It is common thinking among most non-Christians – and far too many Christians, alas – that Jesus somehow just accepted everyone without question, that he never had a harsh word to say about anyone, their beliefs, or their behaviours, and that his only message was for folks to just be happy and be nice.
Jesus was simply a Middle Eastern Santa Claus who came to give everyone goodies, make everyone happy, and never interfere with the lives of anyone. That is the revisionist version of events, at any rate. But it of course is dead wrong, and those holding to such views are walking on really dangerous ground.
No one who has actually read the Bible, and believed the Bible, could ever come out with such idiotic and patently false beliefs. Simply reading the four gospel accounts and what Jesus actually taught and did without preconceived ideological agendas will dispel those myths.
Two clear-cut examples of this that I came upon today are worth looking at. First, it seems that we have yet another case of some big cheese Christian songstress who has decided that her morality – or lack thereof – trumps that of the Word of God.
Mind you, I had never heard of this woman before, but evidently she is a big deal in contemporary Christian music circles. I refer to one Lauren Daigle. It seems she is not only really popular among Christians, but she is basically clueless about the faith which she claims to represent.
Consider this shocker of a headline: “Popular CCM Artist Lauren Daigle: ‘I Can’t Say One Way or the Other’ If Homosexuality Is Sin, ‘I’m Not God’.” The article opens this way:
Popular contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist Lauren Daigle said this week on the “Domenick Nati Show” that she can’t answer whether homosexuality is a sin because there are people that she loves that are homosexual and she is not God, stating that people should read the Bible to find out for themselves, and let her know what they learn.
“Do you feel that homosexuality is a sin?” Nati, whose broadcast is aired on iHeart Radio, asked forthrightly. “You know, I can’t honestly answer on that, in the sense of I have too many people that I love—that they are homosexuals,” Daigle, known for the hits “How Can It Be” and “You Say,” told the celebrity publicist.
“I don’t know. I actually had a conversation with someone last night about it. I can’t say one way or the other. I’m not God,” she continued. “So, when people ask questions like that, that’s what my go to is. Like, I just say, ‘Read the Bible and find out for yourself. And when you find out, let me know because I’m learning too.’”
The two also discussed criticism Daigle recently received for appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” “For me, it was really sad that their outlook would be, ‘Oh, because Ellen’s gay, she’s bad.’ That’s sad. It’s so sad,” Daigle opined. “What people don’t realize is I went to Ellen and she is just a bundle of light. She is so joyful. She was so kind.”
She said that DeGeneres encouraged her “that she has what it takes to be a history maker in this world,” and advised not to burn herself out. “It’s sad to see people criticize her. … She’s just a beautiful person,” Daigle remarked.
https://christiannews.net/2018/12/01/popular-ccm-artist-lauren-daigle-i-cant-say-one-way-or-the-other-if-homosexuality-is-sin-im-not-god/?fbclid=IwAR1tm__p85x-_febzrIPNC0ka-NQfoGZ2xzPnxFOCNcBugj52IhsZDQMt3Y
There is just so much wrong with this – where does one begin? No one who actually reads the Bible can be under the slightest doubt as to what it says about homosexuality. Not only is it everywhere clearly and unequivocally presented as sin, but it is renounced in the strongest of terms.
It is impossible to really know what the Word of God says and to be in any doubt about this matter. But notice her starting point here: she has homosexual friends. So what? All the more reason to tell them biblical truth. All the more reason to warn them of wrath to come. All the more reason to love them enough to let them know they do not need to be trapped in this sinful and dead-end lifestyle.
Having just read again 1 Corinthians 5-6 this morning, I am even more stunned at this colossal sell out of biblical Christianity. These chapters are all about sexual immorality and the need to JUDGE these sins! The Corinthians were allowing gross sexual sin in their ranks, and Paul was not only shocked that the man had committed such sin, but that they refused to reprimand the sinning Corinthian.
Paul lets them know that they will judge the world, and even judge angels one day, so why are they not judging this sinner right now? See 1 Cor. 6:1-3 on this. Paul is just stunned at how wrong these Christians are concerning blatant sin and the need to judge it.
Yes, I think we are all quite aware that you are not God Lauren. But that does not absolve you of your biblical responsibility to discern and judge as Scripture commands. And guess what – are you paying attention here? – in just a few verses after this Paul makes one of the most clear, and damning, claims about homosexuality. Please read verses 9-11 Lauren and let them sink in:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Just what part of that is so hard to understand? And no, Ellen is NOT a bundle of light. At the moment, unless she repents, turns from her sins, and commits herself to Christ, she is a bundle of darkness who is leading countless individuals astray – sending them to a lost eternity.
Bear in mind that I am not picking on Daigle of course, because she is not alone in all this. Four years ago I wrote about these matters, highlighting seven famous musicians who all claim to be Christian, but who all have lost the plot when it comes to biblical teachings and biblical morality. See here: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2014/08/17/a-great-way-to-destroy-the-faith-of-millions/
So she is simply the latest in a long line of Christian celebs who seem to have sold their souls in order to be popular, to be well liked, and to be accepted by the world and by worldlings. Sorry, but this is just not a goer. The Christian has two choices, and two choices only: either we seek to please and obey and serve God, according to his own instruction manual, or we seek to serve and please men.
It is one or the other. To seek to be accepted by men is to displease God, and to seek to please God is to be rejected by men. Nothing could be more clear than what Jesus said about this: “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).
The same with the Apostle Paul: “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). And James: “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
As Spurgeon once put it: “This shall be an infallible test to you concerning anyone’s ministry. If it is man-praising, and man-honouring, it is not of God.” Or as Tozer said, “The desire to please may be commendable enough under certain circumstances, but when pleasing men means displeasing God it is an unqualified evil and should have no place in the Christian’s heart. To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men.”
The second example concerns an exchange I found a few hours ago on the social media. A Christian friend had bemoaned another case of a horrific murder in the US and said – quite correctly – that without repentance and turning from self to God – this person was without hope.
