023 Pride Comes Before the Fall

The Watchman discusses Pride Month and how Christians should react without compromising the Word of God.

The Old Watchman Website
The Old Watchman - Facebook
The Watchman Speaks - Facebook
The Old Watchman - Twitter

Transcript

023 Pride Comes Before the Fall

Welcome to The Watchman Speaks. I’m your host, Lonnie Richardson

I grew up on a farm where we raised livestock. I’ve logged a lot of hours sitting on a horse and I’ve punched a few cows in my time. Today I’m going to punch some sacred cows that need to be redirected….from both sides of the aisle.

It’s June and we all know what that means. It’s gay pride month. We all know that it’s gay pride month because everywhere we turn we are reminded that it’s gay pride month. Question. What are gay people so proud of? What is it that they are so proud of that it demands a month long celebration that is so intrusive to everyone else? 

Obviously, they are proud of their sexuality. However, pride is not necessarily a good thing.

Proverbs 16:18-19 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

Does that sound like anything that resembles what we are seeing during gay pride month today? I think so. I believe that those two verses contain much wisdom that should be considered by the gay community AND especially the Christian community. What do I mean?

Pride is a precursor to destruction and a haughty spirit runs, to some degree,  alongside of pride. At some point in time, there is a fall coming. That’s a warning for the LGBTQ community. When the driving force behind your existence is sex or your sexuality, you have gone astray from the Word of God. However, Christian, you should be especially aware of the “It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud” part. What does that mean?

That means that you do not allow yourself to become flustered or overwhelmed by emotions. You do not enter into discussion or debate from a position of pride in being a Christian. You do not allow yourself to be drawn into the ridiculous banter of name calling, back biting, venom dripping off the tongue, judgment. When you do so, you are dividing the spoil with the proud.

No, your position, Christian, is one of humility, love, and genuine concern. Am I saying that you should compromise the Word of God? MAY IT NEVER BE! However, I am genuinely amazed at how ill prepared most Christians are in conveying the gospel in the face of what is often times open hostility. Your witness and testimony are to be protected and maintained to the highest standard. Far too many times I have seen well meaning Christians sliced and diced by members of the LGBTQ community for attempting to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ when they are exceedingly ill prepared to do so. Just as often I have seen emotions flare on both sides of the aisle resulting in bitter resentment from both parties. This is not necessary.

Now I want to be perfectly clear. I’m not here to bash gay people or transgender people. I’m not here to pardon, support, or condone their practices and conduct either. Do I agree with their lifestyle? No. I do not advocate for nor do I condone their lifestyle. I am convinced that God sees that lifestyle as an abomination. I do not compromise on that issue. However, I’m not here to bash anyone either nor am I here to pronounce Judgment upon them. I’m here to express the love of Christ to them by telling them the truth. The same I will say to you as well, Christian.

Jesus said, “If anyone hears My saying and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47.

But verse 48 tells the rest of the story. “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word that I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”

I know and have known a lot of gay people over the years. Men and women. For the most part they are courteous and respectful people. Many are nicer people than someone would meet within the church. I’m just saying that they claim to be gay. I know them to be gay and they know that I am a believer who is knowledgeable about my faith and God’s word. They ask questions and I answer them. I do not condemn, nor do I attempt to shame them. They respect me and I respect them. We all get along. They are adults and they have made their choice. Although it saddens me and I pray for them, it is still their choice. I have shared God’s Word and they can accept it or not. It is their choice. There is no blood on my hands.

Here is where I run into problems with the LGBTQ community.

The question on my mind is not whether or not Drag Queens should be allowed into public schools to entertain our children. The question on my mind is why do drag queens desire an audience of children? Another question on my mind is why are school boards and teachers in some regions so inclined to furnish drag queens with an audience of our children without asking parents? I cannot abide by that. I cast my vote elsewhere. You may do as you choose.

Nor do adhere to demands that I should consider using pronouns differently than in any way other than I already use them. I am a southerner and I have a difficult enough time speaking the English language without any additional confusion. I don’t understand the need. IF someone needs me or anyone else to validate their stance so that they can feel good about themselves, I have to ask, Is their stance worth validating?

Let’s see, I am a white, heterosexual, conservative, Christian, more than middle aged, male. In some way it seems that I offend some parcel of society by being any one of those things. I don’t need validation from anyone to be more certain of who and what I am. I am very secure in all that I am. I do not need, nor do I desire anyone else’s approval. If you think being a white, heterosexual, conservative, Christian, older, man is a walk in the park where everyone loves you, then come walk in my shoes for a few weeks. It just ain’t so. But I don’t bemoan the fact to the world either. 

