We'll begin now. This session is our question and answers sent in from people at all four studies. Now it presupposes If anyone is listening to this on the internet or on a flash drive, the answers to these questions presuppose a knowledge garnered from listening to the first four sessions. So don't feel frustrated. Just go back and review the notes or the messages from the first four sessions. So we first looked at the homosexual movement in terms of the doctrine of homosexuality, its sin and depravity. Then we looked at that applied specifically to males. Then we looked at it applied specifically to females. And now the fourth lecture was its application in the church and our ministry. And then this, the final one, are follow-up questions that have been emailed to me. So let's go to the Lord in prayer, shall we? O Lord God, this is your holy word. We are your servants. Give us understanding that we may know your testimonies. You have prayed, O Lord. Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth. Use your holy, eternal, inerrant written word to set us apart this day to your service and to your glory. Show us now great and mighty things which we do not know. The sower sows the word. Let not your word go out in return empty, but accomplish that purpose for which you are sending it out, and for which you have gathered us together. Protect us from Satan, who will snatch your word. Protect us from a wrong reaction to difficulties and discouragements and persecutions, which make our hearts hard and unresponsive to your word. Protect us from the world's cares and the delight of wealth and the passion of other interests, which enter in and choke your word, making it fruitless. Rather give us good soil, O Lord. Plow out now the hard ground of our hearts, that your sown word would send roots downward and bear fruit upwards. Unsheathe now the sword of your Spirit, O Lord, Cut to the dividing point of bone and marrow, soul and spirit. Judge now the thoughts and intentions of each heart gathered here. Spread your word before us as a banquet table, O Lord. Grant grace that we might eat of the rich meat and drink of the sweet milk of the great doctrines of your word. Give us the heart of the prophet who cried to you, thy words were found and I did eat them and thy words became to me a joy. and the delight of my heart from call by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. O Lord, we live in a dark and a wicked age. Broad is the way and many are on it, which leads to destruction. Make your word a lamp to our feet. Make your word a light to our path. Show us that narrow way that you would have us run. And Lord, as we run in the paths of your commandments, enlarge our hearts that in loving you, we might be more obedient to your written word. Drop your word against our lives as a plumb line, O Lord. Grant grace that we might see how we deviate from its high and holy purposes. Make your word to us a mirror, O Lord. Grant grace that we might not be as those who look and go away and forget, but make us active doers, not forgetful listeners of your holy word. O LORD, because of our fealty to you, because of our undying love and devotion to your Son, our resurrected Savior, we pledge to you our total submission to your holy, eternal, inerrant written word, and we pledge to you our unquestioning obedience to all of its commands. In the name of our Lord and our resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. Amen and Amen. Ah, and Dolly, good to see you. Now, Brother Mika, You were probably wondering why I said, oh, you ended early so you can spend time with your family. That's because it's 2 o'clock in Houston. It is, what is it, 9 or 10 o'clock where you are in the evening? About 21. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Yeah, 20, 20. That's right. So you're not going to spend much time with your family. So pardon me for that. I was just had a little time zone shock there. And Ayako, wonderful to see you. Yeah, it's great to hear your voice. Okay. Well, why don't we begin here? Yeah, you guys can all greet each other, that's alright. Everybody say hi. Oh, we just lost Indali. Well, he'll come back. I'll warn people, if you turn off your video, yeah, I've seen you do that, the streaming will be a little easier. Well, what about Christ's teachings on eunuchs in Matthew 19-12? That was the question. So, Brother Bishan, would you read, or Reverend Bishan, Reverend Emeka, not Brother, Reverend Emeka, would you read Matthew 19, 12, please? Matthew 19, 12. Okay, Matthew 19, 12. For the Enochs who were born thus from their mother's womb, And there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men. And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it. Now, I had a youth minister tell me that from this verse, It was his opinion that some people are born homosexuals at birth. And so it was perfectly acceptable, since they were born that way, as long as they did not practice homosexuality, they were celibate homosexuals, that that was acceptable. And that that is why they never married. Well, first, that argument is almost ludicrous and we'll look at it. Paul never married, but nobody who has read Romans chapter one can think that Paul was a celibate homosexual. He was not. Now in Matthew 19.12 begins, for there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb. This refers to men who are born without their sexual organs or with these organs dysfunctional, not sterile. We're not, we're not saying these men are sterile, but we are saying that they, they cannot achieve an erection. Uh, they cannot, uh, have sexual intercourse with women. Because of their how they are born Recording in progress that does not mean they're homosexuals I've known men like this and their Sexual desires are unchanged and they have I have known men who are born like this who have wonderful marriages and