Category — Exodus

In December 2011, World Magazine named Exodus International President Alan Chambers “Daniel of the Year”. The magazine said it selects “one Christian from the millions around the world who have put their faith in God and gained the strength to stand up against ungodly trends”.

But the very next month, Chambers was smoozing and giggling at a conference of the “ungodly trends” people. Instead of standing up against them, he looked more at home than he did at an Exodus conference.

At that gay christian conference in Orlando Chambers said that 99.9% percent of the people he’s met have not changed their “sexual orientation” and other garden variety untruths. In the aftermath, the future of Exodus is being questioned.

Watch the video and share your thoughts.

There’s a new pecking order of  gay christians in town. As defined by the gay christian network (GCN), individuals who believe you can be gay, have unrestricted sex and the whole nine are called “Side A” gay christians. The ones who believe you should just call yourself gay but refrain from sex for an unspecified amount of time are labeled “Side B” gay christians. But after a visit from Alan Chambers, the public face of Exodus International to a GCN conference Jan 6th in Orlando, we are prompted to add one more class of gay christian and name it “Side C”.

The C is for compromised, confused, careless and carnal. One thing is ironically clear: statements about homosexuality by Alan Chambers rarely result in clarity.

Over a roughly two hour period, Chambers rattled off a stream of statements seemingly more in sync with trending progay theology than the biblical position Exodus claims to uphold for the last 30-odd years.  In response to a question about the Exodus slogan “change [from homosexuality] is possible”, Chambers said:

“The majority of people that I have met, and I would say the majority meaning 99.9% of them, have not experienced a change in their orientation or have gotten to a place where they could say that they could never be tempted or are not tempted in some way or experience some level of same-sex attraction. I think there is a gender issue there, there are some women who have challenged me and said that my orientation or my attractions have changed completely. Those have been few and far between. The vast majority of people that I know do still experience some level of same-sex attraction.”

Reflections, Reactions and Rebranding

The aftermath of Chamber’s appearance with the self declared homosexual christian group set off a firestorm of support, sharp criticism and everything in between.

Randy Thomas, a former Exodus official: “This isn’t shocking to me because Alan has always had a heart for those that oppose the work of Exodus and the truth of Alan’s testimony (which directly and indirectly represents thousands of us in some way shape or form.) I trust Alan and know his strength of conviction is completely wrapped up in God’s redeeming grace … I wasn’t worried for him or them. I was actually quite proud of him.”

Haydn Sennitt, a Syndey based ministry leader: “However, being outnumbered on such a huge scale would have put psychological strain on him to obfuscate, weaken his position, say things which- in hindsight- he might regret.  In the first 5-6 minutes he did exactly that: his first comments were to joke about drinking martinis and smoking cigarettes at an Exodus conference and laughed at a joke by the ‘gay Christian’ conference convenor that tacitly mocked Exodus conference attendees.  I was shocked. ”

Debbie Thurman, Christian journalist and former lesbian,  “I commend Alan for his honesty and clarity. Is that [Chamber's statement] an earth-shattering statement, as some are interpreting it to be? Not for me, and not really for Alan. “I have said similar things before. The fact of the matter is that 100 percent of humanity is fallible and we will be until death parts us from our flesh,” he told me. “I cannot speak for others who say that temptation or attraction don’t equal orientation. As a layman with regard to that issue, I tend to link them all together, and that is where that 99.9 percent, non-scientific/anecdotal/experiential statement comes from,” Alan added.

Exgaywatch, a blog that primarily criticizes Chambers and Exodus: “Playing to both sides on this issue of gay Christians is not new for Exodus International. In March last year, Chambers enthusiastically affirmed the existence of gay Christians in an interview with the Oprah network’s Lisa Ling, only to water down his statements when challenged by his conservative evangelical constituents. What is new is that some gay Christians are now taking him at his word.”

Nakisha Thomas, an Orlando based ministry leader:  “I was a supporter of Exodus in the past. I had a wonderful time when I attended the national conference and encouraged my church to join their network. However – I am severing all ties with them because as the Bible has instructed – I have gone to the group privately on several occasions. I have reached out with witnesses – but I believe now is the time to warn the church of the danger of embracing an organization that will lead people into confusion and not to the light.”

Just who’s side is he on?

