My recent Charisma News article on homosexuality sure caused a stir in the world of gay. I didn't know so many of them read Charisma, a conservative Christian magazine.
Although in part I addressed gay people, my primary purpose in writing the article was to strengthen Christians with a no-nonsense biblical perspective of homosexuality, so that fewer of them would go the way of many churches in this hour, abandoning the faith by embracing unbiblical views of homosexuality and gay marriage.
The LGBT community, however, got wind of it and was up in arms about my article and made sure to let me know it through hundreds of comments on this site, a host of other public rants on various LGBT sites, and through many vile and venom-filled private messages.
Attached to a few comments were death threats and statements like, "I hope you die of pancreatic cancer." And then these same people have the audacity to accuse me of being filled with hate, filled with Satan, calling me a delusional piece of trash, an absolute monster, and other grossly offensive obscenities not appropriate for public space. One could easily have mistaken them for terrorists who delight in killing those who refuse to convert to their ideology.
But it should come as no surprise when people become infuriated at the calling out of their sins. Even the Pharisees shamelessly called Jesus a demon (John 8:48) when He told them that they were of their father, the devil (John 8:44). They called John the Baptist a demon too (Luke 7:33), of whom Jesus said there wasn't a greater prophet (Luke 7:28). Isn't it rather ironic that people under demonic influence accuse others of having demons? But wisdom is justified of her children (Luke 7:35).
Phil Robertson said, "The truth always sounds like hate to those who hate the truth."
Why All the Fuss Over the Putrid-Smelling Demon?
I understand that the greatest point of offense from my article happened when I exposed homosexuality as a putrid-smelling demon that many have embraced. Apparently that was the arrow that afflicted the comfort of the hornet's nest, creating cyberspace madness. I did not say, as so many claimed, that gay people were demons. However, any serious student of the Bible clearly understands that we live in a fallen world that demons rule. "The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). But those of Christ's kingdom learn to resist those demons, while those blinded by the wicked one ignorantly yield to them.
A putrid-smelling demon would be considered an unclean spirit. Jesus taught on the operation of unclean spirits (demons) and their desire to inhabit human beings.
"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation" (Matt. 12:43-45).
Why all the rage and madness over a putrid-smelling demon? Is it not because I associated it with homosexuality? The scriptures condemn every form of sexual immorality, calling it a sin against your own body (1 Cor. 6:18). I singled out homosexuality in my article because it is widely accepted and celebrated in today's culture. As our courts continue to issue rulings that normalize this sinful behavior and legalize same-sex marriage, people seem intent on rushing headlong into this lifestyle without considering its earthly, and more importantly, its eternal consequences.
Hell is real, and it is eternal, with no exits, and Scripture frighteningly and so graphically paints a picture of hell in many places of the Bible. In one striking reference, the Word conveys an image of hell's excitement in meeting departed spirits of wicked rulers (which would include all sinners) at their coming (Isa 14:9). I know this is not a popular doctrine, and to many it is offensive, and some preachers today have even totally excluded it from their theology. Nevertheless, the inspired Word of God says much about it.
To all those whose faith is truly based on Holy Scripture, it is impossible to deny that every form of sexual immorality, including homosexuality, is sin, period. End of discussion. It is also impossible to deny scriptures that warn us that those who practice sin, including homosexuality, have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Eph. 5:5). Instead, they have only an eternal hell to look forward to, of which Jesus stated emphatically was a place where, "their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" (Mk 9: 44, 46, 48). This is based on the authority of Scripture. I did not say that; God did.
In fact, it pains me to write these words, knowing there are multitudes who have blindly chosen this broad way, which leads only to death and destruction (Matt. 7:13). If you do not believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then we do not share a common place of agreement for even an honest dialogue, so please direct your venomous and hate-filled messages toward God. All I am doing is repeating His Word that has already been established and settled in heaven (Ps. 119:89).
The Scriptures also tell us that some human beings are past feeling and have given themselves over to lewdness and uncleanness. There's that word "unclean" again. "Who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness" (Eph. 4:19).
Lewdness is associated with words such as licentiousness, filthiness, lasciviousness, etc. An unclean spirit or demon emanates these characteristics through human beings who yield to them.
But the word lewdness has much stronger implications. It means total debauchery, unashamed indecency, unbridled lust, and unrestrained depravity. The person with this characteristic has an insolent defiance of public opinion, sinning in broad daylight with arrogance and contempt.
Ever been to a gay pride parade? Lewdness is rampant. I have a minister friend who attends them with the aim of finding and ministering the gospel to the broken ones who will listen to the voice of reason and compassion.
It's one thing to acknowledge your sin and be guilt-ridden, humbled and contrite over it, as in the beautiful redemptive account of the adulterous woman (John 8:1-11). But it is quite another to display your uncleanness with pride and pomp, and call God's true servants who tell you the truth out of love for your soul such blasphemous names. Even God can't help the proud (Jam. 4:6). His mercy always waits for humility and repentance. So my plea to the gay community would be for them to truly humble themselves.
The Scriptures also associate the devil with sin: "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning" (1 John 3:8).
Why is it so difficult for people to believe the simplicity of what Scripture says about demons and how they work through man's flesh and entice us to sin and work evil? Is it not because they hate the truth of what God plainly says and refuse to conform themselves to it? Is it not because they hate the light?
"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (John 3:20).
Was it not because of their hatred of the truth that they also sought to kill Jesus, and of course, eventually succeeded in doing so? "But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God" (John 8:40).
Do not George Orwell's words ring so true in modern American society today? "The more a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it."
Is this not what is at the crux of the matter of all who were filled with rage and displayed madness at my recent article on homosexuality? So if you are part of the gay community, or you call yourself a gay "Christian," what should you do?
Don't be afraid of looking truth right in the face. Acknowledge the Holy Scriptures as God's Word. With genuine godly sorrow, humble yourself and repent of your sin of homosexuality. Leave your partners and all gay associations, as if you were Lot in the days of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, escaping for your life. Your sinful associations will only keep you in a weakened position. Begin to call on the Name of the Lord from a sincere heart. He will give you grace to empower you toward change. Seek help and prayer from God-loving, Bible-believing Christians.
I just spent nearly an hour writing an email to a young man who is having homosexual thoughts and wants to be free. He recognizes this temptation as a demonic force attempting to get him to act on those thoughts. God will honor him and many others who humble themselves and who truly desire freedom.
Will you follow his lead?
Remember that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
Bert M. Farias, founder of Holy Fire Ministries, is the author of The Real Gospel and co-host of the New England Holy Ghost Forum. He is a missionary evangelist carrying a spirit of revival to the church and the nations. Follow him at Bert Farias on Facebook or @Bertfarias1 on Twitter.
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