their wives feel very loved and cared for and I often tell people in marriage, for a husband, if there is no sexual intimacy, that's everything. But for a wife, if her husband cannot have sexual intimacy, that's just one aspect of marriage. And if he will fulfill his other covenant vows, she can be very happy. And in my marriage counseling, I found men who were no longer able to have sexual intimacy. They were far more afraid of this than their wives were. Because as long as their man, their husband was gentle, he was affectionate with her in other areas, he could stimulate her in other areas, as long as he was a conversational partner and would listen and talk to her, as long as he worked hard to make her home a safe place, as long as he fulfilled his covenant vows in the area of spiritual leadership and devotion to her, that she was happy. Now this second area, it says, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men. This refers to men whose sexual organs were removed, destroyed, or damaged by another. They were removed by a problem such as testicular cancer or other organ cancers or diseases. they were destroyed in a car accident or in war or they were damaged by another person. In the despotic kingdoms of the ancient Near East the king wanted a man guarding his harem and he would often castrate the men who watched over the harem. But in all these situations Whether their organs are removed surgically or destroyed or damaged by someone else, that does not mean they become homosexuals. I've known men who have had prostate cancer, they've had their prostate removed, they can no longer have erections or orgasms, and they still have great sexual desires for their wife and a wonderful intimate relationship with their wife apart from that. I have known men who have had testicular cancer or other forms of genital cancer who've had to have their male sexual organs removed. They could no longer have ejaculation. They no longer produce sperm. But they did not become homosexuals. And the men that I know that this happened to have wonderful relationships with their wives. And their wives are very happily married to them. And those men who are castrated by other people, by terrorists as a form of torture for what other reason? They do not lose their sexual desire for men. In fact, at one time in Western society, pedophiles and rapists, they thought if they castrated these men, that they would no longer have desire to rape women or to rape children. And they found that wasn't true. Then we have those who are made eunuchs by themselves. And there are also eunuchs made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. This refers to men who have chosen, because of the call of God, to refrain from marriage for the present time. Now, for a Christian man in the ministry to refrain from marriage, he's also refraining from sexual activity. This may or may not last a lifetime. Being a eunuch for whatever reason is not the same as being a homosexual. It does not address his desires or his propensities. Being a eunuch addresses the ability or a possibility. A man may be castrated as an act of torture, but he will still have normal sexual desires. That's documented. Some men, as a result of prostate cancer, and I have men in my Bible study, in surgery, here in the US, can no longer perform sexually, this does not make them a homosexual, or mean he no longer desires his wife. Men who have had testicular cancer, and I know of two examples of this, who've had their organs removed, it did not make them a homosexual, it did not impact their desire. Some men may not be able to function sexually by paralysis. This does not mean they are homosexuals. It does not affect their desire. Some men may be called by God to a difficult ministry situation where marriage is incompatible. This does not mean they are homosexuals. It does not affect their desire. So let's look at two phrases more in length here. One is, born that way from their mother's womb. That's talking about a eunuch. This does not indicate that you are born as a homosexual. We are created while in the mother's womb, both in our physical makeup and in our desires, by God. So, uh, let's see, uh, uh, Reverend Amica, if you would read, if you will unmute mute and, uh, read Psalm 139, 13 and 14, and then stay available for verse 16, please. Okay. Psalm 139 verses what? 13 and 14. For you formed me in my inward parts. You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well. Yeah, so we were created in the womb by God. And that creation is wonderful. It is a work of God. We are wonderfully made and fearfully made. Those include our sexual organs. It is inconceivable that God would create a man with a woman's organs, isn't it? Because then she would be a woman, she wouldn't be a man. So our physical makeup is by the design of God, a male. But also our desires. Reverend Amikus, Psalm 139, 16. Psalm 139, verse 16. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in your book, they were all written. They all were written. The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. Yeah. So not only, not only were we physically created by God, but his plan for us was laid out each day was foreknown. It is inconceivable that God would create you, as a male, with a plan for you to be a homosexual. No! And Reverend Emeka waited for Belhatu. He waited upon God for God's will. And that was Belhatu. I waited for Eleanor. My daughter, Megan was asked to be married seven times by men who were either carnal Christians, non-Christians or immature Christians. And it wasn't that she was dating them. She was just thrown together with them, either at work or at church. And she said, no, she was waiting for Jason because he was ordained for her. God will not make a homosexual, nor will God plan out a person's life as being ordained or predestined to homosexuality or a homosexual