Imagine the president of Pepsi going  to a meeting of Coca Cola employees and saying to them that he only knew about 3 people who really liked Pepsi.   That probably would never happen in the dog-eat-dog cola wars, but Exodus’ president  expressed the same sentiment to the GCN who are admittedly hostile to the message of change, Exodus’ signature mantra.   The meeting was reported by the antichange website Exgaywatch,  and has subsequently sparked sharp debate even among homosexual activists. Chambers reportedly requested to be a guest on a panel session with the Gay Christian Network. For more about the GCN and its founder Justin Lee read here.

The panel discussion moderated by Lee also featured former Exodus leader John Smid, former Exodus leader Wendy Gritter and former Exodus leader Jeremy Marks. All of the aforementioned  now advocate prohomosexual theological positions.

While some are attempting to spin the appearance as “bridge building” and “being light among darkness”, the discussion doesn’t confirm that. Chambers didn’t spread light, he compromised truth to gain some sort of emergent church-like unity. Can supporters of Exodus now expect some reciprocal appearance by a gay christian at the Exodus “Freedom” conference?

If you want to review the entire 3 hour discussion, feel free: part one, part two

Flipside

Aside from the appearance itself, Chambers statement is problematic for several reasons:

1. The monkey wrench in mature discussions about change from homosexuality is the  “sexual orientation” theory. You can not argue biblical truth by attempting to juxtapose it with cultural ideology.  Sexual orientation is a linguistical misnomer created by the gay community to frame homosexuality as an immutable trait.  But the bible speaks from a different perspective. It tells us without equivocation that there is nothing that cannot change by the power of God. Not even death is permanent under his supernatural power. What’s more the Gospel itself is HOPE for change from whatever binds us. That Chambers cannot follow the biblical script is a sign of spiritual immaturity. And spiritually immature people have no place attempting to lead such a critical ministry outreach.

2. Chamber’s comments are a betrayal of biblical truth namely: (a)change or deliverance is fundamental biblical truth,  (b)the process whereby a person is changed once they confess and follow Jesus Christ is sanctification and (c) the ultimate consummation of change which occurs when Christ returns is (glorification). There is no separate trajectory for those who struggle with same sex attractions. The stark difference between the bible and gay christian theology is the definition of the word sin. They believe homosexuality is not a sin, the bible says it is.

3. Change in “sexual orientation” is a false –not to mention unbiblical– goal. The bible doesn’t make “changing sexual orientation” the goal of the Christian because there is no such thing. If God required the homosexual has to change his “orientation” then the heterosexual would have to likewise change his. But this is foolish carnality on display.  Biblically, there is only one “orientation”. Man to woman and woman to man in covenant marriage. Anything else is sin. Thus, our goal is to reject sin and embrace original intent holiness. Chamber’s assertion that 99.9% of people he’s met have not changed their “sexual orientation” is either a brazen lie or its a stunning testament to the failure of Exodus.  Its my belief that our goal should be the same goal as every other believe: to be holy. Our goal should be God’s goal for us, since we are his children.

4. Sexual orientation has no bearing on temptation. Temptation is allowed by God and used a tool to sharpen, strengthen and test the believer’s devotion to God’s standards. Temptation is not a sin and never will be. If it were,  Jesus Christ himself would be a sinner. Unfortunately, in the unyeilding black-white world of gay theology, even the slightest glimmer of  homosexual temptation is viewed as proof that the individual is still homosexual.

As a recognized “leader”, Chamber’s serial inconsistency has deeply affected the quality of ministry to individuals seeking freedom from homosexuality through faith in Christ. Chambers is quoted on a NARTH website as saying “I am one of tens of thousands of people whom have successfully changed their sexual orientation.”. But now, almost no one has changed? Not even him? This type of schizophrenic commentary is damaging and a disgrace to the legacy of the great pioneers of the freedom movement.

Be it resolved: The Exodus board should relieve Alan Chambers of his duties until he has satisfactorily completed comprehensive bible study.

Michigan Live reported the passing of Roberta Laurila, 80, who pioneered ministry to homosexuals even before the Exodus Movement began. Roberta began her struggle out of  lesbianism at a time when homosexuality was barely spoken of publicly. Yet, she believed God and fought her way through to help liberate thousands of others.