Another thing that I cannot understand is when the LGBTQ keeps adding letters to their moniker. It is now LGBTQIA+. I am amazed even more still at the lengths at which people will go to become part of a sexual minority and then bemoan the fact that the attention that they receive is not the attention that they wanted. Are these “new sexualities” just suddenly emerging out of nowhere?  Is it an illness process? Or is it a means of seeking attention?

One more thing that I take a firm stance against is when the LGBTQIA+ steps up to the plate and claims that the agenda that they are promoting is fully sanctioned in God’s Word.

Hear me LGBTQIA+. I am not speaking to you to condemn you nor from a position of hatred, disgust, or pride. I am speaking to from a position of truth and concern. You do not get to take objective truth in objective context written with objective intent and make it subjective to meet your rhetoric, ideology, or narrative. You do not get to re-define words to meet your desires. You do not get to take SCRIPTURE and twist it into a weapon to defend your stance. It doesn’t work that way. God does not, nor will He ever, bend His knee to you. At some point in time, you will bend your knee before God.

Hear me Christian. This is where most Christians are ill prepared to share the Gospel and become totally overwhelmed and frustrated.

What do I mean by that? Know that the LGBTQ community is not stupid, nor are they lazy. They have studied you. They have searched for and identified triggers to confuse you and throw you off. They have looked into the Bible to find ways that they can substantiate their claims where they are correct in that the Bible sanctions their lifestyle and that you are a very poor Christian who is not living up to the standard that you claim to uphold.

Need examples? Leviticus 18:22 “You are not to lie with a man, as with a woman—that is an abomination.” According to LGBTQ, it does not say that a man should not lie with another man as with a woman. According to LGBTQ this verse pertains to pedophilia and has nothing to do with homosexual acts. The trouble is that the Hebrew word Zha-ham means man. If that doesn’t work then let’s change the definition of abomination. Abomination is not so bad it merely attains to being “unclean”. IF the unclean stance is adhered to, then they place their righteousness within the realm of the law and the only way to be cleansed is with the ashes of a red heifer and there hasn’t been a red heifer sacrificed in over two thousand years. It is not an arena that I’d want to play in. 

Sodom and Gomorrah? Sodom and Gomorrah were not destroyed because of homosexuality. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they didn’t help the poor and needy. It says so in Ezekiel 16:49, “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters hat abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.” I guess that they didn’t read Genesis 19:1-11.

1st Corinthians 6:9 “or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,” or 1st Timothy 1:10, “and immoral men and homosexuals, and kidnappers and liars and perjurers and what ever else is contrary to sound teaching.”  All that stuff that Paul talked about isn’t what he meant. Paul didn’t have the understanding of gender that we have today. 

Christian, do not compromise the Word of God.

 LGBTQ groups are known for making demands. Last week LGBTQ groups demanded that Target restock PRIDE merchandise in their stores and online stating that showing support for their community was good business in spite of Target’s 13 Billion dollars in losses. A three part demand was issued that demanded Target put the LGBTQ merchandise back on the store shelves and online, ensure the safety of Target employees, and issue a statement reaffirming Target’s commitment to the LGBTQ community within 24 hours. Thus far, I have not seen or heard of these demands being made. Here’s the funny thing. Target’s employees, people who are attempting to make a living, are in danger of losing jobs because of major losses. It would seem to me that they need protection from LGBTQ’s demands. However, LGBTQ wants them to think that committing to their cause, whatever that is, is good business.

Evidently, it ain’t so. The LGBTQ is not concerned about loss of profits or economic damage. They are concerned about advancing their narrative. Target has felt the bite of commitment to the LGBTQ. So has Bud Light. So have other companies. It would seem that America has had enough of LGBTQ shoving their agenda down their throat and have closed their wallets in protest. ALL this prior to PRIDE MONTH. What is it that the Bible said, “Pride comes before destruction.” It appears to me that companies and I mean large, nationwide companies that have supported the “pride”, are self-imploding.  I’d suggest that the LGBTQ pool their capitol and resources and open their own chain of stores and sell their products. That would be fair trade. And, if it’s good business, it should profit them enough to further their agenda.

Now let me shift to the other side of the aisle. Christian hear me clearly.

You can point to the gay/transgender community, and declare, “That is sin!” Do you know what they’ll say? “Yeah, so is gossiping, fornication, adultery, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds,” and the list goes on.

You know what? They would be correct! Hear me Christian! This where that “greasy grace” I talked about last week comes into play. If you didn’t hear that warning go back and listen to it. It’ll do you good. 

Christian, if you’re living in conscious, repetitive, habitual sin, then you are no better than those you point fingers at and accuse. I said it. I’m not taking it back either.