relationship. This is freshman biology, first year biology. The woman has two X chromosomes. The man has an X and Y chromosome. The man contributes one of those. The woman always contributes the X chromosome. Depending upon God's will, the man contributes the Y or the X chromosome. If he contributes an X chromosome, his wife gives birth to a daughter. If he contributes a Y chromosome, his wife gives birth to a son. It is both scripturally and intellectually ignorant. for a man to say to his wife, you better give me a son this time. No, actually, if the wife wanted to say something, she could say to her husband, when are you going to give me a son? Because it is the husband, the man, who determines the gender of the child. But there is something working in the background, and that is God is determining that also. That is God's decision. And it is inconceivable that God would create a woman and then plan out her life to be a homosexual. That God would create a man and plan out his life to be a homosexual. No. God will not make a homosexual, nor will God plan out a person's life as being ordained or predestined to homosexuality. We have this phrase, eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. This does not refer to men who have castrated themselves, nor to men who have taken gender transitioning drugs, nor to men who have voluntarily submitted to gender altering surgery. Rather, this refers to men who refrain from marriage and sexual activity for a period, it might be their lifetime, it might just be a period, due to the call of God. Now this is important before we go on. This from the womb clause, do you see that? There are eunuchs who are born that way from the womb. If the from the womb clause means that individuals were born homosexuals, then eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven means they chose homosexuality as a ministry. Do you see that? Why did they make themselves eunuchs? For the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 6 33. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. and all these things will be added to you. From the womb does not refer to homosexuals but the physical makeup of the baby that is presented to you by God. And eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven does not mean that they castrated themselves or to be consistent with from the womb, it doesn't mean that they chose homosexuality as a ministry. Both conclusions are wrong and even ludicrous. So I hope this helps. Question number two, can a man be a Christian and be a homosexual? Okay. The answer is no. Romans 1, 26 and 27 teaches that homosexuality is a choice. In making this choice, the Bible then says, because of this, God gave them over. It talks about depravity, their depraved nature. It says that women chose this The wrong function, it says that men abandon their natural function, so it deals with it both ways. Now, on the other hand, Christians will not be given over by God, nor are Christians depraved. God will not give over a Christian. We know from Romans 8 that nothing will separate us from the love of God. We know from John 10 that Jesus will never let us go. God grants us eternal life. Christians will not be given over by God, nor Christians depraved. Christians are not anticipating the judgment of God as are homosexuals. The verses we looked at in the first four lectures have the hand of God's judgment already poised over the homosexual. The individual may protest. Yes, but we're all going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and that's true. But Romans 8.1 says there's no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. The verdict for Christians when they stand before the judgment seat of Christ will universally be not guilty. That's why 1 John 4.18 says there is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out all fear. Fear involves punishment. The one who fears is not perfected in love. It's one of the verses that I review every night before, when I close my eyes, when I fall asleep, I review that verse, knowing that I can commit my soul, my home, my life to God during my sleep. I do not have to fear. The Christian's sin, guilt, shame, and punishment has all been borne by Jesus on the cross. This is not true of homosexuals. Depravity is an attribute of non-Christians. As such, homosexuals are under the judgment of God. Christians may find themselves under the discipline of God. Hebrews 12.10 though says, He disciplines us for our good. Hebrews 12.7, whom the Lord loves, He disciplines. The judgment that homosexuals are receiving is not the judgment of discipline of sanctification. It is the intending discipline of hell, the judgment of hell. Christians may find themselves under the discipline of God, but not God's judgment. Can a Christian be a homosexual? No. If he becomes a Christian. He is a heterosexual. If he's still a homosexual, he hasn't repented. Are homosexuals determined from birth or is it a choice? God clearly teaches in Romans 1, 26 and 27 and elsewhere that homosexuality is a choice. Look at Romans 1, 26. Women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural. So they had, these women, what did they have at one time? These women had a natural function. But then what did they do? They exchanged it for an unnatural function. So they weren't born this way. Words have meaning. Men abandon the natural function. So what did these men have at one time? They had a natural function. They abandoned this, these men, to burn in their desires towards one another. Remember, sinners do not choose the definition of the sin, the origin of the sin, nor the consequences of the sin. God reserves all of these definitions for himself. A homosexual may say, I was born this way, but when does the sinner get to define the origin of the sin, the nature of the sin, and the consequences of the sin? The sinner doesn't get to