“Roberta Laurila, went to be with Jesus and her many friends and loved ones on Thursday October 20, 2011. Her parents were, Bert and Rosella Meyers, she was the youngest of five siblings, raised near Lake Odessa, MI. Later in life, after receiving Jesus as her Savior she was called by her Lord to minister his love to the rejected and lost who were searching a new life in salvation. Knowing there would be consequences, she plunged into God’s plan for her life by writing a testimony of her own life, which was published in 1975. Soon after she received many letters for help to be delivered from their life style, plus salvation. A few years before, in December of 1967, God had shown her a spiritual vision or dream, her desire to reach many rejected internationally would come to fruition after nine years. The ministry of “EXODUS” was born and shortly thereafter became “Exodus International.” Her prayerful hope of many years, only God had performed, in his plan for her life.”

In her own testimony Roberta knew her call was not to the limelight of leadership but to pray and intercede.

“Much has happened since that time. While I continued to intercede, God began calling forth former gays to minister. God has blessed my friendships with many of the “pioneers” in the Exodus movement, such as Frank Worthen, Robbi Kenney, Ed Hurst and others. I have been blessed also to see many ministries begin in foreign soil. What a wonderful God he is!

God has kept me at a low profile. At times, I have rebelled concerning this. But deep down, I know I was called to intercede for others to be led by the Holy Spirit into all the world.

Even as I write these words, tears are flowing down my cheeks. Surely God will complete His perfect plan to reach the many millions of the lost who have been so rejected and lonely so many years. I weep for the church, blinded by the enemy so it cannot see the need to reach gays. So many Christians cannot truly believe that God can set these people free. My great desire now is to reach those in the gay church. I am believing God to also work a miracle there.”

Bob Davies, former president of Exodus International told Exodus International’s blog that Roberta prayed many of them out of homosexuality and was a major influence on early leaders.

“Quiet faithfulness.” Those are the two words that come to mind when I think of Roberta Laurila.  I first heard about her 30 years ago when I read her testimony—one of the first books to be published from a “former lesbian.” I was even more impacted when I heard “the rest of the story”:  As a new Christian, Roberta began praying for others caught in homosexuality, that God would also free them. One day God gave her a vision of whole stadiums full of people who had left homosexuality.  She began quietly praying for the fulfillment of that vision—and within a couple years, Exodus was born.

For the past 30 years, Roberta continued to pray for the fulfillment of her vision, and her beloved Exodus has grown into a worldwide movement. Her little Exodus ministry in a suburb of Grand Rapids was never well known; few people even knew of her. But, over the decades, she continued to serve in her own quiet, gentle way.

I am humbled by her faithfulness—and feel overwhelming gratitude for the years of prayer that she invested in me and other Exodus leaders. Roberta Laurila will always be one of my heroes in the faith.  I am greatly indebted to her—and I thank the Lord for “every remembrance” of this faithful servant of God.

Roberta’s prayers are yet reaching the throne of God as he calls out men and women who have been trapped in homosexuality out to a new life of faith in the Son of God. The fervent, effectual prayers of the righteous availeth much.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Rev 2:17

CHICAGO  – Since the massive –but impotent– religious giant Willow Creek Church announced in late June that it was severing ties with Exodus International over issues with homosexuality, the smell of gradual decay continues to rise from its headquarters at 67 East Algonquin Road in South Barrington, IL.  And if the church is spiritually decaying, its a sure sign that its leadership has already decayed.

According to 1 Tim 4 widespread apostasy will significantly mark the latter years of the church.

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

The “latter days” are not coming, they are here.

Two recent developments in the story shed light on the new brand of apostasy Willow Creek is unfolding and why the world wants churches to sell out completely.

Today, Exodus President Alan Chamber released a statement revealing that Willow Creek no longer believed that people could change from homosexuality.

“Willow Creek was one of our first Exodus Church Association partners. They have had an incredible outreach for two decades to people dealing with same-sex attractions. In 2009 an inquest of sorts was embarked upon, led by one of their elders to find out what they were offering to people affected by unwanted homosexuality.  The inquest culminated in a meeting between members of the Exodus staff, the elder in question and the staff person overseeing their recovery ministries.  At that meeting they shockingly declared that they didn’t want to help people overcome because that wasn’t possible.  They simply wanted to tell people that abstinence was the only option and then provide them with comfortable place to abstain. “

Chambers said Willow Creek’s decision “failed to convey the heart and truth of Christ.”  Chambers is correct. When a church fails to tell the whole truth about homosexuality (like it should do for all sin) it intentionally subverts the message of the cross. Willow Creek is moving to the religious center. Its new message is that so-called sexual orientation cant change, therefore individuals who struggle with homosexual desires they do not want have no option other than to be single, celibate…and miserable for the rest of their lives. By defining the issue as one of  “sexual orientation” and not as sin, its easy for the church to capitulate to gay ideology and eschew the bible.