But sure enough a rather biblically illiterate Christian came along and offered his two-cents worth. He was one of those who seems to push the line that Jesus accepts everyone just as they are, and therefore so should we – end of story.
This is what he said: “Jesus…..who accepted all faiths, non believers prostitutes, sinners etc, I have hope for those who pretend to be so called Christians in the season of Christmas!” Um, no – not even close. Jesus most certainly did NOT accept all faiths. How could he?
Not only does he fully uphold the First Commandment (“You shall have no other gods before me”), but how could someone who said this actually accept all faiths? “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Jesus came to announce that there is only one true faith, and all others are false. As we read in John 10:7-8, “Therefore Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved’.”
As to Jesus accepting sinners etc, two points. Um, sinners are the ONLY people Jesus dealt with. There were and are no non-sinners. Every person Jesus dealt with was a sinner. And he did not “accept” sinners of course. Instead, he loved them enough to challenge them to change. He demanded that they change.
He demanded repentance and faith as a way out of their dead-end lifestyles and into the Kingdom. He rebuked sinners and warned of judgment to come. Indeed, no one else in all the Bible spoke so much about the wrath of God and future punishment for sinners who refuse to leave their wicked ways.
But the two examples I have presented here are unfortunately fully representative of how way too many people think – and that includes way too many Christians. Only those who refuse to read and obey the Word of God can come up with such theological mumbo-jumbo. It is not only theologically ludicrous, it is straight out of the pits of hell.
Telling people that Jesus accepts everyone just as they are and we should just lighten up and relax is the counsel of demons, not the views of Almighty God. Such false ideas will send millions of sinners to hell, and no Christian should dare offer such falsehood and false hopes to anyone.
Afterword
Two additional thoughts. Some might wonder, “How then should she have answered the question, ‘Do you feel that homosexuality is a sin?’” The obvious and easy response should have been this: ‘It does not matter a hill of beans how I feel about the issue. What does matter is what God has said about it. And he has clearly said that it is indeed a sin, and it must be repented of and turned away from.’
Two, it goes without saying that we must pray for her and others like her. One thing to pray is that these celebs will decide who they will serve: the Holy and Righteous God of the universe, or themselves, their careers, and their egos.
42 Replies to “No Jesus Did NOT Accept All People, All Faiths, and All Behaviours”
Amen. Yet also we should have the awesome responsibility to tell Christians and non Christians alike how God sees us though the shed blood of Jesus Christ too. We are in partnership with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and for our Heavenly Father to not only bring the truth of the gospel to a lost, dying, dark, hope deprived world as well we are to tell then who we are, who God sees us as: His ambassadors, His Life and “this is what I want to” to those who don’t know how much Jesus Christ restores, redeems us back from separation in too a closer intimacy and relationship with God the Father though Jesus Christ we can know cry “Abba Father” and be certain, we are heard, loved and walked along side everyday by the best daddy we could have in the world and a spirit that encourages, enables, comforts, removes and replaces from our Will to His Will. Yes we much always be grateful, reverent and have an understanding of a Holy and just God yet also be willing to be used like the example that God is the lighthouse and we steer the light into the right spots to shine and let Him stop shipwrecked lives.
Rom 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
(MKJV)
So how exactly do we not let sin reign in our mortal bodies if only God knows what sin is?
Rom 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness.
(MKJV)
In his book A Spiritual House, Rev. W. Pouwelse (1986), writes “It certainly does not depend on our effort, but the Lord has called us to be witnesses in this world. Let our voice be heard in a world in which the commandments of the Lord are considered to be of hardly any value “. Not much has changed!!
Yes quite so Pieternella.
Thanks Bill, as always you are on top of all the shallow, Hollywood propaganda. As you so eloquently put it a few weeks ago, “Happy Clappy Christianity”, it’s a perfect description of what a lot of the church has turned into. Here we are faced again with, “Silence on evil,” which I believe is the #1 sin in the church, e.g.
#1) Silence on abortion
#2) Silence on the transgender evil
#3) Silence on homosexuality
#4) Silence on the spread of Sharia Law in America
#5) Silence on the sexualisation of our children
and on and on we go. You are one of only a very few that is honest about all the evil we are accepting & condoning in the church. I heard once years ago and I don’t know how true this is, but would love to hear your thoughts that God didn’t destroy Sodom & Gomorrah because of homosexuality — He destroyed the twin cities because all the good citizens were condoning it.
God bless you Bill, Louise
Many thanks Louise.
Well written Bill.
Thanks Ross.
Thanks for your article Bill. I wonder if we need to define our words at times or ask the other person what they mean by certain words? Certainly Jesus never condoned sin but He always lovingly received the sinner and sought to see that person changed by His love. So he went into the home of Zaachaeus who was changed by the very presence of Jesus. He engaged in conversation the woman found in adultery but told her to go and sin no more. We trust that her life was changed.
I’ve used the words “received” and “engaged” above where I could’ve said “accepted”.When we use the word “accept” the sinner, it doesn’t mean that we are agreeing with that person’s actions or words but are showing by our openness and love that we truly care for that person.
Of course only Jesus can change people.
Thanks Bill. I am deeply concerned for Christian friends and family who sit on the fence with the same-sex issue. I bring up the topic for discussion, as Christians ought to do, Prov 27:17 says iron sharpens iron, but only get the ‘we need more love’ response or that this is the world, who are we to control/influence the government, or nothing at all. Any tips aside from continually forwarding messages, raising it when we meet etc? I feel hopeless at times, I honestly thought it would be easier with Christians, but alas, not so. It is truly disconcerting. I don’t raise these topics in condemnation, only in true Christ-like love. I read, and cross check multiple scriptures, and it is glaringly obvious what God says about homosexuality, as well as thievery, lying, and a sin that was affecting my life, drunkenness. I repented and asked God to remove the desire, and praise the Lord, not one drop. Thank Bill, and God bless you.
Many thanks Jonathan. Bless you.
