Shall we pray?
00:00:11.71\00:00:14.18
Heavenly Father,
00:00:14.21\00:00:15.54
we have gathered to worship You.
00:00:15.58\00:00:19.51
You are great.
00:00:19.55\00:00:21.05
And as the Word says
greatly to be praised.
00:00:21.08\00:00:25.92
May our music, our
words, our thoughts and prayers
00:00:25.95\00:00:30.69
be acceptable to You,
00:00:30.73\00:00:33.80
for we offer them
in the name of Jesus.
00:00:33.83\00:00:38.30
Amen.
00:00:38.33\00:00:39.67
Amen.
00:00:39.70\00:00:41.04
Blessing and honor
00:00:59.72\00:01:02.12
Glory and power
00:01:02.16\00:01:04.46
Be unto the Ancient of Days
00:01:04.49\00:01:09.23
From every
nation All of creation
00:01:09.26\00:01:14.00
Bow before the Ancient of Days
00:01:14.04\00:01:18.67
Every tongue In heaven and earth
00:01:18.71\00:01:21.58
Shall declare Your glory
00:01:21.61\00:01:23.41
Every knee shall
bow At Your throne
00:01:23.45\00:01:26.85
In worship You
will be exalted, oh God
00:01:26.88\00:01:31.85
And Your kingdom
Shall not pass away
00:01:31.89\00:01:36.39
Oh Ancient of Days
00:01:36.42\00:01:39.06
Blessing and
honor Glory and power
00:01:42.76\00:01:47.30
Be unto the Ancient of Days
00:01:47.34\00:01:52.04
From every
nation All of creation
00:01:52.07\00:01:56.61
Bow before the Ancient of Days
00:01:56.64\00:02:01.35
Every tongue In heaven and earth
00:02:01.38\00:02:04.32
Shall declare Your glory
00:02:04.35\00:02:06.02
Every knee Shall
bow at Your throne
00:02:06.05\00:02:09.42
In worship You
will be exalted, oh God
00:02:09.46\00:02:14.36
And Your kingdom
Shall not pass away
00:02:14.40\00:02:18.93
Oh Ancient of Days
00:02:18.97\00:02:21.57
You are, oh Ancient of Days
00:02:27.21\00:02:30.75
Your kingdom shall
reign Over all the earth
00:02:38.92\00:02:43.73
Sing unto the Ancient of Days
00:02:43.76\00:02:48.13
For none shall compare
To Your matchless worth
00:02:48.16\00:02:53.10
Sing unto the Ancient of Days
00:02:53.13\00:02:57.54
Your kingdom shall
reign Over all the earth
00:02:57.57\00:03:02.54
Sing unto the Ancient of Days
00:03:02.58\00:03:06.95
For none can compare
To Your matchless worth
00:03:06.98\00:03:11.92
Sing unto the Ancient of Days
00:03:11.95\00:03:16.69
Every tongue In heaven and earth
00:03:16.73\00:03:19.73
Shall declare Your glory
00:03:19.76\00:03:21.36
Every knee Shall
bow at Your throne
00:03:21.40\00:03:24.73
In worship You
will be exalted, oh God
00:03:24.77\00:03:29.74
And Your kingdom
Shall not pass away
00:03:29.77\00:03:34.34
Oh Ancient of Days
00:03:34.38\00:03:37.15
You are, oh Ancient of Days
00:03:42.48\00:03:47.29
Oh the Ancient of Days
00:03:52.86\00:03:57.33
On the cross
00:04:25.16\00:04:28.33
Hung my pain
00:04:28.36\00:04:31.13
And the guilt
00:04:31.17\00:04:34.24
And the shame
00:04:34.27\00:04:37.41
Jesus bore my suffering
00:04:37.44\00:04:43.35
To the grave
00:04:43.38\00:04:46.28
To make me free
00:04:46.31\00:04:49.58
Oh, the blood
00:04:49.62\00:04:52.65
That was shed
00:04:52.69\00:04:55.69
It now flows
00:04:55.72\00:04:58.79
To cover sin
00:04:58.83\00:05:01.86
It washes clean,
00:05:01.90\00:05:05.00
And purifies
00:05:05.03\00:05:08.14
In its healing
00:05:08.17\00:05:11.51
Crimson tide
00:05:11.54\00:05:15.31
Jesus, He took my place
00:05:15.34\00:05:18.81
In divine exchange
00:05:18.85\00:05:21.78
Hallelujah, grace is mine
00:05:21.82\00:05:27.49
Now I will live by faith
00:05:27.52\00:05:30.99
For the One who saves
00:05:31.03\00:05:34.06
He gave all to give me life
00:05:34.10\00:05:38.73
His spirit is my present help
00:05:43.00\00:05:48.98
I'd be lost all by myself
00:05:49.01\00:05:54.78
He resurrects,
00:05:54.82\00:05:57.82
He sanctifies
00:05:57.85\00:06:00.62
He takes His power
00:06:00.66\00:06:03.63
And makes it mine
00:06:03.66\00:06:06.29
Jesus, He took my place
00:06:06.33\00:06:09.60
In divine exchange
00:06:09.63\00:06:12.57
Hallelujah, grace is mine
00:06:12.60\00:06:18.24
Now I will live by faith
00:06:18.27\00:06:21.74
For the One who saves
00:06:21.78\00:06:24.81
He gave all to give me life
00:06:24.85\00:06:29.82
I lay down all lesser things
00:06:33.05\00:06:37.29
For greater gain
00:06:37.33\00:06:39.63
He is alive inside of me
00:06:39.66\00:06:45.60
I lay down all lesser things
00:06:45.63\00:06:49.90
For greater gain
00:06:49.94\00:06:52.34
He is alive inside of me
00:06:52.37\00:06:58.15
I lay down all lesser things
00:06:58.18\00:07:02.35
For greater gain
00:07:02.38\00:07:04.69
He is alive inside of me
00:07:04.72\00:07:10.43
I lay down all lesser things
00:07:10.46\00:07:14.60
For greater gain
00:07:14.63\00:07:16.97
He is alive inside of me
00:07:17.00\00:07:22.67
I lay down all lesser things
00:07:22.70\00:07:26.74
For greater gain
00:07:26.78\00:07:29.11
He is alive inside of me
00:07:29.14\00:07:34.75
I lay down all lesser things
00:07:34.78\00:07:38.82
For greater gain
00:07:38.85\00:07:40.96
He is alive
00:07:40.99\00:07:43.29
Jesus, He took my place
00:07:47.03\00:07:50.43
In divine exchange
00:07:50.47\00:07:53.50
Hallelujah, grace is mine
00:07:53.54\00:07:59.17
Now I will live by faith
00:07:59.21\00:08:02.64
For the One who saves
00:08:02.68\00:08:05.65
He gave all to give me life
00:08:05.68\00:08:11.42
Jesus, He took my place
00:08:11.45\00:08:14.86
In divine exchange
00:08:14.89\00:08:17.93
Hallelujah, grace is mine
00:08:17.96\00:08:23.53
Now I will live by faith
00:08:23.57\00:08:27.04
For the One who saves
00:08:27.07\00:08:30.01
He gave all to give me life
00:08:30.04\00:08:35.38
I lay down all lesser things
00:08:38.51\00:08:42.95
For greater gain
00:08:42.98\00:08:45.45
He is alive
00:08:45.49\00:08:48.12
Inside of me
00:08:48.16\00:08:51.73
I lay down all lesser things
00:08:51.76\00:08:56.50
For greater gain
00:08:56.53\00:08:59.20
He is alive
00:08:59.23\00:09:02.17
The scripture
reading this morning
00:09:13.11\00:09:14.55
will be taken from Genesis
00:09:14.58\00:09:16.48
1:27, 28 and 31.
00:09:16.52\00:09:21.22
"So God created
man in His own image,
00:09:24.99\00:09:28.66
in the image of
God, He created him,
00:09:28.70\00:09:31.40
male and female He created them.
00:09:31.43\00:09:34.64
Then God blessed them,
00:09:34.67\00:09:36.30
and God said to them,
00:09:36.34\00:09:37.67
'Be fruitful and multiply,
00:09:37.71\00:09:40.18
fill the earth and subdue it,
00:09:40.21\00:09:42.74
have dominion over
the fish of the sea,
00:09:42.78\00:09:45.01
over the birds of the air,
00:09:45.05\00:09:46.75
and over every living
thing that moves on the earth.
00:09:46.78\00:09:51.25
Then God saw
everything that He had made,
00:09:51.29\00:09:53.79
and indeed it was very good.
00:09:53.82\00:09:56.79
So the evening and the
morning were the sixth day."
00:09:56.83\00:10:00.40
May God add a blessing
00:10:00.43\00:10:01.76
to the reading and
the hearing of His Word?