And with progay theologians like Tony Compolo appearing at the church, its clear Willow Creek and Bill Hybels want to dumb down the brutal truth to satisfy the demands of external opposition.

Speaking of external opposition, the second situation involved a cancelled appearance at Willow Creek by Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Shultz.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Shultz cancelled but stopped short of saying it was because of the church past belief that altering a person’s “sexual orientation” is possible.

But the church’s membership in Exodus ended in 2009 when the church re-evaluated all of its healing ministries for people facing addiction, divorce, cancer or sexual identity issues, said church spokeswoman Susan DeLay. She said Willow’s views had evolved since signing up for Exodus decades ago.

“They were one of the few Christian organizations having conversations with people who struggle with being gay,” she said.

But after careful contemplation, Willow now espouses the belief that “coming to faith in Christ doesn’t promise a change in sexual orientation,” she said.

Scholars have noted that many contemporary evangelical leaders welcome people of all sexual orientations, but stop short of affirming committed same-sex relationships that they still believe violate Scripture.

Mary Lou Wallner, a former member of Willow whose lesbian daughter committed suicide 14 years ago, said a semi-private conversation with Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, three years ago gave her hope.

At the end of that conversation, Hybels said he didn’t believe homosexuality was a choice or that it could be fixed. But he did believe Scripture calls for gays and lesbians to be celibate, she said. “Someone like Bill Hybels could change the world,” she said.

Hybels is supposed to explain the church’s new position on homosexuality at a news conference today.

UPDATE 08/12

Hybel’s addresses the controversy [video] by insisting that his church is not “antigay”.  He offers a sounder explanation of WC’s beliefs than his press secretary, but does not repudiate the remarks.

This is a good one from Exodus President Alan Chambers. And its about time.  But before we get to praise for that, let’s briefly rebuke for this.

Its no secret that we have been very disappointed in some of Chamber’s previous public statements about homosexuality.

In a 2008 interview with an Asheville, NC paper Chambers said, “The truth is that homosexuality does not send people to hell. Gay people live in heaven. It’s not about fire and brimstone, it’s about an alternative option,” Chambers said. That was wrong. Its unclear if Chambers retracted or responded to that incredibly confusing opinion.

And then in response to some apparent criticism about comments on the Lisa Ling slur-o-rama,  Chambers said this:

“Many have asked what I …meant about gay people who know Jesus going to Heaven. If someone has a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ I believe they will spend eternity with Him. We can’t judge the heart. Even when I was hell-bent on living a gay life I still prayed every night for freedom from what I was pursuing. God calls His people to a life of holiness, but gives grace to those who love Him & fall short.”

I’m not sure of his motivation for saying that, but it has zero biblical grounding. I cant understand why he had to make it “gay people who know Jesus….” If seems to conflict with his post about identity out today.

Gays may be seducing the church into going against the will of God, but make no mistake, except they repent their end will be disastrous. 1 Corinthians 6 says without apology,  the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. There is no equality clause in the kingdom of God, only the rule of the king.

In his just released article Identity Matters, Chambers takes some much needed, solid biblical ground and talks about the misuse of grace and truth.

[...]we are now seeing a pendulum shift in which some Christians have moved beyond the truth-only stance to embrace a grace-only view.  This shift is affecting how homosexuality is being viewed and is just as damaging as a truth-only response.

First, there are many Christians who now believe that chastity is the only answer for those with same-sex attractions.  They believe that people are either gay or straight and that their identities, in that regard, are fixed.  If someone is gay then the only option, according to these Christians, is celibacy.  Everything else that comes with gay life, however, is acceptable.  So, as long as someone remains sex-free they are able to hang out in gay bars and identify fully as gay.