It is true that what the Bible states on all moral matters should be followed. It is a mistake to regard someone’s admitted ignorance as permissiveness or endorsement of all lifestyles or immoral behaviors. I rejoice that the Bible was held up by her as the place to go to find the answers. I really don’t like the belittling of someone’s humbly admitted ignorance (if it was truthful and sincere). To her critic, I say, there are more things that you don’t know than things that you know. If you want to feed the lambs, then feed them without ridicule. You were neither born nor born again with all instant knowledge. What do you have that you did not receive? If any man thinks that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. He who exalts himself shall be humbled… As for judging, Paul says, “What do I have to do with judging outsiders? Outsiders God judges.” We judge those in the church when we tell them to repent or be expelled. We can’t expell the lost who never come in the first place, can we? We give the knowledge that we have when we have it. You can’t fault someone for admitting ignorance. Would you have preferred for her to pretend that she knew the answer? That could have gone either of two ways. Lying about her ignorance would have been wrong. You can’t have it both ways. If you want to educate your students, treating them with respect is necessary. I find that you display unacceptable disrespect for this baby Christian’s sincerity. No, we are not dealing with the matter of sexual moral/immoral issues at this point. I am only dealing with your immoral belittlement. That is not a Christian virtue. Perhaps you are blind to your sin of pride. I hope you get down from your high horse. You have not given a single example of what you would have said to Ellen or anyone else. Please put your words to her here so you can lead by example of speaking like Christ to the sinners as if you had been asked the same questions. You seem obsessed with belittlement of the lady who found herself unprepared for the questions thrown at her. So put yourself in her place. Exactly what would Jesus say through you to the audience that was better than her answer based on your extensive knowledge? I’d love to hear it.
Thanks Paul but you are quite off the mark here. It would appear that she has been a Christian for a number of years now. Wikipedia says that she did mission work in Brazil before attending university. She is now 27, so that means she has been a Christian for a decade at least it would seem. Just how long does one have to be a Christian before they know something about some of the rudimentary teachings of the Bible? How many years must a person be saved before they understand the basics of the Bible? Paul rebuked immature believers who were still on the milk of the Word and not solid meat.
And if Lauren does not know what the Bible teaches on the issue of God’s intentions for human sexuality in general, and homosexuality in particular, then I suggest that she stops all the concerts and touring, stop all the appearances on secular TV shows, and so on and actually starts to seriously read and study her Bible. And she should not resume her career until she does know what it teaches on these and other absolutely crucial issues. Otherwise she is harming the cause of Christ and doing great damage to the Kingdom.
Your quoting of Paul in Corinthians simply makes my point. She claims to be a Christian. So yes, we ARE to judge her and we ARE to urge her to repent. If she won’t, then she should stop claiming to represent Christ. That is our clear biblical responsibility, regardless of your squeamishness about it.
And I already said in my article what the obvious and easy response should have been to the question: “It does not matter a hill of beans how I feel about the issue. What does matter is what God has said about it. And he has clearly said that it is indeed a sin, and it must be repented of and turned away from.”
Dear Bill,
There must be a similar atmosphere in the so called prestigious Catholic boys school in Sydney as there was in the community St Paul was addressing in Corinthians. The entire school of students and teachers gave a standing ovation to the student who ‘came out’ in front of the whole school. They obviously condone the perversion of homosexuality and make excuses for it or he wouldn’t have had the confidence to ‘come out’. It’s time someone told this so called Catholic Christian school what the Bible says about homosexuality.
Louise Harris, in Ezekiel 16:49-50 God explains why He destroyed Sodom. He is talking to Israel about her sins, which in the preceding verses He says were worse than Sodom’s.
Eze. 16:49-50 Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned, they did not help the poor and the needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.
Homosexuality was probably amongst the unnamed “detestable” things, as well as other bad things that pagans did in those days and unfortunately the Israelites frequently copied, including human sacrifice.
When the Israelites turned to the pagan gods around them and followed them worshipping the sun and moon and taking part in the detestable rites that accompanied their worship, including temple prostitution both heterosexual and homosexual and they sacrificed their children in the fire to these gods, God got very, very angry. Especially about the killing of the children.
To that biblically illiterate person, I must ask, “Then why did Jesus suffer such pain and humiliation and die such a horrid death if everything and everyone were “cool” with God, the Father? To think so is to abandon mere human logic. (I suppose all but the Apostle John underwent horrendous torture and a martyrs death for something they knew of a certainty to be a lie? Logic shouts a resounding, “NO!).
I gained a new neighbor when I moved to KY, whom I really liked. As a believer, I skipped the usual intro barrier question, “What’s your sign,? and asked what he did for a living. He replied that if he told me I’d probably never speak to him again, yet I urged him on. He revealed he was a female impersonator. He just assumed I’d understand that meant he was “gay.”
I told him he must be on drugs if he thought that meant I’d never speak to him again, but that I did want him to understand right up front that I was a Bible-believing Christian and did believe homosexuality was a choice rather than a genetic fate of some sort. He appreciated knowing my position up front, and that gave us many an opportunity to discuss the matter from the Biblical position.
Sadly, he’d worked in the mines of Eastern KY and died a couple years later of Mesothelioma. I was and am still unsure of what his final view was. I can only leave that to our loving Father. But I do know he actually fully understood ‘what was what’ before he left us. “Lying is never appreciated and never brings forth fruit,”…that’s what he told me before he died. It’s a lesson of which we all need to take heed no matter the sometimes painful cost.
Bill,
You amaze me daily. I only wish I had your ability to write and be biblically truthful at the same time. I read your postings and I say to myself, this is a man who walks with the spirit and writes with the spirit! Truly good news your pen writes. I have so-called Christian friends who ignore the Bible and worship a feel good society. At the same time they tell me it is not for me to judge gays, that is God’s job. It is not their job to shield the sinner with cultural protection just so you cause no offense. I have isolated myself from people in my community and church because they deem me as the problem, when in fact they are the ones who have succumb to a culture of nothingness and evil. I have been diagnoised with Leaukima and not one person from the church has offered to help me around the house. I have other medical conditions that required surgery and a six month recovery period, no offer of help from a church that claims they love everyone. By the Mercy and Grace of God I am doing better. I have found that alot of Christians are just Sunday Christians. Culture and cultural compliance is satans partner.
