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Following Jesus in real life crap

Talking with Transgender People

1/20/2018

 
Whenever I’m on the set of a movie or TV show, I often meet people who are homosexual. As soon as I mention that I’m a pastor, I could feel the atmosphere get cold. They’ve been judged before. By pastors, churches…Christians. It takes a few minutes for them to see that I’m not there to judge them. They see that I’m quite friendly, and even as a pastor, they say that I’m like “a normal person.” Imagine that.

​But even with all the laughter and friendliness, when I invite them to my church, there’s a tangible hesitation. They feel unwelcome. And it’s
not because ​of any anti-homosexual propaganda, media – what Christians have said. It’s what Christians have not said. Yes, there’s plenty of gay-bashing Christians in the media, some of them crazy. They know it’s part hype. But there’s usually silence from the majority of Christians and churches. There’s no welcoming, no embrace, the topic is avoided altogether. Among their Christian “friends,” there’s no condemnation, but neither is there acceptance. It’s like they’re walking on egg shells, so just avoid that path of discussion. Pretend it’s not an issue and ignore the elephant in the room. That leads to superficial conversations and superficial relationships.
No wonder they don’t want to come to church.

So how should Christians and churches respond? How do we act around our homosexual friends and neighbors? And what do we talk about? And foundationally, what do you think about the issue, Biblically? Social commentary and logical arguments abound on the internet, some wrapped in religious clothes, but where does your Biblical understand lead you in light of all the scientific and social information about homosexuality and transgenderism (including genderqueer, pangender, gender fluid, etc)?

In her new book, Love Thy Body, Nancy Pearcey shows us a well-balanced description of the issue and how to approach it Biblically and socially. Pearcey is a highly intelligent philosopher, well read in secular and theological literature, and is a good writer.

In chapter 1, Pearcey makes it clear that all these issues pertaining to sexuality is really a war of worldviews. What is the human body? Is there a sense of self regardless of the body? She first uses Abortion as an example to discuss the philosophy of worldviews, and how they affect everything we talk about.

In all my theological studies, I have never studied the theology of the body. It was a given, a non-issue. Well, due to a critical misunderstanding of the body, as God’s creation, Christians have no theological response to the modern issues of sexuality, e.g. Homosexuality, Transgender. I expected to read mostly social commentary, but this book is theologically and biblically based, because both deal with worldviews, which is the very foundation of the author’s points.

Biologically speaking, the male human body is designed to be in union with the female body. But the postmodern society is asking, “Why should my body direct my psychological identity?” There is a disconnect. “When a person senses a dissonance between mind and body…the body is dismissed as irrelevant.”

Today’s thinking of gender and sexual identity has evolved from even 10 years ago. Sexuality and Genderism is not based in science or even a scientific search. 10 years ago, people were looking for a gene that influences homosexuality in the DNA, or a gender identity influenced by chemistry in the brain. Now, the leaders of the movement proclaim that is a moot point. Regardless of my male physical body or what goes on in my brain, I could declare my preference to be considered a female. I don’t have to undergo a sex change operation, nor do I have to alter my physical appearance to look female (like the old drag queen stereotype). Who I am in the inside has nothing to do with biology.
When factual science, based on biology and chemistry (as opposed to social science), is taken out of the equation, gender and sexual preference is all subjective. Employers must recognize these preferences or face heavy fines, all without any proof of surgery or hormone treatment. With the rise of postmodernism, physical traits or biology takes a back seat to the inner feelings. These feelings are not innate since birth, unchangeable. They are in constant flux, even among the leaders of the movement. It’s not about being recognized as queer or homosexual or pangender by the mainstream. It’s about not having to check a box - male, female, or trans. They don’t want to be put in a box. I can be male today but female tomorrow.

Then how are these feelings formed? Some of them seem quite unchangeable. Pearcey says we must take “individual responsibility for our identity,” and we interpret our identity by “sifting through” our cultural grids, through the norms therein. Is it weird for a little boy to be gentle, sensitive, and emotional (instead of shouting with army toys)? Does this indicate he may be transgender or homosexual? No! Boys can be sensitive, just like girls can be take-charge, assertive, and adventurous. Instead of letting gender stereotypes play out, Christians must speak out against this subversive type of meta-bullying. The “speaking out” isn’t against this little girl who is questioning herself why she doesn’t play with dolls like all the other girls. It’s against society and the laws that want to question what a “male” or “female” is. Identity is based on biology, not social culture. When this cultural grid better reflects reality, people will have a healthier barometer by which to discover their identity. It should be socially acceptable for a girl to like “manly” things and want to fight like a soldier. She’s not “in the wrong body.” Nor is she supposed to “act like a girl” because of her biology. These gender stereotypes end up confusing people when they think there’s another option: they’re “in the wrong body.”

The Bible is against the old Gnostic teaching that the physical body is not part of the authentic self. “Male” and “female” are not mere social constructs. They are rooted in biology and creation. There’s a need for Christians to speak up and present the Biblical worldview, not for moral condemnation, but rather to present “a more appealing, more life-affirming worldview,” because they care about people. She continues, “holding up a moral ideal for sexuality has nothing to do with self-righteousness, [but] it stems from the conviction that certain acts are healthier and more fulfilling because they are in line with the way God created humanity.”

