This past Friday, March 29, President Joseph R. Biden, issued a proclamation in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility which was to take place on Sunday, March 31. The day was started in 2010 by a transgender advocate and activist. Interestingly enough, President Biden was the first president to issue such a proclamation. He did it in 2021, 2022, 2023, and again this year.
But this year… This year… Transgender Day of Visibility fell on Easter Sunday. Without a doubt, the most important day on the Christian calendar. The president issued his proclamation on Good Friday, without a doubt the most sacred day on the Christian calendar.
In my view, these two actions provide an incredible amount of insight as to how President Biden and his administration view the 64% of Christians who make up the United States.
Christians who take seriously their faith are marked by qualities like sacrificial love, unconditional acceptance, kindness, goodness, gentleness, loyalty, and patience (John 15:13; Romans 15:7; Galatians 5:22-23; ).
They believe that every individual is made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27).
They believe that people matter to God and should matter to us (John 3:16-17).
They believe you’ve never locked eyes with a person who doesn’t matter to the heart of God. Ever.
But Christians also believe that our ultimate allegiance belongs to God and that we are to love Him with all of our “heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Mark 12:30).
Ultimate Allegiance Belongs to God
That means that when the values of this world clash with the values of God’s kingdom, we align ourselves with God’s kingdom, regardless of the cost (Luke 14:25-35).
My heart broke when I learned of the president’s proclamation, not because his proclamation did anything to damage my faith or the Christian faith.
Hell has attempted to destroy the church of Jesus and the Christian faith for centuries, but “…the gates of hell will never prevail” against the church Jesus is building (Matthew 16:18).
The sadness I felt that day was because through his actions this president and his administration demonstrated once again what many of us have believed to be true for the duration of his presidency, and that is that he has NO RESPECT for Christian citizens or Christian values.
“When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.” —Proverbs 29:2 NLT
The president issued a litany of statements and proclamations on Good Friday. His statement (not a proclamation, but a simple statement) regarding Easter was three very short paragraphs long — 94 words to be exact. The last paragraph was a single sentence.
But, the president’s proclamation regarding Transgender Day of Visibility was seven paragraphs long — 639 words. And, at least four times in it, the president used the phrase, “I am proud,” in reference to various actions he and his administration have taken in regard to the LGBTQIA+ “community.”
This in and of itself is a STATEMENT about what this administration VALUES.
As Dorothy said to Toto in that classic line from The Wizard of Oz, “We’re not in Kansas anymore.” Sometimes, I wonder if we’re in America.
During his inauguration speech, the president promised to be a UNIFYING LEADER. However, in my opinion, President Biden has been the MOST DIVISIVE president of my lifetime. His hostility to free speech and the free exercise of religion would be terrifying, if not for the fact that God “has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
In his proclamation, President Biden labeled anyone who doesn’t bend the knee to his administration’s views on sex, sexuality, and gender as “EXTREMISTS.” In other words, every God-honoring, sincere, humble, and honorable citizen with a more classical view of Scripture, sex, sexuality, and gender is an “EXTREMIST.”
That’s me. That could be you.
How should Christians respond to the fact that we’re not living in “Kansas” anymore, but more like exiles in Babylon?
How do we conduct ourselves when our current president and his administration seem to be hellbent on issuing proclamations, signing laws, or issuing executive orders that run contrary to our faith and conscience?
Here are four ways Christians can respond to life in Babylon.
Four Ways Christians Respond To Life In Babylon:
1. REFUSE TO BOW!
Now more than ever we need the COURAGE of the three young men who were challenged to either bend the knee to a statue of King Nebuchadnezzar or burn. Literally.
These three young men stood FIRM, FIERCE, COURAGEOUS, and yet, RESPECTFUL, in their DEFIANCE.
“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR GODS or WORSHIP the IMAGE of gold you have set up.” —Daniel 3:16-18 NIV
As believers in Christ, KINDNESS to people and HONOR to government leaders don’t mean we BEND, BUDGE, or BOW to cultural trends, conventional wisdom, opinion polls, or whatever actions the current president takes to shore up the various segments of his base.