Many thanks Charlie. I will keep you in my prayers. Blessings.
I am a new believer formal atheist so I still struggle with some demons. I believe the work of God in our lives but I strongly believe that none of you have the right to judge. God said “love your neighbor” he did not say love them unless they are homosexuals. Why is it that Christians place themselves in such a higher standard than other and make non Christmas feel lesser than you? Where is your humbleness? Where is your action to what your preach?
Thanks Alicia. It is great to hear that you have become a Christian. And I trust you will keep growing into Christian maturity and a deeper understanding of God’s Word. And as you do, you will discover that Christians are always commanded to hold one another to account, to admonish and encourage one another, and to point out areas of sin in each other’s lives, so we can all become more and more Christlike. Moreover, everywhere in Scripture we are told that we must judge as well. If you are unfamiliar with the many Scriptures ordering us to engage in biblical judging and discernment, I offer many of them in these articles for starters:
I will keep you in prayer as you grow in the knowledge of our Lord.
It for this very reason that many Christians are voting for Liberal agendas and allowing sexual immorality, abortion, and LGBT agendas to take a foothold in our nation. They are not standing up for what the Word of God says about these lifestyles and are allowing Hollywood culture to set the moral standard.
Hey Bill, I just saw your post earlier after it was reposted by a fellow minister who i highly respect. Last week when I read an article about Lauren Daigle’s appearance on Ellen, my heart sank without knowing what was said and how it was said concerning biblical truth and how it was conveyed to a massive listening audience. Before share my heart I want to share a little about myself and why this is such a concern for me. I’ve been a believer for 42 years , I’m married with 3 daughters and I’m a Messianic pastor here in Florida and I have a brother who is gay and I’ve spent decades ministering to homosexuals because of my love for my brother who i talk to a few times a month. I, like yourself and many students of Gods Word understand clearly how God views such perversion, and time and modernized cultures don’t change a God who never changes ! i wanted to share two things perhaps about her belief and your commentary. The first one really bugs me a lot because I find it a common practice in churches to today to not clearly ” vet ” people who are in ministry from being a greeter to a staff pastor. As you mentioned, referring to our very first principles or foundational understanding of what we call New Testament Christian doctrine, we as the American church are in many sectors of our faith an embarrassment to the fathers who lived their lives in a totally pagan culture where homosexuality was constant and common. Compromise was unthinkable and if you did, Paul more than likely gave you a chance to repent or you might end up in the end up in one of his epistles as one who departed form the faith ! The modern church age has been so dumbed down regarding moral behavior and the topic of sexual behavior gets deflected by a rebuttal of , well! , all sin is alike, so gluttons in the church are as bad as homosexual behavior with the finality always being judge not lest you be judged, which you covered. I’m actually surprised you haven’t been excoriated by many more post of,” Your a religious hypocrite who can’t see your own sin”. Even in some of your words i might not have chosen to use that seem to reveal a sense of frustration but I get it ! Its hard to write without venting some frustration when you read such ignorance in what christians say compared to what scripture says about such topics. I think on one reply, the reader was annoyed by your honesty. When replying about gays…..I too, almost daily feel a deep love for my brother, who’s gay and all the LGBTXYZ people that I befriend because I don’t want to see them spend eternity separated from a merciful and loving God who has all the answers to their pain and sin. I’m constantly aware of how some of these people are kind and loving in sincere ways to those around them, matter of fact I love being with my brother and just talking about his life and addressing sensitive or even volatile issues with him regarding HIs final spiritual status when he dies. I never let my emotions dominate,” thus saith the Lord “regarding this topic. I ‘ve always communicated openly and bluntly about what God says and he listens because he knows I love him big time ! The seduction of biblical moral thought happens because we elevate our emotions of natural compassion over Gods. We don’t say it but we exalt our compassion over truth and make our emotional disposition an idol that stands in front of God…its called the idol of enablement ! I think what Lauren needs to do is what many Christian singer song writer have done and lay down their gift they received from God and allow themselves to be taught Gods righteous standard so they will never give shallow replies that are marinated in a fear of man ! If we can’t agree on this matter at least we can say this, “Ellen needs the same Savior we have and Lauren needs hIs words on her tongue so lets pray for both that they’ll find their place in him …..May the Father bring correction to Lauren in a way she can receive it and may Ellen see the wicked state of her heart and call out to Jesus !
In a bell curve some who would say yes would be on one small side. Some saying no on the other. The majority would be in the middle. Satan counts on the middle lot. Don’t be the middle lot. Speak the truth. God calls us to repent. That is what the artiste should have said.
We are facing a holocaust. We need to speak out. From abortion to same-sex marriages. To transgendering. Every level of wrong. We must. Lest Christ vomits us out
“Those who remain silent are guilty” – St. Edith Stein
Hi Charlie. I also will keep you in my prayers. As a fellow Christian who also experiences this isolation by merely sticking to God’s word, I will pray.
Paul Swan
“…unprepared for the situation”????? You have got to be joking.
Obviously the Ellen show is a hugely powerful propaganda program which has millions of viewers around the world and here in Australia is specifically targeted at the young audience by the channel Nine network in an overwhelming show of corrupt, wicked and perverse administration. What this woman has done is help arm that propaganda and I find it extremely unlikely that this woman is incapable of telling what the scriptures say obviously and plainly. If she actually believes in reading the Bible to find what is says about sin, as she said, she would know exactly what it says so this proves her to be a liar one way or another.
Thank you Bill.
This is my first time reading your words. Your thoughts and words mimic my own. I do a lot of writing on the internet also, although not as much as I would like. Time is short for this world and we must obedient to the Lords commandments to spread the good word and make disciples.
