More Christian Leaders Succumb To 'Pride' As the Church Buckles Under the Gay Agenda

The LGBT community's relentless drive to push an anti-biblical agenda is damaging an already weakening pastoral leadership.  Could this be the beginning of an unstoppable "Slide of Compromise" for the Church?


The LGBT agenda has been driving on full force in recent months.  Since this June's (2019) celebration of "Pride Month", the movement has literally dominated social media trends, department store themes, parades, commercials, and celebrity endorsements in what appears to be a strategic move for a massive campaign for its total normalization by a demoralized society. In the United States, the White House was allowed to be illuminated in rainbow colors.  Storefronts now fly colors proudly with accompanying statements such as "All Are Welcome Here" (as if the identifying LGBT community wasn't before).  Public schools have been forcing their students to question their sexual identities with mandatory classes.  Online news outlets strategically sprinkle rainbow-themed pride "stories" across their platforms. The list goes on.  And, meanwhile, while the world is increasingly celebrating this false sense of freedom to do whatever feels right to it, Christians are coexisting in zombie-like fashion exercising their own right to stand on the sidelines - or in many cases, simply joining them.  

While believers are failing to put on true biblical love, which is to love one's neighbor as yourself and to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30-31), real love is never approving of sinful behavior or lifestyles despite of anyone's natural, carnal tendencies.  Rather, it is based on God's standards of holiness, and a proper understanding of grace. "Acceptance" and "tolerance", as defined by society, has become a stumbling block for Christians who have either lost, or have never had, a proper understanding of scripture. 

But whether the Christian agrees with the movement or not, one thing is true: The rapidly evolving LGBT movement is a strategically planned attack by our enemy, Satan, and he is after the Christian's foundation of biblical truth.  Unfortunately, an increasing number of Christians are embracing the enemy's lies in what appears to be in utter submission.  

For many people, this single issue is a deal-breaker when it comes to with what the Book says that supposedly guides their faith. The reality is, homosexuality is a spiritual issue and not merely just a social one. It has now become the most crucial social stigma of our time.  More than ever, Christians have the pressure on them to make a decision: Is the Bible to be taken literally as it pertains to the subject of homosexuality or is it not?  Should passages that specifically mention sexual sin be altogether ignored?  

The bible actually addresses the sin of homosexuality quite specifically:

...Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality...will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - abbreviated)

For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error...since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. (Romans 1:26-28)

In an age of relativism, and the belief that we have somehow evolved from having to adhere to moral standards as reinforced by the bible, the public affirmation of its text can and will get you into a lot of trouble today (as we have seen with bakeries refusing to serve gay couple's weddings). And it will only intensify as the pressure to conform with the societal "tolerance" code increases. 

In the United States, the implications of reading or quoting the bible are relatively low in comparison to places like China, where practicing one's faith - speaking of or owning a bible - could mean fines and/or imprisonment. In many other countries today it could mean death. But the atmosphere is quickly changing here.  California is one of those states leading the charge which will certainly be helping in the fulfillment of prophetic scripture.  It's recently-passed AB 2943 bill would prohibit 'conversion therapy' - the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.  California would be first in the nation to prohibit conversion therapy on anyone, and would include Pastors counseling people struggling with same-sex attraction.  In other words, church leaders would no longer to be able to safely advise a person to abstain from this particular kind of sexual immorality.  

Hillsong New York Pastor Carl Lentz

For many churches, keeping silent on addressing homosexuality may be an easy transition. Hillsong NY, which is part of arguably the most popular, and compromised, movement in our day, downplays the gay lifestyle. Pastor Carl Lentz says his church is "gay welcoming" and welcomes "conversations" on the subject, but that's as far as it goes as far as addressing it as a sin. When asked in a CNN interview if gay men and women are welcome he said, "Absolutely.  We have a lot of gay men and women in our church and I pray we always do."  His wife Laura complemented him by adding: "It is not our place to tell anyone how they should live, that's their journey."  As the world looks on, truth is again being misaligned with lies.  Coupled with the filthy rich empire Hillsong is building, they do not represent the gospel well, or arguably not in the least.  Perhaps that could be a reason why Hillsong songwriter Marty Samson recently abandoned his faith having admitted that his former devotion to Christianity has changed.  Christianity, he said, "just seems to me like another religion at this point", and that his departure was "genuine".

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. (Ephesians 4:17-19)

While the true church is views this sin as a dangerous way to live your life (as is any other practiced sin), Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur, who is in misalignment with his faith-based opponents, says the opposite. "We look forward to the day when all LGBTQ Californians are protected from these dangerous, fraudulent practices." he said, speaking of the proposal.  At the same time, children are being terribly mistreated from the same kind of liberal agendas that government officials don't find to be so dangerous.  Recently, controversy has surrounded the parents of their 11-year-old son, whom they have allowed to perform in drag at a New York gay bar for men to salivate over.  After complaints were made, several agencies, including Child Protective Services (CPS), investigated the parents, but then cleared them of any wrongdoing. 

