Do Not Be Deceived
10/18/15
Introduction: For almost 230 years America has enjoyed freedom of religion. Because the early founders feared a state church, they enacted the Free Exercise Clause in the First Amendment. It was written to ensure that the new government could not coerce persons to behave differently than their religious views or punish them for not conforming to a government-mandated religious orthodoxy. Example of the Little Sisters of the Poor. (Overhead picture of the Sisters of the Poor)
Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5,
4 “for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”
Ephesians 6:10-12
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
I. The Battle for the Mind
A. Satan’s primary strategy is to control how people think
1. Satan’s favorite method is deception through lies
a. Satan promotes his lies through false teachers and prophets (professors)
b. Our public schools and colleges are indoctrinating Satan’s lies
c. Our media is promoting Satan’s lies, through movies, TV shows, magazines, etc.
d. Liberal churches that promote the world’s lies
2. Through believing Satan’s lies people will come under his control
3. Believing Satan’s lies will blind people from the truth of God’s Word
B. Christians must not allow themselves to be deceived by lies
1. Know the truth, know Christ and His Word
2. Be aware of the enemies lies
II. Some of the lies most Americans believe
Lie #1: People are born homosexual
1. Truth: there is no scientific evidence that people are born homosexual
2. Truth: homosexual lifestyle is a choice because God’s Word considers it a sin
3. Truth: sexual orientation is primarily influenced by childhood sexual experience.
4. Truth: We are all born with a sinful nature, with weaknesses towards certain sins
Lie #2: Homosexuals cannot change their lifestyle
1. Truth: Any sinful lifestyle is very difficult to change
2. Truth: Change may be impossible with man but not with God (1Corinthians 6:11)
Lie #3: About 25% of Americans are LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender)
Truth: only 3.8% are LGBT according to Gallop Poll, May 6-10, 2015
Article written by Frank Newport for Gallop Poll on social issues May 21, 2015
Lie #4: Since there is a large percentage of Americans that are born gay, they should have equality through civil rights just as African-Americans and women.
1. Truth: Since homosexuality is a choice, and not a race or gender, it is not a civil rights issue.
Pastor William Owens founder and president of the Coalition of African American Pastors USA.
“It is an outright lie that the gay marriage movement is a civil rights issue”
Owens said LGBT activists have “hijacked” the civil rights movement knowing they could leverage the social stigma associated with anything that is deemed bigotry.
Lie #5: The Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriages will bring only a little charge
1. This Supreme Court decision normalized and institutionalized homosexuality
2. It will bring an assault on the traditional family. It will make the meaning of marriage meaningless 3. It will force affirmation of sexual deviancy under penalty of law It will promote normalcy of homosexuality in our public schools It will promote gender revision in our public schools
Have you wondered why the effort to reinterpret gender has become so urgent, especially within the public schools? Reporter Todd Starnes explained this obsession in an article published by Fox News.com.
He wrote:
One of the nation’s largest public school systems is preparing to include gender identity to its classroom curriculum—the idea that there is no such thing as 100 percent boys or 100 percent girls. Fairfax County Public Schools released a report recommending changes to their family life curriculum for grades 7 through 12. The plan calls for teaching seventh graders about transgenderism and tenth graders about the concept that sexuality is a broader spectrum. By the tenth grade, they will be taught that one’s sexuality “develops throughout a lifetime.”1
Starnes editorializes, “It sure smells like unadulterated sex indoctrination,” and says, “parents are freaking out.”
“What is alarming is that the notion of fluid sexual identity is not only racing though public schools. It is also finding expression in the wider culture since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. It has unleashed an avalanche of change.” (Dr. James Dobson)
For example, the State of California passed a bill that removed the words, “husband and wife,” from marriage laws. They will now be referred to as “spouse,” because anything related to traditional marriage is considered “outdated and biased.” The bill was recently signed by Governor Jerry Brown.2
Both California and Tennessee have changed the nomenclature in official documents. Mother and Father have become Parent 1 and Parent 2. Protests by parents in Tennessee created such a furor that the decision was reversed.3 California has dug in.4
4. It will bring an assault on religious freedom
Comment from the minority Supreme Court Justices
Justice Clarence Thomas issued the following on religious liberty in his dissent:
“Aside from undermining the political processes that protect our liberty, the majority’s decision threatens the religious liberty our Nation has long sought to protect. …. In our society, marriage is not simply a governmental institution; it is a religious institution as well. Id., at 7. Today’s decision might change the former, but it cannot change the latter. It appears all but inevitable that the two will come into conflict, particularly as individuals and churches are confronted with demands to participate in and endorse civil marriages between same-sex couples.”
He also wrote the following on religious liberty.
“Although our Constitution provides some protection against such governmental restrictions on religious practices, the People have long elected to afford broader protections than this Court’s constitutional precedents mandate. Had the majority allowed the definition of marriage to be left to the political process—as the Constitution requires—the People could have considered the religious liberty implications of deviating from the traditional definition as part of their deliberative process. Instead, the majority’s decision short-circuits that process, with potentially ruinous consequences for religious liberty.”
Justice Samuel Alito
“Today’s decision…..will be used to vilify Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy. In the course of its opinion, the majority compares traditional marriage laws to laws that denied equal treatment for African-Americans and women. The implications of this analogy will be exploited by those who are determined to stamp out every vestige of dissent.”
President Barack Obama comments on Religious liberity
NEW YORK (AP) — Freedom of religion isn't reason enough to deny any American their constitutional rights, President Barack Obama said Sunday as he addressed members of the LGBT community, one of his major sources of political and financial support.
Speaking at a Democratic Party fundraiser, Obama said it's important to recognize that some parts of the country remain uncomfortable with same-sex marriage and that it will take time for them to catch up to the majority of Americans who support such unions.
But while Americans hold dear the constitutional right to practice their religion free from government interference, he said that right can't be used to deny constitutional rights to others.
"We affirm that we cherish our religious freedom and are profoundly respectful of religious traditions," Obama said during remarks that were interrupted by repeated applause and cheers. "But we also have to say clearly that our religious freedom doesn't grant us the freedom to deny our fellow Americans their constitutional rights."
5. It will have grave consequences for Christians; it will eventually criminalize Christianity.
Christians who do not agree with gay marriage and LGBT lifestyles will lose their jobs, lose their professional licenses, will be persecuted, ridiculed and fined. Some may go to prison because this new constitutional right will trump religious liberty and will affect churches, nonprofit ministries, seminaries, Christian schools, businesses, hospitals and charities. The tax-exemption status of each of these entities is in serious risk.
Conclusion: We as Christians must wake up to the reality of what is happening in America.
First do not be deceived by all the lies. Secondly know the truth and be willing to defend it.
Third, dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to the Lord and His truth. Finally, be prepared to suffer for your stand for truth.
[1] http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/05/15/call-it-gender-fluidity-schools-to-teach-kids- there-s-no-such-thing-as-boys-or-girls.html
[2] http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/07/07/california-bill-replacing-words-husband-wife-in-marriage-law-signed-by-gov/
[3] http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/08/18/tennessee-courts-replace-mother-and-father-with-parent-1-parent-2.html
[4] http://allenbwest.com/2015/08/target-banning-gender-toys-look-what-california-wants-to-do-next/