It is disheartening to hear “Christian” celebs becoming voices for Christianity without knowing the word of God, and totally misrepresenting the Faith, the Way that Jesus laid out for us.
We must stand strong as competent ministers of the word of God. We are holding up the Truth that many will be seeking as things get worse around the world.
Many might see us as negative or critical Christians, but we are living in a critical time, against an unrelenting enemy.
I’ll share this this one last thing with you. As I was reading in Isaiah the other night, two groups of words jumped off the pages. They are…
“Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid” and “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”
Isaiah 7:4,9
Your work is important Bill, and I believe it will become even more important in the near future.
God Bless you, and I look forward to reading more from you. Your brother in Christ, Mike
Many thanks Michael M.
Ok deeply sad. This is the girl whose song “First” has been such an inspiration to me many times. But its all I knew of her. So many who started well are falling away. Please help them Jesus. Thanks Bill.
Thanks Shelley.
Thanks Bill for standing firm on God’s word without any compromise in current spiritual issues faced by Christians now and days to come.
Many thanks Philip.
Let pray that her pastor is now coaching her how to answer in a Biblical way.
Thanks Bruce – assuming her pastor knows how to answer in a Biblical way!
Yes thanks again for a great Biblically based article.
It would be fair to say that for a good number of years I was addicted to popular secular music, a “muso” in the Urban dictionary definition, vicariously modelling my life and lifestyle on my favourite Rock and Alternative genre performers. When I became a Christian, I had an incredible battle setting aside “my music” and following the different path. It taught me what an incredibly powerful medium music and song is and how it can capture our attention, influence our mood and condition our feelings. So, when I read this article of yours Bill’s it was cringeworthy to think how our Christian performers are prostituting their talents and gifts to the great deceiver. Great Christian music sung and played with conviction and faith is such a blessing and service to our Christian community. It can reach multiple hundreds of people at a time and can be a blessed way to create community and focus in a worship setting. It carries with it a weighty admonition to the musical “preachers” whom must be true to the Scriptures and honouring to God at all times.
Thanks for your commentary and the time taken to produce it. Social media is a part of our modern conversation so it is so important to have voices such as yours to provide the other perspective. The Christian perspective is sorely lacking.
Note: I posted the above to the FB article but it never appeared? If you had removed it for some reason – thats fine. Its your page :-).
Cheers.
Thanks Steve. No I did not remove any comments!
Thanks, Bill it would have seemed odd if you had. Possibly just a technical gremlin, as surely I have not had enough exposure to attract the indignation of Mr Zuckerburg already. LOL
“Daigle opined. “What people don’t realize is I went to Ellen and she is just a bundle of light.” This kinda reminded me of 2 Corinthians 11:14:
English Standard Version
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
New Living Translation
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
King James Bible
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Young’s Literal Translation
and no wonder — for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;
“Daigle opined. “What people don’t realize is I went to Ellen and she is just a bundle of light.”
Nice quote, Lauren!
I wonder if she’s ever read, or taken seriously, 2 Corinthians 11:14?
Young’s Literal Translation
and no wonder — for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;
Webster’s Bible Translation
And no wonder; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
World English Bible
And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.
New Living Translation
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Thank you for that great response in the Afterword. It’s simple and easy to say. I must remember to say that, rather than telling somewhat what *I* think and being villified for it.
Thanks Jean,
In regard to Paul Swan’s comment, it’s not simply that Daigle is a new Christian (if that were even true). Her main statement displays surprising ignorance of how one is to even know whether something is right or wrong: “I’m not God”! Granted, that contradicts her point that others should read their Bible (of course, she should too). But “I’m not God” shows profound ignorance of how–and even whether–we can know God’s will. Few young Christians or even non-Christians would be so ignorant of Christianity and the Bible as to suggest that we must “be God” to know what is or isn’t sin. At best (and it seems likely that it’s worse), it is simply a non-answer to avoid having to give an unpopular opinion. And if her “student” does determine that the Bible calls homosexuality “sin,” she always has the fall-back possibility of claiming, “Well, that’s only HER interpretation.”
Amen. Yet also we should have the awesome responsibility to tell Christians and non Christians alike how God sees us though the shed blood of Jesus Christ too. We are in partnership with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and for our Heavenly Father to not only bring the truth of the gospel to a lost, dying, dark, hope deprived world as well we are to tell then who we are, who God sees us as: His ambassadors, His Life and “this is what I want to” to those who don’t know how much Jesus Christ restores, redeems us back from separation in too a closer intimacy and relationship with God the Father though Jesus Christ we can know cry “Abba Father” and be certain, we are heard, loved and walked along side everyday by the best daddy we could have in the world and a spirit that encourages, enables, comforts, removes and replaces from our Will to His Will. Yes we much always be grateful, reverent and have an understanding of a Holy and just God yet also be willing to be used like the example that God is the lighthouse and we steer the light into the right spots to shine and let Him stop shipwrecked lives.
Rom 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
(MKJV)
So how exactly do we not let sin reign in our mortal bodies if only God knows what sin is?
Rom 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness.
(MKJV)
In his book A Spiritual House, Rev. W. Pouwelse (1986), writes “It certainly does not depend on our effort, but the Lord has called us to be witnesses in this world. Let our voice be heard in a world in which the commandments of the Lord are considered to be of hardly any value “. Not much has changed!!
Yes quite so Pieternella.
Thanks Bill, as always you are on top of all the shallow, Hollywood propaganda. As you so eloquently put it a few weeks ago, “Happy Clappy Christianity”, it’s a perfect description of what a lot of the church has turned into. Here we are faced again with, “Silence on evil,” which I believe is the #1 sin in the church, e.g.
#1) Silence on abortion
#2) Silence on the transgender evil
#3) Silence on homosexuality
#4) Silence on the spread of Sharia Law in America
#5) Silence on the sexualisation of our children
and on and on we go. You are one of only a very few that is honest about all the evil we are accepting & condoning in the church. I heard once years ago and I don’t know how true this is, but would love to hear your thoughts that God didn’t destroy Sodom & Gomorrah because of homosexuality — He destroyed the twin cities because all the good citizens were condoning it.
