COM Newsletter - March 2022
DOING THE NICE THING
NOT THE RIGHT THING
This is a hard topic to discuss but I believe the time has come to have this conversation.
I am sad to share that since the inception of ‘Coming Out’ Ministries almost twelve years ago, we have unfortunately struggled mightily in attempting to gain permission onto the campuses of our advanced Adventist educational institutions. While those advocating acceptance of the flesh appear to have found easy access, it has sadly been an “uphill battle” for ‘Coming Out’ Ministries to be allowed to offer assistance to students who are struggling with SSA or identity issues.
We believe that we have been congenial to the leadership and have had many positive conversations with staff and students, as well as the Seminary. This has left us baffled and with questions such as: Is it not beneficial to have interviews and presentations from fellow SDA’s who used to identify with the LGBT+ culture? Would not ‘Coming Out’ Ministries be helpful in bridging the gap between the call of Jesus Christ and the struggling student? Would it not be worthwhile to allow those onto our campuses who understand first-hand the struggle between serving their Savior and serving their flesh? Indeed, we spare nothing to reach these individuals because we were those individuals not very long ago ourselves.
Temperature change: The situation now in the world is very much different than it was before we started ‘Coming Out’ Ministries. We now have legislation and laws governing and redefining both what marriage is and the very concept of sexual and gender identity. As society has shifted its posture, how does the church adjust to meet the needs/demands of the members in keeping with the laws and social constructs that are being promoted without compromising the word of God?
I’ll give you an example. I was visiting an Adventist university this past December with a friend of mine and the university was sponsoring a “Sexual Integrity” week. A group from the Sociology department came to curiously and politely “interrogate” us at our table and asked us what pronouns we use. They went on to inform us that they identify as non-binary and use the pronouns “they and them.” My friend was shocked to see first-hand an example of how the world has infiltrated our Adventist university environments.
Another of our universities, which has two openly gay-affirming support groups on their campus, recently disciplined a department of the university for allowing ‘Coming Out’ Ministries to give their testimony on how Jesus Christ had transformed their lives. The Dean VP of Diversity said that the department head was in violation of school policies and that the school “was not in agreement with ‘Coming Out’ Ministries.” I find that to be interesting when just months ago, at the Fall Council of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Elder Ted Wilson gave a very strong verbal recommendation of our ministry.
The question we have here is: If ‘Coming Out’ Ministries is in harmony with the General Conference Policy Statement, where do these Adventist universities stand in regards to the SDA church? While the gay-affirming groups have been allowed to promote their ideas and to flourish on campus, ‘Coming Out’ Ministries has been escorted off campus. We have been restricted from presenting to the student body for several years. And all with a patronizing pat on the back and a complimentary pack of gum.
One university has received so much resistance from the sociology and psychology departments that ‘Coming Out’ Ministries has not been permitted to present their documentary “Journey Interrupted” to the student body (available at: JourneyInterrupted.com). As a result, the plan was put forward to quietly support our ministry by allowing us to speak in the religion department classrooms for a few years, establish ‘Coming Out’ Ministries as a local speaker and then eventually allow access to the student body. This has been in process now for over four years.
Then last year, apparently allowed accidentally through an oversight, an openly gay celibate pastor held the Student Week of Prayer! He spoke openly on the necessity of Christians being open and accepting of the LGBT+ population in order to go to Heaven. I was called by a student whose brother is struggling with SSA, and she was appalled that the school would allow a pro-gay speaker to have access to her brother as part of the week of prayer. As a result, the campus leadership allowed ‘Coming Out’ Ministries to participate one evening in a Question-and-Answer session with the openly gay, celibate speaker. However, other than that evening, ‘Coming Out’ Ministries was not allowed access to the student body because of our biblical stance on identity and sexuality.