00:10:01.80\00:10:03.13
Hear the word roaring as thunder
00:10:29.66\00:10:35.36
With a new future to tell
00:10:35.40\00:10:40.94
For the dry season is over
00:10:40.97\00:10:46.01
There is a cloud
00:10:46.04\00:10:48.48
beginning to swell
00:10:48.51\00:10:51.31
To the skies heavy with blessing
00:10:54.68\00:11:00.16
Lift your eyes offer your heart
00:11:00.19\00:11:05.69
Jesus Christ opened the Heavens
00:11:05.73\00:11:10.80
Now we receive the Spirit of God
00:11:10.83\00:11:16.14
We receive Your rain
00:11:19.51\00:11:24.18
We receive Your rain
00:11:30.55\00:11:35.26
Every seed buried in sorrow
00:11:41.66\00:11:47.14
You will call forth in its time
00:11:47.17\00:11:52.77
You are Lord,
Lord of the harvest
00:11:52.81\00:11:57.91
Calling our hope now to arise
00:11:57.95\00:12:03.59
We receive Your rain
00:12:06.62\00:12:11.23
We receive Your rain
00:12:17.53\00:12:22.17
We receive Your rain
00:12:28.64\00:12:33.72
We receive Your rain
00:12:39.75\00:12:45.16
Like a flood, like a flood
00:12:50.60\00:12:56.20
We receive Your love
00:12:56.24\00:13:00.44
when You come Like a flood,
00:13:00.48\00:13:04.48
like a flood
00:13:04.51\00:13:07.28
We receive Your love
00:13:07.32\00:13:11.49
when You come Like a flood,
00:13:11.52\00:13:15.62
like a flood
00:13:15.66\00:13:18.26
We receive Your
love when You come
00:13:18.29\00:13:23.87
Like a flood, like a flood
00:13:23.90\00:13:29.30
We receive Your love
00:13:29.34\00:13:34.21
And with great anticipation
00:13:56.33\00:14:01.80
We await the promise to come
00:14:01.84\00:14:07.58
Everything that You have spoken
00:14:07.61\00:14:12.25
Will come to pass Let it be done
00:14:12.28\00:14:17.79
Thank you, Vivian
and singers, and Josh,
00:14:26.29\00:14:30.37
keep playing, keep
playing and keep playing.
00:14:30.40\00:14:33.54
It's the first time
I've heard that song.
00:14:33.57\00:14:36.00
It's a beautiful song.
00:14:36.04\00:14:38.61
Let it rain, let it rain,
00:14:38.64\00:14:42.64
as Pastor JB just
reminded us a moment ago.
00:14:42.68\00:14:46.05
What is this?
00:14:46.08\00:14:47.42
Two weeks and
then it's all over.
00:14:47.45\00:14:50.62
It's too late for
Him to rain down on us.
00:14:50.65\00:14:53.86
Let that love rain down.
00:14:53.89\00:14:55.22
It's not too late.
00:14:55.26\00:14:56.69
We need it.
00:14:56.73\00:14:58.06
I wanna pray with you.
00:15:01.20\00:15:04.07
Think out loud
with you with Jesus.
00:15:04.10\00:15:08.17
Oh, Jesus, how
could it be too late?
00:15:08.20\00:15:12.07
Yes, You're coming soon.
00:15:12.11\00:15:15.81
Yes, this world
desperately needs You,
00:15:15.84\00:15:17.91
but we're
saying let it rain now.
00:15:21.25\00:15:23.49
Not for our warm fuzzies,
00:15:26.69\00:15:28.16
but let it rain now
00:15:28.19\00:15:30.36
for the depth of what
You wanna do in my heart,
00:15:30.39\00:15:35.60
what You wanna do
in all of our hearts,
00:15:35.63\00:15:38.07
rain down on us right now
00:15:38.10\00:15:42.40
for Your Mighty spirit,
00:15:42.44\00:15:45.34
we're praying
00:15:45.37\00:15:46.71
the name that is
above every name.
00:15:46.74\00:15:49.74
Amen.
00:15:49.78\00:15:51.11
Here's a letter I'd
like to read it to you.
00:15:57.42\00:16:01.32
I got it just a few days ago.
00:16:01.36\00:16:02.72
Dear pastor,
00:16:04.63\00:16:07.76
the Bible says things
against being LGBTQ plus,
00:16:07.80\00:16:11.90
since I am bisexual,
00:16:14.90\00:16:16.24
does that mean I
won't go to heaven?
00:16:16.27\00:16:20.54
I don't wanna put
anything before the Trinity,
00:16:20.58\00:16:23.65
but I also don't
wanna give up my feelings.
00:16:23.68\00:16:27.98
Could you do a sermon on God
00:16:28.02\00:16:30.05
and the LGBTQ plus community?
00:16:30.09\00:16:34.19
It would help a lot.
00:16:34.22\00:16:36.42
Thank you very much.
00:16:36.46\00:16:37.93
God bless, happy Sabbath.
00:16:37.96\00:16:40.76
And the person signs the note.
00:16:40.80\00:16:43.73
PS, please forgive any grammar,
00:16:43.77\00:16:48.24
spelling or
punctuation mistakes.
00:16:48.27\00:16:52.84
I'm only 11.
00:16:52.87\00:16:54.71
Wow.
00:17:01.32\00:17:04.09
I'm only 11.
00:17:04.12\00:17:05.45
I now wanna say to
this 11-year-old two things.
00:17:09.02\00:17:13.83
Number one,
00:17:13.86\00:17:15.20
the maker of all
things loves and wants you.
00:17:17.97\00:17:20.60
Amen.
00:17:20.64\00:17:23.17
How can I be so sure,
00:17:23.20\00:17:24.54
because the maker of all things
00:17:24.57\00:17:25.91
loves and wants me
00:17:25.94\00:17:28.18
and if He can love
and want the likes of me?
00:17:28.21\00:17:30.81
And there's no reason why
00:17:33.82\00:17:36.08
he doesn't love and wants you
00:17:36.12\00:17:38.12
bisexual or not.
00:17:38.15\00:17:39.65
Number two,
00:17:42.66\00:17:44.13
you wanted a
sermon on LGBTQ plus.
00:17:44.16\00:17:48.46
Well, by God's
grace here it comes.
00:17:48.50\00:17:52.43
Let's think out loud together.
00:17:52.47\00:17:53.84
You and me, you're 11.
00:17:53.87\00:17:56.37
I'm just a little
bit older than that.
00:17:56.40\00:17:59.81
And we can talk and
understand each other.
00:17:59.84\00:18:03.11
So since this is a
series on marriage,
00:18:03.14\00:18:05.58
it makes sense to talk about
00:18:05.61\00:18:06.95
same gender or
same sex marriage,
00:18:06.98\00:18:08.48
doesn't it?
00:18:08.52\00:18:09.85
Why not?
00:18:09.88\00:18:11.89
It's still a bit controversial.
00:18:11.92\00:18:14.16
The United States
Supreme Court's ruling
00:18:14.19\00:18:16.19
named Obergefell v. Hodges
00:18:16.22\00:18:19.39
came out in the summer of 2015.
00:18:19.43\00:18:24.10
I suppose pretty
much everybody knows
00:18:24.13\00:18:25.47
about this landmark
00:18:25.50\00:18:26.87
civil rights case
00:18:26.90\00:18:29.60
that declared that
00:18:29.64\00:18:30.97
"the fundamental right to marry
00:18:31.01\00:18:32.34
is guaranteed
to same sex couples
00:18:32.37\00:18:34.31
by the 14th amendment
00:18:34.34\00:18:35.68
to the United
States Constitution."
00:18:35.71\00:18:39.31
It was a five to four ruling,
00:18:39.35\00:18:42.05
but that ruling requires
every one of the 50 states
00:18:42.08\00:18:46.69
and the District of Columbia
00:18:46.72\00:18:48.99
and what they
call the insular areas.
00:18:49.02\00:18:51.59
That would be like
Puerto Rico and Guam.
00:18:51.63\00:18:53.26
There are 13 of
them on this planet,
00:18:53.29\00:18:56.23
to perform and recognize
00:18:56.26\00:18:57.63
the marriages
of same sex couples
00:18:57.67\00:18:59.37
on the same terms and conditions
00:18:59.40\00:19:01.50
as the marriages of
opposite sex couples
00:19:01.54\00:19:04.67
with all the accompanying
rights and responsibilities.
00:19:04.71\00:19:10.28
Justice Anthony Kennedy,
00:19:10.31\00:19:11.65
who is no longer on the court
00:19:11.68\00:19:14.68
wrote the majority opinion.
00:19:14.72\00:19:16.92
And he concludes
it with these words.
00:19:16.95\00:19:21.32
So you're gonna
read a little bit
00:19:21.36\00:19:23.63
of the Supreme Court's rendering
00:19:23.66\00:19:26.90
on the screen right here.
00:19:26.93\00:19:29.10
"No union is more
profound than marriage,
00:19:29.13\00:19:32.50
for it embodies the
highest ideas of love,
00:19:32.53\00:19:34.94
fidelity, devotion,
sacrifice, and family.
00:19:34.97\00:19:40.18
In forming a marital union,
00:19:40.21\00:19:42.61
two people become something
greater than once they were.
00:19:42.64\00:19:47.32
As some of the petitioners
in these cases, demonstrate
00:19:47.35\00:19:50.45
marriage embodies a love
00:19:50.49\00:19:52.05
that may endure even past death.
00:19:52.09\00:19:55.59
It would misunderstand
these men and women
00:19:55.62\00:19:58.29
to say that they
disrespect the idea of marriage.
00:19:58.33\00:20:01.86
Their plea is that
they do respect it,
00:20:01.90\00:20:04.77
respect it so deeply
00:20:04.80\00:20:06.13
that they seek to find its
fulfillment for themselves.