God bless you Bill, Louise
Many thanks Louise.
Well written Bill.
Thanks Ross.
Thanks for your article Bill. I wonder if we need to define our words at times or ask the other person what they mean by certain words? Certainly Jesus never condoned sin but He always lovingly received the sinner and sought to see that person changed by His love. So he went into the home of Zaachaeus who was changed by the very presence of Jesus. He engaged in conversation the woman found in adultery but told her to go and sin no more. We trust that her life was changed.
I’ve used the words “received” and “engaged” above where I could’ve said “accepted”.When we use the word “accept” the sinner, it doesn’t mean that we are agreeing with that person’s actions or words but are showing by our openness and love that we truly care for that person.
Of course only Jesus can change people.
Thanks Bill. I am deeply concerned for Christian friends and family who sit on the fence with the same-sex issue. I bring up the topic for discussion, as Christians ought to do, Prov 27:17 says iron sharpens iron, but only get the ‘we need more love’ response or that this is the world, who are we to control/influence the government, or nothing at all. Any tips aside from continually forwarding messages, raising it when we meet etc? I feel hopeless at times, I honestly thought it would be easier with Christians, but alas, not so. It is truly disconcerting. I don’t raise these topics in condemnation, only in true Christ-like love. I read, and cross check multiple scriptures, and it is glaringly obvious what God says about homosexuality, as well as thievery, lying, and a sin that was affecting my life, drunkenness. I repented and asked God to remove the desire, and praise the Lord, not one drop. Thank Bill, and God bless you.
Many thanks Jonathan. Bless you.
It is true that what the Bible states on all moral matters should be followed. It is a mistake to regard someone’s admitted ignorance as permissiveness or endorsement of all lifestyles or immoral behaviors. I rejoice that the Bible was held up by her as the place to go to find the answers. I really don’t like the belittling of someone’s humbly admitted ignorance (if it was truthful and sincere). To her critic, I say, there are more things that you don’t know than things that you know. If you want to feed the lambs, then feed them without ridicule. You were neither born nor born again with all instant knowledge. What do you have that you did not receive? If any man thinks that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. He who exalts himself shall be humbled… As for judging, Paul says, “What do I have to do with judging outsiders? Outsiders God judges.” We judge those in the church when we tell them to repent or be expelled. We can’t expell the lost who never come in the first place, can we? We give the knowledge that we have when we have it. You can’t fault someone for admitting ignorance. Would you have preferred for her to pretend that she knew the answer? That could have gone either of two ways. Lying about her ignorance would have been wrong. You can’t have it both ways. If you want to educate your students, treating them with respect is necessary. I find that you display unacceptable disrespect for this baby Christian’s sincerity. No, we are not dealing with the matter of sexual moral/immoral issues at this point. I am only dealing with your immoral belittlement. That is not a Christian virtue. Perhaps you are blind to your sin of pride. I hope you get down from your high horse. You have not given a single example of what you would have said to Ellen or anyone else. Please put your words to her here so you can lead by example of speaking like Christ to the sinners as if you had been asked the same questions. You seem obsessed with belittlement of the lady who found herself unprepared for the questions thrown at her. So put yourself in her place. Exactly what would Jesus say through you to the audience that was better than her answer based on your extensive knowledge? I’d love to hear it.
Thanks Paul but you are quite off the mark here. It would appear that she has been a Christian for a number of years now. Wikipedia says that she did mission work in Brazil before attending university. She is now 27, so that means she has been a Christian for a decade at least it would seem. Just how long does one have to be a Christian before they know something about some of the rudimentary teachings of the Bible? How many years must a person be saved before they understand the basics of the Bible? Paul rebuked immature believers who were still on the milk of the Word and not solid meat.
And if Lauren does not know what the Bible teaches on the issue of God’s intentions for human sexuality in general, and homosexuality in particular, then I suggest that she stops all the concerts and touring, stop all the appearances on secular TV shows, and so on and actually starts to seriously read and study her Bible. And she should not resume her career until she does know what it teaches on these and other absolutely crucial issues. Otherwise she is harming the cause of Christ and doing great damage to the Kingdom.
Your quoting of Paul in Corinthians simply makes my point. She claims to be a Christian. So yes, we ARE to judge her and we ARE to urge her to repent. If she won’t, then she should stop claiming to represent Christ. That is our clear biblical responsibility, regardless of your squeamishness about it.
And I already said in my article what the obvious and easy response should have been to the question: “It does not matter a hill of beans how I feel about the issue. What does matter is what God has said about it. And he has clearly said that it is indeed a sin, and it must be repented of and turned away from.”
Dear Bill,
There must be a similar atmosphere in the so called prestigious Catholic boys school in Sydney as there was in the community St Paul was addressing in Corinthians. The entire school of students and teachers gave a standing ovation to the student who ‘came out’ in front of the whole school. They obviously condone the perversion of homosexuality and make excuses for it or he wouldn’t have had the confidence to ‘come out’. It’s time someone told this so called Catholic Christian school what the Bible says about homosexuality.
Louise Harris, in Ezekiel 16:49-50 God explains why He destroyed Sodom. He is talking to Israel about her sins, which in the preceding verses He says were worse than Sodom’s.
Eze. 16:49-50 Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned, they did not help the poor and the needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.
Homosexuality was probably amongst the unnamed “detestable” things, as well as other bad things that pagans did in those days and unfortunately the Israelites frequently copied, including human sacrifice.
When the Israelites turned to the pagan gods around them and followed them worshipping the sun and moon and taking part in the detestable rites that accompanied their worship, including temple prostitution both heterosexual and homosexual and they sacrificed their children in the fire to these gods, God got very, very angry. Especially about the killing of the children.
