Girl, Boy, Atbp?!?

It's great to be back after a long hiatus! One of the things that loaded up my schedule was preparing to speak to my church's youth about homosexuality. That's what I'm sharing in this post.

It was an hour-and-a-half message, which I subdivided into five segments, as follows:

1. Introduction
2. LGBT: Then & Now
3. Can A Christian Also Be LGBT?
4. How Can I Minister to Those Who Struggle with Homosexual Desires?
5. Should Christians Support Pro-LGBT Laws?

I hope you'll be as encouraged listening to these, as I was preparing them.

1. INTRODUCTION

We can’t ignore the LGBT issue. The question isn’t whether we will respond, but whether our response will be biblical or unbiblical.

Christian groups have adopted very different stands on this. But what is the right response? As we think about the answer to that, there are two things that we need to be concerned about.

Our first concern is the truth. Homosexuality is part of much larger issues, like sin, purity, and God’s glory. We want to avoid isolating homosexuality from these bigger concerns

Our second concern is the heart – our hearts. God wants us to glorify Him in how we think, how we talk, and how we act. We need to love LGBTs and faithfully share the gospel with them.

This is our goal: to have a biblical attitude toward homosexuality and LGBTs. 

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2. LGBT: Then & Now

The LGBT movement has ballooned in our generation. We should be concerned, but not too much. The church has been in similar situations before.

LGBT IN ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

Homosexuality and similar blurring of the sexes isn’t new or recent. It was practiced during Abraham’s time, about 2,000 B.C., in the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century B.C.), by the ancient Greeks and Romans, in New Testament Times, and even in Pre-Hispanic Philippines! So, we shouldn’t be surprised that it’s an issue today.

But why is the LGBT movement of today is so aggressive and hostile toward biblical Christianity?

LGBT IN THE WAKE OF MORAL RELATIVISM

During the Enlightenment Period in Europe (17th-18th centuries), many great scientists like Galileo, Kepler, and Newton pursued science from a Christian worldview. But others wanted to use science as a weapon against God, the Bible and the institutional Church. They claimed that reason and science could explain everything, so people didn’t need God or the Bible.

Of course, if human reason is the standard for morality, then morality is just human beings finding reasons to do what they want. This is the essence of moral relativism.

Fast forward to the present day, and we see that moral relativism has taken over Europe and America, and it’s becoming more and more prevalent here in the Philippines. More and more, people are embracing the lie that you can create your own truth.

One of the reasons that the LGBT movement has become very strong in recent decades is that society has lost the ability to look at homosexuality and say, “that’s wrong.”

In fact, people have devoted a lot of money and expertise to explain homosexuality in purely naturalistic terms.

WHAT ARE THE CULTURAL ELITES SAYING ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY TODAY?

“Homosexuality is GENETIC.” In 1995, Time Magazine published an article entitled, “Search for a Gay Gene”, about scientists’ search for genetic causes for homosexuality. These studies, however, far from proved that homosexuality was predetermined by one's DNA.

“Homosexuality is caused by the environment.” Others have focused on how a person’s environment can influence homosexual behavior. But these studies often don’t distinguish between causation and indirect relation. To put it simply, they misinterpret the data, or make the data say more than it actually says.

Despite the limitations of these studies, they've have been sensationalized by the mass media, so that nowadays, people just assume that science has “proven” that homosexuality is completely natural, and therefore ok. This has allowed the movement to grow rapidly, even in the Philippines.

In light of all these developments, we as Bible-believing Christians might be tempted to worry. But homosexuality and cultural support for homosexuality aren’t new. The Church has faced this before. The reason we don’t know that is because for a long time, Christianity was the biggest moral influence on modern civilization. We’ve gotten used to that, but things are changing back to the way things were before Christianity became dominant. We have to be ready: ready to obey God on this matter; ready to accept whatever consequence society may impose on us; and ready to do it all, not out of hate, but out of love: love for God, love for the truth, and love for people who need Christ just as much as we do.

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3. Can a Christian Also Be LGBT?

Does the Bible really say that homosexuality is a sin?

Some professing Christians would answer that question with a resounding No! They claim that the common proof-texts against homosexuality are either misinterpreted or mistranslated because of prejudice. This is the revisionist view. Are they right?

GENESIS 19 – SODOM AND GOMORRHA

• Revisionist View: Sin of gang rape. This is not a universal condemnation of gay sex, but a bad form of gay sex. Sin of inhospitality.

• Biblical Response: Sodom was condemned for a whole bunch of sins, not just homosexuality. But homosexuality was definitely included in that list. (Compare Ez. 16:50 and Lev. 18:22)

DAVID AND JONATHAN

• Revisionist View: David and Jonathan were lovers. (2 Sam. 1:26; 1 Sam. 18:1,4; 20:41)

• Biblical Response: We read these texts with hyper-sexualized lenses. Cf. Jacob's soul was “knit to” Benjamin his son = favoritism, not sexual (Gen 44:30). David and Jonathan not said to lie together. And if you know David's life, his issue was women.

JESUS’ TESTIMONY

• Revisionist View: Jesus never said anything about homosexuality!

• Biblical Response: Jesus came to correct false teaching, so if the traditional view of homosexuality was wrong, He would have addressed it when we spoke about sexuality. Rather, He affirmed the traditional view. (Mark 10:6-9)

“ARSENOKOITAI” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Tim 1:9-10

• Revisionist View: Arsenokoitai appears for the first time in NT, so we have to figure out what it means. Therefore, it refers to sexual and economic exploitation (pedophilia).

