Podcast Episode #234
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play
Discussion about issues related to the recent transgender bathroom controversy.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- One of the worst things you can do is to avoid or ignore difficult moral issues in your preaching.
- Sexuality and gender identity are biblical issues we must address in the church.
- We must teach on difficult moral issues with biblical clarity.
- If you haven’t gotten question on this topic from your church members yet, you will.
- Don’t make unnecessary enemies and lose your ability to speak truth into the lives of others.
- This is not an issue that is going away. It’s only picking up momentum in our culture.
- Stay true to the Bible—recognize sin as sin, but love people as well.
The five guiding principles we cover for dealing with gender identity issues are:
- Don’t ignore the issue.
- Teach with clarity, not nuance.
- Display a genuine concern for people who identify as transgender.
- Give practical advice.
- Don’t make unnecessary enemies.
Episode Sponsors
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Midwestern Seminary, located in the heart of the Midwest, is one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America and offers a fantastic array of academic programs, including multiple online and residential options at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Midwestern’s new 81-hour Mdiv program, online program, and doctoral program have all been recognized as some of the most innovative and affordable in the country. There has never been a better time to begin your seminary education. Midwestern Seminary trains leaders ‘For The Church.’
Visit them online at MBTS.edu/Rainer and start your ministry training today.
Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of I Will.
Thom,
My concern is that there are whole congregations and ministerial staff who have determined to disenfranchise themselves from the cultural upheaval brought about the federal government pushing themselves into the lives of the congregations individual lives, at work, at school and at home. Meaning , pastors are saying from the pupit , they are not going to take on the culture wars. Making light of these issues without biblical teaching will erode the efficiency of scripture and the message of the gospel. The good news of the gospel is a only answer to address sinners in need of a Savior. Equiping congregations to have a biblical foundation to such issues will provide opportunities to be salt and light.
Well said, Prentiss.
“Give practical advice.”
My former pastor, who only a couple years ago was pretty prominent regionally in the SBC, and is now managing the local Word FM, has been giving the practical advice on social media that we should be beating the tar out of these people. Agree?
Why would any pastor provoke violence with words and/or actions. Where is that pastor receiving guidance? I dare to say it’s not from the One True God. What does Jesus teach us on loving one another? “Let he who is free of sin cast the first stone.”
Yet these people are in our systems, and can be pretty successful in them. Why is that?
Loving one another? God gives us 4 areas of jurisdiction: Individual – Family – Church & Civil Govt.
We can love individuals (a Muslim for example) – but we don’t love ALL Muslims or what Islam stands for.
Anything that attacks your family, Church Worldview or Constitutional freedoms can be hated (there’s a time to hate & a time to kill).
Thus a blanket “Jesus said love your enemies” won’t work.
Why did the Apostles carry swords?
I’d be interested in hearing the pastor’s side of that story before I make any judgments.
I really wish the convention had dealt with this issue this past week instead of placating the host city with an issue that has already been dealt with in the SBC. . We are being attacked by ISIS terrorist and POTUS is determined to force the LGBT agenda into our daily lives and public schools. Much more pressing issue’s just my humble opinion. ( I live in Ga. ask former Governor Barnes about flags)
Where do you think that the best place for pastors to talk about social issues is in the church? Oftentimes the Sunday morning worship service is meant for people who haven’t committed to Christ yet and this may be their first exposure to Christianity. People need relationships (with Jesus) before rules.
Would hosting a Sunday evening service designed specifically for members be the best time for these meetings? I think we’d do well spending LOTS of time praying for those who live in sin, and praying that our churches can be beacons of light into their worlds.
I believe we do need a balance here, however sin is sin and part of leading people to Christ is having them sin there sin and that Jesus is the only way to forgiveness of that sin. Otherwise we just preach to tickle the ear.
I get that people need to recognize sin as sin. But that’s not the way I want to approach evangelism. We can have better strategies than that as a church.
Believe it or not, some people’s ears like hearing about sin. The reason many want to hear sermons like that is because that’s what they grew up with and that’s what they want to hear. It’s not about making disciples, often it’s about their preferences.
Sadly if Sunday morning is designed for being “seeker friendly” or for “unchurched” It would be a better use of my time and family’s time to skip Sunday morning then. I left one that claimed to be “seeker freindly”, becuase the deeper I got involved, the more was revealed how it was to get numbers and dollars. My wife and I have been heavily involved in ministries for years, and even running some aspects. I did even work in the church and ministries of one of the pastors that made significant impact world wide.