do that, does it? Hebrews 4.12 says, the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, able to cut from the division of body and soul, soul and spirit, joints and marrow, able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. God's word judges the heart of the homosexual. He does not present his heart to us and then tell us that we are judgmental because we do not accept what he says. Did God accept Adam? Oh, it was the woman you gave me. She made me to sin. Did God accept that definition? Eve? Oh, it was the serpent. You created this serpent. You cast it out of heaven. He made me to sin. Did God accept that? No. And homosexuals cannot say to God, ah, you made me wrong, and you gave me wrong desires, and you made me a homosexual, and I'm a homosexual because of you. No. These women exchanged, these men abandoned. They were heterosexuals, and now they have ceased to be so by a choice. What about statements made by homosexuals? I never felt complete until I accepted that I was a homosexual. I've heard them say this. Or here's an even better one. From my earliest memories, I knew that I was a homosexual. Well, what they should really say is, I like sin, but everybody who sins drug addict, alcoholic, thief, they all like that, that's why they do it. What they should say is, I chose homosexuality at an early age. Sinners do not define sin, neither its origin nor its expression. Heterosexuals say this same thing about living with persons outside of marriage, and we don't accept that, do we? If you have a man in the ministry and he has moved in with a woman he's not married to, Do you accept him saying, well, I never really felt complete until I moved in with this girl. I had a university student tell me that. He had moved in with a girl. They weren't married. They were having sex together. I confronted him on it. He said, I was never complete until we moved in together. And I'm a better Christian living with her than I was before I met her. Well, neither of those statements are true and we wouldn't accept them, would we? So why do we accept it if a homosexual says it? Drug addicts and alcoholics say the same thing. They speak of the euphoria produced by their addiction. I never feel as good as when I'm drunk or on drugs. And that's true, isn't it? But it doesn't make it right. The highest good in life is not to feel good. If it didn't make them feel good, they wouldn't do it. But that doesn't make it right. I have known men who tell me I get such an emotional release from watching violent movies. Well, God's word in the Psalms says that we are not to enjoy or rejoice over violence is to be repugnant to us. Remember, the sinner does not get to define the origin nor the expression of sin, and that includes homosexuals. In terms of earliest memories, I find these types of statements do not stand up to investigation. No one has memories early enough to establish that they were born that way. Brother Emeka, when you were six months old, what do you remember about being a heterosexual? Nothing. Yeah. So you know you were born a heterosexual by God's word. You don't remember anything. What these people should say is, at a very young age, I chose depravity. But we know children will do that. Children at a very young age will strike their mother in the face. Children at a very young age will steal, won't they? They will scream. They will run away. There are incidents where a four or five year old will kill the baby because they're jealous while their mother's not looking. Children will choose to do awful things. And one of the things that child may have chosen to do was be a homosexual for whatever reason. But he was not born that way. The fact that homosexual memories and experiences may be more pleasing than heterosexuals have nothing to do with the argument. And I've heard people say, well, you know, I've known homosexuals. They become heterosexuals. But, you know, they're really, they're still homosexuals because, boy, you know, they just don't enjoy being a heterosexual. A lot of times they're returned to being a homosexual. Well, there's two things there. First, if they return to being a homosexual, they're a dog that's returned to his vomit. Their second state is worse than the first, second, Peter says. They were never saved in the first place. Because 2nd Corinthians 7 says that true repentance is repentance without regret and you hate the past. What if a heterosexual wants to compare the pornographic memories from movies and the internet with his wife? These women whose bodies have been shaped and sculpted by surgeries, and who are 20 years younger than his wife, and who are acting out, pretending. If he says, well, if I look back, that was more pleasing than anything my wife does. How about a drug or alcohol-induced euphoria? versus the happiness found in marriage, family, and church. Nothing that we do in this life can induce the euphoria produced by heroin, by cocaine, by vodka. But that doesn't mean it's right. The ultimate good is not euphoria. It's to bring glory to God. How about the pleasing lifestyle of the thief? versus the much lower and difficult lifestyle won by hard work. And there are many men who come out of prison. They were fairly wealthy through their thievery. Now they can't get a good job. They have to start at the bottom. And many of them return to thieving because that's how they could make a nice living. And they like that better. than a lifestyle won by hard work and honesty. How about the carefree life of the irresponsible husband and father? He acts like a single man. He repents the life he now experiences as he comes home every night. He does not spend time traveling with other men to do sporting activities and go out drinking and have fun? That's not going to be carefree, is it? So, we do not establish a fact by euphoria, by lifestyle, by feeling, by how happy it makes