Returning to Jesus and the church after a forty-year absence is a double edged sword experience. Satan has done pretty much everything in his clever little powers to recapture me. My friend Ron Woolsey says, “I was baptized. Satan wasn’t!”
The deathly silence of the church with regard to those suffering with LGBT+ ideations elicits such discomfort and disappointment. How can the church, (with so much light,) not get this right? Are LGBT+ people the church’s collateral? Are they thinking that God won’t miss such a small percentage of His children?
As the years since my conversion has passed, I’ve come to recognize that the problem within is so much larger than the emerging indoctrination of LGBT+ activism.
Politics and culture are swallowing lives like a giant sinkhole.
I recall the Adventist Christian environment of my youth. All was not perfect. However, liberals were not overtly vocal. There was a reverence and respect for God, His house of worship, and the enlightenment of truths and prophecies supported by the Spirit of Prophecy.
Until the Desmond Ford debacle, about the only controversy that was visible was the contention held by students regarding modest attire at school. Dresses needed to be mid-calf or lower in length. It doesn’t take much head scratching to figure out what happened when the modesty rules were thrown out.
Rules, rules rules. That’s kind of how we felt as kids. However, there genuinely seems in hindsight, that there was a greater focus on Scripture and the authority of God.
Given the thousands of pages written by Ellen G White, far too much emphasis seemed placed on the words of Ellen White, then on Scripture. This would eventually wreak havoc on our denomination. Ellen White, a lesser light, warned us about how she is used and referenced. Cautiously, and never in place of Scripture, but in support.
The Adventist church had a strong, Christ-centered foundation, understanding and interpreting Scripture literally.
Satan has long and cleverly orchestrated his crafty approach through sensual pleasures, even through entertaining concepts that ever so slightly veered left of Scripture. Throw a huge dose of television (Satan’s classroom) on top of that, promoting concepts, culture and a fleshly thirst for pleasure, and he’s presumably got this.
Television replaced the quiet time one might spend developing an intimate connection with God and His trusted teachings. In waltzed the dragon. He doesn’t just want to take you captive. He wants to destroy you.
Adventists had come to be known has strong Bible believers. They had a focus on health and an outreach toward others that would provide hope, knowledge and truth, drawing those unfamiliar with Christ.
We clearly understood biblical truth and were excited to introduce it to others.
Advancements in technology were about to throw us many unexpected curves. The fleshly magnetism that Satan once used without these modern-day inventions were about to increase, more than a hundred-fold.
Adventists have historically done a good job of hiding imperfections. More so than biblically sorting through them.
Satan was about to cash in on our stiffness and seemingly inability to reflect the depth of the love of Jesus in compromising and sin-stained scenarios. We learned to cover up, dismiss, disfellowship and disassociate. “Love,” ironically, in many situations, appeared to simply be a four-letter word. What do we really know about the “love” of Jesus, and why aren’t we sharing it?
Have we been so focused on the truths and the evangelizing of prophecy that we’re missing the fact that Jesus meets us where we are? How does He teach His followers to disciple? Are we missing the mark? There’s more to the Bible than Daniel and Revelation.
I was a screwball, nerd-like, effeminate little boy. Rejected at birth and physically abused until I was adopted at two and a half by a Christian aunt and uncle, I was a sitting duck, who would quickly respond to the clever, and counterfeit deceptions of God’s arch enemy, Satan. Oh, how we hate to mention his name, clearly removing satanic stigmas that stem from unhealthy elements of desire. Throw another dose of television in there.
Oh… not just sexually. For you macho, self-made men who are comfortable with your sexuality and masculinity, repulsed by homosexuality, Satan has a deception for you as well. He’ll just put hours upon hours of useless, meaningless sports in front of you. Robbing precious time that could be spent… or should be spent with Jesus. Throw in a racy, sexually provocative advertisement, and he’ll keep you glued to your seat. Or perhaps he’ll have you exchange that seat for another in front of a monitor filled with pornographic images that leave holes in your brain larger than the effects of heroin.
Oops.. I got off track for a second.
The early seventies introduced the sexual revolution. We didn’t talk about those kinds of things in church. Since I was well into my teen years, sex was becoming an interest and discovery. Already feeling like a blight on the face of humanity, I was mesmerized by the idea a gay friend introduced to me, suggesting that the church breeds homosexuality.