00:20:06.17\00:20:09.80
Their hope is
not to be condemned,
00:20:09.84\00:20:11.41
to live in loneliness,
00:20:11.44\00:20:12.84
excluded from one
00:20:12.87\00:20:14.21
of civilization's
oldest institutions.
00:20:14.24\00:20:17.58
They ask for equal
dignity in the eyes of the law.
00:20:17.61\00:20:21.35
The Constitution
grants them that right."
00:20:21.38\00:20:24.75
So are same sex,
same gender marriages,
00:20:29.02\00:20:31.56
are they legal?
00:20:34.90\00:20:36.80
Are they valid?
00:20:36.83\00:20:38.17
Like the sociologist
Mark Regnerus writes,
00:20:40.37\00:20:44.81
"Legality is
validity in civil marriage,
00:20:44.84\00:20:49.21
but not necessarily
in religious marriage."
00:20:49.24\00:20:53.95
Hence the
debate, the discussion.
00:20:53.98\00:20:58.65
And just two months ago,
00:20:58.69\00:21:01.16
the pope himself decided
to wade into all of this.
00:21:01.19\00:21:04.93
As he issued a paper,
this is not an encyclical.
00:21:04.96\00:21:07.90
This is a paper
00:21:07.93\00:21:09.26
that responds to
questions about the church
00:21:09.30\00:21:11.53
and the blessing
of same sex marriages.
00:21:11.57\00:21:14.27
All right.
00:21:14.30\00:21:15.64
So let's look at his words.
00:21:15.67\00:21:18.07
"For this
reason, it is not licit,
00:21:18.11\00:21:21.51
that means it is not legal
in Roman Catholic Churches now,
00:21:21.54\00:21:25.35
that's what he's talking about,
00:21:25.38\00:21:27.18
"to impart a
blessing on relationships,
00:21:27.22\00:21:30.22
or partnerships,
00:21:30.25\00:21:31.89
even though they may be stable,"
00:21:31.92\00:21:33.36
that's what it means there,
00:21:33.39\00:21:35.26
"that involves sexual
activity outside of marriage.
00:21:35.29\00:21:39.93
In other words,
outside the indissoluble union
00:21:39.96\00:21:43.43
of a man and a woman
00:21:43.47\00:21:45.63
opening itself to the
transmission of life."
00:21:45.67\00:21:47.60
It's a union that can go
on producing new human beings
00:21:47.64\00:21:51.17
and new human beings and so on.
00:21:51.21\00:21:52.54
That's what he's saying.
00:21:52.57\00:21:54.91
"As is the case
00:21:54.94\00:21:56.88
of the unions between
persons of the same sex."
00:21:56.91\00:22:00.52
It's a little chopped up
there, the English translation.
00:22:00.55\00:22:05.29
But his point is clear,
00:22:05.32\00:22:08.12
not in the church.
00:22:08.16\00:22:10.66
We got it.
00:22:10.69\00:22:12.29
Yeah, but what
does the Bible say?
00:22:12.33\00:22:15.83
I had a co-ed from this campus
00:22:15.86\00:22:18.00
drop by for a visit here
at the church the other day.
00:22:18.03\00:22:21.40
She brought her Bible with her.
00:22:21.44\00:22:23.74
She's been
listening very carefully
00:22:23.77\00:22:25.11
to this marriage series
00:22:25.14\00:22:26.47
and she knew that
00:22:26.51\00:22:27.88
this Sabbath we
would be focusing
00:22:27.91\00:22:29.71
on same sex or
same gender marriage.
00:22:29.74\00:22:33.21
I had a... I must tell you
00:22:33.25\00:22:34.65
a valuable conversation
with her for an hour.
00:22:34.68\00:22:38.85
Most of us are pretty clear
on this definition of marriage.
00:22:38.89\00:22:44.06
I mean, it seems
to make sense to us.
00:22:44.09\00:22:46.56
You have two records,
00:22:46.59\00:22:47.96
you have the
creation story in Genesis.
00:22:48.00\00:22:49.66
You have the gospel
story of the incarnation,
00:22:49.70\00:22:54.87
and between those two,
00:22:54.90\00:22:56.77
it isn't rocket
science for us to say,
00:22:56.81\00:22:58.37
God, what would You say a
definition of marriage is?
00:22:58.41\00:23:02.58
We know it.
00:23:02.61\00:23:04.18
Go one more time.
Come on. Let's just do it.
00:23:04.21\00:23:06.08
Let's go back to the beginning.
00:23:06.11\00:23:08.38
The very first
page of your Bible,
00:23:08.42\00:23:09.78
Genesis Chapter 1,
we'll go to Genesis 1.
00:23:09.82\00:23:13.69
We reread the words.
00:23:13.72\00:23:16.83
Genesis Chapter 1,
00:23:16.86\00:23:19.39
six day of creation,
00:23:19.43\00:23:21.56
drop down to verse 27.
00:23:21.60\00:23:23.77
We've already asserted
00:23:27.80\00:23:29.80
in this journey of
this New Year together,
00:23:29.84\00:23:33.04
one in controvertible truth.
00:23:33.07\00:23:36.14
In fact, I would
suggest to you that
00:23:36.18\00:23:37.61
you can take all universal truth
00:23:37.65\00:23:39.58
and reduce it to
this single line,
00:23:39.61\00:23:41.98
the maker of all
things loves and wants me.
00:23:42.02\00:23:45.05
And that's why we've
been coming back to it
00:23:45.09\00:23:46.42
again and again.
00:23:46.45\00:23:47.79
Now it's obvious
00:23:47.82\00:23:49.16
that we're gonna
see that right here.
00:23:49.19\00:23:50.53
He loves and wants us.
00:23:50.56\00:23:51.89
Genesis 1:27,
00:23:51.93\00:23:53.26
"So God created
mankind in His own image.
00:23:53.29\00:23:55.50
In the image of God
00:23:55.53\00:23:56.87
He created them male and female,
00:23:56.90\00:23:58.40
He created them.
00:23:58.43\00:23:59.77
God blessed them
and said to them,
00:23:59.80\00:24:01.34
'Be fruitful and
increase in number,
00:24:01.37\00:24:03.71
fill the earth and subdue it
00:24:03.74\00:24:06.44
and rule over
the fish in the sea
00:24:06.47\00:24:08.58
and then the birds in the sky
00:24:08.61\00:24:09.94
and over every living creature
that moves on the ground."
00:24:09.98\00:24:14.75
Which by the way does not mean
00:24:14.78\00:24:18.19
that everybody
today has to get married
00:24:18.22\00:24:21.02
in order to be happy.
00:24:21.06\00:24:23.02
That's not what He's saying.
00:24:23.06\00:24:24.49
It does not mean
00:24:24.53\00:24:25.86
that everybody today has
to have kids to be happy,
00:24:25.89\00:24:29.06
but you understand
that if there is no marriage
00:24:29.10\00:24:31.97
between Adam and Eve,
00:24:32.00\00:24:33.34
there would be no
human race, right?
00:24:33.37\00:24:35.67
So after He
creates them, He says,
00:24:35.70\00:24:37.47
now be fruitful and multiply.
00:24:37.51\00:24:40.51
I'm gonna make
you little creative.
00:24:40.54\00:24:42.21
I'm the big
creator. I understand that.
00:24:42.24\00:24:44.08
But you become little creators.
00:24:44.11\00:24:46.05
You do something
called procreation.
00:24:46.08\00:24:49.25
You share like I did.
00:24:49.28\00:24:51.75
You're gonna make
somebody in your own image,
00:24:51.79\00:24:54.56
little tiny yous running around,
00:24:54.59\00:24:57.43
deliver us all on this planet.
00:24:57.46\00:25:01.23
That's what I'm
asking you to do.
00:25:01.26\00:25:02.60
So be fruitful and multiply.
00:25:02.63\00:25:05.77
You know, Kirk and
Chelsea are son and his wife.
00:25:05.80\00:25:08.77
I've been itching to
be able to announce this
00:25:08.80\00:25:11.11
and have been told to sit on it,
00:25:11.14\00:25:13.31
but they're gonna have
a third child, hallelujah.
00:25:13.34\00:25:16.64
Now hold the
applause please, thanks.
00:25:16.68\00:25:19.51
They're gonna
have a third child.
00:25:19.55\00:25:21.05
They already have two
beautiful little girls.
00:25:21.08\00:25:23.39
Elle is seven, Isabel is three.
00:25:23.42\00:25:25.85
We call her Izzy
00:25:25.89\00:25:27.26
and now they're gonna have
three beautiful little girls.
00:25:27.29\00:25:32.73
And the third one,
Missy or sissy or whatever
00:25:32.76\00:25:35.83
will be born in
September and so on.
00:25:35.86\00:25:38.63
Just in case they're watching
online right now in Kettering,
00:25:38.67\00:25:40.94
Ohio, I need to say to
them, the words of God,
00:25:40.97\00:25:43.54
be fruitful and multiply.
00:25:43.57\00:25:46.34
That's the only way you
can create grandchildren.
00:25:46.37\00:25:51.08
So God unites Adam
and Eve in marriage.
00:25:51.11\00:25:53.75
We all know the story.