us. We establish it by the Word of God. I never felt complete until I accepted that I was a homosexual. Well, drug addicts, they enjoy life better when they're on drugs. Alcoholics, when they're drunk. Thieves, when they're rich. Some fathers, when they're being irresponsible. That doesn't justify it. Number five, is homosexuality a disease as a result of the fall of man that can be cured by a faith healer? Homosexuality is not a disease, thus a faith healer cannot cure a homosexual. It's not a disease, it's a choice. You do not heal a rapist. You do not heal a murderer. You do not heal a thief. You do not heal a liar. Don't pray for them, God heal them. No, they have to repent. The one who steals, let him steal no longer, but rather let him work, Ephesians 4 says. And working is not as much fun, it's not as exhilarating, and it's not as financially rewarding as thieving. But the thief can't say I never felt really as excited and rewarding and God really blessed my thieving. I was in a great lifestyle. My wife was happier with the material blessings. My sons and daughters were going to exclusive schools. Since I've stopped thieving and now I'm working, you know, we don't live at the same prosperity. I come home tired. I'm not around the family as much. So it's obviously that it's God's will for me to be a thief. No, it's not. God's will is established by God's word, not by our feelings. Homosexuality is not a disease. Cannot be cured. Homosexuality, if you want to talk about curing it, is cured by repentance unto faith in Christ, whereby the homosexual is born again and turns from that which he has chosen and embraces God's will as a heterosexual Christian. Well, can he be a celibate homosexual? is being a homosexual a sin? Yes. So no, if he's a celibate homosexual, he is still a homosexual. He needs to repent. Being a homosexual is sin, not just sexual activity, but homosexuality. 21st century Christians are so consumed with sexual activity that they think the homosexual who abstains from sex with men has made such a horrible and terrible and burdensome sacrifice that surely we can't ask him to give up his actual homosexual nature as well. Yes we can, because there's no sacrifice. Repentance from sin is not a sacrifice. Men who I've known who were thieves, who got caught, who went to jail, I've known them. They're now out of jail. They're working hard. I do not allow them to complain about their present life in conformity to scriptures because it's harder and not as fun as thieving. I call them to repentance. Let's look at number six. Is homosexuality as a result of demonic possession and can be cured by casting out the demon of homosexuality? Now I've heard this a lot. To my knowledge, and I'm open, I'm open to input. To my knowledge, there is no verse in Holy Scriptures attributing homosexuality to demon possession. Now, I don't have the Bible memorized. If you know of a verse that says that's an example of a homosexual having the demon of homosexuality cast out, or you know of a verse that speaks of the demon of homosexuality, or if you know of a verse that speaks of homosexuals being demon-possessed, I'm well open to those. You can send them to me. It makes sense as does healing homosexuals as a disease. But I know of no verse on either one. Okay. Is it enough that the homosexual remains celibate? No. It's not enough for the homosexual to remain celibate. The so-called celibate homosexual is still a homosexual. He's just a celibate homosexual. God's standard for purity is not homosexual purity, but heterosexual purity. Homosexuality itself must be repented of. Merely secession of the act while retaining one's homosexuality is not acceptable to God. That's hard for heterosexuals to understand. For the heterosexual, the desire is from God, and if the desire is misused, it must be repented of. But not the desire for the opposite sex. Not the innate propensity. It is from God. It is created by God. It does not need to be repented of. In fact, The suppression of it is spiritually damaging. The heterosexualness, if that's a word, does not need to be repented from, only the expression of the sin. For the homosexual, it is not just the action, but the very desire which is sinful and abhorrent to God. The homosexual abandoned God's plan and chose depravity. He must now abandon depravity and return to God's plan. And I've said this many times. It's great sorrow in my heart to hear Christians and ministers and pastors who have lost confidence in the power of the gospel, the power of the blood of Christ. The power of the indwelling Holy Spirit at the point of salvation. The power of the new life. The power of the holy, eternal, inerrant word to sanctify men and set them apart to God. They have lost confidence in the spiritual power of regeneration and simply don't believe a homosexual can become a heterosexual. But he can. I've seen it happen. And because it doesn't happen, it's not a reflection on the power of the gospel, it's a reflection on the unrepentant sinner. We all know people who fake conversion for their own purposes, don't we? To get a girl to marry them, to be socially acceptable, to get their mother to quit complaining about them. God can transform people who truly become Christians. How is homosexual sin different from heterosexual sin? Some of these are repetitive, but I'm trying to answer every question I was given. Heterosexual sin. The primary forms being lust, which is pornography, or looking at women lustfully, fornication, that's sexual relations with a single woman, and adultery, that's sexual relationships with a married woman, are sinful actions. The desire to gaze upon a woman if she's your wife is not a sin you cannot lust after your wife in fact God's Word and Song of Solomon and in Proverbs says the wife is to excite and in Esther is to excite stimulate and encourage her husband