Instead of speaking out against male-bodied transgenders who go into womens’ shower rooms at the gym, Christians must show compassion to those who are struggling with their sense of self. They “despise their own bodies and reject their biological identity.”
​
I encourage everyone to read this new book by Pearcey. It really tackles all the good arguments raised by these issues of sexuality. In addition, not just on an intellectual level, her motive stems from the desire to build strong relationships with the real people struggling with these deeply personal issues. Far from a stance of religious condemnation, this book is a call to reach out and actively help.
​



I would like to thank Baker Books for sending me a copy of Love Thy Body.
​

The Truth about Hell Forreal

10/1/2017

 
Francis Chan and Rob Bell say that hell is not eternal. That shouldn’t matter that much except they are both influential Christian leaders. What they believe matters, since they teach the Bible. It’s a great belief and fits the times well. But it’s a heresy that needs to be addressed.
 
Now, one opinion is no better than the next, and you’ll see lots of opinions (and claims) on the internet. There are even several cases of those waking up from a coma with tales from the other side. There are also religions and cults with visions of what hell looks like.
 
My intention isn’t to disparage those claims, but rather to focus on what the Bible specifically says about hell. Thus, this exercise is only relevant to Bible-believing Christians. (I shouldn’t have to prove that the Bible is authoritative and reliable – that’s covered in my other videos.)
 
Dreams and visions may be truth. I have no way of disproving them, but they have no way of proving their claims. However, the Bible is proven to be historically accurate and divinely inspired. I’ll stick to what the Bible says.
 
Let me start with what the Bible actually says about hell.
 
Hell is a literal place, not just a state of being. It’s a place where the wicked are punished. Deut 32:22, Ps 9:17, 55:15, Prov 15:11, 24 (Sheol)
Historically, Gehenna was a place of mass destruction due to God’s judgment in Jeremiah. Later, it became the city dump, and they would burn the trash there. This ever-burning fire came to symbolize the everlasting punishment of the wicked.
  • place of fire is the language of Scripture (Isa 33:14, 66:24, Matt 3:12, 5:22, 13:40, 42, 50, 18:8-9, 25:41, Mark 9:43-48, Luke 3:17, 16:19-31, Jude 7, Rev 14:10, 19:20, 20:10-15, 21:8).
  • This fire is unquenchable, devouring forever and ever.
  • Passages in Matthew, Mark, and Luke seem to indicate that there’s suffering of body and soul. (Matt 5:22, 5:29, 30, 18:9, and Mark 9:43-47, Matt 10:28, Luke 12:5, Matt 23:15, 33, James 3:6)
  • Hades and Gehenna is the same place. Hades refers to souls of the wicked before the judgment day. Gehenna refers to place of the wicked, body and soul, after judgment.
 
I’m not saying Dante was right. In his book Inferno, none of his imagery was Biblical. But he wasn’t wrong to depict a sense of eternal torment and torture, hopelessness. – which is better than a lot of movies today.
 
Let me describe hell by responding to an objection.
There have been some people who say that hell is not eternal, but that people burn up and then cease to exist, because the Bible teaches the “destruction” of the wicked.
 
I personally wish that was true. I like that idea better, but the Bible is clear in saying that it’s eternal.
  • “fire unquenchable” – (Matt 3:12, 18:8, Mark 9:43, Luke 3:17)
  • the point is not just that there’s always a fire burning in Gehenna but that God burns the wicked with unquenchable fire, which has been prepared for them as well as for the devil and his angels (Matt 3:12, 25:41).
  • Their worm never dies (Mark 9:48).
  • Their shame is everlasting (Daniel 12:2),
  • “punishment of eternal fire (Jude 1:6,7).
  • They will be tormented with fire and brimstone…and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, so that they have no rest day or night (Rev 14:9-11).
  • “day and night, forever and ever” (Rev 20:10, cf. 19:3).
 
The destruction which the Bible speaks is an everlasting destruction (2 Thes 1:9). They are tormented forever.
  • Matthew 25:46 uses the same word to describe heaven and hell – heaven is everlasting bliss, and hell is just as long
  • Bible emphasizes finality of the wicked – treated as the end of a story.
  • Other descriptions of hell:
    • shut out from the presence of the Lord (2 Thes 1:8-9, Matt 7:23, 25:41, Luke 13:27)
    • bottomless pit (Rev 9:1, 2, 11, cf. 11:7, 17:8, 20:1-3)
    • darkness (Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30, Jude 6, 13)
    • no love in hell (Isa 14:9-11)
 
Another question people ask is if Satan rules hell. There’s a complete misconception that hell is an alternate universe where there’s constant sinful partying and Satan is the ruler. No, there’s no alternate life, with people walking around, talking with other people.
          No, it’s an eternal jail where not Satan, but God is the ruler of hell. Heaven is heaven because God is present in his love. Hell is hell because God is there in his wrath (Rev 6:16). If you go to hell, Satan is a fellow prisoner. because hell was originally designed to punish satan and his demons. (Matt 25:41, Rev 20:10, 15)
 
Now, some people ask, “How can a God of love send people to hell?”
          click here for the answer.
 
And the worst part about hell is finally knowing that you could’ve had a chance to know God, the chance of finding purpose for your life, the chance of finding the greatest fulfillment of your empty heart, but now you know you will never have that chance again. forever.
 
But for any of you watching this video, it’s not too late. The God who punishes is also the God who is love, and is willing to forgive even the worst sinner, if he repents and turns to him by faith. God loves you, and he offers forgiveness. Will you follow Jesus his Son?
 
I made this video because of false teachings about hell that’s making a comeback – saying that it’s not real or eternal. You know, I don’t like the idea of hell. I don’t like it. But the Bible teaches a real hell. Now, this video doesn’t go into God’s thinking, or his logic. So, I’m asking for your comments. Why do you think God invented hell?
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