We’re going to take time to consider what God’s Word says about sexuality, marriage, and the nature of men and women.

The church initiative to teach on Biblical sexuality annually on the third week of January was birthed out of what happened in Canada last year when Bill C4 was brought into law on January 8. It’s known as the anti-conversion therapy law.

Bill C4, I would say, is this: It’s the next in the latest slide of a long dissent our nation has been on. It’s the next step by a nation that generally rejects God and His moral law, His eternal nature, and His divine power.

The tragic thing about Bill C4 is that it was voted into law in Canada without a single dissenting vote. The opposition and the government together unanimously voted into law Bill C4 that would say that the Biblical view on human sexuality “is based on and propagates myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, including the myth that heterosexuality, cisgender gender identity, and gender expression that conforms to the sex assigned to a person at birth are preferred over other sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.”

The Bill goes on, if you’re to read it for yourself, to essentially criminalize the preaching, teaching, and counseling of the Biblical sexual ethic that would call men and women to conform to God’s design for human sexuality.

It’s shocking, when you think about it, that not a single member in the House of Commons’ 338 members of parliament voted to defend the Biblical ethic of sexuality.

Not a single MP, across all party lines, voted to defend Biblical morality.

That says to us, church, and this is very important that we understand this, that for those who would put their hope in government or in political change, to turn a nation around, we want to declare: put your hope in God.

How Did We Get Here? — Sexual Revolution

As I was considering this and praying about it, I said, “Lord, how did we get here? How did we arrive in this place as a nation? How did we slide this far?” And the Lord reminded me that this has not occurred overnight. This is just the next step in a long line of choices we have made as a nation in the rejection of God and His moral law.

Let’s go back for a moment. A well-celebrated thing in history is the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 70s.

It was a social movement that challenged traditional values related to sexuality. It was literally a revolution. It wasn’t a revolution in the overthrowing of a nation’s government, but it was a revolution in the sense that the moral order taught by God’s Word was rejected in the sexual ethic.

The sexual revolution rejected the Biblical design of heterosexual marriage. It was a revolution that increased the acceptance of homosexuality, rejected monogamy, and rejected reserving sex for the marriage bed.

Once sex could be separated from the Biblical design of God-ordained marriage between a man and a woman, the next target in our nation became marriage itself.

A Strategic Attack — Crumbling of the Family Order

In the last few decades, Satan has made a strategic attack on the image and the glory of God by his influence in the destruction of the marriage vow and the marriage bed, which was long protected by the laws of our nation.

It was in the 1980s that the Divorce Act was struck down. By the early 2000s, the state government had made itself the authority over the institution of marriage—that God had designed—and the state put itself in the place of God, legalizing homosexual unions. Next, the state set the terms for divorce and made itself the authority in dissolving marriage.

What we’ve watched happen in our nation is the crumbling of the family order. It’s rarer and rarer that children are raised in a family with both of their biological parents or that those parents are living together as husband and wife before God.

The family, which is the foundation of a nation—and exists from God for the health and structure of a nation—has never been in worse shape in Canada.

The state has taken it upon itself to educate children that a family is whatever hodgepodge confused mixture of human relationships that can be assembled.

The Next Un-Natural Step

When you consider all of these things together, all of a sudden, it makes sense that the next unnatural step in our nation would be to escalate the attack on the nature of male and female itself, trying to separate a man or a woman from the biology of their own physical body.

The teaching is: you don’t have to be restricted by the biology of your body, but you can assign to yourself whatever gender and sexual identity you decide.

We know this: the public school has become the grooming ground for the new gender ideology that does not conform to obvious human biology. It’s based on fluid sentimentality, human feelings, and emotion. Seeds of confusion are being planted in the minds of our children and the young people of our nation, who are impressionable.

And there are those in sexual education working in public schools that have dropped the word pedophile from their vocabulary, speaking to our children with the acronym MAP (minor-attracted persons).

