I am both saddened and sickened to see just how publicly depraved America has now become. As a young man growing up in the 70s and 80s I witnessed plenty of depravity, yet that same wickedness was condemned behind the pulpits of the churches that I attended as a youth.
Not so in the vast majority of churches in America today. It is the feeble foolishness of fearing the rejection of a wicked human society rather than fearing the rejection of a holy God that has led to the replacement of the tough and meek preachers with effeminate and weak preachers.
You are very blessed if you are able to attend a church that is still guided by the truth and courageous leadership.
A courageous preacher will boldly proclaim:
“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” ( Romans 1:26-27).
…and he will continue:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Tragically in America today we instead have churches that leave the definition of sin and God up to the feelings and emotions of those warming the pews with itching ears.
The feel good message of the lukewarm church is quenching the fire of the gospel. Those who are seeking the God of the Bible with a true heart are left confused by the Laodicean church.
They are not being taught the balance of the vengeful righteousness of the God of the Bible with His grace and forgiveness. Satan perverts the true nature of our righteous and loving God by hijacking one side (righteousness) against another (infinite love) to confuse the masses.
He gathers unbelievers (or undisciplined believers) to opposite sides of the street. On one side they hold up signs that proclaim: “GOD HATES FAGS” (please forgive the crudeness).
Meanwhile, across the street they hold up signs that read: “IT IS AGAINST MY RELIGION TO HATE” and “GOD INCLUDES EVERYONE.”
The true Church needs to step in and proclaim what the sign of the God of the Bible really says.
They say: “I cannot fathom a god who hates ‘good’ people.”
I say: “I cannot fathom a God who loves bad people.”
Let me explain…
A false god is being purported to be the real God by those hateful signs proclaiming: “God Hates (people).”
That is the opposite of the truth: “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).
If they try to claim that God only loves the part of the world that is filled with Christians then they have to explain why He used the Greek word “kosmos” in John 3:16. The Greek word kosmos is the original word for our English word “cosmos.”
In John 3:16 God clearly proclaims that He loves mankind. He obviously does not love men’s vile sins or the wicked world system. Instead, He loves people, and “He is not willing that any should perish:”
“Say unto them, ‘As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live’” (Ezekiel 33:11).
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 John 2:2; 1 Timothy 2:4).
Likewise, a false god is also being purported to be the real God by the cowardly signs proclaiming: “God Includes Everyone”.
“Outside are dogs, sorcerers, immoral people, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15).
Those who are unwilling to simply yield their hearts to Christ and read the Bible for themselves are left confused by the messages of Satan.
We are all sinners in the world of people that God says He loves. Gay people are not the only sinners in the world. I’m a sinner and I certainly wouldn’t go around claiming that God hates me.
The difference is that I have asked Jesus to forgive me and save me from my sins. God still loves people who have not yet repented and asked Him so save them.
As soon as any sinner repents and receives Christ as their Savior their sins are then covered by the sacrifice of Jesus. Even though they may still sin they can receive forgiveness through confession to God.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
If anyone claims that God only loves those who are not gay then they are wrong. If someone else claims that God only hates sinners, then they are also wrong. I believe that the God of the Bible loves all people in the entire world.
Does He really love all people, both good and bad? No, actually He doesn’t…
He only loves the bad ones because there are no “good” ones:
“There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
We should stop reading signs written by sinners and start heeding the signs written in the Bible.
“Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold” (Matthew 24:10-12).
The courageous preacher will also boldly guide his flock to love and support one another:
“Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9).
True Christians, let’s not let our current depraved society define the Holy and loving God that we worship. Let us proudly and boldly proclaim His fierce righteous judgment along with His amazing grace, and forgiveness!
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1).
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16a).
“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).