Pro-Gay Education Comes to California's Kids

I have great compassion for children who are struggling with same-sex attractions and sexual identity. When I was a child, there was nothing worse than being called a ‘homo’—the derogatory term used in the 1950’s. In America in 2012, it’s hard to know if there is an epidemic of homosexuality or just more attention given to it.  And still today, anti-gay bullying in schools continues.

The solution by the federal and state government is to legislate gay affirmation. October is national LGBT History Month. Though it will not be taught in all America's classrooms, it will be in California, where pro-gay education is mandated by law. The teaching will include the history of prejudice and bigotry toward homosexuals—and the problem with “homophobia” today. But not with impartiality; California children will be taught that homosexuality is perfectly normal (and unchangeable).

Right on the heels of this, California's Governor has signed a law banning therapies that attempt to change sexual orientation of minors, claiming that ‘reparative’ therapies are driving children to depression and suicide.  But according to the National Association for Reparative Therapy to Homosexuals, that claim is unsubstantiated. There have been absolutely no studies on the effects of reparative therapy on children.

We cannot, however, just point fingers at the State. We must find biblical solutions to this increasing problem. If the State is going to ban Christian values in California therapy, is it not all the more incumbent opon churches to step up and provide alternative Christian ministry to sexually-confused, love-starved children and teens? In a phrase, loving them as Jesus would? (Matt 19:14) Sign me up!

We may be the Only Bible People ever Read!

Francis Schaeffer, an intelligent defender of the Christian faith in the 20th Century, predicted that self-professing Christians would increasingly reject the Bible as God’s inerrant Word. Of course Schaeffer was aware that already many once-conservative Bible schools and seminaries had rejected its Spirit-breathed truth, leaving them nothing to teach but myths and historical records.

But it isn’t just schools of higher education assailing the Bible; state and municipal governments seem to be on the attack. In 2008, Arizona Courts gave a man jail time for holding Bible studies in his backyard. In 2011, the city of San Juan Capistrano fined a man for holding home Bible studies without a permit. (And there are others.) But perhaps the most significant assault is coming from mainline churches, now rejecting a literal interpretation of Scripture, choosing to soften ‘hard sayings’ to accomodate our culture of tolerance. 

That said, I have no interest in Biblical apologetics. Why? “People who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them; they can't understand it. Only spiritual people can understand what the Spirit means” (1 Cor. 2:14). No, the best way to prove the integrity of the Bible is to live it. The best testimony to Biblical veracity is a changed life (yours and mine).

Do You Have the Monday Blahs?

As I drove down the freeway the other day, a billboard caught my attention. At first, I could only see the top half which said “Beat the Blah Out of Monday.” I wondered, as I came nearer to the billboard, what the bottom half of the message would be! Then I saw it: “Watch Monday Night Football.”

The psychology of the advertisement is hard to miss. When you are feeling bored or even a little depressed, start looking forward to something better. Speaking as a Biblical counselor, I can tell you the downside to this philosophy. If the thing you are looking forward to doesn’t meet your expectations, then you will be set up for disappointment and more depression. Even if it does relieve your boredom, it will only be temporary—and you will soon be looking for the next stimulating event.

The way to avoid this roller coaster effect in our lives is to look forward to something permanent—an undeviating mindset! Abraham looked forward to the “city build by God” (Heb. 11:10). Moses looked forward to an eternal reward (Heb. 11:26). Paul looked forward to the “things above” (Col. 3:2). Jesus looked forward to the “joy set before Him” (Heb 12:2).

Yes, we can validate the psychology of the billboard’s message. But it isn’t Monday Night Football that will get you through the day (what if your team loses?). It must be something more reliable than that. The cure for your Monday blahs is “looking forward to what lies ahead… the end of the race… the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven” (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT).

You are Engaged in a Lifelong Battle Against Unbelief!

Though many years of biblical counseling, I have affirmed my conviction that biblical “truth” is essential to change. But the problem has always been how to help the counselee believe that biblical truth is relevant and experiential. This is true for all Christians: we experience a “gap” between what we KNOW and what we EXPERIENCE. Psychologists have a word for this gap—they call is “cognitive dissonance.”

For example, Jesus promised He would give us ‘rest’ for our weary souls (Matthew 11:28). But I know that most Christians see this as a nice “saying” but are unable to experience the reality of this truth in day-to-day experience. What is the answer to this dilemma—this gap between what I know and what I experience?

You must be actively engaged in this battle for truth and the accompanying battle against unbelief!

Every truth you receive, by faith, will take you into a conflict with the “un-beliefs” in your head. Paul employs “battle” language in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, exhorting you to “take captive” wrong thoughts that keep you from experiencing God’s truth, treating them like prisoners who must now obey Christ.

While God’s truth is absolutely true, it remains irrelevant to us until we have engaged in the battle to make it applicable to our lives. Do you KNOW and have you EXPERIENCED what Jesus said: “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32)?

Maybe you’re not fighting hard enough!