Instead, our FAITH is INFORMED and FORMED by the Word of God. Period. Because of that…
When the WORLD takes a KNEE, BELIEVERS MAKE A STAND!
This includes ideas and issues related to sex, sexuality, and gender.
Christians love people. Period. But Christians don’t believe it’s loving, caring, or kind to deny GOD’S DESIGN for human beings and human sexuality as described in passages like Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:23-25.
“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.” —Genesis 1:27 NAS
It’s interesting that in one of his X posts from March 31, President Biden wrote:
“Today, on Transgender Day of Visibility, I have a simple message to all trans Americans: I see you. You are MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, and you’re worthy of respect and dignity.”
(Caps and bold are mine.)
Don’t miss that. The president quoted Scripture in his X post. He quoted Genesis 1:27. PARTIALLY.
Evidently, he failed to read the entire passage, because the next line reads: “MALE and FEMALE He created them.” God created human beings male and female. This is in direct contradiction to current gender and trans ideology.
To go even further, the President even ended his proclamation by calling upon God. The last paragraph of his proclamation reads,
“In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of March in the YEAR OF OUR LORD…” (Caps and bold highlighting are mine.)
Someone once crudely said, “You can polish a turd, but it’s still a turd.” Pardon the vulgarity. But this is truth:
DRESSING a LIE UP in SPIRITUAL and SCRIPTURAL language
doesn’t make it SPIRITUAL or SCRIPTURAL.
It’s still a LIE.
REFUSE TO BOW!
In his proclamation, the president even called upon Congress “to pass the Equality Act.”
Have you read the Equality Act?
I have. Every. Single. Word.
After reviewing the current version of the Equality Act, the Ethics and Religious Commission of the SBA wrote:
“…this bill represents the most significant threat to religious liberty ever considered in the United States Congress…” [1]
Christians in Babylon REFUSE TO BOW.
It’s NOT love or kindness to call a “man” a “woman” or vice-versa.
It’s NOT love or kindness to demand that I bear “false witness” regarding a person’s gender or biological sex (Exodus 20:19; Deuteronomy 5:20).
It’s NOT love or kindness to ignore the norms related to sex for centuries and allow men to enter women’s spaces or vice-versa. (Though, interestingly enough I can’t remember reading one article where a biological woman attempted to enter spaces specifically designated for biological men.)
It’s NOT love or kindness to allow biological males to compete in athletic contests with biological females. (Once again, I can’t remember reading any stories where biological women were signing up to compete against biological men…)
It’s NOT love or kindness to allow pornographic books to be made available in public school libraries, especially the libraries of elementary or middle school children. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. (By the way, it’s also NOT “banning books” when these materials are taken out of these libraries, it’s being a responsible parent and a good citizen.)
It’s NOT love or kindness to allow “Drag Queen Story Hour” in elementary schools. It’s insanity.
What the hell are we thinking?
By the way, if you’re more upset that I used the word “hell” in the above sentence than you are grieved by the insanity taking place in our world, perhaps you need to reassess your priorities.
It’s NOT love or kindness to allow minors to make life-altering decisions regarding hormones, hormone blockers, or what has been labeled “gender-affirming surgery” that will permanently affect the rest of their lives.
To demonstrate the depths of our decay in the U.S., several nations that led the way in “gender-affirming” treatment — countries like the U.K. France, Sweden, and Norway — are now reversing course due to evidence that these procedures could be more harmful than helpful. Britain’s National Health Service even issued an order to close Tavistock, the U.K.’s only dedicated gender identity clinic for children.
But President Biden and his Administration keep marching forward.
“Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.” —Romans 1:22 NLT
At this point, while I refuse to campaign for or endorse any political candidate, I will admit that it’s getting very difficult for me to understand how a person can call themselves a Christian and cast a vote for President Biden in the upcoming election. His speech, rhetoric, policies, proclamations, and actions have been most anti-Christian in U.S. history.
Believers, we can’t afford to BOW.
The very lives and future of the next generation may be hanging in the balance!