The reason why I say this, is as the American church as a whole has sought to become “seeker friendly” it often times is the very turn off. Because, no one is finding Christ in the service, not in the message nor in the worship. I believe you will truly find, true conversions, and the learning among the brethren. When you do not water down the word of God at any moment of teaching on Sunday morning or any other time. Some topics are “social” fire storms, sure, but that’s mankind’s fire. However, if you teach the word of God as it is written. Your fear should be that of God, not man kind, who’s opinions, feelings or standards change as fast as the wind. Not that this pastor I served under was perfect, but countless individuals came to Christ through direct(and those he taught) contact with him, and many were homosexuals etc at the time of conversion. You speak the truth with love, you teach it as it is written, even when politically it might bring out the worst in people. Allow God to deal with the hearts and the results. Does it mean sometimes we delay talking about some topics until the time is right, sure. But It is foolish to water down the truth to add a few numbers or dollars to your church. To avoid persecution, for that is what it is. Several significant churches I know and have been a part of are dying because of this, and are nothing more that revolving doors or social clubs. Where anything goes once the people walk out the door.
Want to add to your numbers? Want to see true conversions? it’s time to get out of the pulpit and offices, stop building a cozy empire, stop looking to be liked. Teach the people how to witness one on one, by doing it with them. Also teach how to disciple old and new believers as part of the teaching. It does not matter what they think they are lgbt or a ceo of something. It’s our job simply to teach the word of God, and share the good news of Christ. Allow God to save them and change them.
In our church the answer is simple to the bathroom issues. Men shall use the Men’s and Women shall use the Women’s. If we don’t enforce it, we will in fact have issue of keeping our children and women safe. I’ve seen enough issues over the years with problems with molestation and even rape in the parking lots..(not at ours thankfully so far) We have plenty of single occupant bathrooms at least in our building(does address some ADA issues), I know not all could even have one. So that if it does come up we do already have an answer. Christians too many times are plain cowards when it comes keeping God’s standard. I met a old lady once who had no fear of witnessing to the Russian KGB, even though they murdered her father who was a pastor who would not stop teaching the Gospel!!
Although what we are to do in some situations is clear, it does not mean it will not come without persecution. If you won’t stand up for righteousness then how in the world does a pastor ever think people will take him seriously behind the pulpit. He becomes nothing more than a babbler looking for airtime and money, in some cases to cover or justify his own sin.
No where do we find in scripture that we are to act foolishly. But to act wisely.
Love God, Fear God, Trust God, Obey God, Teach without hesitating, Teach the Truth, Stand for the Truth. Have love for people. God will deliver, God will provide justice, God will reward when we are obedient. Anything else, we become illrelevant and like the salt that lost it’s saltiness that Jesus spoke about. God’s word is clear people do not seek him out, he seeks us out, and calls us.
Often times we are refined by fiery trials as mentioned in the bible.
My point, fear God, Walk with Christ. If not, to be “seeker friendly” likely means you fear man and are growing in illrelevance.
1. “Stay true to the Bible…”
2. “…recognize sin as sin,”
1 & 2 are easy…
3. “…but love people as well.”
#3 soooo many talk ABOUT but so few TELL us HOW!
The bathroom issue is easily addressed with churches and other public access facilities. Just keep it clean and monitor entrance/exit. Have some strict rules/policies and make it an offence to violate them. I know of one Government sponsored agency hear in Canada that has been sharing bathrooms for many, many years now and it works fine and it’s always clean.
This article has all good thoughts regarding this issue.
I have found though, in dealing with the culture wars in our church, that when a church begins teaching and preaching the Biblical position on these sticky issues; no matter how you temper the message with love and expressed understanding; no amount of sugar is going to guarantee against making enemies.
The key is the fact that the church should have been teaching the Biblical positon on these issues since the very beginning and not waiting until the problems are now sitting in the pews before addressing these issues.
The problem is…many pastors have avoided these issues for so many years, that now when they are forced to address these problems, which are now creeping into the church….congregations are now so desensitized to the absurdity of our culture that even many church goers are becoming open and accepting of things that never would have been tolerated fifty years ago. Co-habitating with boyfriends and girlfriends outside of marriage is a prime example. Very accepted In many congregations. And church goers will even get very angry if a pastor mentions such a thing.