He said, “You’re gay, I’m gay, and I go to school at La Sierra College with other gay guys. The church does a good job of telling us that homosexual behavior is sinful, however, they do nothing to help you know what to do about it.” And so… in my little mind… the church doors were wide open for my exit right into the open arms of the gay community. I was immediately swept off my feet and held hostage in sensuality and sexuality for forty years. It has scarred me for life.
Upon my Holy Spirit led return, I was shocked to observe that the church has no outreach to those suffering with LGBT+ ideations. Twelve years later, that would make fifty-two years of no outreach from the time I “Came out.” And you wonder how we got here? And, why LGBT+ activism is prevalent in the church now?
Sadly, I can historically unravel this for you. And sadly, I can tell you how we have come to a point where we are allowing the promotion of LGBT+ activism.
I have 5,000 Facebook friends. It’s likely that 4,900 of them are Adventist. When I post an article I’ve written, or share one about another ex-gay came to Christ, it might get twelve to twenty likes. Curious, huh?
How did a church who prides itself on having “special light” arrive at a deafening silence like this?
Multiple churches have split over the LGBT+ topic. The Methodists just did. The liberals paid the conservatives twenty five million dollars to go away and have church by themselves, because they insist on upholding God’s authority and Scripture. Not because they don’t love LGBT+ people. Sad. Heartbreaking! How is it that so many have given up Jesus for their fleshly desires?
In 2018, the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists released a book; “Guiding Families of LGBT+ Loved Ones.” It is written by a non-Adventist who instructs readers, made up of Adventist pastors and teachers, to stop preaching Jesus and acclimate to LGBT+ terminology and ungodly behaviors. Don’t judge. Don’t share Jesus. Don’t share your Bible beliefs with someone who is LGBT+ because it will offend them. Instead, embrace them and let go of Jesus. Create environments where they can come together and be “who they are.”
Granted, as Christians, so many have fared poorly at reflecting Him. However, the absence of Jesus is not going to draw someone closer to Him. They need to see Jesus. They need the gospel. They need to understand how living closer to Jesus is superior to what the flesh craves. How is that accomplished if you don’t know Jesus yourself?
“Guiding Families – Adventist Edition” is in its second printing. Denominational silence remains. Not just about the book, but in winking at all our educators and professors who are now in alignment with, and teaching “Queer Theology.” Ask yourself this question. “How does Jesus handle the shaming of His divine authority?” How do we remain silent while LGBT+ activism is rampant all the way around the world, successfully removing your first amendment rights? Already criminal in many states and countries..
How can the denomination employ liars who are teaching youth to accept culture over Scripture? Where does their blood fall?
At the request of two different people in leadership, I wrote an analysis of “Guiding Families.” I went through four deep edits to be sure that I didn’t use an accusatory tone, but one of clarity and biblical education and divine soundness. However, because refer to the fact that “Guiding Families” came out of our truth-centered, “Christ-centered,” denomination, silence prevails. For more than two years, there has been no official response, suggesting that the “Guiding Families” is “guiding” folks down the wrong pathway. How many lives are being deceived? How many lives are now lost? Where is the accountability?
Do I feel like John The Baptist? Many have made the analogy. I don’t hold a whisper of similarity. Even in conversion, I have failed Jesus. But my dear liberals who quickly act like legalists when there is failure, isn’t that exactly why Jesus offers me His gospel, His grace, and his mercy?
Does Jesus honor willful blindness?
The book the Holy Spirit inspired me to write, is called; “Line by Line – A Biblical Analysis of Guiding Families of LGBT+ Loved Ones.”
In its first printing in December, about a hundred copies have been sold. Praise the Lord, there have been a few committed to God’s “love in truth” message, who have made humble attempts to fund free copies to educators and pastors.
My friends, this is only one concern of which we remain silent. We are contributing to the deaths of many who might have otherwise found hope and healing in Jesus. Shouldn’t leadership give voice to those who have been there and have experienced redemption, restoration and reconciliation in Jesus? Who would know better?
I seek to share compassion, expressed without compromise. A love that heals. Unity that saves.
What is it we expect to be persecuted for when we remain silent over salvational matters?
If you wish to help with the distribution of “Line by Line,” or would simply like to purchase a copy, you may do so by visiting my ministry website, www.knowhislove.org
I pray throughout each day that God will awaken His people with His “love in truth” message that will pour hungry souls into His forever kingdom.
God bless and be with you.
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Wayne Blakely
Know His Love Ministries