00:25:53.78\00:25:56.25
And some believe
this one sentence
00:25:56.28\00:25:58.45
is the first wedding homily
ever preached on this planet
00:25:58.49\00:26:02.29
preached by the Creator Himself.
00:26:02.32\00:26:04.36
Let's take a look at it.
00:26:04.39\00:26:05.73
Just turn one page to Genesis 2,
00:26:05.76\00:26:07.23
the last, next to the
last line of Genesis 2.
00:26:07.26\00:26:09.83
That is why the
Creator says to Adam and Eve.
00:26:09.86\00:26:12.33
That is why a man
leaves his father and mother,
00:26:12.37\00:26:16.00
and is united to his wife,
00:26:16.04\00:26:18.71
and they become one flesh.
00:26:18.74\00:26:22.88
Our Creator has just
defined marriage for us.
00:26:22.91\00:26:26.48
It is not simply copulation.
00:26:26.51\00:26:28.98
Those are the
activities of animals,
00:26:29.02\00:26:33.59
but it's more.
00:26:33.62\00:26:35.39
What's the definition?
00:26:35.42\00:26:36.76
Let's put... Let's just
put it on the screen for us.
00:26:36.79\00:26:39.33
Definition of marriage.
00:26:39.36\00:26:40.70
Marriage is the mystical union
00:26:40.73\00:26:43.37
of two human beings,
one male, the other female
00:26:43.40\00:26:47.24
who are declared
by God to be one flesh
00:26:47.27\00:26:50.81
for the rest of their lives.
00:26:50.84\00:26:53.54
That's pretty simple, isn't it?
00:26:53.58\00:26:54.98
You can't get
more basic than that,
00:26:55.01\00:26:57.81
which is why when the
Creator incarnates Himself
00:26:57.85\00:27:00.32
and becomes five
fingers on each hand
00:27:00.35\00:27:02.72
and one of us on this planet.
00:27:02.75\00:27:05.82
The page and script is
not changed a single word.
00:27:05.85\00:27:11.43
Watch him when he
goes back to that story.
00:27:11.46\00:27:13.63
So this is over now
in Matthew Chapter 19.
00:27:13.66\00:27:16.40
So move from Genesis
1 to Matthew Chapter 19,
00:27:16.43\00:27:19.53
drop down to verse 4.
00:27:19.57\00:27:21.84
He's gonna quote what
we just read from the,
00:27:21.87\00:27:23.71
in the beginning
chapter of the Bible.
00:27:23.74\00:27:25.54
Matthew 19:4,
00:27:25.57\00:27:27.08
"'Haven't you
read,' Jesus replied,"
00:27:27.11\00:27:29.98
it's a red-letter words,
00:27:30.01\00:27:31.55
"that at the beginning,
00:27:31.58\00:27:32.91
the Creator made
them male and female."
00:27:32.95\00:27:35.42
That's straight
from Genesis 1:27.
00:27:35.45\00:27:37.19
He goes on, "And
said, 'For this reason,"
00:27:37.22\00:27:39.92
still quoting,
00:27:39.95\00:27:41.29
"for this reason,
00:27:41.32\00:27:42.66
a man will leave
his father and mother
00:27:42.69\00:27:44.03
and be united to his wife,
00:27:44.06\00:27:45.46
and the two will
become one flesh."
00:27:45.49\00:27:47.53
Now, Jesus, the Creator
00:27:47.56\00:27:48.93
incarnates gonna
add one more line
00:27:48.96\00:27:51.17
and here's the line.
00:27:51.20\00:27:52.53
"So they are no
longer two, but one flesh.
00:27:52.57\00:27:54.67
Therefore, what God
has joined together,
00:27:54.70\00:27:57.34
let no one separate."
00:27:57.37\00:27:59.54
The Supreme Court
decision in Obergefell
00:28:03.81\00:28:06.51
did not take apart what
God has joined together.
00:28:06.55\00:28:09.42
You know why?
00:28:09.45\00:28:10.79
Because there is no human court
00:28:10.82\00:28:13.36
that can rewrite the
definition of marriage
00:28:13.39\00:28:16.42
that God has
established, impossible.
00:28:16.46\00:28:19.73
It is the one definition
00:28:19.76\00:28:21.60
the human race
has been living with
00:28:21.63\00:28:23.43
for millennia now,
00:28:23.47\00:28:26.20
uncontested reality.
00:28:26.23\00:28:29.44
What the Supreme Court ruled
00:28:29.47\00:28:31.97
is that same gender unions
00:28:32.01\00:28:33.61
must receive the same protection
00:28:33.64\00:28:35.34
under United States law
00:28:35.38\00:28:36.71
that opposite gender unions
have here too for enjoyed.
00:28:36.75\00:28:41.58
And you know what?
00:28:41.62\00:28:42.98
I agree, I do.
00:28:43.02\00:28:46.45
Why?
00:28:46.49\00:28:47.82
It wouldn't be
fair for this nation
00:28:47.86\00:28:49.19
to deny same gender couples,
00:28:49.22\00:28:50.63
the protection of the law,
00:28:50.66\00:28:52.06
the coverage of
health insurance,
00:28:52.09\00:28:53.73
the security wills
and testaments upon death
00:28:53.76\00:28:55.86
and every other right
00:28:55.90\00:28:57.23
and privilege
extended to citizens
00:28:57.27\00:28:58.77
of opposite sex marriage.
00:28:58.80\00:29:00.64
That's why the
Supreme Court ruling ensures
00:29:00.67\00:29:04.74
that such
protections and privileges
00:29:04.77\00:29:06.51
are recorded to all of
this nation's citizens.
00:29:06.54\00:29:11.85
But I repeat
00:29:11.88\00:29:13.21
that ruling did not disassemble
the divine biblical definition
00:29:13.25\00:29:18.35
and institution of marriage
00:29:18.39\00:29:19.72
that Jesus has just
affirmed to us in red letters,
00:29:19.75\00:29:23.43
you can't touch it.
00:29:23.46\00:29:26.49
You can't break
the law of marriage,
00:29:26.53\00:29:29.46
just like you can't
break the law of gravity.
00:29:29.50\00:29:32.27
It can break you,
but you can't break it.
00:29:32.30\00:29:36.30
What God has put
together, let no one take apart.
00:29:36.34\00:29:41.78
That's clear, that's uncontested
00:29:41.81\00:29:43.85
what God has put together,
00:29:43.88\00:29:45.55
no one can take apart.
00:29:45.58\00:29:48.02
And thus, the Bible idea
for ideal for human marriage
00:29:48.05\00:29:50.92
is still
intended to be the reality
00:29:50.95\00:29:53.39
of life on this planet
00:29:53.42\00:29:54.82
with the following
post fall exceptions.
00:29:54.86\00:29:59.03
All right, I'm
gonna run some exceptions
00:29:59.06\00:30:00.56
by post fall exceptions.
00:30:00.60\00:30:04.60
Number one,
exception number one,
00:30:04.63\00:30:07.84
singlehood
00:30:07.87\00:30:09.90
Jesus red letter words
are not a divine command
00:30:09.94\00:30:13.44
for all human beings to marry.
00:30:13.48\00:30:16.28
How could they be?
00:30:16.31\00:30:17.65
Jesus was
unmarried His entire life.
00:30:17.68\00:30:20.22
He was single when
He spoke these words.
00:30:20.25\00:30:21.88
Paul himself,
00:30:21.92\00:30:23.25
the great
champion of Christianity
00:30:23.28\00:30:24.95
actually suggested that
00:30:24.99\00:30:26.49
singlehood
celibacy is a higher gift
00:30:26.52\00:30:29.59
than human marriage.
00:30:29.62\00:30:31.33
So only those who
have the gift need apply.
00:30:31.36\00:30:35.06
John the Baptist was single.
00:30:35.10\00:30:36.90
And as far as we know,
so us John the Beloved,
00:30:36.93\00:30:39.60
Elijah was single.
00:30:39.63\00:30:41.47
And so was Elisha,
and so was Jeremiah
00:30:41.50\00:30:43.91
and so was Anna.
00:30:43.94\00:30:46.71
And so is the long list of
who's who in Holy Scripture,
00:30:46.74\00:30:51.68
single human beings.
00:30:51.71\00:30:55.25
There is, and
please understand this.
00:30:55.28\00:30:57.49
There is no biblical stigma
attached to a man or a woman
00:30:57.52\00:31:02.42
who chooses to remain single.
00:31:02.46\00:31:05.46
And we ought not to judge them.
00:31:05.49\00:31:09.23
Oh, I've heard,
00:31:09.26\00:31:11.67
you know why he's
been single all his life?
00:31:11.70\00:31:14.30
I'll tell you why.
00:31:14.34\00:31:16.40
That is absolutely ludicrous.
00:31:16.44\00:31:18.81
Who gave you the right to judge?
00:31:18.84\00:31:21.31
Stop it.
00:31:21.34\00:31:24.51
Singlehood is an exception.
00:31:24.55\00:31:26.21
The Creator Himself
said, I'll be single
00:31:26.25\00:31:30.39
and honored singlehood.
00:31:30.42\00:31:34.06
Celibacy is a gift
that the Bible recognizes
00:31:34.09\00:31:37.09
not all possess,
00:31:37.13\00:31:38.63
but now listen, listen, listen.