Here is the problem with that line of thinking.  We are so behavior-driven as Christians that we believe as long as we keep our pants zipped and legs crossed that we are doing well.  Sexual sin is not the beginning of a problem; it is the result of one. While some do fall into sexual sin because of a momentary temptation, the majority of individuals stay in sexual sin because it seems to satisfy a deep core, God-given need for intimacy and relationship.  However, sex was never meant to be a substitute for relational intimacy with God, others, or even our spouse.  Sex is a beautiful, natural and godly expression that flows out of healthy intimacy, within the confines of heterosexual marriage.  As our creator, God defines the parameters for sexual expression and intimacy.

And then this directed at the so called gay christian movement:

Today many Christians with SSA are choosing celibacy, but they are also choosing to keep the gay identity/label.  This falls short of God’s best because identity matters.  How we view and refer to ourselves is very important.  Twenty years ago when I began my journey to holiness I could have simply chosen to work on my sexual urges and opted out of working on my identity struggles and the deeper issues that fueled my desire for sex.  I could have chosen to call myself a celibate gay man and just left it at that.  Where would that have taken me?   Not very far.  When it comes to the extreme changes that have occurred in my heart, mind and life it was the identity changes that fueled the transformation. I chose, in those early days, to focus most on figuring out who I was in Christ and that ultimately led to a change in how I behaved.  Simply discontinuing or curbing how I expressed my same-sex attractions wasn’t enough or most important.

It would have been nice to hear Mr. Chambers write that God created us not for celibacy, but for intimacy in covenant male-female marriage. However if you must choose, then celibacy AND sexual purity is the default lifestyle.  But claiming to be gay but practicing celibacy is like saying a grasshopper can bake a chocolate cake. There  is zero biblical legitimacy of claiming that celibacy allows you to claim a gay identity. Its just more of the unsightly religious vomit routinely falling out of the mouths of gay christian leaders.  The best suggestion for people like this is to pick another religion that has no barriers to their bizarre beliefs and dive in face first. But as long as the Word of God stands as the anchor of truth, their theories of sexual evolution will continue to come across as doctrines of devils.

GCM Watch has addressed the gay christian identity issue before. Read here and here and here.

Premature victory party?

Its happened before, so this is no surprise to see satan methodically releasing his emissaries into the public arena to declare that the battle is over and the people of God should surrender. You will see more of this in the coming years. Societal voices who are influential, socially and religiously ecumenical and accomplished will declare that any opposition to homosexuality is futile. We have told you before and say again the promotion and defense of  homosexuality is a signal weapon in the antichrist push to destroy the church of the Living God. We must understand the times and seasons. This didn’t just began with the modern gay rights movement, its been in the plan since Sodom. Jesus specifically told us that. In short, we are on the cusp of an inevitable war.

But before all out battle takes place satan is attempting to beat down as much resistance as possible.

The messaging now combines an insistent yet syrupy tone.  That’s to convince those with marginal commitment to the Lord Jesus to voluntarily silence themselves on the issue. Incrementally, it will grow to demands and then finally threats and persecution against anyone who will not fall in line with the “new reality”.  All the elements are in place: government (illegitimate authority), religion (credibility) and media (to amplify the false prophet’s voice).

First, what we call history is repetitive. After some disastrous human madness occurs, people swear “never again!”. But then they unwittingly turn and empower the next madman or mad movement to do it all over again. Since the tower of babel, we are caught in a cycle of humanism that disavows God’s sovereignty. Thus, humanity will circle in the wilderness until he comes and puts all foes under his feet. Satan,  is the consummate opportunist who manipulates every evil work to his advantage. His agenda can be summed up in 3 words: kill, steal and destroy. And he will use anyone to accomplish that goal.

This isn’t just antichrist spring fever. There’s no way to talk about what we are seeing and hearing on the world stage and in our own country without inclusion of the “spirit of the antichrist” as a significant factor. Michealjournal.com explains:

“Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. (Cf. Luke 18:8: ‘But when the Son of man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’ and Mathew 24:12: 12: ‘And with the increase of lawlessness, love in most people will grow cold.’) The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth (cf. Luke 21:12; John 15:19-20) will unveil the ‘mystery of iniquity’ in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. the supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh. (Cf. 2 Th 2:4-12; I Th 5:2-3; 2 Jn 7; I Jn 2:1 8, 22.)