In light of the increasingly immoral world we live in, Christian leaders ought to doubling down by standing up for what God has to say about sexual sin as to not indirectly support this kind of wickedness against vulnerable children.

Christian leaders show their true "colors"

While the church as a whole is showing clear evidence of being softer on hard biblical truths - and increasingly impartial to issues related to sin in general - they are easily swayed by the aggressive culture that surrounds them. One by one, professing Christian believers are being exposed for who they are and what they really believe about God, truth, and the Bible, and their beliefs on LGBT 'rights' are exposing them.

Joel Osteen, arguably the most influential pastor or our day, when questioned on his position on homosexuality on a Larry King appearance in 2014, affirmed that the Bible is clear regarding homosexuality being a sin, but said "I just don't want to preach on it."  In another interview, when asked if homosexuality was 'against the rules', he said: "It would be...but I don't really focus on a lot of those things...I try to stay in my lane of what I feel called to do."    

It is clear that Osteen's 'calling' so far does not include calling out sin and rebellion to God, which are absolutely central to understanding grace and the reason for the cross of Jesus Christ.  Such a view can be considered antichrist in light of scripture.

Rick Warren flipped his stance on gay marriage a few years ago by backing away from his statements opposing prop 8, which would allow gay and lesbian marriages to be legally recognized in the state of California.  Recanting his previous statements, he admitted on Larry King that gay marriage was in fact "very low" on his priority list.  It is in fact not only low on his, but on a lot of others' as well.  

Joshua Harris (center) at the 2019 Vancouver Pride Parade 

Joshua Harris, author of the popular book I Kissed Dating Goodbye, recently resigned as pastor of Covenant Life Church which he founded in 2004.  Subsequently, Joshua did an about-face by departing from his faith as a result of his changing views. According to his own testimony, he had always opposed homosexual relationships, but now embraces them. Joshua has been reported to have left his wife and children over the issue of his changing stance.  He now claims to not only agree with it, but shockingly no longer even considers himself to be a Christian at all!  Writing in an Instagram post in July of 2019:  "to the LGBTQ+ community, I want to say that I am sorry for the views that I taught in my books, and as a pastor regarding sexuality. I regret standing against marriage equality, for not affirming you and your place in the church, and for any ways that my writing and speaking contributed to a culture of exclusion and bigotry. I hope you can forgive me."  His plea for forgiveness from the gay community needs to instead be a turn in repentance toward his Creator as the church prays.

While Joshua Harris gives in to pop culture, another prominent figure, Matthew Vines, has become the face of gay-affirming Christians using the bible to back their views. Claiming himself to be both Christian and gay, he wrote God and the Gay Christian, a book that challenges traditional Christian views on homosexuality.  In it, he doesn’t just advocate his opinions by using traditional social justice arguments, but he is actually arguing his position by using the very passages as those who oppose same-sex relationships, such as Genesis 2:18: 'It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him'.  Adam's 'helper', he says in his viral video The Gay Debate: The Bible and Homosexuality, was a only a female because of the fact that Adam was into women and not men. 
He argues that heeding the traditional teachings of Scriptures, such as Leviticus 18:22 (You shall not lie with a male as with a woman), have resulted in "spiritual devastation", and to "the loss of self-esteem and self-worth" for gay people, and that scriptures such as these "have not borne good fruit in their lives", which has subsequently resulted in "incalculable pain and suffering".  According to Mr. Vines, this also applies to gays who identify as Christian.

Matthew represents millions of like-minded Christians who believe exactly the same thing - many silently, some openly.  Interestingly, his liberal views on homosexuality nearly parallel those of the atheistic, gay-affirming crowds' that that Christians and Christian leaders are supposedly delivering the gospel to. 


What's Next?

The blending of Christianity and the gay culture can and will only lead to further apostasy. 

Since the real truth of what people really believe is being manifest, and as Christian leaders who give in to cultural deception are becoming more popular, the scripture that prophesied about the future is being fulfilled:

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)

It is yet another evidence that we are in the last days.  How the church handles the LGBT topic is one tell-tale sign of what else is to come. Since Christianity is not sticking to its guns on biblical truths, expect to see the church falling in many other areas.  Soon, there will be little to no disparity between most people identifying as Christian and those who claim to not believe in God at all - if it hasn't already happened. 

Christian believers must take the LGBT movement a lot more seriously than they have. They must prepare for the backlash from its supporters, which may at some point even turn violent towards those who remain faithful to the gospel. Franklin Graham, in his response to the 2015 Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, said that Christians "better be ready and better be prepared - it's coming.  There will be persecution of Christians for our stand." While the worst of persecution is yet to come, Christians should in fact be ready for that day. Since we are in the fight that we are in, certain passages that point to end-time events need to be taken more seriously than ever:

"They will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many. Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."  - Jesus in Matthew 34:9-13

In spite of this, Christians must love the LGBT community by showing them the truth in love, praying for the lost, and recognize that it is by grace that any one person can be saved. Each one of us has "fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This, friends, is the gospel message. Let us go forward by believing God's word, and by walking in the love of Jesus.

Article by Greg Cooper: gregcoopersblog@gmail.com