By now you’ve undoubtedly heard about the extremely controversial policy coming out of the Houston mayor’s office regarding sermon review. Annise Parker, the city’s openly lesbian mayor, is demanding that certain ministers hand over their sermons that discuss homosexuality and transgender issues or even those that make mention of Parker. Those who fail to do so may be held in contempt of court.
This all started with Houston’s non-discrimination ordinance that allowed such things as the right for men and women to use whichever restroom they choose. Even in a state as generally conservative and Christian-friendly as Texas, the wrong people in the wrong offices will wield their power to promote their agenda as far as possible.
The implications of these actions are quite obvious and a little unnerving. What this tells me is that the time is rapidly approaching where there will be a great chance for Christians to back up all of our talk that we will stand strong when times are tough. Four thoughts to keep in mind on this issue:
Get used to it.
By this I don’t mean, “accept it as inevitable and as a natural part of society.” Rather, we must realize that our nation has come to the point that this will not be an isolated incident. There are a number of openly homosexual officials in the US now and it’s no surprise that the top item on most of their lists is to gain universal acceptance and approval, whether voluntarily or by force. And, as we’ve seen with incidents like the Michael Sam kiss on ESPN earlier this year, there are millions of people waiting at all times for the next homosexual they can applaud to show just how tolerant and open-minded they are. The problem will not stop at Houston, and if left unchecked it will progress to the point where biblical preaching is a crime, much like what has happened in Canada and England.
Keep speaking.
It goes without saying that ministers need to stand strong and keep on preaching the Word and elders and members need to stand behind them as they do so. As this issue grows more widespread, I hope I never, ever hear of preachers being instructed to tone down what they say for fear of legal intrusion or tax-exemption issues. We are under obligation to no man. Our charge to declare the whole counsel of God comes from the Father Himself and we must always remember what the apostles said in the face of persecution: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). This doesn’t mean we should grandstand and go out and try to cause trouble to get noticed or make a point. Instead, we must merely say what we need to say in the way we’ve always said it and let God handle the rest. As Jesus told His disciples as He prepared them to go out into a world waiting to persecute them, “be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Use your God-given authority.
God will hold all governing authorities accountable for their faithfulness to Him (or lack thereof) and although we might not have the authority of a mayor or governor, we have our votes. Christians who avoid politics and then speak loudly in protest of evil people enacting evil laws aren’t doing any good at all. We’ve been given an opportunity to influence government here in America that is truly rare in the course of world history, and if we don’t use that for good and remain silent with the numbers we have, we’ll be held accountable, too.
Voting isn’t enough.
As important as voting is, it’s only a band-aid at this point in time. Houston can vote Parker out, but if the citizenry is against God and for homosexuality, it’s only a matter of time until the next anti-Christian official rises to power there, and the same goes for every other city, state, and the nation at large. If we think that voting for the right people will put an end to abortion, homosexuality, drug use, or anything else and yet the moral foundation of the nation continues to erode, we’re hopelessly naïve. If we don’t start bringing our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, and even those who don’t like us to a knowledge of Christ, we can only patch up the problem so many times before the inevitable happens, just as it did in Rome, Greece, Babylon, Egypt, and everywhere else.
To say that we live in interesting times is an understatement. However, it’s not in times of ease or leisure that people have the opportunity to take a stand. It’s in the midst of battle that Christian soldiers show themselves ready to fight. We’ve avoided that fight for too long by not passing the faith down generation to generation, not honoring marriage within the ranks of our members, not evangelizing, not getting involved and not preaching the entirety of the Gospel. Just as voting is only a patch on the larger problem, so it is if we stop homosexuality but don’t restore marriage to its biblical standing, or if we produce a moral citizenry that doesn’t honor God, or if we all believe and do the right things but don’t bring up a generation after us to carry on the fight. Now is the time to stand and be counted. What will you and your house say?
By Jack Wilkie