Epic battles

That’s why —if you read your bible—  the spirit of the antichrist is both predictable and astonishingly oblivious to the historical facts where God has defeated him with little to no effort. You can almost clock its point by point progression.  Allow me to refresh your memory.

The first example occurs in 1 Chronicles 20:1-24.  The aggressors are two countries God had spared on Isreal’s march to the promised land. This was treacherous aggression.  You should read it carefully and watch how God masterfully allows it to play out. You will witness what happens when the tide is against the people of God.  Several things of note:

• Messengers were sent out in advance to spread intimidation and fear.
• The king was told a “vast army” was coming against him and Isreal. Just like today we are being told that more and more people are joining the gay is okay army against dwindling number of people who will be on the “wrong side of history”.
• Numbers and perceived victories have no bearing with God. In fact, the greater the numbers and odds stacked against us, the better. It allows for God to showcase his power.
• We are expected to suit up for war and go out as if we are going to fight but its only part of his plan to embolden the enemy’s rage against us.  Again, he wants to push their threats to absolute maximum to show how great he is.
• Defeat of our foes will be utter and complete.

The second case I want you to examine is from 2 Kings 18:17-36 which concludes at 2 Kings 19. This time the aggressor is the arrogant leader of the Assyrians. And take note that

• A messenger is sent out in advance to spread intimidation and fear
• The aggressor brags how he has taken down others who have opposed him
• The numbers against the people of God were overwhelming
• A personal insult is issued against God
• The enemy suffers a stunning and decisive defeat

In both cases, each king of Isreal and Judah plead their case directly to God, calling on him to remember the threats of the enemy. And God sends a prophet to tell them what will happen.

Enter the rat maker

Don’t become a experimental lab rat by listening to the messengers of satan.

This time a  member of  USA Today’s  board of contributors whose gangly contemproism all but crows “the battle is over”.  Tom Krattenmaker‘s opinion editorial about Christian leaders confronting homosexuality is making its rounds. Krattenmaker  is predicting that a coalition of cultural giants led by the homosexual movement will inevitably vanquish the voice of the righteous.  To avoid defeat, he suggests we either “adapt” or turn our attention to “other things”. First Krattenmaker cites several “victories” in favor of gay rights which he claims are signals that the battle has turned in favor of the  giants of perversion. Don’t you find it bizarre that anyone would root for Goliath? Krattenmaker does.

“If the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” weren’t enough to signal the turning point, or the classification of several gay-resisting Christian right organizations as “hate groups” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, there came news that Exodus International was ending its involvement in the anti-homosexuality “Day of Truth” in U.S. high schools.”

Get the message? If you resist the gay change patrols, you will be marginalized. People like Krattenmaker see the hordes of goose stepping gay rights troops and “allies”  seeming to defeat every opponent in their path.  They see the social, political, religious victories. They see that many religions are fearfully caving in and “welcoming” homosexuals despite what the scriptures teach. They see that the government has taken their side and come to the premature conclusion that these things mean certain defeat for those of us who stubbornly stand against homosexuality. Listen at the litany of threats satan’s messenger has come to deliver.

“Prayerful discernment and simple Christian decency would strongly suggest the latter. The alternative looks worse by the day — a quixotic battle more likely to discredit its fighters and their fine religion than win any hearts and minds for Jesus. Christianity has far worthier causes than this.

For all its drama and rally-the-troops appeal, “fighting to the end” is a sure loser. More and more Americans — young people in particular, Christians very much included — know gay men and lesbians and see how the anti-gay talking points and caricatures fail to square with the reality under our noses.” (our bold)

Conservative Christian leaders ought to be very careful about their rhetoric going forward — careful not to continue giving the impression that being Christian is in large measure about opposing gay rights, and careful not to let the public expression of their faith become primarily associated with something that looks, sounds and feels like hate to growing segments of the population.

Fighting to the end might sound gallant, but it’s not a road to glory so much as a ticket to infamy — an infamy akin to that borne by the likes of Bull Connor, George Wallace and other villains of civil rights history. Is that any hill for Christians to die on?

So what shall we say to all these threats? Let the Word of the Lord answer:

The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me  to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident. Psalms 27:1-3

Wait on the LORD and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. ³⁵I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. ³⁶Yet he passed away, and lo, he was no more; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found Psalms 37:34-36