by allowing him to gaze upon her The desire to experience exciting sexual intimacy with a woman can all be fulfilled in a righteous manner in the confines of marriage. Since you can't lust after your wife, there can be no pornographic gaze as you gaze upon your wife. It's her ministry to you. Since you cannot commit adultery or fornication with your wife, you can enjoy a wonderful sexual relationship with your wife. you are forbidden to do any of those outside of marriage. But for the heterosexual who is sanctified by the walk with God, all of those desires are good and natural and from God. However, the homosexual desire The burning desire, as Romans 1, 26 and 27, they burned in their desire for one another. The seeking of gratification for that desire, they're both sin. There is no alternative for the homosexual, other than repenting and returning to their heterosexual nature. When I had single students in the ministry, and I found out that they were sleeping with a girl, For them to remain in the ministry, they had to break up with the girl and become accountable in the area of sexual purity. But they did not have to become eunuchs. They just had to wait for God's plan, which they did. However, if I found out that there was a homosexual floating around trying to get in the ministry, they had to repent and become a heterosexual by being born again. Because their very desire, though unfulfilled, is still sin. Well, someone asked me, what about dying hair, wearing jewelry, etc.? Well, a woman's hair is her glory, 1 Corinthians 7 says, But men who glorify their hair, such as Absalom, it's their shame. Men who become vain concerning their hair, they do comb-overs, they do wigs, they do hair plugs, they dye their hair to try to maintain some sort of youthfulness, they have succumbed to an unmanly practice It is not acceptable for men, it's acceptable for women. Esther, Song of Solomon, Proverbs, but it's not acceptable for men. Just live with the hair God gave you. Jewelry, earrings, et cetera, fall under the same category. While Holy Scripture encourages a woman to adorn her body and make it exciting and pleasurable for her husband, this is from God, nothing beyond good hygiene is acceptable for men. You can shave, you can bathe, you can wear deodorant, If like me, when you shave, if you're not going to wear a beard, when you shave, you get ingrown hairs and cuts and infections on your face, you can use some sort of cream or aftershave to cauterize that. But no perfume, no jewelry, no earrings, no nothing. We live in an age when these men are seen as sophisticated. I had a man in my Sunday school class who had pierced ear and a ponytail. I finally brought him under subjection of the word of God. He got rid of his earring and he cut off his ponytail. And the pastor rebuked me. How can you judge this man? He was going to be a model to show other people that we are accepting. And I said, well, he can be a model that we are accepting, but not that we are accepting the sin. And this man came under the pastor's influence, got his ear really done, and grew his ponytail out. There are both doctrinal and historical passages of scripture which speak to men's attire and grooming as a reflection of their manliness. their professional standing, or their spiritual standing. The robes of the prophet, the dress of the priest, the garment of the king, the shepherd's garment, the attire of the prophet, all of these things are spoken of both in teaching and in historical passages. So, in terms of our grooming and dressing in a professional manner, that's completely okay. But all adornments of a feminine type, though encouraged by God for women, are condemned by God for men. And somebody said, you know, John, some people Some people have come into your Sunday school class and felt uncomfortable and left because they had a ponytail, because they had tattoos, because they had a pierced ear or pierced nose. I'm talking about men. And I said, well, they didn't have to leave. They could have repented. But if they're not going to repent, I'm concerned with the young men in my class and their children. I'm not going to be an enabler for men who want to live in disobedience to the word of God and then influence other young men and worse yet, the children in the class. We have meetings out at the home. Children are always invited. I want these children to see men modeling being men before them. One of the men in the afternoon study said, what about parents, particularly the mother, who allow their children to go astray in this area and now want the pastor or minister to fix the problem? This is a common problem. Parents who allow their children to go astray and then want someone else to fix the problem. It's usually as a result of one or two things. a non-resident or negligent father who was not disappointing in his children in the way they should go, or a permissive mother who liked to experiment with the latest fad of teaching rather than submitting to the word of God. The church or your ministry is not responsible for the disobedience of parents. Many times these children can be reclaimed for the church, but this requires a willingness to repent on the part of the parents. But what I have generally found is that parents are not willing to repent. But rather bemoan we did everything right and still our children rebelled. In my experience, this can happen, but it is rarely the case. In most situations, you had the parents of a rebellious, unfaithful nature in terms of their commitment to the family and the word of God and the spiritual upbringing of their children. And they're not willing to admit that and repent. They just want someone else to fix the problem that their sin created. The next question, what about parents who ignore or even encourage homosexual behavior? This is sin. If homosexuality is genetically based, which it is not, then there needs to be no encouragement, indoctrination, or exposure. But since it is not genetically based, it is the parent's responsibility to protect the child from encouragement, indoctrination, or exposure in this area. Parents have the mandate to fulfill the scripture. 