Posted Jun 19, 2017 by Michael L. Brown

There’s a bizarre argument I’m hearing these days which basically goes like this. “Look at how many churches are embracing homosexual practice. This proves we’re getting closer to the truth.” To the contrary, all it proves is that more and more churches are apostasizing. The logic behind this argument is as wrongheaded as it is unbiblical.

First, to argue that greater acceptance of homosexuality by churches is proof of spiritual growth is like arguing that greater acceptance of obesity by doctors is a proof of medical progress. The reverse is actually true.

Second, the Bible often warns us against compromise and apostasy, both moral and creedal. And in every generation, there have been heretics who have departed from the faith. Should we therefore celebrate every heretical doctrine and practice as proof of our spiritual maturity?

Jesus warned His disciples, saying “See that no one leads you astray” (Matt. 24:4). He also said, “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:11-13).

What is to be celebrated, then, is not apostasy but faithfulness, not deception but steadfastness, not moral laxity but moral firmness. And while the words of Jesus may have more specific application to certain times in history, there is certainly a general application to our day, in which “lawlessness” has greatly increased. Today, just about anything goes, and that is not something to celebrate.

Last month, the gay activist organization Faith in America announced its plans to call on the Southern Baptist Convention to remove homosexual practice “from the sin list.”

“Ultimately,” they said, “we at FIA believe LGBT people should be removed from the sin list. We know interpretations and new revelations come to light. We believe the Church will one day stop diminishing the lives of those who are LGBT and we strive to help this come to pass. We are optimistic people and see the glass 75% full!”

So, they are encouraged by what they have seen in recent years, as more and more churches in America and Europe are dropping homosexual practice “from the sin list.” Soon enough, they believe, the whole Church will follow suit. To paraphrase (but in my words, not theirs!), “We’re encouraged by the increasing apostasy we see in the Church, and we’re expectant that one day, the whole Church will be completely apostate.”

The facts are as follows.

First, as I’ve stated repeatedly, “no new textual, archeological, sociological, anthropological, or philological discoveries have been made in the last fifty years that would cause us to read any of these biblical texts differently. Put another way, it is not that we have gained some new insights into what the biblical text means based on the study of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Instead, people’s interaction with the LGBT community has caused them to understand the biblical text differently.”

The truth, then, hasn’t changed. Instead, some professing Christians have departed from God’s unchanging truth because of personal relationships and cultural decline.

Second, most church groups that have removed homosexual practice from the sin list are in numerical and spiritual decline. In contrast, most church groups that are holding to biblical truth and practice, especially overseas, are growing numerically and spiritually.

Third, the embrace of homosexual practice cannot be separated from the larger cultural embrace of the sexual revolution. This includes an increase in sex out of wedlock, babies born out of wedlock, pornography, and divorce, along with the embrace of all kinds of sexual perversions. That’s why the same society that celebrates same-sex “marriage” is increasingly celebrating polyamory, polygamy, and consensual adult incest. (I’ve documented this in many articles and several books. See, conveniently, the relevant chapters here.)

This points to spiritual and moral regress, not progress.

Fourth, the idea that the whole Church will one day embrace homosexual practice is as certain not to happen as the idea that the whole Church will one day deny Jesus. Forget about not holding your breath. Don’t even think about holding your breath.

It’s certainly possible that, in some locations, increasing parts of the Church will fall away, and this will be marked by numerous moral and spiritual compromises. But the notion that the whole Church will fall away is completely self-contradictory, since if there is a true Church, it has been established by Jesus Himself. And it was He who said that He would build His church and that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).

But it is not only theologically ignorant to imagine that the Church worldwide will one day embrace homosexual practice. It is also missiologically ignorant, since wherever the Church is growing worldwide, it is growing with a conservative message and morality.

I truly believe that the leaders of groups like Faith in Action mean well and believe they are doing God’s work. That makes their self-deception all the more tragic.

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Neonblue posted a comment · Jul 10, 2017
Here are my thoughts about the homosexuals and lesbians who have a new understanding of Matthew 19 verse 12, they take comfort that they can relate to the eunuch in Matthew 19 verse 12. They have no conviction of sin in their conscience because like the eunuch born with a genital defect they believe that their homosexual feelings are "Inborn". They have a peace about this, a false peace that's why there's no "conviction of sin". There's a underlying cunning persuasion at work here in their thoughts would you ask Dr. Brown if he agrees. They set up their churches believing that they bear the witness of the Holy Spirit but actually they stumble in the dark and they know not at what they stumble." Proverbs 4:19 The great deceiver has come as a "angel of light into their churches simulating the witness of the Holy Spirit. What does the word of God say: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world 1 John 4:1. 2 Corinthians 11:14: And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11: 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness. The ministers in their churches appear to be righteous but actually its a self - righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:5 King James Version : Having a form of godliness 1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind". "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4
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Christian Party posted a comment · Jun 23, 2017
Only those with the mind of Christ can see where this is going. Remember interviewing Jeff Green of the UK Christian Party four years ago and you both talked about the direction this would all go in. Here we are and it has come to pass. We see the same thing today with Chabot, the Dutch psychiatrist who's wondering why assisted suicide legislation has run rampant in the Netherlands taking out those who change their minds in the midst of the process. God has given those who have refused to accept the truth over to a reprobate mind. That also includes sadly some in the church. We pray for the mind of Christ, the wisdom of God and courage to proclaim the truth as loudly as we can at every turn.
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Sonny's Mom posted a comment · Jun 20, 2017
In demanding that lgbt behavior be "redefined" (that word again!) as non-sinful, the "gay Christian" movement is now demanding that we rewrite the 10 Commandments, the foundation of Judaeo-Christian ethics and morals. And why? Because God didn't get it right the first time? Because we know better now? Satan is clever. If heaven can never be his, he can still get revenge by making sure as few of God's people as possible reach our true destination: to live in unity with the Father. And what better way to destroy souls than to tempt them off the path with misdirected appeals to Christian virtue. (After all, doesn't God COMMAND you to love your neighbor as yourself? Well then, don't you want your neighbor to be free to love whoever he pleases? And on and on it goes.) Pray, pray, pray! "Heavenly Father, I plead the blood of Your Divine Son Jesus upon my sins and the sins of our nation. God, end abortion, restore the family, and bring revival to America!"