Reconciliation Ministries

A recently released study in Finland found a higher level of co-occurring mental health disorders among adolescents who received transgender affirming care. Most importantly, the study found that, "Psychiatric needs do not subside after medical gender reassignment." In short, affirming a transgender orientation causes more harm in the long run.

Acta Paediatrica | Paediatrics Journal | Wiley Online Library Aim To examine the prevalence of severe psychiatric morbidity among gender-referred adolescents, focusing on gender differences and outcomes related to medical gender reassignment. Methods Finnish...

This is good news!

Supreme Court Rules ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban Violates First Amendment The case, Chiles v. Salazar, was brought by a therapist who alleged Colorado’s ban violated her right to free expression.

Is God calling you to something deeper? Sometimes its hard to leave our comfortable place behind and trust the Lord that He has something better for you. Other times we feel like we've failed too many times and that we've run out of God's grace. Jesus didn't come to heal healthy people. He came for those who know they are a mess. Find hope in this month's Reconciliation Ministries newsletter.https://recmin.org/s/Is-God-Calling-You-to-More-260305.pdf

“My son attends a gay church. He says the gifts of the Holy Spirit operate there, and people get saved, healed, and blessed. Could that be true?”

A mother asked me that question recently. You might be surprised how often it comes up. If you haven’t heard it yet, you will.

To me the subject’s not just academic. I, too, found a gay affirming church when I came out 48 years ago, thinking it was an answer to prayer.

I was a born-again Christian who had wrestled silently with homosexuality, even when serving in the ministry. I finally decided to give in to it when I was 23.

My first year “out” as a gay man was sleazy, full of promiscuity and drunkenness. I soon realized this was a destructive lifestyle but was unwilling to repent of homosexuality itself. That’s when I heard about a church where I could have it both ways: Gay and Christian.

Upon joining, I stopped the drinking and sleeping around, feeling much better about myself. I also adopted a pro-gay interpretation of the Bible, hoping to silence my conscience on the issue.

But here’s where it gets interesting – I eventually joined the pastoral staff and taught weekly Bible studies. Not just “gay sermons,” but didactic, verse by verse expository teaching.

During worship services I, and others on our prayer team, prayed for the sick, at times with results. I even evangelized gay non-believers who visited the church, curious about what the Gospel had to say to them. I would lead them in what’s called “the sinner’s prayer,” and God alone knows the results.

In short, the gifts of the Spirit I had exercised in my prior ministry, now seemed to show themselves through me and others, though we were clearly a church in blatant, lethal error.

So, as that mother asked earlier, “Could this be true?” Here are 3 possible answers.

1. What Seemed Spiritual Was Demonic

When Paul and Timothy were ministering in Troas, a young woman there seemed to have a gift of prophecy, or at least exhortation, when she loudly announced the two were sent by God to show the way of salvation. (Acts 16:16-18)

Sounded good, but Paul saw through it. She was demon possessed, speaking true words from a false source. So what looked like an operation of the Holy Spirit was in fact demonic, not prophetic.

Paul had to speak up, because when she spoke truth, people might have trusted and then followed her when she started promoting lies.

That’s relevant, because Satan hates humanity, wanting to deceive non-believers into continued unbelief, and believers into compromise. It’s possible, then, that much of what we identified as the move of God was in fact a Satanic ruse.

The Angel of Light can be, like his works, stunningly attractive. So having seduced us with the false gospel of gay theology, it stands to reason he would also confirm his message with false signs and wonders.

After all, when our discernment is weakened by compromise, we’re apt to believe something supernatural must also be something godly.

The Devil knows our weaknesses, appeals to them with flattering doctrines, then confirms his lies with, as Paul described them, “Signs and lying wonders.” (II Thessalonians 2:9)

That’s why he warned the Galatians (a group of believers vulnerable to the error of legalism, as we were to the error of gay theology) not to cling to the miraculous as proof of right versus wrong, when he wrote:

“But should we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8)

2. What Seemed Spiritual Was Emotional

Another possibility is that we mistook good vibrations for Biblical giftings. One case in point stands out to me as evidence.

In the Spring of 1980 the choir from my affirming church made the rounds of the local gay bars to sing for the guys, and to promote the church. The reception at each place was good, but one took it further than applause.

At that particular bar we decided to sing Andre Crouch’s classic “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power.” Since I played piano for the choir, in addition to other staff duties, I belted out the introduction and within minutes, it seemed every patron there had stood up and was singing along, word for word.

Clearly these men – half of them shirtless; many of them drunk – knew Andre’s music. I could only guess they’d been raised in Evangelical churches and were reliving more Christ-like days. Many lifted their hands and shook like old time Pentecostals, belting out with eyes closed and ecstasy washing over their faces. When we finished, they yelled for more.