To that biblically illiterate person, I must ask, “Then why did Jesus suffer such pain and humiliation and die such a horrid death if everything and everyone were “cool” with God, the Father? To think so is to abandon mere human logic. (I suppose all but the Apostle John underwent horrendous torture and a martyrs death for something they knew of a certainty to be a lie? Logic shouts a resounding, “NO!).
I gained a new neighbor when I moved to KY, whom I really liked. As a believer, I skipped the usual intro barrier question, “What’s your sign,? and asked what he did for a living. He replied that if he told me I’d probably never speak to him again, yet I urged him on. He revealed he was a female impersonator. He just assumed I’d understand that meant he was “gay.”
I told him he must be on drugs if he thought that meant I’d never speak to him again, but that I did want him to understand right up front that I was a Bible-believing Christian and did believe homosexuality was a choice rather than a genetic fate of some sort. He appreciated knowing my position up front, and that gave us many an opportunity to discuss the matter from the Biblical position.
Sadly, he’d worked in the mines of Eastern KY and died a couple years later of Mesothelioma. I was and am still unsure of what his final view was. I can only leave that to our loving Father. But I do know he actually fully understood ‘what was what’ before he left us. “Lying is never appreciated and never brings forth fruit,”…that’s what he told me before he died. It’s a lesson of which we all need to take heed no matter the sometimes painful cost.
Bill,
You amaze me daily. I only wish I had your ability to write and be biblically truthful at the same time. I read your postings and I say to myself, this is a man who walks with the spirit and writes with the spirit! Truly good news your pen writes. I have so-called Christian friends who ignore the Bible and worship a feel good society. At the same time they tell me it is not for me to judge gays, that is God’s job. It is not their job to shield the sinner with cultural protection just so you cause no offense. I have isolated myself from people in my community and church because they deem me as the problem, when in fact they are the ones who have succumb to a culture of nothingness and evil. I have been diagnoised with Leaukima and not one person from the church has offered to help me around the house. I have other medical conditions that required surgery and a six month recovery period, no offer of help from a church that claims they love everyone. By the Mercy and Grace of God I am doing better. I have found that alot of Christians are just Sunday Christians. Culture and cultural compliance is satans partner.
Many thanks Charlie. I will keep you in my prayers. Blessings.
I am a new believer formal atheist so I still struggle with some demons. I believe the work of God in our lives but I strongly believe that none of you have the right to judge. God said “love your neighbor” he did not say love them unless they are homosexuals. Why is it that Christians place themselves in such a higher standard than other and make non Christmas feel lesser than you? Where is your humbleness? Where is your action to what your preach?
Thanks Alicia. It is great to hear that you have become a Christian. And I trust you will keep growing into Christian maturity and a deeper understanding of God’s Word. And as you do, you will discover that Christians are always commanded to hold one another to account, to admonish and encourage one another, and to point out areas of sin in each other’s lives, so we can all become more and more Christlike. Moreover, everywhere in Scripture we are told that we must judge as well. If you are unfamiliar with the many Scriptures ordering us to engage in biblical judging and discernment, I offer many of them in these articles for starters:
http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/10/08/thou-shalt-judge/
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2014/07/15/dealing-with-cliches-about-judging/
I will keep you in prayer as you grow in the knowledge of our Lord.
It for this very reason that many Christians are voting for Liberal agendas and allowing sexual immorality, abortion, and LGBT agendas to take a foothold in our nation. They are not standing up for what the Word of God says about these lifestyles and are allowing Hollywood culture to set the moral standard.
Hey Bill, I just saw your post earlier after it was reposted by a fellow minister who i highly respect. Last week when I read an article about Lauren Daigle’s appearance on Ellen, my heart sank without knowing what was said and how it was said concerning biblical truth and how it was conveyed to a massive listening audience. Before share my heart I want to share a little about myself and why this is such a concern for me. I’ve been a believer for 42 years , I’m married with 3 daughters and I’m a Messianic pastor here in Florida and I have a brother who is gay and I’ve spent decades ministering to homosexuals because of my love for my brother who i talk to a few times a month. I, like yourself and many students of Gods Word understand clearly how God views such perversion, and time and modernized cultures don’t change a God who never changes ! i wanted to share two things perhaps about her belief and your commentary. The first one really bugs me a lot because I find it a common practice in churches to today to not clearly ” vet ” people who are in ministry from being a greeter to a staff pastor. As you mentioned, referring to our very first principles or foundational understanding of what we call New Testament Christian doctrine, we as the American church are in many sectors of our faith an embarrassment to the fathers who lived their lives in a totally pagan culture where homosexuality was constant and common. Compromise was unthinkable and if you did, Paul more than likely gave you a chance to repent or you might end up in the end up in one of his epistles as one who departed form the faith ! The modern church age has been so dumbed down regarding moral behavior and the topic of sexual behavior gets deflected by a rebuttal of , well! , all sin is alike, so gluttons in the church are as bad as homosexual behavior with the finality always being judge not lest you be judged, which you covered. I’m actually surprised you haven’t been excoriated by many more post of,” Your a religious hypocrite who can’t see your own sin”. Even in some of your words i might not have chosen to use that seem to reveal a sense of frustration but I get it ! Its hard to write without venting some frustration when you read such ignorance in what christians say compared to what scripture says about such topics. I think on one reply, the reader was annoyed by your honesty. When replying about gays…..I too, almost daily feel a deep love for my brother, who’s gay and all the LGBTXYZ people that I befriend because I don’t want to see them spend eternity separated from a merciful and loving God who has all the answers to their pain and sin. I’m constantly aware of how some of these people are kind and loving in sincere ways to those around them, matter of fact I love being with my brother and just talking about his life and addressing sensitive or even volatile issues with him regarding HIs final spiritual status when he dies. I never let my emotions dominate,” thus saith the Lord “regarding this topic. I ‘ve always communicated openly and bluntly about what God says and he listens because he knows I love him big time ! The seduction of biblical moral thought happens because we elevate our emotions of natural compassion over Gods. We don’t say it but we exalt our compassion over truth and make our emotional disposition an idol that stands in front of God…its called the idol of enablement ! I think what Lauren needs to do is what many Christian singer song writer have done and lay down their gift they received from God and allow themselves to be taught Gods righteous standard so they will never give shallow replies that are marinated in a fear of man ! If we can’t agree on this matter at least we can say this, “Ellen needs the same Savior we have and Lauren needs hIs words on her tongue so lets pray for both that they’ll find their place in him …..May the Father bring correction to Lauren in a way she can receive it and may Ellen see the wicked state of her heart and call out to Jesus !
