, well-respected Atlanta megachurch pastor disinvited himself to offer the inaugural prayer at President Obama's inauguration in January. Evidently, it was discovered that over ten years earlier he had preached a message that was deemed anti-homosexual. Sensing that a major media distraction appeared to be unfolding, the invitation was declined. The reason given was that he didn't want to be a distraction. We don't know if he was "encouraged" to do this or if it was totally his decision. One thing that concerned me was that there was no mention of whether his stance on homosexuality was still the same as when he preached the message that had angered the homosexuals.

A few weeks later I was sent several articles (by Pastor Michael Youssef and Rev. Al Mohler) which called out another local, Atlanta megachurch pastor, for concerns that he may be equivocating on his traditional, Biblical opposition to homosexuality. When the Pastor was pressed for a confirmation, he apparently refused to take a stand and referred the questioner to "the messages". It appears that these men are not necessarily abandoning their traditional, Biblical positions, but they do want to avoid the media harassment that surrounds the controversy and that seems to inevitably follow the one who takes such a stand publicly. The concerning thing is that we simply do not know what they believe about one of the most critical moral issues of our time.

Most recently, Tim Tebow (who most people know as one of the greatest college football players of the modern generation and is famous for his game-day Bible verse eyeshadow) declined to fulfill a speaking engagement at the First Baptist Church in Dallas, TX once the media "discovered" that the pastor of FBC Dallas was a strong opponent of the homosexual agenda. The reason given was that Tebow wanted to avoid the controversy.

Tebow appears to be a very godly, Biblically-sound Christian. His high, moral standards and unabashed testimony for Christ have angered some and thrilled multitudes! I love the guy's bold witness. The media is desperately hoping for another "Tiger Woods-style" moral collapse. The press "feeding frenzy" would be epic. The pressure he is under would be unfair to anyone. For Tebow, the argument that he needs to avoid controversy is likely totally legitimate. He is trying to make his way as an NFL football player, marketing QB skills that don't seem to quite fit the profile teams are looking for. Many teams who might otherwise be willing to give him a chance as a football player turn away because of the media circus that might follow him. It's a wise business move. He really doesn't need the unnecessary controversy. But, does that make it right?

"If God has given a man a national platform to be a witness to Him, 

can he justify abdicating that responsibility to testify to His truth just because it involves him 

 in a controversy in which he'd rather not get involved?"

Having said all that...there is still a "trend" here that concerns me. I understand that a man may feel "God hasn't called me to that ministry" or "If I allow that controversy to involve me, then I won't be able to fulfill the ministry that I believe I'm called to fulfill". It seems like a totally legitimate position. And, I would agree that to "go looking for a fight" is not the wisest approach to Christian ministry. But, is that the situation here? If God has given you a national platform to be a witness to Him, can you justify abdicating your responsibility to testify to His truth just because it involves you in a controversy in which you'd rather not get involved?

The polls show today that the majority of Americans are softening their opposition to legalizing the rights of homosexuals at every level. The Biblical position, which is the only sound basis for anyone's opposition is rarely raised anymore. Apparently, the church in America is at a total loss as to why it should oppose it. The reason normally heard is that the naturally-established, divine order is that marriage is between a man and a woman, period. While that is absolutely true, what is not heard (or at least very rarely) is that homosexuality should be rejected because God says it is sin, an "abomination" in God's eyes. Somehow, that no longer registers as a legitimate argument against it. Why is that? What does that say about our society? Nothing good, I'm afraid.

The Darkening Line

What is the function of a line? It separates, it provides a boundary, it distinguishes one area or position from another. Lines are essential to understanding. It lets us know where one thing begins and another ends. We function best in our relationships when the boundaries are understood and honored. We can only avoid transgressing boundaries when the lines distinguishing one area or position from another are clear. This appears to be happening among Christians. The line distinguishing what is truly Christian from what is not is clearly darkening.

A godly man who had ministered all over the world once said, "The most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian today is the United States". Some thirty years ago, when I first heard him utter these words, it appeared that America was beginning to abandon some of the essential Biblical truths which had distinguished Christians and America as a Christian nation. Today many are proudly proclaiming that we live in a "post-Christian" world. They truly believe we have outgrown the restraints Christianity provided. They call it "progress". What is the ultimate distinction? What marks the "line" between Christianity and that which is not Christianity? The simple answer: Truth.

"Christianity is not rocket science. But, it does claim to be "the Truth"...this means that

anything which conflicts or contradicts what the Bible clearly says is simply not the truth.

For those who have difficulty with absolutes, Christianity is their worst nightmare."

Sometimes we try to make things harder than they really are. Christianity is not rocket science. But, it does claim to be "the truth". To be "the truth" means that anything which conflicts or contradicts what the Bible clearly says is simply not the truth. For those who have difficulty with absolutes, Christianity is their worst nightmare. But, the Lord Jesus came and ministered to the simplest, most unsophisticated people...and they were able to grasp what He taught. He taught them truth, spiritual truth, eternal truth. They understood that to "follow Him" meant rejecting every other option and committing themselves to following Him fully... live their lives according to His truth with the result that their lives were wonderfully transformed...forever. It is equally true that those who rejected Him and His truth are condemned to an eternal punishment for their rebellion. This isn't an opinion. You may reject it...but, it is what the Bible clearly teaches and what it has been understood to teach for thousands of years.