• Traditional View: Paul didn't pull this word out of nowhere. He pulled a word from the LXX of Lev 20:13 where we find arsen and koite, right beside each other. There's no other place where these two words occur together, beside each other. Any Hellenistic Jewish convert who came across this word would have recognized the reference. Moreover, if Paul had wanted to refer to pedophilia, there was a specific word for it: paiderastes.

In conclusion, the Bible does say that homosexuality is a sin in God’s eyes.

Isn’t homosexuality natural to homosexuals? How can it be wrong to be yourself?

The answer to that is simple: we’re all sinful and God calls all of us to be completely changed. Everyone – heterosexual or homosexual – is a sinner, and more specifically, sexually impure. We are sinful by nature, and that's why we need a new nature. Without that new nature, we’re spiritually dead – we’re cut off from God who is the source of all spiritual life. (John 3:3; Eph. 2:1-6; 2 Cor. 5:17)

Many believe that whatever is natural is good. But the Bible says that we live in a world that has been distorted by sin. So nature is a bad standard for deciding what’s good or bad. The only truly reliable standard we have is God’s Word. And it tells us to reject our sinful nature, to seek God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and to be transformed into new creatures.

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4.  How Can I Minister to Those Who Struggle with Homosexual Desires?

RESOLVE TO DO IT! ... or you probably never will.

PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. We have a natural tendency to excuse the sins that we struggle with, even while we condemn sins that we don’t see in ourselves. But let’s be humbled over our own brokenness. Let’s be consistent in addressing all kinds of sins.

FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. We have to clearly and consistently communicate that God’s first concern for people struggling with homosexual desire isn’t that they become heterosexual. His first concern for them is that they have a living relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, so that they surrender all of their lives to Him, including their sexuality.

SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. On the one hand, let him know that he’s not struggling alone. We all struggle. It’s just that most people struggle with heterosexual impurity, while a few struggle with homosexual impurity. But we’re all in this together (1 Cor. 10:13). On the other hand, don’t give false promises, like “Read the Bible, pray more and your homosexuality will go away.”

ENCOURAGE SAME-SEX FRIENDSHIPS WITH MATURE BELIEVERS. This will help the person see and experience for themselves God’s beautiful plan for same-sex relationships.

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5.  Should Christians Support Pro-LGBT Laws?

Should Christians support LGBT “rights”? Before answering that question, there’s a more basic question that needs to be addressed. As Christians, what is our place in society?

• We're called to be salt & light. (Mat. 5:13-16)

• We're called to serve society. (Eph. 4:28)

• We're called to love our neighbors... even our enemies. (Mat. 22:39; Mat. 5:43)

• We should be particularly concerned for the poor and helpless. (Luke 14:12-14)

• We're called to submit to the government. (Rom. 13:1)

In light of these points, I think we can rephrase our question this way: Is it loving to support pro-LGBT laws?

The simple answer is NO, because we must “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Eph. 5:11). To support any law that supports homosexuality is to support homosexuality itself.

Another reason we shouldn’t support pro-LGBT laws is that they would do more harm than good. Let's look at the pending Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB), for example.

THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW

At first glance, the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB) sounds good. According to him, it’s about equality for all. He talks about LGBTs as if they’re victims of society. But the evidence doesn’t support that. Just look around you. Are LGBTs under attack in our country? Just the opposite, actually. If, by and large, LGBTs aren’t being victimized in our society, why would we need the ADB?

In fact, the ADB in its current form would do more harm than good, because it would suppress freedom of speech and religion. We see this in the way the bill defines "discrimination". The danger has already been realized in other countries that have passed their own versions of the ADB (ex. Canada, England, US).

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

We can't support this bill for many reasons.

• It will require government to redefine, not only marriage, but sexuality and family as well. That’s more than an administrative adjustment. That’s a social revolution, right there.

• For government to approve such changes in the law would mean that it supports the LGBT lifestyle, which has proven to be extremely harmful to people. The damage it has caused to people’s health and social relationships is staggering.

The typical pro-LGBT argument is, “We’re not hurting anyone, so just let us do what we want.” But they are hurting people, just not in an obvious way. To redefine sexuality, marriage, and family is to attack the institutions that have made civilization possible. It is also to deprive children of the stability provided by a household with a real father and a real mother.

And which sector of society will be affected the most? It will be the poor -- the ones who can least afford to play around, who don't have social and economic safety nets. If we destroy the institutions of marriage and the family, we can only guess how much harm it will cause to the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society.

We as Christians should be very clear on where we stand with regard to the LGBT rights movement. We stand against it, not because we hate LGBTs, but because we love them and we love our neighbors.

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Timeline of the LGBT Movement in the Philippines

I've been immersing myself in research on the LGBT issue, particularly with regards to anti-discrimination laws and same-sex marriage. There's so much more reading to do, but already my brain feels like pudding.

Before I call it a night and shift to more pleasant labors, I just want to share this partial timeline that I've put together regarding the advance of the LGBT agenda in the Philippines. It's definitely not light or happy reading, but we need to inform ourselves because we cannot be ignorant or silent on this issue.