00:31:38.66\00:31:40.40
Sexual abstinence is
what the Bible requires
00:31:40.43\00:31:43.16
of all Christians
outside of marriage,
00:31:43.20\00:31:45.63
whether straight or gay.
00:31:45.67\00:31:49.34
Sexual abstinence.
00:31:49.37\00:31:52.61
If you fiddle around
with sex outside of marriage,
00:31:52.64\00:31:57.35
you are playing with dynamite
00:31:57.38\00:31:59.11
and it will
kill you spiritually.
00:31:59.15\00:32:02.08
It will kill you spiritually.
00:32:02.12\00:32:04.29
The Creator knows
what He's talking about.
00:32:07.62\00:32:11.26
And part of loving
Him is trusting Him
00:32:11.29\00:32:14.46
and believing that He knows.
00:32:14.50\00:32:16.93
All right, so here are
00:32:16.97\00:32:18.30
some post fall
exceptions to marriage.
00:32:18.33\00:32:20.34
Number one,
00:32:20.37\00:32:21.70
there is the
exception of singlehood
00:32:21.74\00:32:23.07
and number two,
00:32:23.10\00:32:24.44
there is the
exception of remarriage.
00:32:24.47\00:32:26.11
Remarriage upon
the death of a spouse.
00:32:26.14\00:32:28.28
The great father,
Abraham is heartbroken
00:32:28.31\00:32:30.58
after he buries
Sarah, his life companion,
00:32:30.61\00:32:35.15
eventually
remarries, he's lonely.
00:32:35.18\00:32:37.72
It's okay to remarry.
00:32:37.75\00:32:39.85
Far as we know,
00:32:39.89\00:32:41.22
that Joseph who
marries the young Virgin
00:32:41.26\00:32:42.96
Mary who gives
birth to the Son of God,
00:32:42.99\00:32:44.89
son of man,
00:32:44.93\00:32:46.26
Joseph himself
already had a family,
00:32:46.29\00:32:48.96
his wife deceased,
00:32:49.00\00:32:50.67
and he remarries
this young teenage girl.
00:32:50.70\00:32:54.50
That's okay.
00:32:54.54\00:32:56.44
We know that
00:32:56.47\00:32:58.44
they're older than Jesus,
00:32:58.47\00:32:59.81
because the way his
stepbrothers treat Him,
00:32:59.84\00:33:01.44
they treat Jesus
like an older brother,
00:33:01.48\00:33:03.51
just a pain sometimes.
00:33:03.55\00:33:08.45
All right.
00:33:08.48\00:33:09.82
So remarriage,
00:33:09.85\00:33:11.19
one of the post fall exceptions
to marriage is remarriage,
00:33:11.22\00:33:13.42
remarriage upon
the death of a spouse
00:33:13.46\00:33:15.22
and remarriage upon the death
of a marriage through adultery.
00:33:15.26\00:33:21.10
It is a sad and tragic story,
00:33:21.13\00:33:23.97
but it happens on this
fallen and unideal planet.
00:33:24.00\00:33:29.94
But there is a third
exception to marriage
00:33:29.97\00:33:33.78
between a man and a woman,
00:33:33.81\00:33:35.14
an exception created by
culture and not by the Creator.
00:33:35.18\00:33:38.15
And the question is,
00:33:38.18\00:33:39.71
is this third
exception valid with God?
00:33:39.75\00:33:45.69
That's what a gay
young Christian man
00:33:45.72\00:33:48.22
named Justin Lee
00:33:48.26\00:33:49.62
is wrestling with.
00:33:49.66\00:33:50.99
He's written a
book. I've read the book.
00:33:51.03\00:33:52.79
The title of the book is Torn.
00:33:52.83\00:33:54.93
It's an engaging
first person testimony
00:33:54.96\00:33:57.67
that Justin Lee grew
up in a Christian family.
00:33:57.70\00:33:59.33
He had a loving
mother. He had a loving father.
00:33:59.37\00:34:01.27
He had a loving brother,
00:34:01.30\00:34:02.64
but somehow
something inside of him
00:34:02.67\00:34:04.57
began to experience
same gender attraction.
00:34:04.61\00:34:07.41
He tried to deny it.
00:34:07.44\00:34:08.78
He tried to just
say, it's not there.
00:34:08.81\00:34:10.81
He tried to pray
it out of himself.
00:34:10.85\00:34:12.95
In fact, he even
begged God to kill me.
00:34:12.98\00:34:17.49
I can't live with this.
00:34:17.52\00:34:19.32
As other gays and lesbians
00:34:23.43\00:34:26.39
who are believers have prayed.
00:34:26.43\00:34:30.00
You don't understand the angst.
00:34:30.03\00:34:32.73
You do not understand the angst.
00:34:32.77\00:34:35.10
Anyway, he spends a
whole chapter in his book,
00:34:38.21\00:34:40.18
title of the
chapter, Why are people gay?
00:34:40.21\00:34:42.41
And it's a lot of research
and it's very well expressed,
00:34:42.44\00:34:45.21
but he ends it.
00:34:45.25\00:34:46.58
He ends that chapter with
this concluding paragraph.
00:34:46.61\00:34:48.78
Justin Lee writing.
00:34:48.82\00:34:50.15
Why are some people
attracted to the same sex?
00:34:50.19\00:34:53.15
The truth is, we
don't know for sure,
00:34:53.19\00:34:55.59
The biological
theories have the most evidence
00:34:55.62\00:34:57.89
to support them right now,
00:34:57.93\00:35:00.23
but even they
have lots of questions,
00:35:00.26\00:35:02.50
and at this point we
can't prove anything.
00:35:02.53\00:35:05.07
We can only make
educated guesses.
00:35:05.10\00:35:08.24
And guess what?
00:35:08.27\00:35:09.60
The Seventh-day
Adventist Church comes along.
00:35:09.64\00:35:11.47
And after the Obergefell
ruling in the summer of 2015,
00:35:11.51\00:35:15.38
that fall the
North American division
00:35:15.41\00:35:17.28
of Seventh-day Adventists
00:35:17.31\00:35:18.65
issues its own
statement on marriage.
00:35:18.68\00:35:21.38
And we will note a
line that ends in green
00:35:21.42\00:35:23.75
with Justin Lee right now.
00:35:23.79\00:35:25.25
"In view of the fact that
00:35:25.29\00:35:26.62
scientists and other experts
00:35:26.65\00:35:28.36
have not reached a consensus
00:35:28.39\00:35:29.86
concerning the factors
leading to sexual orientation,
00:35:29.89\00:35:32.99
usually understood to
involve the complex roles
00:35:33.03\00:35:35.40
of nature and nurture.
00:35:35.43\00:35:37.50
The Adventist
Church does not presume
00:35:37.53\00:35:39.93
to have settled the
scientific and social questions
00:35:39.97\00:35:43.30
regarding the cause
00:35:43.34\00:35:44.67
of
non-heterosexual orientation."
00:35:44.71\00:35:47.08
But as Justin Lee
continues his story,
00:35:50.15\00:35:51.91
he tells of meeting
ex-gays at conferences
00:35:51.95\00:35:55.18
who are publicly
claiming to be healed.
00:35:55.22\00:35:59.19
Now his response is nuanced
00:35:59.22\00:36:02.49
and I think it's rather bright.
00:36:02.52\00:36:04.93
Let's put Justin Lee
back on the screen here.
00:36:04.96\00:36:07.93
The testimonies of these
gays upfront are ex-gays.
00:36:07.96\00:36:10.93
'The testimonies
were powerful reminders
00:36:10.97\00:36:13.40
of how God changes lives.
00:36:13.44\00:36:15.34
It was largely faith in God
00:36:15.37\00:36:16.94
that enabled them to overcome
00:36:16.97\00:36:18.51
a history of sexual
addiction and substance abuse."
00:36:18.54\00:36:21.64
Now keep reading.
00:36:21.68\00:36:23.18
"But there was one thing missing
00:36:23.21\00:36:26.75
in all their testimonies.
00:36:26.78\00:36:28.45
None of them seem to
be becoming straight.
00:36:28.48\00:36:31.85
They had changed their behaviors
00:36:31.89\00:36:33.56
sometimes in dramatic ways.
00:36:33.59\00:36:35.49
Some had not had any
sexual contact in years.
00:36:35.52\00:36:38.33
Others had gone so far
00:36:38.36\00:36:39.69
as to date and marry a
member of the opposite sex.
00:36:39.73\00:36:43.30
But almost
universally when I asked."
00:36:43.33\00:36:46.03
So he gets along with
these upfront speakers
00:36:46.07\00:36:48.80
who come to
share their testimony.
00:36:48.84\00:36:50.77
When he gets alone with them.
00:36:50.81\00:36:52.47
'When I asked,
they confessed that
00:36:52.51\00:36:54.78
they still had the same
kind of same sex attractions
00:36:54.81\00:36:59.85
that I did."
00:36:59.88\00:37:03.22
Hmm,
00:37:03.25\00:37:04.59
now does that negate
these public speakers
00:37:04.62\00:37:10.13
being truly
redeemed, truly rescued,
00:37:10.16\00:37:13.09
truly renewed in
their experience with Jesus?
00:37:13.13\00:37:16.13
Not at all.
00:37:16.16\00:37:17.50
Of course that's a
valid, powerful testimony.