“…take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” —Ephesians 6:10
2. LIVE WITH HONOR
Here’s what I mean: while refusing to bow, we also need to model what it means to be a good citizen.
Model what it means to be a good citizen.
As followers of Jesus we can’t afford to forget that our relationship with God and our faith in Christ gets put on display by the way we live and love. This includes the way we engage and interact with a government that seems diametrically opposed to truth.
Paul wrote these words in Romans 13:1. I love the way Eugene Peterson translates the passage in The Message.
“Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen…” —Romans 13:1a MSG
In case you think Romans 13:1 is a one-off and that this kind of challenge and exhortation doesn’t get mentioned again, check out the words of Peter in his first letter. Once again, I’ll quote from The Message.
“Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.” —1 Peter 2:13-17 MSG
By the way, both Paul and Peter wrote these passages while living under the tyranny of some pretty evil regimes. Both of these passages are so challenging and practical we could spend the rest of our lives attempting to put them into practice.
In these passages, Peter and Paul describe what “good citizenship” looks like:
- Respect the authorities
- Do Good
The phrase “doing good” in the third sentence of 1 Peter 2:13-17 in the MSG is from a Greek word that means “…to do something that profits or benefits someone else.” It means that we should live in such a way that our life benefits the people around us.
- Treat everyone you meet with dignity
Remember, everyone you meet is made in the image of God. Even those we disagree with.
- Love your spiritual family
Christians living in Babylon need a faith family like never before. We need people around us who will love, challenge, encourage, and inspire us to live lights out for Jesus. We also need people who will call us out when it comes to sin or doctrinal error.
- Revere God
The book of Proverbs nails it.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” —Proverbs 9:10 NIV
As our country has forsaken reverence for God, we have become MORE BRILLIANT, while simultaneously LESS WISE than ever before. We’ve somehow achieved the miracle of getting smarter and smarter while at the same time getting dumb and dumber.
- Respect the government
It’s essential for believers to not adopt the strategies, schemes, and methods of the world. Don’t forget that the set-up for 1 Peter 2: 13-17 comes in verse 12.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God… —1 Peter 2:12 NIV
God wants our lives to be COMPELLING EVIDENCE for the transforming power of the Gospel! People should see our “good deeds and glorify God.”
3. CHOOSE TO LOVE.
When it comes to the basics of Christianity — to what matters most — Jesus didn’t hesitate to tell us what’s most important. When He was asked the question, He responded with two essentials: “Love God. Love people.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
The second essential is a quotation from Leviticus. It reads like this:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” —Matthew 22:39 (Cf Lev 19:18)
No qualifiers. No exceptions. No prerequisites. No asterisk that indicates, “Love your neighbor as yourself…except those who are gay or transgender.” Or, “…except those who are Democrats or Republicans…” It was simple and straightforward.
“Love your neighbor…”
In other words…
Love your straight, gay, transgender neighbor.
Love your black, white, brown, Asian, Latin, Indian, Jewish, Middle-Eastern neighbor.
Love your Christian, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, and agnostic neighbor.
Love your male and female neighbor.
Love your liberal, conservative, far right, left wing, progressive, and regressive neighbor.
Love your rich, poor, lower class, middle class, upper class, blue collar, white collar, no collar neighbor.
Love your immigrant or foreign neighbor.
Love your homeless, imprisoned, or incarcerated neighbor.
Love your addicted neighbor.
Love your old, young, and middle-aged neighbor.
Love your loud and obnoxious neighbor.
Love your quiet, shy, and timid neighbor.
Love your lonely, depressed, or disabled neighbor.
Love your neighbor.
Tim Keller in his book, Generous Justice, reminds us,
“Jesus refuses to let us limit not only how we love, but who we love. It is typical for us to think of our neighbors as people of the same social class and means… [But in the parable of the Good Samaritan] by depicting a Samaritan helping a Jew, Jesus could not have found a more forceful way to say that anyone at all in need — regardless of race, politics, class, and religion — is your neighbor. Not everyone is your brother or sister in the faith, but everyone is your neighbor, and you must love your neighbor.” —Tim Keller [2]
For years, the church I led said it like this:
“People: are our priority — People matter to God and they ought to matter to us. Just like Jesus, we love and accept people unconditionally, right where they are.”