1968

The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), a non-denominational Protestant church, is founded in the United States. It is " the world’s first church group with a primary, positive ministry to gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender persons."

1987

July 6 - The Family Code of the Philippines is passed. Article 1 states, "Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation, except that marriage settlements may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by this Code."

1991 

A group of Filipino gay men begin the process of bringing MCC to the Philippines. Meetings were first held in Manila, then Makati. Other gay-affirming churches would follow: LGBTS Christian Church, Freedom in Christ Ministries, ECOG.

1992 

The first LGBT pride march is held in Manila. From hereon, the city holds it annually.

1995 

Representative Rey Calalay files a bill proposing to recognize the “third sex” as a sector.

1999

The Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (LAGABLAB), the country's first LGBT lobby group, is formed.

2000

LAGABLAB helps craft the first version of the Anti-Discrimination Bill, seeks to offer special civil protections for LGBTs. The ADB is then submitted to Congress by Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Akbayan Representative Etta Rosales. The bill faces stiff opposition and lacks a strong base of supportive legislators.

2001 

LAGABLAB, Amnesty International Pilipinas and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and other supportive organizations launch the Stop Discrimination Now Campaign to support the passage of the bill.

2006

September 13 - MCC, which has been limited first to Manila, then to Makati, begins establishing Bible studies and support groups in Quezon City.Eventually, MCC's Rev. Ceejay Agbayani would have his ordination repealed and form his own church, the LGBTS Christian Church.

2007

October - In the case of Silverio vs. The Republic of the Philippines, the Supreme Court rules against the petition of Rommel Silverio to have his name changed to "Mely" and his sex changed to female.

The Study New Testament for Lesbians, Gay, Bi and Transender is published. It is the first study Bible advocating revisionist, pro-LGBT interpretations of key passages.

2008

September 23- Jennifer Cagandahan officially becomes "Jeff" and is recognized as legally male, by virtue of the Supreme Court's upholding the decision of the local court of Siniloan., Laguna.

2009

The Inclusive Bible is published. The TIB is the first "egalitarian" translation of the Bible, replacing male pronouns and claiming to present the same ancient truths in "new and non-sexist ways".

2011

ABS-CBN releases "Nasaan Ka, Elisa," the first teleserye to explore LGBT themes. This is followed by "Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala" (2013), and "Till I Met You" (2016). GMA Network follows suit with "My Husband's Lover" (2013), "The Rich Man's Daughter" (2015), and "Destiny Rose" (2015).

2012

The Queen James Bible is published. The description reads, "The Queen James Bible is based on The King James Bible, edited to prevent homophobic misinterpretation."

2013

March 25 – The Quezon City Pride Council is launched. It is created by official order of Mayor Herbert Bautista in order to oversee the integration of all city programs and projects for the LGBT community. The Council is composed of notable individuals that promotes and advocates LGBT rights from different industry and profession. Also part of the Council are members of the Local Government sectors.

June 28 - The Inquirer reports that the country ranked as the 10th most gay-friendly in a global survey covering 39 countries, in which only 17 had majorities accepting homosexuality. Titled "The Global Divide on Homosexuality," the survey conducted by the Pew Research Center shows that 73 percent of adult Filipinos agreed with the statement that "homosexuality should be accepted by society," up by nine percentage points from 64 percent in 2002.

However, the results are downplayed by Jonas Bagas, executive director of the TLF Share Collective, who said, "I think that the study only reflects the perceived acceptance of the LGBT community based on the high visibility of gay entertainers. It’s acceptance [that is] contingent on how you fit the acceptable stereotype—the gay entertainer, the creative, talented bakla, the lesbian security guard."

The following year, in another survey, the Pew Research Center reported that 65% of the Philippine population saw homosexuality as morally unacceptable.

Nov. 27 - Dec. 3 - InQCity Independent Pride Film Festival. One promotional blurb said this: "Headed by the Father of Pinoy Queer Cinema himself, Director Cris Pablo promises everyone a list of most sought after films for the family and for LGBT."

2014

June 21 - Rev. Agbayani leads a mass gay wedding in QC.

August 7-10 -  The National Conference and Meeting on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) is held in Butuan City.

October - The QC Council passes the "Gender Fair" City Ordinance. It prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (Sogie) in the city. Bishop Emerson Beriones of the Orthodox Church says, "This is not the first in the Philippines, but the most comprehensive, the deepest, in protecting LGBT rights."

December 9 - Celebrity wedding of Aiza Siguerra and Liza Diño in San Francisco, CA.

December 9-16 - Quezon City International Pink Film Festival held. It was the largest international film festival that features films that highlight the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

December 13 - The first gay pride march in QC was held, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the first pride march in the Philippines. The event was organized by the QCPC and attended by about 4,000 members and supporters of the LGBT community.

According to council member Jeffklein Glodove, “QCPC defines equality in all aspect of life. Equality in the workplace, social services, and delivery of goods without any discrimination regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation."

2015

June - Rev. Ceejay Agbayani Jr. leads a mass gay wedding in Project 8, Quezon City. CNN Philippines reports that Agbayani has presided over 600 LGBT weddings since 2006, and that he issues a certificate of marriage to each married couple.