1st Ephesians 6, 1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right, on your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. There is, I can think of no greater parental sin than for the mother and father to be either permissive in gender identification or proactive in the wrong gender identification. They don't deserve to be parents. And in my view, it is one of the ultimate forms of child abuse. In the evening study, I was asked, well, what is the homosexuality? Have we hit rock bottom? And the answer is no. Leviticus 20, 13, if there is a man who lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed a despicable act. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness is upon them. But then notice what it goes on to say. Leviticus 20, 15, 16. If there is a man who lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death. You shall also kill the animal. If there is a woman who approaches an animal to mate with it, you shall surely kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness is upon them. And those of you in Africa, in Asia, Latin America, Those living outside the US and the European nations should know that this is already being introduced in movies and the media. And that's bestiality. What if you have a relative who is a homosexual? In the evening study, someone has a relative who's a homosexual. They asked me this. Your first responsibility is to your wife and children. This is a conversation you don't want to have. 10 or 15 years from now, You are in the pastor's office and you are surprised when you come in to see one of your children sit in there and you notice the air is really tense and the child has been crying. And the pastor says, your child needs to confront you because you allowed them to be molested by uncle so-and-so, by auntie so-and-so, by grandpa so-and-so, by grandma so-and-so. Do you want to have that conversation? Then don't have it. And a person said to me, well, I have a relative who's homosexual, but we always keep an eye on him when he's around the children. No, you don't. You don't. Homosexuals are predatory and deceptive. They'll sit down on the floor playing with the child, they'll notice you go in to check to see if the greens are done yet, and they begin molesting the child. The child goes outside to play, they know the child goes around the side of the house out of view, and they go out there and expose themselves to the child. The child is in the bathroom, the bathroom door is not locked, in they go. It's late at night, you're asleep, they come slipping in the room and crawl into bed with the child, cover its mouth with their hand. You don't know. If you have a relative who is a homosexual, they do not darken your doorstep. What if you have a relative who is a pedophile? They do not darken your doorstep. What if you have a relative who is a serial rapist? They do not darken your doorstep. What if you have a relative who is a drug addict? They do not darken your doorstep. What if you have a relative who is a Satanist? They do not darken your doorstep. What if you have a relative who is a homosexual? They do not darken your doorstep. Would you allow any of the above in your home because they're a relative? Homosexuality is classified equally, if not worse than pedophilia, rape, drug addiction, Satanism, abuse. If you are not strong enough to tell your uncle who you know is a homosexual or you know has abused children or your cousin or your brother who you know have done these things if you are not strong enough to protect your children from them then you were not ready to get married and have children the vast majority of sexual abuse of children is in the home by a close relative. If you are not mature and confident enough to protect your children from relatives, then you should not have children. Well, I don't think it will happen. Well, you got half that right. You're not thinking. Of course it will happen. They will offer your child drugs. They will molest your child. They will rape your daughter or your wife. They will bring satanic practices into the home. And they will slip into the bedroom while you're asleep. That's what they are. They are depraved. Their lusts are burning within them. Romans 1, 26 and 27 says, those burning desires cannot be controlled. Next question. What if homosexuals are welcomed into the fellowship of the church, Bible study, or home group of which I'm a member as a form of evangelism? My answer is I would leave that church, that fellowship. Homosexuals can be led to Christ. We looked at that when we looked at homosexuality. First Corinthians clause, as were some of you when speaking of homosexuality, makes it clear that in the church at Corinth, there were former homosexuals who were now heterosexuals. But this was done through evangelism outside the fellowship of the church. You cannot bring your wives, your children, your converts, your disciples into a fellowship where there are homosexuals. Why is this? Okay, listen. The church group, the pastor, the ministry leader, The fellowship coordinator will not stand up at every meeting and say, now as you look around you may see homosexuals and transgender males and females. These are those in our fellowship who are in sin. We are calling them to repentance. Do not be deceived into thinking our church condones this behavior. Now, if that's said, people have been predicted. But it's not going to be stated, is it? As a result, not only will homosexuals be comfortable in your fellowship, but the spiritually young, the spiritually vulnerable, the youth, the children, will assume