(Luke 15; 19:10; Romans 5:8; 15:7; 1 Jn 4:19)
That includes people who call themselves gay or transgender or any other person in the LGBTQIA+ alphabet. It includes people from every side of the political aisle or spectrum. If it’s a scandal to love people who are made in the image of God, then that’s a scandal believers should be ready and willing to take on!
But make certain you understand what love is. Love is selfless, sacrificial, loyal, and truthful. Love never lies to make you feel good. Love will even wound you so that you can become good.
“Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.”
—Proverbs 27:6 NLT
4. SPEAK WITH CONVICTION, CLARITY, COURAGE, and HUMILITY.
Acceptance isn’t synonymous with agreement or approval.
In an age filled with misinformation and disinformation, Christians must speak TRUTH — humbly, courageously, boldly, with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15), and with conviction.
This world system has gone all in on the lie.
Do you realize that the GLAAD website (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) currently lists more than 28 special days designated to LGBTQ-type issues? These include:
- Bisexual Health Awareness Month (March)
- International Asexuality Day (April 6)
- Lesbian Visibility Day (April 26)
- Queer Youth of Faith Day (June 30)
- Gay Uncles Day (August 14)
- Spirit Day (October – Third Thursday)
- Intersex Awareness Day (October 26)
That’s just a sample. This would keep the most ardent adherent to the LGBTQ agenda busier than a “one-legged man at a butt-kicking contest.”
And, don’t forget that TWO ENTIRE MONTHS out of the year are now assigned to celebrate and commemorate LGBTQ-type issues: June (LGBTQ Pride Month) and October (LGBTQ History Month).
We only designate one day to celebrate the Declaration of Independence, one day for Thanksgiving, one day to celebrate the birth of Jesus — Christmas, and one day to celebrate the greatest event in history — the resurrection, but evidently, it takes almost 90 days to affirm, honor, and celebrate any number of issues related to sexuality.
Does anybody else think this borders on insanity?
Strike the word “borders.” It is insanity.
Christians, it’s okay to have a voice. It’s okay to speak out.
It is possible to LOVE PEOPLE UNCONDITIONALLY and COMPLETELY but also speak the TRUTH HUMBLY, PLAINLY, and COURAGEOUSLY. It’s not only possible, it’s essential.
In the book of Zechariah, God gave a message to a group of people who had experienced judgment as result of their sin and rebellion. God let them know that He was ready and willing to forgive and bless them (Zechariah 8:15). But in Zechariah 8:16 He let them know the actions necessary to bring about His blessing. Read out loud God’s instructions to this group of people. It sounds like a word written directly to God’s people in 2024.
“And now here’s what I want you to do: TELL THE TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH, when you speak. Do the RIGHT THING by one another, both personally and in your courts. Don’t cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. DON’T DO OR SAY WHAT ISN’T SO. I hate all that stuff. Keep your lives SIMPLE and HONEST.” —Zechariah 8:16-17 MSG
How do Christians respond to life in Babylon?
- Refuse to bow.
- Live with honor.
- Choose to love.
- Speak with conviction, clarity, courage, and, humility.
No, Christian, we’re not in Kansas, but we’re not hopeless, either.
I remember reading of another church, set in a world that was clearly anti-Christian. Persecution against this fledgling group of believers eventually resulted in many of them dying as martyrs. But “where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 20). The first-century church exploded in the face of opposition. Hell could not stand against this army of love filled with and anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God’s invitation is still open.
“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” —2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
The king we serve was never voted in and He can’t be voted out!
Jesus is Lord.
His church will prevail.
It’s time to kneel before Him so we can stand with humble courage before a world in crisis.
[1] https://bcmd.org/2021/03/equality-act-consequences-for-our-consideration/
[2] Timothy Keller, Generous Justice, page 67, Kindle Edition