Homophobia or Dei-Phobia?

Every time anyone voices opposition to homosexuality or the intrusion of the "gay agenda" into any point of everyday life, they are accused of being "homophobic". The implication is that anyone who does not endorse the "gay lifestyle" is somehow afraid of it and, therefore, guilty of discrimination. Those who present any active opposition are deemed "haters". This is all part of the current doctrine of "political correctness" which dominates so much of the legal and political culture we live in today. The whole system is designed to intimidate anyone into daring to take an opposing stand. It appears to be working. But, the strategy (and that's what it is) is based on propaganda and a totally false premise.

The only ones mounting any kind of a serious challenge to the homosexual agenda are those who hold a traditional, Christian view of marriage and the Scriptures. How have those who hold these beliefs ended up on the defensive? And, maybe more important, how can they respond in a Biblical way and change the dynamic of the argument?

First, we need to take ourselves out of the equation. What do I mean? As long as the opponents are allowed to present the argument in terms of "Us vs. Them" we will lose. And we should. Why?

It's not our battle. It's God's battle. He alone has the authority to decided what is right and wrong. If we allow ourselves to be anything more than a messenger, we are unnecessarily opening ourselves to conflict. Paul's admonition to us was "speak the truth in love". We speak the truth, not as our judgment, but as delivering God's warning. And we do it in a way that shows that we have the compassion of Christ and simply fear what will happen to them if they continue on the path they're on.

This is vitally important. Most Christians I know have no fear of homosexuals, we fear for them. We know and believe what the Bible says will happen to those who fall under God's judgment. We oppose what they stand for and want to do because the Bible tells us it is evil and will incur God's wrath.

I have no hate for "gays", but I do fear that if we allow our nation to become like Sodom and Gomorrah, there is nothing in the Scriptures that says we can escape the same judgment. The fear we have (or should have) is the fear of God, not the fear of homosexuals. And it is justified. It is the clear declaration of God's word that these people are headed into the judgment of God.

Here's a few examples:

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals , 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."

1 Cor 6:9-10 NASU

Lesson from this Verse: There are only two kinds of people in the world: the righteous who inherit the kingdom of God and the un-righteous who are doomed to an eternity separated from God in a place called Hell. While there are clearly many reasons you can end up in Hell, committing homosexual acts is undeniably one of them. There is no basis, at any point, for thinking it's "okay". God abhors it, period.

"You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination . 23 Also you shall not have intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion." Lev 18:22-23 NASU

Lesson from this Verse: God (not us!) says that homosexual acts are abominations. If that is His view of them, we dare not make any attempt to mollify or modify His judgment. He is the Creator. He knows whether these acts are within the bounds of "righteousness" according to His values. He is the sole authority. You can reject this...but, there is a price to pay for rebellion. He makes this clear in Paul's letter to the Ephesians, as well as the letter to the Romans...

Eph 5:4-13

"For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience."

Rom 1:20-28

"21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks...

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them...

26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts ...28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper..." NASU

Lessons to Learn: A "depraved mind" is one which can no longer distinguish accurately between right and wrong. According to the Scripture, they got this way because God "gave them over to it"...He gave them over to their lust. When God finally "gives over" a people, the women as well as the men give in to the perversion of God's order. According to the Bible, homosexuality is a sign of God's judgment on a people; it's one of the final stages of judgment before they are destroyed. At this stage, the "depraved mind" begins to affect others who do not actively participate in it. How?

They begin to think it's no longer "wrong", they see those involved as "good people who just want to be free to love the one they want without being judged by others". At first they just want to be allowed to do what they want, but eventually they want others to approve their choice...this is where the perverted legal/political system of our nation is used to full advantage.

Once their "rights" are institutionalized into "law", then the Biblical claim of sin/immorality becomes moot. The issue is no longer whether its morally "right", the issue is whether it's legal. Right and wrong are determined by the law, not the law of God. God no longer determines what is right and wrong, man does. That's where we are today.

We know that history is filled with examples of nations whose path followed the one America is on now...and they always led to the same end: Destruction. One of the key elements allowing the nation to fail was the "leaders" who wanted to avoid the conflict which the controversy would bring if they opposed the "will of the people". They didn't want to be identified as the "opposition" to the growing political forces, it's a distraction from what they want to focus on in their own lives and ministries. Political correctness does not demand that you stop speaking, you can be quiet and do what you want. Your silence is as valuable to them as your support. But, if you do speak out, it must be in "support" of them or you will incur their wrath. This can be costly.

It appears that today more and more of our "leaders"want to avoid the cost of standing for the truth on this issue. They may not have abandoned their Biblical beliefs, but they are choosing to be silent so they can "avoid controversy". Not only does this confuse their followers, it abdicates a role that God ordained for them. If God gives you a broad, even national, platform to testify to Him, for you to decline to participate so you can avoid controversy is not a choice, it's cowardice. It's cowardice for the purpose of convenience. The line is darkening which distinguishes those who will stand for Christ at any cost and those who stand when it's convenient. Soon there won't be any confusion which side we are on. How timely and appropriate are the words attributed to Edmund Burke ...

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

© LifeSource Ministries 2013