You’ll be told, “You can’t judge me.” They would be correct. God’s Word judges them and it judges you, your actions, and your re-actions as well.

You’ll hear, “So much for loving your neighbor. You failed.” Do you love them when you point that finger with venom dripping off your tongue and pronounce judgment? Or Do you love them enough to tell them the truth of God’s word with sincere concern for them?

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not advocating nor am I condoning their actions or lifestyle. If/when you challenge their lifestyle, whether in a genuinely concerned manner or not, be prepared because chances are they will have an answer and shoot the challenge back at you. As I’ve mentioned, they’ll have a rebuttal that makes sense, at least to them. Chances are you’re probably not going to like it. Chances are, their rebuttal is a direct attempt to discredit you and your stance. I’m not saying that it’ll be a biblically correct answer, but they’ll have an answer. Can you control your emotions of frustration and anger? Do you know God’s Word well enough to defend it accurately? If not let it be. You’ll do more harm than good, and you’ll cut the throat of your own testimony in the process. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re speaking to LGBTQIA+ or someone in the church. Pull that log out of you eye before you attempt to remove a splinter from anyone else. In other words, sweep your doorstep clean first and maintain a clean doorstep.

Then you’ll hear the answer about how loving and forgiving Jesus is. Jesus is love, and He is. Jesus forgives, He wouldn’t condemn anyone. Is that right and just? Let’s look at what He told the one of the churches in Revelation.

Now when I go into this I want EVERYONE to listen, not just those of LGBTQ, but CHRISTIAN you had better listen close.

To the church of Thyatira:

The Good: “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater that at first.

The bad: “But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond servants astray so that they commit acts of Immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 

The Mercy: I gave her a chance to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.

The Ugly: “Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, UNLESS they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts/ and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

The Beautiful: “But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them – I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless, what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to I him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter ae broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.

Let’s look at this woman, Jezebel who claims to be a prophetess. In the Old Testament, Jezebel was a queen who was a follower of Baal and Ashtoreth or Ishtar, a Babylonian goddess. She was a proud goddess who was rebellious even towards the other gods. She was a goddess of war, sexual aberrance, drinking, and rage. In the Chronicles of Gilgamesh, an ancient Babylonian text, she is accredited with saying, “I am a beautiful woman, I am a noble young man.” She changed genders! Her temples were served by male priests who served as temple prostitutes and female priestesses who also served as prostitutes. In her realm of influence, every woman under the rule of her domain was required to prostitute herself at least once. I remind you that this message to Thyatira was a message to the church. This influence was within the church much like some churches today have compromised and bent to the demands of LGBTQ. He who repents and resists these teachings will receive the morning star, Jesus Himself.

Let’s move on to another church.

To the Church at Sardis

The Bad: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received  and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 

The Good: But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; an they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

The Promise: “He who overcomes will this be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the Book of Life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

What are the things that are about to die that need strengthened? What are the incomplete deeds that need to be finished? Sardis was a church that is asleep and unaware of what is going on. They were apathetic. God tells them to wake up! They needed a trumpet blast or the blast of the shofar. They were operating as if they were alive but their operations were confined within the four walls of the church building in which they met. The things that were about to die were the things that God said that He actually meant. For those who do not wake up, Jesus is coming and He comes at an hour that cannot be foreseen. What does that mean? What does a thief come to do when he is not foreseen? I leave that where it lays.

It has not been my intent to run down anyone in the gay community. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. IF the driving force in your life is sex or your sexuality then you have been led astray from the Word of God. If you are fine with that, so be it. I’ll admit that I do not, to any extent, understand the transgender community other than they have been deceived to the extent of delusion. Gender dysphoria is a diagnosis. Diagnoses require treatment for the diagnosis is ill benefitting. They are not getting the treatment which I, personally, believe is a spiritual deficit. I have genuine concerns and I pray for them.

My intent is not to encourage the church to be compromising or judgmental. My intent towards the church is to awaken the church to be diligent in handling God’s Word to the utmost degree, be faithful to that Word, and be ready to give a proper defense for the hope that should be instilled within all Christians. Truly, I say to you that you can possess a genuine concern for others without compromising God’s Word. 

Proverbs 16:18-19 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

I said it earlier, I’ll say it again. Those two verses are heavy in their meaning and their instruction for both sides of the aisle. Wake up and pay attention! The Day of the Lord is coming!

I am The Old Watchman, Ezekiel. You have been warned!

The Old Watchman
FaceBook - The Old Watchman
Twitter - The Old Watchman
YouTube - The Old Watchman