The Great Lie of Neutrality

These actions of the state in the education system are not harmless, and they’re not neutral. They are driven by ideologies that are anti-Christ; they are anti-Jesus. The state is not impartial, supporting both sides; it has a clearly weighted moral stance in a specific direction.

The great lie is that the state, the education system, and secularism are morally neutral; they’re not. It is a religious system. They are not religiously neutral; they are religious by nature.

Jesus said this: “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad” (Matthew 12:30).

There is no soft ground in the middle. The secular state is not neutral in advancing its anti-Christ agendas.

A Path that leads to destruction — Is There Hope?

As we see the culture transforming, these things are not going to stop unless God has mercy on our nation. Political change is not the solution. Protests are not the solution.

As followers of Christ, we don’t put our hope in political powers or in human institutions. As much as we desire them to be reformed, to come to repentance, to be led by Godly men and women, they are not our hope. Jesus Christ is our hope.

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV – “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

These things happening in our nation are not the liberation of man. These are attacks on the nature of God and His Word. This is an assault on Christ in our nation. And these are attacks on God’s creational design. They’re meant to hurt God. They are meant to hurt those whom God is seeking to redeem from sin and its power.

This is a scheme of the devil to kill, steal, and destroy. He’s the father of lies (John 8:44-45). Today, we are calling out these lies.

Satan is making a strategic attack on the image and the glory of God. The Word of God tells us that man is made in the image of God and the purpose of your life is to glorify God. That’s to be your identity found in Jesus.

We, as a people, and as a nation, need to turn to the Word of God to renew our minds, to transform and re-shape our thinking, to form a worldview that is Biblical and is honoring to Christ.

The path being promoted in our nation is one that leads to destruction. But there is hope in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The desire of my heart is to proclaim, to any and all who would listen, that God has an ordained design for human sexuality and gender, and it’s laid out in His Word. My desire is to be a dissenting voice in our culture, one that points people to Christ, and be a church that’s committed to His Word.

Men and women will never understand their value and worth, never understand their identity, never know contentment outside of God’s ordained design and a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Any message contrary to that is a lie.

We talk about these things because we want people to find the path of life and Jesus Christ. Jesus is the power by which God set the heavens and the earth in their place. Jesus is the one who brings chaos into order. Jesus has made known the path of life; in His presence, there is fullness of joy, there is identity, and His Word says there is pleasure forevermore.

This article was originally posted in Harbingers Daily.

Watch the Video: Biblical Sexuality Sunday Service, January 15, 2023

 

Terry James never ceases to inspire, encourage and educate. My dear friend more than tickled my brain in his recent article posted on Rapture Ready (Racing Toward Rapture). He wrote about his very near miss where a glorious eternity mattered. But he made a point that would be hard to erase from memory: what happens to us according to the Lord’s design must be used for His Kingdom and Glory. We just cannot shrug it aside, but when the time is right, utilize it as a tool of His grace.

I sure was not that far from what my dear brother in Christ experienced, except that it felt like a B- grader versus a blockbuster. This happened in late June 2021.

I checked in at the emergency room for a stroke that hampered my movements. It did not take long for the appropriate treatment regimen to begin. Only after a few days in the ward meant for cases like mine, I landed in the rehabilitation facility. Everything was geared toward getting me back on the road with extensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy. It was quite a tall order for someone recovering from a jarring stroke.

But there were indeed some sweeteners at the end of a grueling day. The wife of one patient gave me a packet of pitted prunes. My old buddy from the first day at school brought a banana cake loaded with lots of walnuts – his wife’s finesse in cake baking!

Shortly after finishing off the sumptuous home-baked treat, I somehow ‘fell into a deep sleep’ – except that it caused me to lose track of time. More like a much sought-after relief from the ravaging realities of the ensuing pandemic. Nothing scary or sinister, simply a delightful snooze devoid of time limits. I did not see anything or hear anything. No talk about the Great Reset, the coming economic collapse, and the prospect of a worsening quality of life associated with mandates. Strains from some tasteless K-pop tune, vulgarities, and the thumping generated by stilettos – it never crossed my mind.