We met at the church later for debriefing, and we, too, were ecstatic, giving the event rave reviews:
“Wow, were we anointed tonight!”
“Did you see the how the Holy Spirit came over those guys?”
“God moved, for sure. Thank you, Jesus, we just had Church1”

Yeah, I know, and I’m shaking my head right along with you. A bar full of intoxicated men singing something they learned in Sunday School was not a Holy Ghost revival. But golly, was it ever an emotional high!

I suspect, in hindsight, that all of us who’d known the Lord before coming out were still hoping we’d made the right decision.

Anything confirming that hope was so welcome, so comforting to our wobbly consciences, that we interpreted it as a move of the Spirit.

So when our music triggered a joyful response, we labeled that a manifestation of spiritual gifts.

But it wasn’t. We’d just encouraged men in sin to continue in sin by singing reassurances to them. That’s not Spirit-led ministry, it’s carnal Manpleasing. True ministers would have called them to Truth.

3. What Seemed Spiritual Was Spiritual. But It Wasn’t Validation

This third possibility takes me out on a limb, but I think it’s not only true, it’s also the best explanation for what I experienced during my years in the gay church.

Paul said, “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29) The Greek word he used for “gifts” is “charisma,” the same word used to describe the gifts of the Spirit listed in I Corinthians 12.

This chapter in Romans is about God’s irrevocable covenant with Israel. By placing the word “gifts” alongside “calling” in this verse, he asserts that spiritual “charismas” are, like God’s call to His people, permanent gifts of grace, not temporal rewards for good works.

That explains how ministers who were found to be in sexual sin for years did, in fact, manifest powerful gifts of the Spirit, even when they were indulging. God’s gifts were not revoked from them, though they were seriously outside of God’s will.

Surely the presence of those gifts in their ministries did not mean God condoned or ignored their sinful behavior. But neither did their sinful behavior cancel the gifts God had given them.

Ongoing sin and spiritual gifts can co-exist. They shouldn’t, and the minister exercising those gifts while continuing in sin is only kidding himself if he thinks there will be no consequence. (James 3:1) Yet it happens, and it’s nothing new.

Consider the church at Corinth, which was a mess. They were divided into factions (I Corinthians 3:4) they were taking each other to court (I Corinthians 6:1) some got drunk at communion (I Corinthians 11:21) and they tolerated the openly incestuous relationship of one of their members. (I Corinthians 5)

Yet the gifts of the Holy Spirit were unmistakably operating there, requiring Paul to educate them on the rationale and proper use of such gifts. (I Corinthians chapters 12 and 14)

Note that Paul didn’t deny the gifts existed at Corinth. He affirmed that they did, despite the many sins in the church he addressed and corrected in this book.

That’s why I’m convinced of two things to this day, things I’ve considered ever since I repented in 1984 and left both the gay church and community: A person can retain the gifts of the Spirt God gave him even when deceived, backslidden, or in rebellion. Yet the vessel’s gifts can never justify the vessel’s sin.

That’s exactly why we shouldn’t assume the presence of charisma, whether in personality or gifting, is proof of godly character.

It’s also why Christians who identify as gay and legitimize their sexual behavior by the Holy Spirit’s presence and gifting are deceiving themselves, and others.

So is that concerned mother’s son telling the truth when he says spiritual gifts show up in his church?

Probably, at least to a point. But he’s also believing a lie, because the gifting of God isn’t proof of His approval. As Bible commentator David Guzek said so well:

“A person can be affected by the power of God (resulting in amazing experiences), but not surrendered to the power of God, which results in a changed life.”

(For more reading on pro-gay theology check out my book "The Gay Gospel? How Pro-Gay Advocates Misread the Bible" Link available in first comment below)That question came to me from a mother recently.

An important call for all of us, especially leaders, to walk in sexual purity.

A GREATER JUDGMENT: This morning we wake up to yet another Christian leadership scandal (see today's Christian Post for reference) and the temptation to yawn is evidence of how low our moral bar has sunk. We almost want to say, "So what's new?"

Of course, the facts aren't in on this latest case, and no one who is accused should be presumed guilty just because he has been accused. So for now we should hold judgment.

But what we should not hold is a reluctance to see this bigger picture: God is judging His church, top to bottom, allowing what's been practiced in the dark without private repentance to be made manifest in the light, forcing public repentance.

I've got no stones to throw at the exposed sinner. Back in the late 1970's I was a ministry leader who gave himself permission to use p**n, then pick up strangers off the street, then start frequenting gay bars.

