What does a culture of any nation look like when it excludes God? Take a look around at American culture right now. It looks like  what Paul wrote in Romans 1.

First  century A.D., is just as apparent now. When man removes God from the equation, man resorts to his  base nature, and our base nature is  pretty perverse.

How should we respond to the cultural chaos and the corporate controversy that has overtaken our country with gender confusion, sexual perversion, and a “woke” agenda?

How can we navigate all the madness without losing our hearts for those who are caught up in the madness?

We should be outraged by all the cultural evil, but we should never lose the mission of the church because of our outrage over the madness of the world.

At the same time, we must never condone the evil or affirm the delusion. Pastor Gary explains the “why” behind the madness and what we should do in response.

Read Romans 1:18-28

When a society rejects, removes, or replaces God:

God gives them over to a “depraved” or “debased” mind: madness Romans 1:28 – “… Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.”

People become deceived and delusional:

2 Thessalonians 2:9-11  “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie…”

It unleashes the demonic:

1 Timothy 4:1 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

Lies  people believe today

• Those who believe that he can be “she,” and she can be “he,” and anyone can be “they” are dishonoring their bodies and exchanging the truth of God for a
• Those who no longer refer to women who give birth as mothers but instead “birthing people”—to account for  women who identify as men who can give birth—are dishonoring their bodies and exchanging the truth of God for  a
• Those who dismiss reparative or conversion therapy as emotionally damaging or dangerous—therapy that can help people heal from the wounds that led to same-sex attraction—but simultaneously say that puberty blocking drugs, hormone treatments, chemical castration, and surgical reassignments are normative, reasonable, and rational are dishonoring their bodies and exchanging the truth of God for  a
• Those who believe biological men who identify as women should be allowed to compete in women’s sports (while shaming female athletes who object) are dishonoring their bodies and exchanging the truth of God for a

What can we do?

A holy life

Peter 3:10-12a – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

A healthy home

Deuteronomy 6:7 – “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” 

A strong stance

2 Timothy 1:12b – “…I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

God’s Word is truth and the standard of all that is right and wrong John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

God designed us male and female

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

God designed each person with beauty and purpose, being “fearfully and wonderfully made”

Psalm 139:14 – “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”

God designed sex within the confines of marriage between a man and a woman

Genesis 1:28 – “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

God designed all races with equal value and worth

Acts 10:34-35 – “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.’”

God loves all and died for all in order to save all who would call upon the Name of the Lord

Romans 10:9-13 – “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’”

A tender heart

Jude 22-23 – “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”

Ephesians 6:10-13 – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

When we  are too afraid to speak the truth in love,  we dishonor God, and we deprive people with same-sex attraction the good news of God’s grace, forgiveness, and wholeness that they can experience in Him. 

Proverbs 13:15b – “The way  of the unfaithful is hard.”

Matthew 11:28–30 – “Come to me,  all you  who  are  weary and burdened, and I will give  you  rest. Take  my yoke upon you  and learn from me,  for I am  gentle and humble in heart, and you  will find rest for your souls.  For  my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

There is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling  than a relationship with Jesus, as He is the One who brings wholeness to the soul, rest to the weary, and forgiveness to the sinful

Romans 5:8–9 – “But God  demonstrates His own  love  toward us, in that while  we  were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we  shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

^{1 Corinthians 6:9} Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.