this is normal and optional behavior. Why? Because they're there all the time. Not only that, you have opened your fellowship up to predatory wolves. What about my children's schooling? How can I protect them? This was asked in my Sunday school class. If your children are exposed to these facts, you know, that there are homosexuals, you can protect them just like you can protect them from teachings on evolution and abortion. On the other hand, if your children are being taught to embrace homosexuality, to consider whether they are homosexuals, to call boys, girls, to call girls, boys. If their teacher is a woman dressing like a man, if their teacher is a man with, with hose and a skirt and wig and makeup, then you have to find an alternative educational method for your child. You cannot leave a child in that situation. bad company will corrupt your child's good morals first corinthians fifteen thirty three okay this comes from uh... somebody in the morning study what if my wife wants to use a gender neutral bible you must ask her not to use a gender neutral bible but if she resists that you will have to disciple her since she is your wife. Now, Eleanor and I, early in our marriage, memorized these verses. Four passages, Ephesians 5, 22-33, 1 Peter 3, 1-7, Titus 2, 1-5, Colossians 3, 18-21. That solved many problems. Because Eleanor, as she memorized these verses, she went out and got rid of the Bible she was using, it wasn't gender neutral, and bought the same translation I was using because she wanted me to be my helpmate and to be one with me. I didn't have to tell her, ask her to do that. But if your wife wants to use a gender-neutral Bible, you have to protect her from that. If there is a verse in the Bible meant for men, and the translation has made it gender-neutral, is it helpful or harmful for your wife to memorize it, meditate on it, and try to apply it to her life? It's not helpful. It's not meant for her. If there is a verse in the Bible meant specifically for women, it will not be helpful for you to memorize, meditate, and apply that to your life because you're not a woman. What if the ministry I am in wants me to use a gender neutral Bible? Well, you just have to be a man. You just have to stand up. your church, your ministry has no legal ability nor policing power to make you use a certain Bible. You just have to be strong enough to stand up to peer pressure. Now, if that church or ministry breaks fellowship with you because you are using a gender positive Bible, an accurate Bible, then that's their decision, not yours. But they won't. Churches and ministries are too numbers conscience to risk losing a pastor, an elder, a deacon, a staff man, a team leader, because of the Bible translation he uses. They'll be defenseless on that. As of this writing, the gender-accurate Bibles are New American Standard, English Standard Version, New King James Version, and King James Version. As of this writing, the gender-twisting Agenda Bibles are NIV, The Message, RSV, and the New English Bible. These four translations are unacceptable for you and your family. If you are using or a member of your family is using an unacceptable translation, email me. I'll send you of the top four NASB, ESV, New King James or King James, I'll send you one, preferably the one you are using. If you are using a twisted agenda Bible, email me, I'll get you one too. Bibles with the agenda to remove specific passages will be spiritually damaging to your wife. She will be found memorizing, praying over, and seeking to apply verses which are meant for men. Why do women want to use gender-neutral Bibles? I don't know any men who want it. I know men, you know, who are so weak, they won't resist it. And their wives stick it under their nose. Or the women in the ministry stick it under their nose. Or the leaders of the ministry, who are intimidated or dominated by rebellious women, stick it under their nose. But they don't especially want it. They're just too weak to resist it. But why do women want it? Why do women want a Bible that does not affirm their gender, but rather removes gender-specific verses from them, so that they don't know if it is for them or not, or their husband or not. It's because of rebellion. That's why. This is a verse in 1st Corinthians 16 that we've looked at below before. Review, review, review. I believe it's 1st Corinthians 16, 13. Yep, yep, I'm right. Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. That word is anger. It's a combination of the two words, man, very definitely, no other way to translate that word, man or manly, and strong. So your translation should say, act like men, be strong, or be a strong man. It should have the word man there. I've heard women say, but I can't relate to that verse. You know what my wife tells them? You're not supposed to relate to that verse. It's for men. Your husband is not supposed to relate to Proverbs 31. It's for women. You and your husband are not to relate to Ephesians 6.1. It's for children. Your single adults in your school are not to relate to the verses in Proverbs and Song of Solomon on sexual intimacy. It's for married people. There are verses in the Bible for men only. There are verses in the Bible for women only. Then there are verses in the Bible that are only for married men. Then there are verses in the Bible that are only for married women. There are verses in the Bible that are only for fathers and mothers. There are verses in the Bible that are only for children. To eliminate that distinction is to eliminate the roles and order in marriage, family, and church which God has laid down through his holy, eternal, inerrant written word. It cannot be helpful, only hurtful. for you to allow your wife or children to grow up under a gender-neutral Bible. May God add His blessing on His holy Word. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.