In some way, it was sheer bliss right until the moment I regained consciousness, more like an abrupt end to a sweet dream when I was told that there was indeed a close call. I survived a heart failure and was out of action for almost a fortnight. One thing that was foremost in my mind was the rapture, still some way to go!

It was, in some way, a letdown. I was still part and parcel of an increasingly blackening planet. Nevertheless, any urge to scowl was smothered by Proverbs 3:5-6.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

So I knew one thing was almost for sure, He had a plan for me that was hard to swallow. Just when it appeared that I was on a straightforward recovery road, there was that ‘deep sleep’ again. This time, it was short, but my entire body felt entirely different when consciousness was regained.

I had never come to such a state of feebleness in my whole life. I could only move my legs with great difficulty; both hands did not fare any better. My appetite was almost nonexistent. A catheter was resorted to, as my urinary function was severely impaired. Someone else in my position could have freaked out, but despite being in a frail condition, I remained calm and composed. I could only bring it to the Lord.

The pulmonary embolism almost took my life, but the aftermath was, in many ways, a train wreck. Nothing deterred me from giving it a solid fight where recovery was concerned. The Lord had His purpose for letting it happen in a way that is not the way of the flesh. My numbered days were in His hands; only He would know the exact number!

By His grace and mercy, my cognitive abilities were intact. For a start, I had to be in shape to continue writing for His Kingdom and Glory. Other things would be in tow.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

I was aware of the long and challenging road ahead. On my own strength and ability, I would not succeed. Only through the Lord would there be an overcoming, regardless of the circumstances. Yet I had to be patient and let the timing of things be at His direction.

Despite the initial bodily weakness and pain caused by the catheter, I was adamant about being bedridden. Mastering baby steps would amount to the likeness of streams in the desert. The only time I yelled at the top of my voice was when the catheter was removed. Some progress, at the very least!

The physiotherapy and occupational therapy did kick into high gear; the only frustration was staring at those inherent inadequacies in the face. Walking with an aid and, at times, being held by someone could prove quite depressing. Even in matters like going to the washroom, there had to be somebody with me. Thankfully, I was able to bathe independently!

There is a beauty beyond compare when you walk in the ways of the Lord. The doctors, nurses, and therapists could find some break in the monotony of their mundane daily routine when they crossed paths with me. So did quite a number of patients. I knew I was a light in a dull place, so there were no questions about the role given by the Lord. I would seize every opportunity to share the Good News. Would it bear fruit? Perhaps the answer will be given at the Bema seat!

It was not always plain sailing in the hospital environment. There would be difficult patients, especially those with dementia. But this did not deter me from making progressive strides in my bodily functions and, most importantly, my role as being a light for His Kingdom and Glory. I would assist the nurses in keeping an eye on some tough cases – raising the alarm when needed. Some shifts had staff that had language barriers in communication. There were a sizeable number of nurses from India, Myanmar, and the Philippines. None could converse in Mandarin and local dialects – notably Cantonese. I gladly filled the gap!

At the beginning of March 2022, I was cleared for discharge. Nearly nine months might have been a whale of a time. Yet many hurdles were overcome, breaching preconceived notions. But the ones who witnessed it knew that it was the Lord who got it done. The question remains – is it enough to make them believe?

I cannot see where it all ends. I am merely a piece in the jigsaw puzzle. Being a follower of Christ means walking the road less traveled. It is one that is laden with a myriad of challenges, oftentimes laced with trying moments. Praise God! I did not protest or throw in the towel. I simply prayed when the odds seemed insurmountable. He saw me through; He will never leave us in a heap of hopelessness when He has a purpose for that which happens.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish” (John 18:21).

When we surrender our lives to the Lord, we must gladly accept that which is far from glamorous – it is all for His Kingdom and Glory.

Yours in Christ

Edwin

Contact me at edwinuk13@gmail.com,