00:37:17.53\00:37:20.97
But what Justin
Lee is describing
00:37:21.00\00:37:22.97
is that even
when you do not engage
00:37:23.00\00:37:24.94
in same gender sex
00:37:24.97\00:37:26.34
and are celibate as he is,
00:37:26.37\00:37:28.54
the same gender attraction
does not necessarily go away
00:37:28.58\00:37:33.38
for some people ever go away.
00:37:33.42\00:37:37.09
And they are still Christian.
00:37:37.12\00:37:38.85
They are still believers
and disciples of Jesus.
00:37:38.89\00:37:42.69
Rebecca McLaughlin,
00:37:46.16\00:37:48.03
in a book
confronting Christianity,
00:37:48.06\00:37:49.46
12 hard questions
00:37:49.50\00:37:50.83
for the world's
largest religion.
00:37:50.87\00:37:52.33
It was a golden medallion award
00:37:52.37\00:37:54.30
in the Evangelical
Press a couple of years ago.
00:37:54.34\00:37:56.30
I've read the book.
00:37:56.34\00:37:57.67
Describes her own struggles
with same gender attraction.
00:37:57.71\00:38:01.91
So we'll put her on the screen.
00:38:01.94\00:38:05.35
Oh no, no, no, no, no.
00:38:05.38\00:38:06.72
Before we get to her,
00:38:06.75\00:38:08.08
this is really important.
00:38:11.55\00:38:14.59
So, Justin Lee is
saying, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo.
00:38:14.62\00:38:17.06
So how do you explain this?
00:38:17.09\00:38:18.43
Have these guys
been healed or not?
00:38:21.20\00:38:23.53
Are they telling
the truth or not?
00:38:23.57\00:38:25.73
Now watch how he handles this.
00:38:25.77\00:38:28.17
Part of the problem was
00:38:28.20\00:38:29.54
that neither these
leaders nor their audiences
00:38:29.57\00:38:32.71
were careful to distinguish
00:38:32.74\00:38:34.48
between sexual behaviors
and sexual attractions.
00:38:34.51\00:38:39.61
When people like
me said we were gay,
00:38:39.65\00:38:42.68
it was because
of our attractions.
00:38:42.72\00:38:44.49
I'm still attracted.
00:38:44.52\00:38:45.85
I'm not practicing,
but I'm still attracted.
00:38:45.89\00:38:47.72
When the ex-gay
leaders stand upfront and say
00:38:47.76\00:38:50.23
they aren't gay.
00:38:50.26\00:38:51.86
It's because of their behaviors.
00:38:51.89\00:38:53.33
I'm no longer living that
way is what they're saying.
00:38:53.36\00:38:56.06
Hmm.
00:39:00.44\00:39:03.54
Interesting.
00:39:03.57\00:39:05.41
Just using the
word in a different way.
00:39:05.44\00:39:10.18
Now let's go to
Rebecca McLaughlin.
00:39:10.21\00:39:13.01
'Mine is a story of a girl
00:39:13.05\00:39:14.38
who found herself from childhood
00:39:14.42\00:39:16.02
falling in love with
older and accessible girls,
00:39:16.05\00:39:20.39
but hoped and prayed
she would grow out of it.
00:39:20.42\00:39:23.26
A dream that finally
died in grad school,"
00:39:23.29\00:39:25.13
by the way, no
small grad school,
00:39:25.16\00:39:27.66
Cambridge University,
00:39:27.70\00:39:29.03
where she got her PhD
in Renaissance literature.
00:39:29.06\00:39:31.10
Okay?
00:39:31.13\00:39:32.47
"But this dream
died in grad school.
00:39:32.50\00:39:34.34
It's a story of
silence and quiet loss,
00:39:34.37\00:39:36.81
as my heart got stuck to people
who could not want me back.
00:39:36.84\00:39:42.28
It's a story of never touching
another woman in a sexual way,
00:39:42.31\00:39:45.71
but always
longing for more intimacy.
00:39:45.75\00:39:48.32
Sometimes more than
I knew I could have.'
00:39:48.35\00:39:52.12
You can just feel that.
00:39:55.19\00:39:58.23
And then she
pivots to a stunning line
00:39:58.26\00:40:02.50
that I hope you'll
take away with you today.
00:40:02.53\00:40:04.70
One line, here it is.
00:40:04.73\00:40:07.24
"Blue blood heterosexuality
00:40:07.27\00:40:09.97
is not the goal of
the Christian life,
00:40:10.01\00:40:13.61
Jesus is."
00:40:13.64\00:40:15.88
Yes.
00:40:15.91\00:40:17.25
Take a look at that.
00:40:17.28\00:40:18.88
Blue blood heterosexuality
00:40:18.91\00:40:20.78
is not the goal of
the Christian life,
00:40:20.82\00:40:23.39
Jesus is.
00:40:23.42\00:40:25.72
You see the difference?
00:40:25.75\00:40:27.56
It's a huge difference.
00:40:27.59\00:40:29.12
And who is this Jesus?
00:40:29.16\00:40:30.63
He's the maker of all
things who loves and wants me
00:40:30.66\00:40:32.46
and who loves and wants you.
00:40:32.49\00:40:34.36
And what does
Jesus want us to do?
00:40:34.40\00:40:36.56
Listen, it is neither
the goal of Christ Jesus,
00:40:36.60\00:40:39.97
nor the mission of
the church of Christ
00:40:40.00\00:40:42.30
to seek to turn
every LGBTQ plus member
00:40:42.34\00:40:46.27
into a heterosexual Christian.
00:40:46.31\00:40:49.18
Heterosexuality
is not the end game.
00:40:49.21\00:40:52.05
It is not the end goal.
00:40:52.08\00:40:54.22
In fact, in all honesty,
00:40:54.25\00:40:55.58
marriage is
transit at best right now.
00:40:55.62\00:40:58.69
You don't believe it?
00:40:58.72\00:41:00.06
Turn three pages
further in Matthew,
00:41:00.09\00:41:01.59
go to Matthew Chapter 22,
00:41:01.62\00:41:03.02
watch these
red-letter words now.
00:41:03.06\00:41:05.13
'At the resurrection,
00:41:05.16\00:41:07.00
people will neither
marry nor be given in marriage,
00:41:07.03\00:41:10.33
they will be like
the angels in heaven.'
00:41:10.37\00:41:14.80
Hmm.
00:41:14.84\00:41:16.64
Angels?
00:41:16.67\00:41:18.01
Angles apparently who
are aromantic or asexual
00:41:18.04\00:41:21.31
or maybe we should
call them supra sexual.
00:41:21.34\00:41:23.91
We will be like them.
00:41:23.95\00:41:26.31
So I'm asking you a question.
00:41:26.35\00:41:27.68
Why would the church
then consider it her mission
00:41:27.72\00:41:29.72
to turn all
people into heterosexuals
00:41:29.75\00:41:31.79
with opposite sex attraction?
00:41:31.82\00:41:34.29
We're not even headed that way.
00:41:34.32\00:41:35.79
I wanna say a
word to the parents
00:41:45.07\00:41:46.40
who are listening right now.
00:41:46.43\00:41:48.30
And I know you're listening.
00:41:48.34\00:41:50.97
My dear parents,
00:41:51.01\00:41:53.84
if you have a child
00:41:53.88\00:41:55.21
who is a part of
the LGBTQ community,
00:41:55.24\00:41:57.35
your mission is
not to pray that child
00:41:59.55\00:42:04.55
into heterosexuality,
00:42:04.59\00:42:07.66
your mission, please.
00:42:07.69\00:42:12.09
Your mission is
to love that child
00:42:12.13\00:42:15.26
until your dying day
00:42:15.30\00:42:18.23
or until Jesus returns.
00:42:18.27\00:42:22.20
Only you know the
depth of the pain.
00:42:22.24\00:42:26.21
The members of
the LGBT community
00:42:26.24\00:42:29.94
know the depth of
the pain in coming out,
00:42:29.98\00:42:34.52
but nobody can know
the pain of a parent
00:42:34.55\00:42:36.92
in receiving the coming out.
00:42:36.95\00:42:41.52
And it is a deep pain.
00:42:41.56\00:42:45.16
Most of you are
in pain together.
00:42:45.19\00:42:49.76
There are times
when LGBTQ members say,
00:42:49.80\00:42:54.70
"I reject you as my parent."
00:42:54.74\00:42:58.27
There are times
00:42:58.31\00:42:59.64
when gay or
lesbian children say,
00:42:59.67\00:43:04.11
"I thoroughly disagree
00:43:10.42\00:43:13.69
with your position.
00:43:13.72\00:43:15.59
And because of that,
I'm not coming home again."
00:43:15.62\00:43:19.39
None of us understands,
00:43:19.43\00:43:21.70
only those who endure together,
00:43:21.73\00:43:27.24
but in this time of immense hurt
00:43:27.27\00:43:28.70
and confusion and
confusion and sadness,
00:43:28.74\00:43:33.01
it is also a painful
but profound opportunity,
00:43:33.04\00:43:36.68
mom and dad
00:43:36.71\00:43:38.71
and LGBT person
00:43:38.75\00:43:44.09
to demonstrate
unrelenting love to the other
00:43:44.12\00:43:48.29
in the midst of this crisis.
00:43:48.32\00:43:51.06
You have nothing to gain
00:43:51.09\00:43:52.53
to cut your love
off from each other.
