June 7, 2022 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John
Guest Author/article writer/Phillip Lee
Yes, once gay-identified, but never ever proud of the fact.
It is 1981, I am living in San Francisco and very much a member of the gay community. On a Sunday afternoon, I leave my apartment and walk down Powell Street toward Market Street, the main drag of downtown San Francisco.
The closer and closer I get to Market Street, clearly, something is going on because the boulevard is lined with a huge crowd of people. I have happened upon my first Gay Pride Parade.
I cannot believe what I am witnessing. Frankly, the first thought that occurred to me was, “Why aren’t these people being arrested?” largely due to the pornographic nature and displays that are parading by, one after another after another. And, I am thinking, “This is what I am to be proud of?”
It was my first and last gay pride parade.
Today, far, far beyond equal rights for many groups in America in their attempts to reweave the social, cultural, and political fabric of this country, is an unquenchable thirst for power.
Right on the heels of the power quest is a relentless crusade by many groups for acceptance and to gain society’s stamp of approval on a considerable list of various behaviors.
When same-sex marriage became legal throughout America (but not lawful in the Kingdom of God), the entire lid to Pandora’s Box came off. Various groups that had been for a very long time standing along the sidelines waiting their turn busted out of the box and began to be much more vocal and visible demanding to be recognized and accepted.
And, let me be perfectly clear by stating, we the Church did contribute to the past, and the ongoing cultural vacuum that has allowed the redefinition of marriage, family, etc. to happen with so little resistance.
Frankly, in the 17 years, I spent as a gay-identified man, which included witnessing my first and last gay pride parade in 1981, I frequently found myself scratching my head and marveling at why the gay community adopted the rainbow as their emblem.
It was both confusing and perplexing then. But not now.
It is possible to desire, welcome, and even invite the presence of God but ignore, if not totally dismiss, any possible judgment of God.
But not so fast.
Genesis 9:13 says, "I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."
Clearly, the rainbow signifies the promise of God regarding God’s judgment on the world.
Interesting, I was once so deceived to think I would not have to pass through the judgment of God.
And, lest we forget.
The flood of God’s judgment came first.
The rainbow of the presence of God then followed.
The exclamation, "Don’t judge me!" is completely and totally misplaced and inaccurate.
Judgment will come – to each and every one of us.
Pastor Phillip Lee
Executive Director
His Way Out Ministries
WWJWMTD
What would Jesus want me to do?
Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com
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