2016

February - Congressman Manny Pacquiao expresses his stance against same-sex marriage. He is misquoted as saying that homosexuals are "worse than animals". LGBT celebrities (Vice Ganda, Aiza Sigeura, Boy Abunda) use this opportunity to demean those who are against the legalization of same-sex marriage. Pacquiao feels compelled to issue an apology for his choice of words, though he maintains his convictions.

April-June - The QCPC conducts an HIV/AIDS Seminar and Orientation in every baranggay of QC.

June 25 - Freedom in Christ Ministries rallies at the Metro Manila Pride March to ask for forgiveness on behalf of Christians and the church.

May - Geraldine Roman of the Liberal Party becomes the first transgender official in Philippine history. He won 62% of the unofficial votes, with a 99% turnout.

August 15 - Philippines AirAsia announces that it is open to transgender applicants for all vacant positions. According to Philippines AirAsia Chair Marianne B. Hontiveros,“The success of AirAsia is largely driven and inspired by people who dare to make a difference. In the weeks and months ahead, expect exciting times, significant changes and improvements from Philippines AirAsia as we are set to expand our operations, increase our fleet, launch new international flights, and introduce innovations.”

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4:12 Series - Jane Grey

Only seventeen, Jane was deeply devoted to the Lord and His Word. But it had gotten her into very serious trouble.

A Privileged Upbringing

Jane was born into one of the most powerful families of England (in stark contrast to our previous hall-of-famer, John Brown). She was the grand-daughter of Princess Mary Tudor, the sister of King Henry VIII.

But she was privileged in another way. Her father, Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, was a strong supporter of the Protestant Reformation in England. He made sure that Jane learned the Scriptures, and by God's grace she developed a deep love for Christ and strong biblical convictions.

In Over Her Head

Noble-born and strong in faith, young Jane was sure to be a great help to the Reformation in England. But before she had the chance, crisis struck.

Her uncle, King Edward VI, was dying. He and Jane were about the same age, and shared the same love for the gospel. During his reign he had championed the Reformation in England. Now, he wanted to secure its future even after his death.

But he had to act quickly. His half-sister, Mary, was next-in-line to the throne, and she was a staunch enemy of the gospel. So, on his deathbed, Edward nominated Jane as his successor.

Though this caught Jane completely off guard, she bravely accepted her duty. The people, however, rejected her in favor of Mary. After only nine days of being queen, Jane was dethroned and Mary crowned the new queen. Poor Jane was convicted of treason and sentenced to death.

Standing Firm in the Faith

While Jane awaited execution, Mary sent a priest to convert her. She stood firm, however, in a way that would have made the Apostle Peter proud (1 Peter 3:15) When the priest insisted that she ought

to believe in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, she replied,

No, I ground my faith upon God’s word, and not upon the church: for if the church be a good church, the faith of the church must be tried by God’s word, and not God’s word by the church....

She writes, "my faith had armed my resolution to withstand any assault that words could then use against me."

A Brave Death

Soon, execution day came. Jane testified to the people gathered in front of the scaffold, saying,

I pray you all, good Christian people, to bear me witness, that I die a good Christian woman, and that I do look to be saved by no other mean, but only by the mercy of God in the blood of his only Son Jesus Christ: and I confess, that when I did know the word of God, I neglected the same, loved myself and the world, and therefore this plague and punishment is happily and worthily happened unto me for my sins; and yet I thank God, that of his goodness he hath thus given me a time and a respite to repent and now, good people, while I am alive, I pray you assist me with your prayers.

Then she recited a Psalm and prepared for the end. The executioner kneeled down and asked for her forgiveness, which she gladly gave. She had only one request: "I pray you, despatch me quickly." She leaned over the executioner's block, and seconds before the blade fell, she said, "Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

Lady Jane died when she was only seventeen years old, but her steadfast love for the Lord and strong convictions were a breathtaking testimony to everyone who witnessed them.

SOURCES

1. Hanson, Marilee. "Lady Jane Grey – Facts, Biography, Information & Portraits".
2. Eric Ives, "Conference with Dr. Feckenham". 
3. John Foxe, Fox's Book of Martyr's.
4. Carter Lindberg, The European Reformations.

Genderless Love According to Two News Stories

Is there such a thing as genderless love?

Changing the Meaning of Purity

CNN Philippines reported the failed attempt to promote a movie that purportedly talks about this theme.

A young girl named Dalisay lives in a small town and falls in love for the first time with a woman. The older woman, Nida, owns a sari-sari store in their town. Nida teaches Dalisay about love, relationships, and how the rythm of nature affects the human soul. Italian producer and director of photography, Lorenzo Galanti, who is in Manila to launch Dalisay, wants to veer away from the gay movie tag. He calls is a 'genderless love story.'

Galanti, for his part, was disappointed that there were no takers for his movie in the Philippines.

"It seems that genderless love is a topic that many peoples doesn't (sic) like to talk about.... The standard market doesn't want to dare. But it's not daring. It's to be updated."

Here is a perfect example of the man-centered, relativistic perspective on gender that is prevalent in the West. Gender is just a human invention, and if so, then love really has nothing to do with gender. It shows just how far removed Western society now is from God's design for romantic, sexual love. They don't agree that is should be confined to marriage. Nor do they agree that it should be between a man and a woman. And now they don't even agree that gender has any significance whatsoever. And, as Galanti reminds us, there are more and more people who think that to support this vision of human society is not daring. It's simply to be updated. And, in Galanti's mind, this is to be sexually and morally dalisay ("pure").