As a consequence of the above and more over the last several years, we have seminary departments now offering diplomas to students that are openly LGBT+. Has the power of Jesus Christ to overcome temptations and attractions been completely overruled by feelings and “born this way” mantras? While the pro-LGBT+ philosophy has been sweeping through our universities and colleges, it appears that what has been lost is the belief in the power of Jesus Christ to overcome all forms of sexual sin and to complete the restoration necessary for us to be fit for Heaven. The issue isn’t really about how to love the sinner but rather how to embrace the love of the Savior. Jesus offers us healing and redemption from the addictions and drives of the “natural heart”, regardless of how we were born.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (John 1:9)
SPECIAL MESSAGE
Q&A
Question: We just took in a Christian young man who later confessed to being a practicing bisexual along with other issues—drugs, Free Masonry, and past witchcraft. He said he is not willing to give up the person he is; therefore, he is willing to surrender his membership with the church. My question is, would you put him out of your home knowing all this, and, if so, why?
Reply: If the young man is repentant and seeking help, then I would be in God's will to assist him. However, if he is not repentant and not truly seeking my help and that of the Lord to be changed, then the situation is entirely different.
I believe I understand you correctly in that the young man does not want to surrender who he is, that he does not want to submit to the will of God in these matters, and is even willing to give up his church membership rather than give up his sinful lifestyle. Therefore, he is bringing this spirit of rebellion and defiance into your Christian home.
God does not expect us to enable the sinner in his sins. You can demonstrate unconditional Christian love for this young man without enabling him in his sinful lifestyle with room and board. It is called “tough love,” but really, the right thing to do is to give him a choice. Tell him that yours is a Christian home with Christian standards. He is welcome to stay with you as long as he is willing and wanting to accept biblical reproof, correction, and instruction (2 Timothy 3:16), is willing to learn to conform to the will of God, and as long as he will honor and respect the standards of your home and family. However, if he is just looking for a place to hang out, to be taken care of and provided for while remaining in open sin and rebellion, your home is not that place. Then, if he leaves your home, he has chosen to do so. You have not put him out.
If you provide an environment that supports the sinner in his lifestyle of sin, then, in essence, you become an accomplice in that sin—an enabler. God does not expect that of you, nor will he bless your home under those conditions. This young man, if unrepentant, will bring in a bad spirit that can cause much harm to your home environment and family.
Q&A text taken from:
Author: “Victor J. Adamson”
(Ron Woolsey)
TESTIMONY
“My son has a boy and a girl 2 years old. He was in a gay marriage and the kids were born from a surrogate. After 20 years of prayer for him, he finally accepted the prompting of the Holy Spirit and left the relationship. God is good. It’s the biggest miracle in our lives.
“If my son decided to come back, anyone can. He used to say: ‘Never!’ Yet he was baptized just over a month ago. Miracles do happen. He said being celibate for the rest of his life is a small price to pay for heaven and for raising his kids right.
“It is quite a story. We struggled for many years. Often, I'd fall asleep crying. But God never ceases caring for His children. When my son told me he was leaving his husband I hadn't spoken to him in more than 2 years and never till then had seen the kids. He repeated to me verbatim what happened to him using exactly the same words I used in my prayers for him, which he had no idea about. Don't give up.
“I'd absolutely love to share. I know there are many parents out there in severe anguish as I've been for more than 20 years who need support and encouragement. I know how often I couldn't even pray because of the grief. But God could hear my thoughts. I know there are lots of people, including gay men and women, who also need to know they can be changed. I have a niece in the same situation. Satan grabs hold and makes them feel like they can't change, ever. It’s a big lie which they feel they can't resist. My son has already been sharing with friends and clients too (he owns a very successful hair salon) and I'm sure he would also share.”
SPECIAL MESSAGE
Please consider making a donation to our ministry to help spread the message of God’s love and redemption! Kindly visit our website www.comingoutministries.org and select the Donate button,
or you can send a check or money order directly to
‘Coming Out’ Ministries at PO Box 107, Tilly, AR 72679.
May God bless you for your support!