As I was driving to a doctors appointment just over a year ago, a flag that was prominently displayed from a marque, caught my attention. Was it a church? Clearly it wasn’t. But my curiosity got the best of me, so I turned my car around to check it out.
My heart broke. I had been hearing and seeing the news reports but here it was, a church in my neighborhood, and the flag was flying with pride from its sign announcing next week's sermon.
Upon further research I found that there were over one hundred LGBTQ, not just welcoming, but affirming churches in the Metro Detroit Region, more than any other area in the state of Michigan.
This is such a monumental shift in the world but now the churches have gone from being welcoming to affirming and accepting of same sex relationships and a range of gender identities.
Before I go on, let me set the record straight, especially as someone who has been rescued from the homesexual lifestyle, I am all for churches being welcoming. Showing the love of Jesus through actions and not just words, but they need to stand firm on the truth of the Gospel.
In Matthew it says,
And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. Matthew 12:36 (NLT)
Another version uses the word careless.
I am pretty sure affirming a lifestyle that is not Holy and honoring to God, will be considered careless and idle words.
The Word of God also states that teachers of the Word will be held to a higher standard.
James 3 verse 1 in the Amplified Bible says this:
Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly].
Just recently a famed pastor from Georgia came out criticizing the “woke pastors” who are more worried about a following than they are about teaching the truth of scripture.
My question to those of you who are in leadership, when you get to heaven are you going to hear,
‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:23 (ESV)
Or are you going to hear the words from Matthew 7 verse 23
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV)
Or even from Matthew 25:30
“And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
In Acts chapter 20 verse 27-28,
For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,which He bought with his own blood.
Dear church leaders, we need to remember:
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10 NLT
And for my last challenge for the church leaders of 2021 who are finding themselves looking more like the world than a church who is being faithful to stand on God’s truth, maybe it is time for you to read the words from Acts and have your own Damascus Road encounter.
Who are You, Lord?’ I asked.‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:15-18 (BSB)
My name is Dawn Mann and thanks to an encounter with Jesus in a jail cell, and a young lady in love with the Lord, I have broken free from the homosexual lifestyle. My hope is that by sharing my story over and over, others will find the same freedom. But my challenge is also to the churches to stand up for what is right and not go along with society. I am available to give my testimony and if you feel led to give a small love offering click here. I am also raising funds to attend the Freedom march in April, if you would like to partner with me in this please click here to give a love offering.