Should the Church Enter the Gender, Sexuality, and Cultural Firestorm?
By Chuck E. Tate
Unless you have been living in a cave the last couple of years, you are well aware of the current cultural firestorm surrounding gender and sexuality.
For Beatriz Flamini, she really was living in a cave in southern Spain the last couple of years — well, close to two years at least.
She spent 500 days alone in solitude some 230 feet underground as part of a social experiment. She was 48 years old when she entered the cave on November 21, 2021 and 50 when she emerged in April of this year. According to National Public Radio, one of the first questions she asked after completing the challenge was, "Who's buying the beer?"
Chances are it wasn't Bud Light.
The recent boycotts against Bud Light and Target that have cost both companies billions of dollars in lost revenue are proof that not everyone is ready to dismiss biology and embrace woke ideology.
Surprisingly, a lot of pastors and church leaders remain silent on these kinds of issues. In fact, I believe that one of the reasons we have seen such an explosion of LGBTQ+ affirmation and ideological inclusion among Christians is because so many pastors and church leaders refuse to bring the subject matter to their pulpits and online social platforms.
When it comes to addressing cultural hot topics such as abortion, sexuality, and gender I've heard too many pastors defend their silence by stating these subjects should be reserved for private conversations around a table with someone you already know.
So, what does the Bible say? Should the Church be more vocal? I've seen a few memes with the following message, "If apostle Paul was alive today, we'd be getting a letter." Funny, right?! So, what would he say? Well, it's more about what he already said! And not only did Paul say it, but he said it via inspiration of the Holy Spirit after having an encounter with Jesus:
"I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes." (Acts 20:20 NLT)
Go back and read that again. Notice the word publicly.
While establishing relationships and earning the right to speak into lives is effective — and should be intentional — pastors still have the responsibility of communicating publicly to their church congregation what the Word of God says about these issues, especially when everyone else is talking about them. That's what shepherding is all about! Yes, shepherds must be willing to leave the 99 and go after the one that's lost, but they don't lead one sheep at a time, they shepherd flocks.
Back to Paul. The very next verse says:
"I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike — the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21 NLT)
It’s important to point out that the word that Paul refuses to shrink back from publicly is not the word affirmation, but repentance. And a person can't repent of sin if they don't know something is sin. Enter our current conundrum. I've had people say to me, "Why do you have to keep beating the LGBTQ+ drum? Sin is sin. Why not hammer adultery or other sins?"
The answer is because most Christians know that adultery is sin, but unless you have been living in a cave in southern Spain, the reality is that many Christians are confused about gender and sexuality.
Remember the woman in the Gospels who was caught in the act of adultery? Most people who try to condone sin will remind you of the words Jesus said to the woman's accusers: "He who is without sin cast the first stone." Yes, this is the first thing Jesus said (and it's important), but a lot of people conveniently forget the last words Jesus said to the woman after her accusers scattered and He forgave her. He said, "Go and sin no more." In other words, "Don't do it again!"
Jesus didn't condone adultery.
Jesus didn't affirm adultery.
Jesus didn't celebrate adultery.
Jesus didn't start flying an adultery flag.
BE LIKE JESUS
Love people like Jesus loves people... by helping to rescue them and be willing to call them to repentance. After all, it's the goodness of God that leads people to repentance. And just in case you need a reminder, repentance is simply turning from sin and turning to God. This confirms that repentance isn't a negative word, it's a loving word.
John the Baptist preached it. “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2 NLT)
Jesus preached it. "I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” (Luke 5:32 NLT)
Paul preached it. "I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike — the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21 NLT)
We need to preach it — both privately in conversation and publicly from our platforms.
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19 NIV)."
Repentance leads to forgiveness.
Repentance leads to freedom.
Repentance leads to refreshment.
Repentance leads to revival.
Repentance leads to rebirth.
Repentance leads to resurrection.
LET’S GO!
"...for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:8-9 NLT)
Chuck E. Tate is a pastor, co-host of Revival Town Podcast, and the author of ‘41 Will Come.’