Daniel Ausbun
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Christianity + Pride Festivals

6/29/2019

10 Comments

 
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Lexington, Kentucky
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Downtown Lexington
This weekend is Lexington's Pride Festival. A two-day downtown event that was attended by 32,000 people last year. This June, the city has been promoting it and is expecting larger crowds. This year, the Fayette County Public Schools will have their first-ever booth at PrideFest.

The University of Kentucky and Kroger (where I shop) are two of many sponsors of this festival. This year's festival also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in New York City (this was the beginning of the gay rights movement).

Today's #LexPride headline entertainer, Shadina, who is a R&B singer, known as "the Queen of Pride," said, "There's too many other things going on in the world to be worried about people's sexuality. Pride means love is love, and God loves us all."

All of this poses a crash course collision for Bible-believing Christians. How should a Christian respond with rainbow flags all around?

I believe the Bible, and don't consider myself to be a bigot or prejudice. But...I live in a city, shop at a grocery store, cheer for a SEC team, and send our children to a public school system that believes differently than I.

How do I hold to historic biblical Christianity, yet live among promotion of LGBT values?

First, the Bible is crystal clear about homosexuality. It is condemned in both the Old & New Testaments (Leviticus 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

The word, "Sodomy" comes from Genesis 19:1-13 when the men of Sodom were trying to have sex with two male angels who were visiting Lot. God rained burning sulfur on Sodom, because their sin was so great.

Jesus affirmed marriage between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:5). Nowhere in the Bible, is there anything positive about homosexuality.

Second, all people (including Christians) will stand before and give an account to God (Hebrews 9:27). God does not care what our culture thinks about progressive sexual ethics. Even if all 7.5 billion people on earth voted to approve of homosexuality, it would still be wrong.

Our lives must line-up with God, He doesn't follow our changing culture. God doesn't change (Psalm 119:89).

Third, Jesus died for everyone, including the adulterer and homosexual offender. Jesus loves all sinners (Luke 19:10).

A Christian should never approve of any sin, salvation is turning from sin and towards Christ. Shadina is correct when she says, "God loves us all."

In response to God's love, we're called to repent and believe in Christ.

Should Christians participate in today's Pride Festival? No.

God wants you and I to tell our homosexual co-workers, friends, family, and neighbors about His Son. Jesus loves and died for the LGBT community. Anyone can be saved.

We must choose sides. Whom will we serve? A believer cannot serve God and endorse sin. You can't "go along to get along."

Christians must boldly stand for biblical truth, even if homosexuality is normalized, the Gospel demands repentance.

10 Comments
Brenda Farmer
6/29/2019 09:48:06 am

Thank you Daniel. I appreciate your explanation so much. You have reaffirmed my beliefs.

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Wanda
6/29/2019 11:11:47 am

Thank you you said it liked it is Amen

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Don and Pat Hassall
6/29/2019 11:40:02 am

Thank you, Pastor. The world seems to be going to H--- in a hand basket. But that does not mean that Christians should go along with the world. God's Word rules--now and forever. Shame on Krogers!

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Glenn Dawson link
6/29/2019 11:54:32 am

We can't just pick and choose the verses in the bible we want to believe. It's either all right or wrong. Trust Jesus, His way is better. He that believeth not is condemned already. But God so loved the world (YOU) He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus) that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life! There is no bigotry in this truth.

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Dennis Peevy
6/29/2019 12:30:30 pm

Thanks Pastor. I fully agree with you.

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Brian and Cynthia Whittaker
6/29/2019 12:54:11 pm

As for me my house we believe. These are words to live by.

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Rick Reams
6/29/2019 09:03:11 pm

Would be interesting to know if any of you that have written or commented have children who are gay? You can judge all you want but being a pastor with a gay child I refuse to believe that Jesus wants me to stop loving and disown my child. The Bible clearly talks of God despising ALL sin. Sin is sin. No sin is worse than the other. I have heard over and over that if it was a sin 30 years ago than it’s still a sin today. Very true but what fails to be mentioned is that the forgiveness God offered 30 years ago is the same forgiveness He offers today. In closing I will quote Jesus directly from John 8:7-he/she who is without sin, cast the first stone at her/him. Cast away perfect friends.

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Jeff Harris
6/30/2019 04:37:04 pm

That is right, Pastor Daniel
There is no true love when repentance of sins is not taught.

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TODD OTT
7/1/2019 07:59:21 am

Well said Brother.

God Created all people in his likeness and image, yet we all fell and are all in need of The Savior. His salvation is the path of restoration to the estate of our creation. He offers Forgiveness to the repentant sinner, yet unrepentant self-justified lifestyle sin is an open rejection of the offer of this salvation. Though it is true that God loves all of His creation and all of His creation has fallen, it is the repentant disciple who Knows, and is known by Him. Unrepentant self-justified lifestyle sin of any type is a rejection of God, long before it is a rejection by God. His mercy stands until the last moment.



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Lisa Rutan
7/1/2019 05:06:06 pm

I we would like to share my thoughts on this,would you allow gays into your church? Do you have friends that are gay? Do you show love to EVERYONE? Do you think most gays would choose to live their way of life as much hate as there is. When Christians ,and I am,they act as though being gay is the worst sin. Have you judged? I have, gossiped,overate,I have,lied,I have, John 8:7

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