In a bell curve some who would say yes would be on one small side. Some saying no on the other. The majority would be in the middle. Satan counts on the middle lot. Don’t be the middle lot. Speak the truth. God calls us to repent. That is what the artiste should have said.
We are facing a holocaust. We need to speak out. From abortion to same-sex marriages. To transgendering. Every level of wrong. We must. Lest Christ vomits us out
“Those who remain silent are guilty” – St. Edith Stein
Hi Charlie. I also will keep you in my prayers. As a fellow Christian who also experiences this isolation by merely sticking to God’s word, I will pray.
Paul Swan
“…unprepared for the situation”????? You have got to be joking.
Obviously the Ellen show is a hugely powerful propaganda program which has millions of viewers around the world and here in Australia is specifically targeted at the young audience by the channel Nine network in an overwhelming show of corrupt, wicked and perverse administration. What this woman has done is help arm that propaganda and I find it extremely unlikely that this woman is incapable of telling what the scriptures say obviously and plainly. If she actually believes in reading the Bible to find what is says about sin, as she said, she would know exactly what it says so this proves her to be a liar one way or another.
Thank you Bill.
This is my first time reading your words. Your thoughts and words mimic my own. I do a lot of writing on the internet also, although not as much as I would like. Time is short for this world and we must obedient to the Lords commandments to spread the good word and make disciples.
It is disheartening to hear “Christian” celebs becoming voices for Christianity without knowing the word of God, and totally misrepresenting the Faith, the Way that Jesus laid out for us.
We must stand strong as competent ministers of the word of God. We are holding up the Truth that many will be seeking as things get worse around the world.
Many might see us as negative or critical Christians, but we are living in a critical time, against an unrelenting enemy.
I’ll share this this one last thing with you. As I was reading in Isaiah the other night, two groups of words jumped off the pages. They are…
“Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid” and “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”
Isaiah 7:4,9
Your work is important Bill, and I believe it will become even more important in the near future.
God Bless you, and I look forward to reading more from you. Your brother in Christ, Mike
Many thanks Michael M.
Ok deeply sad. This is the girl whose song “First” has been such an inspiration to me many times. But its all I knew of her. So many who started well are falling away. Please help them Jesus. Thanks Bill.
Thanks Shelley.
Thanks Bill for standing firm on God’s word without any compromise in current spiritual issues faced by Christians now and days to come.
Many thanks Philip.
Let pray that her pastor is now coaching her how to answer in a Biblical way.
Thanks Bruce – assuming her pastor knows how to answer in a Biblical way!
Yes thanks again for a great Biblically based article.
It would be fair to say that for a good number of years I was addicted to popular secular music, a “muso” in the Urban dictionary definition, vicariously modelling my life and lifestyle on my favourite Rock and Alternative genre performers. When I became a Christian, I had an incredible battle setting aside “my music” and following the different path. It taught me what an incredibly powerful medium music and song is and how it can capture our attention, influence our mood and condition our feelings. So, when I read this article of yours Bill’s it was cringeworthy to think how our Christian performers are prostituting their talents and gifts to the great deceiver. Great Christian music sung and played with conviction and faith is such a blessing and service to our Christian community. It can reach multiple hundreds of people at a time and can be a blessed way to create community and focus in a worship setting. It carries with it a weighty admonition to the musical “preachers” whom must be true to the Scriptures and honouring to God at all times.
Thanks for your commentary and the time taken to produce it. Social media is a part of our modern conversation so it is so important to have voices such as yours to provide the other perspective. The Christian perspective is sorely lacking.
Note: I posted the above to the FB article but it never appeared? If you had removed it for some reason – thats fine. Its your page :-).
Cheers.
Thanks Steve. No I did not remove any comments!
Thanks, Bill it would have seemed odd if you had. Possibly just a technical gremlin, as surely I have not had enough exposure to attract the indignation of Mr Zuckerburg already. LOL
“Daigle opined. “What people don’t realize is I went to Ellen and she is just a bundle of light.” This kinda reminded me of 2 Corinthians 11:14:
English Standard Version
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
New Living Translation
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
King James Bible
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Young’s Literal Translation
and no wonder — for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;
“Daigle opined. “What people don’t realize is I went to Ellen and she is just a bundle of light.”
Nice quote, Lauren!
I wonder if she’s ever read, or taken seriously, 2 Corinthians 11:14?
Young’s Literal Translation
and no wonder — for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;
Webster’s Bible Translation
And no wonder; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
World English Bible
And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.
New Living Translation
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Thank you for that great response in the Afterword. It’s simple and easy to say. I must remember to say that, rather than telling somewhat what *I* think and being villified for it.
Thanks Jean,
In regard to Paul Swan’s comment, it’s not simply that Daigle is a new Christian (if that were even true). Her main statement displays surprising ignorance of how one is to even know whether something is right or wrong: “I’m not God”! Granted, that contradicts her point that others should read their Bible (of course, she should too). But “I’m not God” shows profound ignorance of how–and even whether–we can know God’s will. Few young Christians or even non-Christians would be so ignorant of Christianity and the Bible as to suggest that we must “be God” to know what is or isn’t sin. At best (and it seems likely that it’s worse), it is simply a non-answer to avoid having to give an unpopular opinion. And if her “student” does determine that the Bible calls homosexuality “sin,” she always has the fall-back possibility of claiming, “Well, that’s only HER interpretation.”