A Case of "Genderless Love"?

Lest we think that this kind of thinking is far from home, let's turn to a related story, this time involving a Filipino celebrity couple.

Joey Mead, a Filipino-Iranian model and host of Asia's Next Top Model, would heartily agree with Galanti, I think. And so would her husband, Ian King -- or, as he now likes to identify himself, the transgender woman, Angelina King.

The couple has been receiving praise from netizens, friends and family members on social media. For example, Twitter user, dude_its_jayv wrote, "Life is too short not to be who you are!" James Deakin from Topgear tweeted, "Gotta say, I'm proud of how people are taking this. There's hope. #LoveWins indeed." In a separate post, he also wrote, "Hey, if you ain't hurting anyone and it makes you happy, it's all the same to me. Good luck, Ian/Angie."

That last post is probably the most common pro-LGBTQ argument being circulated by pop culture and mass media today. There's too much one could say, so I'll limit myself to two points.

First, "be true to yourself" may sound nice, but most of the people who approve of it don't actually believe it. I'm sure they wouldn't support those who recently launched attacks in Turkey, Bangladesh, Yemen, Iraq, and most recently, Saudi Arabia, or the man who killed over 40 people in a gay bar and night club in Orlando earlier this month. But these jihadists could just as easily have claimed that they were being true to themselves and their faith!

Second, and in connection to the first point, advocates of moral relativism understand that it's impossible to be endlessly relativistic, without any moral standards whatsoever. So, the common qualification is it's fine to do what you want "if you ain't hurting anyone". The problem with that standard is it's completely subjective and arbitrary. Those who deny universal moral standards forfeit their right to speak out against moral atrocities because that would require, you guessed it, a universal moral standard. So when they condemn anyone for evil acts, on any basis other than their mere personal opinion, they do so without any intellectual integrity.

Meanwhile, Christians must continue to call sexually immoral people to repent and believe in Christ, not because we (as we're often accused) like to impose our beliefs on others, but because we too, were just as separated from God as they are, but were saved by God's undeserved grace. Now, we have the privilege and responsibility to point people to that same grace. But that grace must be received through faith, saving faith includes repentance, and a person can't repent unless he/she knows that he/she has actually sinned.

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The Best of "The Briefing"

Volume 1 (Nov. 2015 - Feb. 2016)
Volume 2 (Mar. 2016)
Volume 3 (May - Jun. 2016)

What Are These?

There are only a few podcasts I follow. Among them are

• The White Horse Inn by Mike Horton, Rod Rosenbladt, and Kim Riddelbarger,
• The Mortification of Spin by Carl Trueman, Todd Pruitt, and Aimee Byrd, and
• The Briefing by Albert Mohler.

Of these three, Mohler's podcast is my favorite because I can stay updated on important realities confronting modern Christians -- LGBT rights, Christianity & politics, secular materialism, abortion, Roman Catholicism, and the like.

Many of my friends and churchmates will find it difficult to comb through Mohler's stuff. That's why I want to share select articles that say particularly important things in particularly helpful ways. Hence "The Best of the Briefing" series, which I hope many will find useful.

How to Use The Documents

The articles in each document are organized by category. I also included dates under each title for reference.

If you prefer to listen to the podcast instead of listening to the transcript, you can find them arranged by date on Mohler's website.

If you're a Logos user, you'll be glad to know that the documents are in .docx format, which you can use to create a personal book in your Logos library.

Apologetics Before Breakfast: I'd Rather Be a Slave of God

Sometimes, when a particular idea is swimming around in my head, I imagine dialogues between a believer (representing God's Word) and someone else (representing the opposing view). This morning, the idea of 'freedom' vs.'slavery to God' formed itself into such a dialogue, and wrote it down just to get it 'off my chest,' so to speak. None of the issues brought up here are dealt with comprehensively, but hopefully you find these 'seed' thoughts helpful.


Humanist: What do you think about yourself? What defines you as a person?

Christian: I am a Christian, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and slave to the God of Heaven. And what about you?

H: I'm a humanist, a free-thinker. I'm not bound by religious morals of a bygone age, or the irrational fear of an imaginary God.

C: Oh, that's unfortunate. The Lord is a very good Master. He treats all His servants well, provides for them, and even adopts them as His own children. In fact, He even gave His own life for them.

H: Surely, you're not going to tell me next that we need a Savior because we're all natural-born sinners? I just don't think I need to torture ourselves with that kind of false guilt. Sure, humanity isn't perfect, but we need to have faith in ourselves. Look at all the progress we've made through millions of years of evolution!

C: By progress you mean our advances in technology, medicine, etc.?

H: Yes, exactly.

C: Well, I believe that even those things are God's blessings upon humanity (though I'd disagree with you about evolution).

H: Ah, but why do you always have to give the credit to God for good things that people do? Why is it that whenever you see something bad in humanity, it's our fault because we're sinful. But whenever you see something good in us, it's because of God?

C: Because, we're all dependent on God for "life, and breath, and everything." (Acts 17:25) God is the source of everything that is truly good, beautiful, and true.

H: Well, you're free to believe that if you want. But I'm not going to subject myself to God if it means that my life has to revolve around Him. I'm a free person. I don't serve any master. I'm the master of my fate, the captain of my soul (as Henley so beautifully said). I'm not a slave, and I think it's a shame that's how you see yourself. I think it's even worse that you're trying to make others slaves like you.