00:43:52.56\00:43:55.33
Either side love,
00:43:55.36\00:43:58.77
put your arms
around each other, weep.
00:43:58.80\00:44:03.20
It represents a broken dream,
00:44:03.24\00:44:04.91
not just for
parents, but for the child.
00:44:04.94\00:44:08.64
Some dreams have to be buried.
00:44:08.68\00:44:11.41
They cannot be
returned to parent or child.
00:44:11.45\00:44:17.29
It's not a question of blame.
It's not a question of cause.
00:44:17.32\00:44:20.99
It's simply an
opportunity for you both
00:44:21.02\00:44:23.79
to now live out the
radical love of Jesus.
00:44:23.83\00:44:28.16
Parents to your children
and children to your parents.
00:44:28.20\00:44:31.53
And oh my, may I say this?
00:44:31.57\00:44:32.90
It is not the time
00:44:32.93\00:44:34.54
for the church of
Christ to rise up in anger
00:44:34.57\00:44:36.84
or disgust or
righteous indignation
00:44:36.87\00:44:39.04
and expel that errant member.
00:44:39.07\00:44:41.31
You're out of here.
00:44:41.34\00:44:44.58
Why would you do that now?
00:44:44.61\00:44:48.52
I listened to a
testimony this week
00:44:48.55\00:44:50.52
from a graduate
00:44:50.55\00:44:52.09
of our theological
seminary here on campus,
00:44:52.12\00:44:55.59
who has lived with
same gender attraction
00:44:55.62\00:44:58.56
since his early teen years,
00:44:58.59\00:45:00.00
but has remained
celibate nonetheless.
00:45:00.03\00:45:02.96
It's a moving testimony.
00:45:03.00\00:45:05.90
It's beautiful how
he described his mother
00:45:05.93\00:45:07.50
stunned on that day
00:45:07.54\00:45:08.87
when she learns
this for the first time
00:45:08.90\00:45:10.37
and takes a day or two
00:45:10.41\00:45:11.81
just to recover
from what he's told her.
00:45:11.84\00:45:13.88
And he broke down in
the sob uncontrollably,
00:45:13.91\00:45:19.18
but how that
mother two days later
00:45:19.21\00:45:21.45
becomes a staunch
supporter of her gay child.
00:45:21.48\00:45:26.25
And he loves her to death
and she loves him to death,
00:45:26.29\00:45:29.79
but it was sad
when he had to tell,
00:45:29.82\00:45:32.26
tell about their
home congregation,
00:45:32.29\00:45:33.96
how it rose up in opposition
00:45:34.00\00:45:35.46
to the very fact
that one of their own
00:45:35.50\00:45:37.40
would continue
to call himself gay.
00:45:37.43\00:45:39.40
You're supposed
to get over being gay
00:45:39.43\00:45:41.37
and in no uncertain terms,
00:45:41.40\00:45:43.04
pushed away that
young man and his family
00:45:43.07\00:45:45.24
from that congregation.
00:45:45.27\00:45:47.38
He still loves Jesus. He
still works for the church.
00:45:47.41\00:45:49.54
No.
00:45:52.58\00:45:53.92
We at Pioneer Memorial Church
00:45:53.95\00:45:55.28
on the campus of
Andrews University
00:45:55.32\00:45:57.62
cannot become a
congregation like that?
00:45:57.65\00:45:59.39
No, no.
00:45:59.42\00:46:00.76
It is possible
some congregations glory
00:46:00.79\00:46:02.56
in their purity,
00:46:02.59\00:46:04.09
but we will glory in the Christ
00:46:04.13\00:46:06.43
who has called us
to be love on the move.
00:46:06.46\00:46:09.36
That was a powerful
children's story, wasn't it?
00:46:09.40\00:46:11.20
That animation.
00:46:11.23\00:46:13.54
That's our mission statement.
00:46:13.57\00:46:15.20
Those are our watch
words. Love on the move.
00:46:15.24\00:46:18.97
Straight, gay, lesbian,
00:46:19.01\00:46:20.41
transgender
sinner saved by the grace
00:46:20.44\00:46:22.41
and the love of
the maker of all things
00:46:22.44\00:46:23.81
who loves and wants
us, that is who we are.
00:46:23.85\00:46:27.45
We are a
menagerie of broken people
00:46:27.48\00:46:29.98
at the Pioneer Memorial Church.
00:46:30.02\00:46:32.25
We are broken,
00:46:32.29\00:46:34.99
but we gather
together every Sabbath in hopes
00:46:35.02\00:46:37.59
that somehow in
the deepest of our pain
00:46:37.63\00:46:41.93
where the breakage is so severe,
00:46:41.96\00:46:43.97
that a word from the Lord Jesus
might yet speak hope to us.
00:46:44.00\00:46:49.34
A menagerie of broken people
00:46:49.37\00:46:51.87
reminds me of what
Martin Luther once wrote.
00:46:51.91\00:46:55.61
And by the way, it
appears in of all places,
00:46:55.64\00:46:57.71
The Great Controversy.
00:46:57.75\00:47:00.82
So this is
Martin Luther writing.
00:47:00.85\00:47:05.42
"May God of His mercy
00:47:05.45\00:47:08.26
preserve me from a church
00:47:08.29\00:47:09.96
in which there
are none but saints.
00:47:09.99\00:47:11.99
I desire to
dwell with the humble,
00:47:15.10\00:47:17.63
the feeble, the sick
00:47:17.67\00:47:19.63
who know and feel their sins
00:47:19.67\00:47:21.57
and are grown and
cry continually to God
00:47:21.60\00:47:23.91
from the bottom of their hearts
00:47:23.94\00:47:25.37
to obtain His
constellation and support."
00:47:25.41\00:47:28.11
That is a powerful depiction
00:47:28.14\00:47:29.58
by the way of the
LGBTQ plus community
00:47:29.61\00:47:32.71
who are believers crying out.
00:47:32.75\00:47:35.65
Martin Luther, me too.
00:47:39.49\00:47:43.96
We too, we too.
00:47:43.99\00:47:48.36
The truth is we are all broken.
00:47:48.40\00:47:51.13
I hope you didn't
miss last Sabbath.
00:47:51.17\00:47:53.77
Me and my friends
00:47:53.80\00:47:55.17
David and Beverly
said, let's check.
00:47:55.20\00:47:57.71
I sat right over
there listened intently.
00:47:57.74\00:48:00.84
And they made this
point and reiterated it
00:48:00.88\00:48:03.21
and I could not shake it.
00:48:03.24\00:48:04.58
We are all broken they said.
00:48:04.61\00:48:07.22
Sunday morning when I
go to my prayer journal,
00:48:07.25\00:48:09.22
I just take that one line.
00:48:09.25\00:48:10.69
We are all broken and I
start responding to that
00:48:10.72\00:48:13.76
in a way that's
dealing with my own brokenness.
00:48:13.79\00:48:17.33
We are all
broken. That's the truth.
00:48:17.36\00:48:22.00
You may look fine to me today,
00:48:22.03\00:48:24.60
but there is inside of
you a jagged and broken piece.
00:48:24.63\00:48:27.20
You cannot deny,
we are all broken.
00:48:27.24\00:48:30.71
I may look fine to you today,
00:48:30.74\00:48:32.61
but there is inside of me
a broken and jagged piece,
00:48:32.64\00:48:35.14
which I cannot deny.
00:48:35.18\00:48:37.11
We are all broken,
00:48:37.15\00:48:39.45
straight,
lesbian, gay, transgender,
00:48:39.48\00:48:42.15
queer, heterosexual.
00:48:42.18\00:48:43.79
It doesn't matter who we are.
00:48:43.82\00:48:45.49
We are all broken.
00:48:45.52\00:48:47.49
And that line stays with me.
00:48:51.39\00:48:54.00
Blue blood heterosexuality
00:48:54.03\00:48:56.50
is not the goal of
the Christian life,
00:48:56.53\00:48:59.93
Jesus is.
00:48:59.97\00:49:02.87
So I say, humbly,
00:49:02.90\00:49:06.04
I invite you humbly
00:49:06.07\00:49:09.41
to join me in resolving today
00:49:09.44\00:49:13.88
that we will become a part
of Jesus' church of the broken
00:49:13.92\00:49:19.82
right now, right now.
00:49:19.85\00:49:23.12
Oh God,
00:49:23.16\00:49:26.33
we're all broken.
00:49:26.36\00:49:30.07
Let him who is without sin,
00:49:30.10\00:49:32.27
let him who is
unbroken throw the first stone.
00:49:32.30\00:49:36.00
There's not a soul that can move
00:49:36.04\00:49:38.44
and pick up that stone.
00:49:38.47\00:49:40.91
You took it instead.
00:49:40.94\00:49:44.31
It's not blue
blood heterosexuality
00:49:44.35\00:49:47.55
that we seek.
00:49:47.58\00:49:49.58
It's the red blooded redemption
of our Lord, Jesus Christ
00:49:49.62\00:49:52.99
on the cross of Calvary,
00:49:53.02\00:49:55.29
the healing, the
depth of a healing
00:49:55.32\00:49:58.66
that we all can
experience together.
00:49:58.69\00:50:03.16
So dear God, do
whatever You wish.
