Pastor Lonnie Phillips
As you watch this video which is only 22 seconds, see if you can detect hate speech or discrimination of any kind. Yet, as Drew Brees made this video to encourage children to bring their Bible to school, he was attacked as being a proponent of an organization (Focus on the Family) that comes against those who are living a homosexual lifestyle. Drew Brees quickly had to explain himself and what he stands for. Focus on the Family is an organization that focuses on ministering to families and believes in marriage between one man and one woman. They are an organization with Christ-Centered values that are being labelled as an organization that discriminates against the LGBTQ community. We have witnessed our society make dramatic shifts in values over the past 50 years. It is a society that no longer carries Christ-Centered values but pluralistic values that reject the Exclusive Claims of Christ Jesus. However, this is not a time to grumble and complain about these shifts but to be equipped and walk closely with Christ our Savior.
For the Disciple of Jesus Christ, the Lord calls us not to be surprised when things like this happen. In 2 Timothy 3:12-15 we read, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
When we obey God's word in Christ Jesus, the world and its values will make all kinds of false Judgments. For the ones who are living out their faith in Jesus Christ, the calling is to Love and pray for those who are persecuting and making these false claims about Christ and His people. We must recognize that Jesus said if the world hated him then the world will also hate the ones that belong to Him. This is not a time for the Church of Jesus Christ to back pedal and apologize for our faith in Christ and the authority of His Word but it is a time to ask the Father to pour out His Spirit to give His people a greater boldness to share Jesus and showcase His love, grace and truth to the world. May we learn how to love in the love of God and stand in the truth of Jesus Christ.
As you watch this video which is only 22 seconds, see if you can detect hate speech or discrimination of any kind. Yet, as Drew Brees made this video to encourage children to bring their Bible to school, he was attacked as being a proponent of an organization (Focus on the Family) that comes against those who are living a homosexual lifestyle. Drew Brees quickly had to explain himself and what he stands for. Focus on the Family is an organization that focuses on ministering to families and believes in marriage between one man and one woman. They are an organization with Christ-Centered values that are being labelled as an organization that discriminates against the LGBTQ community. We have witnessed our society make dramatic shifts in values over the past 50 years. It is a society that no longer carries Christ-Centered values but pluralistic values that reject the Exclusive Claims of Christ Jesus. However, this is not a time to grumble and complain about these shifts but to be equipped and walk closely with Christ our Savior.
For the Disciple of Jesus Christ, the Lord calls us not to be surprised when things like this happen. In 2 Timothy 3:12-15 we read, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
When we obey God's word in Christ Jesus, the world and its values will make all kinds of false Judgments. For the ones who are living out their faith in Jesus Christ, the calling is to Love and pray for those who are persecuting and making these false claims about Christ and His people. We must recognize that Jesus said if the world hated him then the world will also hate the ones that belong to Him. This is not a time for the Church of Jesus Christ to back pedal and apologize for our faith in Christ and the authority of His Word but it is a time to ask the Father to pour out His Spirit to give His people a greater boldness to share Jesus and showcase His love, grace and truth to the world. May we learn how to love in the love of God and stand in the truth of Jesus Christ.