C: You're right about that last part. I wish everyone were a slave of God! But I wish you could see why. Don't you understand that you're a slave to whatever defines you as a person? (Rom 6:16) So, if the defining principle of our life is serving ourselves and doing whatever we think is right... we're actually slaves to ourselves! And if we're honest with ourselves, we'll have to admit that we make really terrible masters! God made us. Did you make yourself? God created and sustains the whole universe. What do you sustain? God enables us to interact and enjoy the world around us -- the sights, sounds, tastes, and textures. What have you done, by comparison? God is infinitely holy and just, but also loving, merciful, and kind. And those two meet perfectly at the cross, where the Son of God willingly paid the price for the sins of the world, so that whoever would believe in Him could receive full forgiveness and acceptance with God. What great thing have you done? What sacrifice have you made? I could go on... but don't you see that it's foolish to serve yourself, when God is an infinitely better Master?

What Not to Miss About the INC Scandal

About a month ago, scandal broke out within the Philippine-based organization called the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC, or Church of Jesus Christ).¹ It began when a video went viral, in which Angel Manalo and Cristina "Tenny" Villanueva Manalo, son and widow of the former INC executive minister "Ka Erdy" Manalo, called for help from their fellow members, claiming that their lives were in danger. Other discontented INC members immediately took the opportunity to air their grievances. Most notable of these are Isaias Samson Jr., the former editor of PASUGO, the organization's monthly publication, and Roel Rosal, a former minister who claims to that he was expelled for exposing corrupt practices among certain officials.² The most significant allegations these men leveled against the INC were illegal detention of ministers and internal corruption within the group's heirarchy.

Responding swiftly and decisively to these 'divisive' and rebellious acts, the INC leadership expelled Angel and Tenny Manalo, as well as sympathizers who gathered outside their home on July 24. Samson was expelled soon after, and a charge of libel has been filed against him.

Meanwhile, the DOJ and NBI have begun investigating the alleged case of illegal detention. While Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has received much criticism and abuse from the INC, she seems to be unperturbed, and continues to enjoy the support of Malacañang.

"Not A Doctrinal Issue"

It's clear that people on both sides of the rift believe that the central issue has nothing to do with the organization's doctrines, but only with its leadership and authority structure. Angel and Tenny Manalo, Samson, Rosal, and other excommunicated members have consistently professed their continuing loyalty to the 'church'. Samson's lawyer has stated their perspective clearly:

This is not a schism. This is not a doctrinal issue. This is an issue of the frailty and, in some, instances criminal behavior of persons, whom we will later identify in the appropriate cases. His trust in God remains.

But There Really Is A Doctrinal Issue

Clearly, the intention of the dissenters was not to question INC doctrines, to which they still adhere. Rather, they only wanted to resist the allegedly corrupt leadership. But by provoking their opponents to expel them from the church, they have unintentionally exposed one of the most glaring absurdities in their beliefs: that salvation is dependent upon church membership and complete submission to authorities.


One has to ask the question: Assuming the INC doctrines are correct, what happened the moment these former members were formally expelled from the INC? Did God withdraw their salvation?


The obvious answer, based on their doctrine, is 'yes.' But the absurdity of it becomes clear in the case of Ms. Sarah Manuel, who rushed to the house of Angel and Tenny Manalo after seeing their video online. She was not looking for trouble, much less did she intend to defy her organization's leaders. Nevertheless, she was expelled because her knee-jerk sympathy was interpreted as defiance of the church's leadership. And having been expelled, she, according to their doctrine, has now lost her salvation.

Salvation Is From the Inside Out

If there's one thing that we shouldn't miss about this fiasco, it is how flippantly eternal life can be gained and lost according to the INC's doctrines. This is because they have completely misunderstood the fact that true salvation is a gift of God to individuals, not only to the church. And it not only involves forgiveness of sins, but freedom from sins. In other words, true salvation confers not only a legal status of 'righteous', but new life in Christ, who promises to His sheep,

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one. (John 10:28-30)

And by the way, according to 2 Corinthians 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

One wonders how they badly their ministers have to twist and torture Scripture in order to explain away those verses, and many others like them.

---

1 (Those who are familiar with the INC know that their biggest deviation from biblical Christianity is their denial of the Triune God as revealed in Scripture, and of the divinity of Jesus Christ.) ^↩
2 GMA News provides a helpful timeline of events relating to the crisis.^↩

Ideas On Ministering to an INC Friend

Over the past few days, the cult commonly known as INC or Iglesia ni Cristo, has been embroiled in a controversy involving alleged corrupt practices, misuse of power, and even criminal acts by top-level leaders of the group. These allegations are still being investigated, and in the meantime, the organization has expelled several prominent leaders.

As evangelical Christians, how do we respond to this controversy? At the very least, we should think about how we might minister to our friends and acquaintances who are part of the INC.

What I WOULDN'T Do

• Use this as an opportunity to embarrass my friend or make a public denouncement of his religion. 
• Approach him with an air of moral superiority and a "see-I-told-you-so" tone. 
• I probably wouldn't confront him right away with the Doctrine of the Trinity. While this really is one of the foundational and damning errors of the INC, it is also one in which their members are very strongly indoctrinated, and therefore close-minded. Besides, the deity of Jesus Christ is something that has to be studied seriously and in a humble attitude -- things I probably wouldn't be encouraging in my INC friend if I started debating with him. 