00:50:03.20\00:50:06.43
Keep this little congregation
00:50:06.47\00:50:08.37
on the campus of
this great university,
00:50:08.40\00:50:11.64
a place where
Jesus' love is on the move.
00:50:11.67\00:50:17.55
We pray in His name.
00:50:17.58\00:50:20.48
Amen.
00:50:20.52\00:50:23.35
Connect card today,
00:50:23.39\00:50:27.02
pmchurch.org/connect.
00:50:27.06\00:50:28.62
Here you go.
00:50:28.66\00:50:29.99
I wish to be part of
Jesus' church of the broken.
00:50:30.03\00:50:31.76
Yeah, me too.
00:50:31.79\00:50:33.23
Yeah. I put a check
mark there with you.
00:50:33.26\00:50:35.53
I believe Jesus has the power
00:50:35.56\00:50:37.07
to enable me to live
true to Him and His purity,
00:50:37.10\00:50:39.50
same gender
00:50:39.53\00:50:40.87
or opposite gender
attraction notwithstanding.
00:50:40.90\00:50:46.01
You're a believer
in the Lord Jesus.
00:50:46.04\00:50:49.61
You put a check mark there.
00:50:49.64\00:50:51.78
I believe.
00:50:51.81\00:50:53.38
I believe Jesus has the power
00:50:53.42\00:50:54.92
to enable me to live true to Him
00:50:54.95\00:50:56.99
and His purity,
00:50:57.02\00:50:58.35
same gender or
opposite gender attraction
00:50:58.39\00:51:00.42
notwithstanding.
00:51:00.46\00:51:02.59
And then I'm gonna put
here, please pray for me.
00:51:02.62\00:51:06.23
You don't have
to put any details,
00:51:06.26\00:51:08.76
but if you put your
name and an email address,
00:51:08.80\00:51:12.17
I'll personally pray for you.
00:51:12.20\00:51:15.57
All right.
00:51:15.60\00:51:17.97
It will be an honor too.
00:51:18.01\00:51:20.04
Finally, I wish to
follow Jesus and be baptized.
00:51:20.08\00:51:25.75
So you can write a new chapter.
00:51:25.78\00:51:28.85
You can't change
everything inside,
00:51:28.88\00:51:32.45
but you can give
your heart to Him,
00:51:32.49\00:51:35.26
and you and Jesus
00:51:35.29\00:51:37.73
can write the best chapter
00:51:37.76\00:51:41.33
that has ever been
written in your life
00:51:41.36\00:51:45.43
when you walk with Him.
00:51:45.47\00:51:47.04
If you've not been baptized,
00:51:47.07\00:51:48.60
straight, gay,
doesn't matter, lesbian.
00:51:48.64\00:51:52.21
If you have not been baptized
00:51:52.24\00:51:54.01
and you wanna
walk with this Jesus,
00:51:54.04\00:51:55.64
put a check mark
there, put an email address.
00:51:55.68\00:51:58.38
We'll be in touch
with you electronically.
00:51:58.41\00:52:01.55
Explore what that means.
00:52:01.58\00:52:05.39
There's a beautiful gospel song.
00:52:05.42\00:52:06.76
And that's how I wished
that we would end today.
00:52:06.79\00:52:10.09
There is a fountain
filled with blood drawn
00:52:10.13\00:52:12.39
from Immanuel's veins
00:52:12.43\00:52:14.53
and sinners
plunged beneath that flood
00:52:14.56\00:52:17.80
lose all their guilty stains.
00:52:17.83\00:52:20.34
And that all is a
promise for all of us.
00:52:20.37\00:52:24.54
Amen.
00:52:24.57\00:52:25.91
There is a fountain
00:52:43.63\00:52:48.13
Filled with blood
00:52:48.16\00:52:50.80
Drawn from
00:52:50.83\00:52:53.07
Immanuel's veins
00:52:53.10\00:52:57.74
And sinners plunged
00:52:57.77\00:53:01.44
Beneath that flood
00:53:01.48\00:53:04.95
Lose all
00:53:04.98\00:53:07.32
Their guilty stains
00:53:07.35\00:53:12.15
Lose all
00:53:12.19\00:53:14.69
Their guilty stains
00:53:14.72\00:53:19.69
Lose all
00:53:19.73\00:53:21.83
Their guilty stains
00:53:21.86\00:53:26.74
And sinners plunged
00:53:26.77\00:53:30.41
Beneath that flood
00:53:30.44\00:53:34.04
Lose all
00:53:34.08\00:53:36.41
Their guilty stains
00:53:36.44\00:53:40.02
The dying thief
00:53:52.19\00:53:55.96
Rejoiced to see
00:53:56.00\00:53:59.63
That fountain
00:53:59.67\00:54:02.34
In his day
00:54:02.37\00:54:06.51
And there
00:54:06.54\00:54:08.94
May I though vile as he
00:54:08.98\00:54:13.98
Wash all
00:54:14.02\00:54:16.35
My sins away
00:54:16.38\00:54:21.22
Wash all
00:54:21.26\00:54:23.59
My sins away
00:54:23.63\00:54:28.46
Wash all
00:54:28.50\00:54:30.60
My sins away
00:54:30.63\00:54:35.57
And there may I
00:54:35.60\00:54:39.24
Though vile as he
00:54:39.27\00:54:42.78
Wash all
00:54:42.81\00:54:45.25
My sins away
00:54:45.28\00:54:48.78
Dear dying Lamb
00:54:53.46\00:54:57.19
Thy precious blood
00:54:57.23\00:55:00.73
Shall never lose
00:55:00.76\00:55:04.27
Its power
00:55:04.30\00:55:07.74
Till all the ransomed
00:55:07.77\00:55:12.21
Church of God
00:55:12.24\00:55:14.88
Are saved
00:55:14.91\00:55:17.25
To sin no more
00:55:17.28\00:55:22.18
Are saved
00:55:22.22\00:55:24.45
To sin no more
00:55:24.49\00:55:29.42
Are saved
00:55:29.46\00:55:31.69
To sin no more
00:55:31.73\00:55:36.50
Till all the ransomed
00:55:36.53\00:55:41.10
Church of God
00:55:41.14\00:55:43.74
Are saved
00:55:43.77\00:55:46.07
To sin no more
00:55:46.11\00:55:49.64
E'er since by faith
00:55:54.92\00:55:58.42
I saw the stream
00:55:58.45\00:56:02.16
Thy flowing wounds supply
00:56:02.19\00:56:05.96
Redeeming love
00:56:09.36\00:56:13.20
Has been my theme
00:56:13.23\00:56:17.01
And shall be
00:56:17.04\00:56:19.94
Till I die
00:56:19.97\00:56:24.41
And shall be
00:56:24.45\00:56:27.48
Till I die
00:56:27.52\00:56:32.22
And shall be
00:56:32.25\00:56:35.16
Till I die
00:56:35.19\00:56:39.76
Redeeming love
00:56:39.79\00:56:43.87
Has been my theme
00:56:43.90\00:56:48.00
And shall be
00:56:48.04\00:56:51.37
Till I die
00:56:51.41\00:56:55.38
Before you go, let
me take an extra moment
00:57:01.05\00:57:02.52
to share with you an opportunity
00:57:02.55\00:57:03.89
to get into the
Bible in a fresh, new way.
00:57:03.92\00:57:06.82
All across the
world, more and more people
00:57:06.86\00:57:08.19
are hearing the call
00:57:08.22\00:57:09.56
to examine
scriptures for themselves.
00:57:09.59\00:57:11.73
If you felt drawn to
learn more about God's Word,
00:57:11.76\00:57:14.06
but you don't
know where to start,
00:57:14.10\00:57:15.43
or you're just looking
00:57:15.46\00:57:16.80
for a more in-depth
examination of Bible truths.
00:57:16.83\00:57:19.23
Then I have something right here
00:57:19.27\00:57:20.60
that I believe
you're going to enjoy.
00:57:20.64\00:57:22.30
I want to send
a series of guides
00:57:22.34\00:57:24.04
to get you started.
00:57:24.07\00:57:25.41
This one's entitled, "Why
does God allow suffering?"
00:57:25.44\00:57:27.74
This guide begins with a story
00:57:27.78\00:57:29.58
and the
introduction of the subject
00:57:29.61\00:57:30.95
into a series
of focus questions.
00:57:30.98\00:57:32.98
You'll be learning
portions of the Bible
00:57:33.01\00:57:34.42
you may never have known before.
00:57:34.45\00:57:35.78
And when you're through,
00:57:35.82\00:57:37.15
you'll be able to
share with others,
00:57:37.19\00:57:38.52
some of these
inspiring Bible truths.
00:57:38.55\00:57:40.52
So just call our
toll-free number,
00:57:40.56\00:57:41.89
it's on the screen,
00:57:41.92\00:57:43.26
877, the two words HIS-WILL.
00:57:43.29\00:57:45.79
Our friendly
operators are standing by
00:57:45.83\00:57:47.16
to send these
study guides to you.
00:57:47.20\00:57:48.70
Once again, that's 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:48.73\00:57:51.97
Call that number.
00:57:52.00\00:57:53.44
And then again,
00:57:53.47\00:57:54.80
join me next week
right here at the same time,
00:57:54.84\00:57:58.24
New Perceptions.
00:57:58.27\00:57:59.61