Achieving a sense of belonging is pretty essential to life. Social acceptance weighs heavy on the minds of many.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? What gives you purpose? Who owns your heart?
I was not a popular kid. And those of you who know my story, know that teasing and bullying was constant. I have known some very dark places. Immediately rejected at birth for not being the little girl, my mother insisted on, set me up for disaster. Due to her insistence on a girl, I found myself trying to be one, craving the love and approval she withheld from the very first day.
Almost everyone has a strong desire to belong, to be needed, and valued. Lack of affirmation can lead to experimentation with drugs, alcohol, sex, or even alternate belief systems.
I recently watched a documentary about the Jim Jones cult. Originally, he made people feel very cared about. He made many promises and led them away to Guyana to a new life that was to be the best they had experienced. They felt like they had an identity that set them apart from everyone else in the world. It was not only life-changing, but eventually became life-ending, as their leader was high on himself and the demands he put on his followers. Escaping his sick domain was impossible.
Satan is acutely aware of our innate needs upon arrival. He wastes no time in laying claim to us. Without the covering of Jesus, and a total commitment to Him, Satan is ready with his appealing alternatives. The role of a Christian parent is vital, providing Godly counsel and assuring their children of their value and identity in Jesus.
Satan’s engaging techniques often appear to be anything but evil. He lures us with a false sense of “belonging.” It is fascinating how the LGBT+ culture plays to the enemy’s bidding. Freedom and a new identity are promised. However, at what cost?
It’s so important, in the development of Christian thinking, to appoint God as King of our lives, instead of a convenient association.
In heaven, Lucifer, the highest-ranking angel, closest to Jesus, mysteriously became disenchanted with his position, desiring to be superior to Jesus. All his efforts and campaigning among the angels was for his own self-glorification. The competition he ignited would bring war to heaven. Revelation 12: 7-9.
We don’t hear much talk about Lucifer, after being cast out of heaven and becoming Satan. We don’t hear people blaming Satan for the horrible things that happen, nearly as often as we hear people cursing and blaming God for the evils of this earth. Accidents, deaths, disease, murder, etc. We hear, “Why God?”
We are soldiers on the battlefield of this great controversy between Christ and Satan. Satan seeks to gain control, using our “feelings,” and trying to convince us that God is unfair or unjust. To accomplish this, he has to invent counterfeit truths with convincing efforts that exude great appeal.
At the center of such counterfeits, a new design is set up to replace God’s original design. Marriage is redefined, to include two same-gendered people without biblical substantiation. Someone who encounters consequences or dissatisfaction with the gender they are born with, can seek to physically alter it, even though they can’t change their gender confirming chromosomes. They try to mask it cosmetically, and hormonally.
A study out of Sweden, involving 323 sexual reassignment surgeries between 1973 and 2003, reflected a near twenty percent increase in suicide, compared to the general population. However, they downplay the idea that the actual surgery is a contributing factor.
As intended, Satan is destroying families. Divorce introduces single parenthood. Sexual and physical abuse largely contributes to gender confusion and same-sex attraction. Satan and his angels have been hyperactive ever since their great fall, to rob honor, glory, obedience, and praise from our Life-giver.
Trauma has historically been the culprit. However, today, peer pressure, a change in culture, and social media, are huge factors. God’s design of order is being hijacked and chaos, confusion and deep pain is the present norm.
It would appear that Satan is winning. Say the wrong thing, or address someone by the “wrong” pronoun, and LGBT+ activists change their tune of tolerance to one of criminal punishment and silencing all who disagree.
What is not so quickly obvious are the failures and regrets of such transitions. Christians and counselors who suggest living differently than how a person “feels,” are called “haters.”
We are living in the center of a world in crisis! In crisis, most people concentrate on self and their sense of well-being. John 16:33 tells us that Jesus is speaking to us so that we will have peace, because we will experience trouble in the world.
Our trouble and trials on this earth are crafted Satan. Nothing pleases him more than for us to become unhappy with life. His ultimate happiness comes from the destruction of life. God only seeks to give and preserve life. Suicide occurs when a person loses sight of God’s life-preserving love, value, and purpose, designed to help us seek our value in belonging to Him. Satan uses abortion, physical abuse, murder, self-hatred, bullying, and suicide to extinguish our existence.
If we would lend our ear to God, and look to His enlightened Word, we find in Psalm 139, that He tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He knew you before you were born. He intends only good for you and has great plans for you. Jeremiah 1:5.
Soldiers for Christ, in this last great battle, are chosen. They are of immense value on the day of final judgment. Jesus turns to Satan and says, ‘You tried to use same-sex attraction, gender confusion, multiple types of sexual persuasion, and even orientation, to rob them of their eternal life, but they are Mine. They chose to die to their carnal desires, say no to your lies, claim my blood, and live.’
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God’s workmanship, and that we are prepared for good works and to walk in His ways.
Living for Jesus and saying “no” to all of Satan’s suggestions and deceptions, refutes his power.
In all the darkness I’ve experienced, in and out of the LGBT+ culture, and even in the church, there’s still nothing I want more than God’s ways, and to recognize and experience my true identity in Him. In Him, we are “New Creations.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
For the last fifteen years, I have been scratching my head, trying to figure out how those who say that they love and follow Jesus, are willing to accept Satan’s lies. The idea that “change” is not possible. How is he convincing parents to accept the insistence of their children, that they can’t be anything but LGBT+. Are these not students of scripture, claiming that they love and obey Jesus?
“True love” takes God at His Word. It cannot be refashioned or redesigned by Satan’s lies and counterfeits. Look at our example Jesus, who labored over our sins, bled, and died for us, in order that He could offer you and me salvation in Him. Have we let Him down? Is Satan getting a two for one special?
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37).
Instead of turning away from Jesus and His inspired, reliable Word, embrace and trust Him. Pray for the healing that is promised. Be faithful and unwavering. Embrace those who struggle and be a reflection of the love of Jesus, instead of a victim of Satan’s lies.
We are hard pressed to find a single academy or university who openly offers hope, redemption, love and restoration in Jesus, for anyone identifying as LGBT+. The gay/straight alliances thrive, unifying like-minded sufferers, they’re fine just as they are. Who of us is fine placing a self-focused descriptive before Christ’s name? What honor of Jesus does that reflect? It doesn’t.
I often wonder what kind of heaven such believers are expecting.
"Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!' And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'” (Revelation 5:11-14).
Let’s be quick to remember that God is invitational, not a God of forced allegiance.
How are we demonstrating our honor and obedience to God in the world today? By caving into social demands? Are we scorched with the fire which will consume the impostor? Have we exchanged truth for lies? Is our “love” for God, being replaced with a greater love we have of ourselves?
In my personal devotions each day, I have been questioning my expression and demonstration of my love for God. I realize how the ways of this world incrementally have molded and shaped me. Perhaps contaminating the pure love Jesus requests. He is my reason for being. I don’t want to let Him down.
Loving God more purely and intentionally, is going to require more investment and immersing myself into His trusted and inspired Word, by inviting the Holy Spirit to enlighten, strengthen, discipline, and grow me in Him. That is the belonging that heaven has for us.
I pray you will experience the same.
“…The LORD will give grace and glory: No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
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Wayne Blakely is the Director of Know His Love Ministries. A ministry dedicated to offering and preserving God’s “love in truth” gospel, as it relates to those struggling with sexual purity concerns.