• I probably wouldn't settle for handing him a gospel tract or giving a one-time gospel presentation. That is, of course, assuming that gradual, long-term ministry is a realistic prospect.

What I WOULD Do 

• Ask him about what the INC means to him, and how he feels about recent events. I'd try to find out as much as I can about how he thinks and what his convictions are. 
• Point out what the Bible says about the true church of Christ. It's not an organization, but a body of born-again believers who know and understand the grace of God. 
• Capitalize on whatever credibility I've built up with him to invite him to study the Bible together. The reason why it can be so difficult to witness to cult members is because cults use the proof-texting method, which makes them seem 'biblical.' Here's how it works: They find a passage of Scripture that they can use to 'prove' their false teaching, and then interpret it without any proper regard to the literary context of the passage. (This is like twisting someone's words to make it seem like she said something that she really didn't.) So ideally, witnessing to 'proof-texters' should start with the most basic ideas of biblical Christianity, and then build up gradually from there. Practically speaking, this means Bible studies.

Book Review: Standing For Christ In A Modern Babylon

Author: Marvin Olasky

Publisher: Crossway Books, 2003.

I got this book in a pastors conference hosted by Cubao Reformed Baptist Church. They always give such cool books! I always enjoy and benefit from reading authors who manage to combine biblical thinking, experience & expertise in their field, and a deep commitment to the glory of Christ and the good of people. Marvin Olasky, pundit, historian and journalist, seems to be one of them. You can read his biography here.

Olasky talks about the ignorance and bias in American media against biblical Christianity: how and why it developed, the harm it has done, the future danger it poses, and how Christians can respond to these abuses with love and wisdom. Although Olasky writes about the American situation, much of it reflects what's already happening here in the Philippines. So, I recommend this book to anyone whose ministry involves reaching out to educated, socially concerned people.

Here are some notable quotes:

“[Standing for Christ] will cost us, but the willingness to forgo applause from society's trendsetters distinguishes tough Christians from the Mr. Pliables of the world.”

“In our touchy society less cannot be more; it is better ethically to give rather than receive, but it is essential politically to add rather than subtract. Whenever media powers frame the issue as 'repression' or 'censorship,' Christians and conservatives lose.”

“Since the major political rule in our [country] is that he who talks of expanding choices normally wins, let's use that attitude to help Bible-based ideas gain a foothold.”

“Rome's Emperor Trajan near the end of the first century A.D. banned voluntary associations of Christians, thinking they were not good for the health of the state – and he was right, because when Christians helped the poor, the state had less opportunity to step in and aggrandize itself.”

“The father-son relationship that exists between God and redeemed man in Christianity, as opposed to the master-slave relationship of Islam, also has its tensions. Fathers face conflicting impulses: Do you hug a child with a mild injury, or do you tell him to be a man? That leads to a creative tension between soft and hard in Christianity, a tension that comes out in the compassionate conservative goal of being tough-minded but tenderhearted, a tension between God's holiness and God's mercy that is resolved through Christ's sacrifice.”

Thanks, Schaeffer!

The first time I heard Ravi Zacharias speak was as a college student in UP Diliman. I didn't even know who he was, and I was, like, "Uy, he's good ha!" (If only I'd known, I'd have bought all his books and had them signed!) But anyway, since then his messages and books really helped stabilize me during my intellectually tumultuous years in the country's premier (and secular!) university.

I wondered then, at how profoundly this man engaged with the philosophy and art of modern society in order to advocate faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Little did I know that there were many others like him, foremost of whom in my mind is D. A. Carson. And only recently did I learn that this brand of culturally-engaged apologists (ie, "one who defends the faith") really only emerged after the Second World War.

It all began with Francis Schaeffer and his desire to minister to thinking people who were earnestly seeking for answers to life's big questions. For the most part, his teachings were nothing new. He simply adopted the best from the different styles of apologetics. But he was, during his time, virtually the only evangelical leader who seriously engaged non-Christians on their own terms, so to speak.

In 1955, he and his wife established L'Abri (the Shelter) ministry in their home in Switzerland. It became known as a place where anyone could come for "honest answers to honest questions." It was during this time that Schaeffer articulated his views on humanistic philosophy, art, science, etc., and its disastrous consequences on modern man. He also gave a much-needed emphasis on love as an essential ingredient to an authentically Christian apologetic. Finally, he insisted that theology had to be "real," that it had to actually have a bearing upon our lives.

As his readership widened, so did his public life. Near the end of his life, he and his son produced what is probably his best known work, the documentary series, "How Should We Then Live?"

He continued fighting the good fight until the Lord finally took him in 1984. In his wake, he left an untold number of evangelicals reawakened to the need to engage the non-Christian world with truthfulness, wisdom and love.

Thanks, Schaeffer. I've been benefiting from your ministry, and I never even knew it until recently.

I Finally Finished Reading "The Gagging of God"!

My experience and familiarity with the social sciences (6 years) and theology (9 years) is still meager, and I doubt I was ever in the top 3 of any of my undergraduate or graduate classes. Still, I'd venture the opinion that Don Carson is a top-notch scholar, and (praise God!) a consistent advocate of evangelical Christianity.

