by W. Chaz Glass

 

While many are fascinated by ancient mysteries surrounding the Nephilim, the true giants among us today are powerful ideological and cultural forces. Just as Joshua faced Og and other giant races during the conquest of Canaan, the modern church confronts symbolic giants in the form of organizations, corporations, wealthy individuals, industries, and movements. These entities are giants due to their size, wealth, influence, and the fear they instill in God’s people. One such giant is the LGBTQ movement. This post is directed to those within the body of Christ who may be sympathetic, tolerant, or afraid of this giant.

This battle against the LGBTQ movement within the church shares striking similarities to David’s confrontation with Goliath. Just as that historic battle took place within the boundaries of the Promised Land, we now face a giant that has arisen within the Kingdom of God. Like Goliath, this movement intimidates many with its social pressure. However, just as David approached his battle with unconventional methods rooted in faith, we too must rely on God’s power and truth rather than worldly arguments. The outcome of this struggle, like David’s victory, will have far reaching consequences for the church and its witness in the world.

 

A key element of the Christian journey is that we are born again. Jesus declared, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Paul further elaborates, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This spiritual transformational truth challenges us to examine every aspect of our lives, including our sexual desires and identities. We cannot claim to be a new creature in Christ while simultaneously justifying sinful desires and conditions of the dead sinful nature. Whether it’s a man desiring multiple sexual partners or someone experiencing same-sex attraction, both represent desires that fall short of God’s design. Paul teaches that if we cannot control our passions, we should marry (1 Corinthians 7:9). However, when these passions are unholy – be they homosexual or heterosexual – we must acknowledge them as such, knowing that Christ died not only for our forgiveness but also for our sanctification.

 

Romans 12:2 teaches, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” This transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to overcome sinful desires. How can one have the mind of Christ while convincing themselves that unholy desires are normal or unchangeable? How can one present themselves as a living sacrifice while committing sexual immorality? We end up grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and denying Him the opportunity to deliver us. This denial is key for the enemy as it not only stunts our own spiritual growth but also prevents us from being a powerful living testimony that could set others free.

 

We must ask ourselves: How can one preach deliverance while bound? How can one without sight lead the way? To say this lifestyle is acceptable because Christ did not address it specifically demonstrates a gross lack of understanding of the Word, the whole counsel of God, and the plan of redemption. For members of the body in this movement, several key scriptures cannot be ignored or dismissed: Romans 1:26-27 speaks clearly against same-sex relations; 1 Thessalonians 4:3 calls us to abstain from sexual immorality; 1 Corinthians 7:2 affirms the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman; 2 Peter 2:10 warns against those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion; and Jude 1:7 reminds us of the judgment against sexual immorality. Leaders who twist these and other passages are false prophets, like Balaam, who teach God’s children to stumble. They are not connected to the true vine and will be cut off by the Father (John 15:2), for the sexually immoral and those who practice falsehood are outside the kingdom (Revelation 22:15).

 

The pagan nations Joshua defeated were cast out for practices that the church is now embracing. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 clearly prohibit homosexual behavior. The Law was given to expose sin and bring restraint, but as time went by and generations came and went, the commitment to God’s covenant derailed. This is the culture change the church is experiencing now with the truth of God being turned into a lie, or ignored because of cultural acceptance, not realizing this is the same spiritual degeneration that took place in the Promised Land. The book of Judges records this breakdown of spiritual morals, culminating in behavior reminiscent of Sodom (Judges 19).

 

Marriage between a man and a woman is meant to reflect Christ’s relationship with the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32). By redefining marriage, we lose a powerful, living metaphor of the gospel, potentially hindering our ability to fully grasp and communicate the depth of God’s love and plan for redemption. This leaves no room for redefining marriage to include same-sex unions. Those sympathetic to the LGBTQ movement often fail to recognize the enemy’s strategy to diminish our spiritual power by sacrificing our God-given identities. The spiritual anointing bestowed on faithful married couples is significant, which is why leaders in the church must meet specific requirements before entering ministry (1 Timothy 3:2-5). Unholy unions and homosexual church leaders cannot expect to receive such blessings or effectively fulfill the Great Commission while supporting the LGBTQ agenda. We must not forget Satan had the power to offer Christ all the kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4:8-9), and can create the illusion of blessing in our lives and church growth. When individuals and leaders embracing LGBTQ lifestyles experience growth, success, happiness, or material prosperity, it can be mistaken as God’s approval. This deception removes the fear of God from their hearts and minds, leading them further from repentance and transformation. By compromising on biblical sexual ethics, believers unknowingly forfeit their spiritual authority. As James 4:7 instructs, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” When we fail to submit fully to God’s design for sexuality and identity, we lose our power to effectively resist the enemy.

 

We must be vigilant in recognizing Satan’s tactics in this spiritual battle. As Paul warns, “We are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11). The enemy’s strategy regarding the LGBTQ movement within the church is multi-faceted, subtle, and cunning like the serpent. The enemy seeks to mar the image of God reflected in human sexuality and gender. Genesis 1:27 states, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” By blurring these distinctions, Satan attempts to obscure our understanding of God’s nature and our relationship to Him. The LGBTQ issue has become deeply divisive within the church. This division weakens our collective witness and distracts us from our primary mission of making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

I must emphasize that members of the LGBTQ community are welcome in the church. They, like all of us, are created in God’s image and are loved by Him. We must approach this issue with both truth and grace. While we stand firm on biblical principles, we must also remember that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Our response to those struggling with same-sex attraction should be one of compassion, offering the hope and healing found in Christ while not compromising on the truth of God’s Word. However, the Word of God cannot and should not be altered or taught in a way that caters to or justifies any lifestyle contrary to biblical principles, including LGBTQ lifestyles. The church is called to provide support, love, and guidance to all, encouraging everyone to live in accordance with God’s Word. Those struggling with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues are no different from anyone else grappling with areas of the flesh. For those within the body of Christ, it’s crucial to guide our brothers and sisters towards the truth. While we cannot expect those outside the faith to fully understand this stance, those who sincerely desire a relationship with Christ must comprehend what they stand to lose, both in this world and in the coming Kingdom, by embracing identities and behaviors that contradict God’s design. Our role is to speak the truth in love, offering the hope and power of the gospel to transform every area of our lives.

 

The church must recognize the LGBTQ movement as a modern-day giant that threatens to undermine biblical truth and the transformative power of the gospel. We are called to stand firm in our faith, resist conforming to the culture, and trust in the Holy Spirit’s power to heal and transform lives. We must not let the salt lose its savor; we must not let the candle on a hill go out; we must allow our eye to be single and full of the true light. Let us face this Goliath with stones of truth and a sling of love.