All the while I was teaching Bible studies and had been a leader with a well known ministry. My sin was finally forced into the light because I refused to bring it voluntarily. I was publicly exposed, remained unrepentant for 6 years, then God intervened in 1984.

So like I said, no stones here.

But facing facts isn't stone-throwing. It's seeing today's handwriting on the Church wall.

That handwriting is speaking first to leaders who exploit the sheep they're supposed to feed. (Notice how most recent exposures have been of men who not only sinned sexually, but did so by violating the people God had entrusted them to serve?)

Their crime is as old as the story of Eli's sons who abused their priestly office to exploit women at the tabernacle. (I Samuel chapter 2: 12-36) Notice that both they and Eli were judged - they for their evil; Eli for his silence.

Then it speaks to ministers who keep having relationships they know are forbidden.

They're not taking advantage of their own flock, thank God. Yet by hiring prostitutes, going to massage parlors, or having affairs with women outside the church, they're defiling themselves, their office, and the people they use for pleasure.

Fornication is something that's not even supposed to be named among believers. (Ephesians 5:3) Imagine God's indignation when it's not only named among His people, but practiced among His leaders!

It's easy to mentally separate your private indulgences from your public ministry. I remember all too well what it was like to tell myself, "That Joe who's doing sleazy things on the boulevard is surely not the same Joe who's teaching this week's lesson on Romans!" Show me a minister engaging in ongoing secret sin, and I'll show you an excellent compartmentalizer.

Just ask King David, who couldn't even recognize his own murderous sin when Nathan pointed it out plain as day. (II Samuel chapter 12) David reacted violently to "whoever that guy was" who could do such a terrible thing.

But he - as will all ministers nurturing unrepentant fornication - finally heard that worst of accusations: "Thou are the man!"

Then finally, the writing on the wall indicts the Pastor who thinks his private p**n habit effects no one, without considering that each click he makes onto a p**n site is a silent cheer to the p**nographer to keep his evil industry going.

His encouragement helps yet another woman make the lethal decision to be exploited for entertainment, and yet another man to play to role of exploiter, and yet another p**n operator to produce yet another reel of poison.

Thus the man who should be a Prophet calling the p**nographer to repentance continues to instead be his customer. Does he really think he'll avoid an eventual judgment from the God who asked Ezekiel: “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see.'" (Ezekiel 8:12)

"The time is come," Peter said, "when judgment must begin at the house of God." (I Peter 4:17)

So let's not just be intrigued by these repeated scandals, as social media tempts us to be.

Let's instead be warned, because God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) Hidden sin eventually stops being hidden and comes to light ( Luke 12:2) and when leaders practice it, their judgment is worse, because their calling is higher. (James 3:1)

So today, God grant that anyone in leadership who’s telling himself his ongoing sexual sin will not eventually bring him down will reconsider, and take Jesus at His word when He warns, "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)

(By the way, if you're a leader who needs to talk about a private problem, that's what CloudFIre Ministries is here for. Just message me privately. My website address is in the first comment)

Join us for our next inner healing prayer class. Share the transformational love of Jesus Christ.
https://conta.cc/3LDL23L

Don't Miss the Next Inner Healing Prayer Class Email from Reconciliation Ministries Find Freedom in Christ There's still time to join our next Breakthrough Prayer Ministry class! Our next Breakthrough Prayer Ministry class begins February 5th. Inn

"Sin complicates our lives, and our lives are already too complicated. Temptation is an invitation to complicated your life in ways that are self-destructive for you and harmful to others. When temptation comes your way, don't complicated your life." - From "The Forgotten Way: Saint James Master Plan" by Matthew Kelly. Photo by Laura Baker via Unsplash.

This is good news for Michigan youth...

Court blocks Michigan ban on conversion therapy on free speech grounds A federal appeals court has blocked Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy for minors who are LGBTQ+, declaring it violates the First Amendment rights of therapists and counselors

Special thanks to Michael Zakarian for designing our new logo and our awesome ministry graphics. He made these beautiful banners for our info table. He also designed awesome handouts for our Living Waters program and Overcoming Strongholds conference. He is truly a gift!

From Assistant Director of US Department of Health: "Today, we released a report exposing the truth: pediatric sex-rejecting procedures are not evidence-based. They are dangerous. Enough is enough. Read it for yourself. Protecting children should not be controversial, it is our duty. The tide is turning."

ADM Brian Christine, MD (@ADM_Christine) on X

It's time to heal from broken relationships. Join us for our next session of Living Waters, starting November 17th at Reconciliation Ministries. Call us at 248.956.0265 for more information.