Reading The Gagging of God has been eye-opening for me on many levels. I never really explored the works of postmodern scholars, and the book helped me understand them better. I was also instructed by Carson's example of thorough, bold, yet charitable critique of authors with whom he strongly disagreed. It almost made me wish I hadn't left the academe. (Almost, but not quite. I love being able to study God's word so much and minister to God's people!) Finally, I loved how Carson maintained a pastoral and scriptural perspective throughout the book. It's clear that his primary concern was not to contribute to Christian scholarship (as massive as his contribution was) but to be faithful to the Lord and build up the body of Christ.

Because the book is so long (600 pages!), and deals with such complex issues, I wouldn't recommend the book for most readers. But I do hope that more and more Filipino Christian leaders, especially pastors and theologians, pay more attention to The Gagging of God and other books like it.

Definitely a 5-star book. I hope Christian scholarship will continue to grow simultaneously in loving engagement of the world AND bold and thoroughly biblical confrontation of it.

"This is one of the finest big-picture books I’ve ever read. Life-changing. Worldview shaping." - Andy Nasseli, Bethlehem Baptist Church

"The Gagging of God is an important work that should be read by serious Christian leaders. I won't pretend to have understood everything that Carson wrote, but I understand more than I understood before, and that is a good thing, if you understand what I mean." - Contributor to the Southern View Chapel website

God's Grace, New Life

Is there anything about your life that can only be explained by God’s grace?


I recently read an article by the apologist Ravi Zacharias entitled, “The Apologist’sFirst Question,” which began like this:

I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the Gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on our part to live it out. I remember well in the early days of my Christian faith talking to a close Hindu friend. He was questioning the experience of conversion as being supernatural. He absolutely insisted that conversion was nothing more than a decision to lead a more ethical life and that, in most cases, it was not any different from other ethical religions. I had heard his argument before. 

But then he said something I have never forgotten: “If this conversion is truly supernatural, why is it not more evident in the lives of so many Christians I know?” His question is a troublesome one. In fact, it is so deeply disturbing a question that I think of all the challenges to belief, this is the most difficult question of all. I have never struggled with my own personal faith as far as intellectual challenges to the Gospel are concerned. But I have often had struggles of the soul in trying to figure out why the Christian faith is not more visible.

Around this time I had just committed several “recurring sins,” and was deeply disturbed by the article. What if there really was nothing more to Christianity than the decision to live by a strict code of ethics? More precisely, was my Christianity nothing more than self-delusion? What if being “born again,” and to have the “indwelling Holy Spirit,” were really just my own self-improvement, my own coming to terms with myself? It didn’t seem like such a ridiculous question. What made it all possible was the nagging fear that somewhere out there among the billions of people in the world were non-Christians who were just as honest, more caring and considerate of others, more self-sacrificial, and not bogged down by so many sins and insecurities, like I am.

Is there anything at all about my life that can only be explained by God’s grace? The rest of this post is my reflection on this question.

Forgiveness

My family’s far from perfect. I don’t know whether it’s normal for family members to despise, and lie to, and be completely uncaring for one another, but we’ve done a lot of that. (Things are better now, but there’s so much we still have to work on.) There were also times when I was betrayed and abandoned by close friends. And then there are the frequent run-ins with people behaving like jerks, snobs, back-stabbers, fakers, ingrates, etc.

Experiences like these made my young, teenage heart very bitter. Resentment towards people and a deeply cynical attitude were the air that I breathed. I don’t want to give the false impression that hate pervaded every waking moment of my life. But the hate was there, for sure, always ready to burst out at the least provocation. The other side of anger, of course, are the deadly twins of self-righteousness and revenge. Because I was so focused on the bad things that I saw in other people, I overlooked my own internal ugliness. The visible result was a vengeful, take-what-I-can attitude. “How dare you do that to me! Take that!” (“That” being verbal or mental abuse, do-it-yourself “justice”, ignoring the person, or anything I could do to get even.)

Even today, as a Christian, I struggle with these things. Driving along the crazy roads and streets of Metro Manila has only given me another avenue of anger. But something is different. I’ve learned to forgive. I mean, genuinely forgive. I don’t feel like I have to blast my car horn at inconsiderate drivers anymore. Every single grudge I’ve ever held towards any person in my life is gone. Do I still get angry? Yes. Do I still get resentful sometimes? Yes. But it doesn’t last. I can always, always forgive, and—if I get the chance—give love in return. I regret every spiteful thought, word or deed. The superlatives might have caught your eye. But to the best of my knowledge, I’m not exaggerating. Every single grudge is gone. I can always forgive. Sometimes the process takes a second, sometimes it takes days. Sometimes, a new offense resurrects the memory of old ones. But whether forgiveness comes easily or painstakingly, it always comes.

What makes forgiveness the inevitable conclusion for every disagreeable encounter? It’s not my "Christian" upbringing. It’s not self-confidence, or being secure with myself, or self-discipline, or self-actualization, or any of that other “self” stuff that pervades modern thinking. It’s certainly not because I’m “better” than everyone out there who somehow can’t exchange bitterness for forgiveness and anger for love. I think I can honestly and correctly say that the singular and compelling reality that makes it all possible is God’s forgiveness of my sin against him.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isa.53:4-5)

Is there anything about my life that can only be explained by God’s grace?


Yes, there is.


How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that left Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom



His wounds have paid my ransom!