Shane Idleman emphasizes the importance of respecting marriage as defined by God, contrasting it with the recent legislative changes that seek to redefine marriage to include same-sex unions. He argues that true respect for marriage aligns with biblical principles, highlighting the dangers of societal shifts that undermine traditional values. Idleman calls for Christians to stand firm in their beliefs, love those who struggle with sin, and expose agendas that threaten the foundation of society. He stresses the need for the church to be a pillar of truth and to influence legislation based on Scripture rather than popular opinion. Ultimately, he urges believers to engage with love and truth, reminding them that the Gospel has the power to transform lives.

The title is Respect for Marriage, God's Way. Respect for Marriage, God's Way. And we've been in Genesis, we talked about months ago that God created them, male and female. We talked about Abram getting married, Isaac getting married, Jacob getting married, and it's a consistent theme throughout Scripture. And I wanna encourage those maybe listening online, you might wanna move over to Rumble here shortly for our sermons and my sermons. I think it's just West Side Christian Fellowship on Rumble now. I haven't started a channel there yet, but not too sure how long YouTube will put up with the truth. So switch over there if you can, you can find us there. And I wanna give you a little bit of a background of why this is so important. Respect for marriage, God's way. Does anybody notice the play on words in the title? And what our House of Representatives and Senate just passed? I think on Wednesday, it's something called the Respect for Marriage Act. And I'm gonna read from Wikipedia, one of the most trusted news sources on the internet. But they did a good job on at least this definition. So the Respect for Marriage Act. How many of you were aware of this? See, hence the need for a message. The House of Representatives passed it already. It went to the Senate. And they passed it. And what it is, it's a bipartisan bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Many of you know what that is. If you don't, I can explain it briefly. But some time ago, our elected officials decided to define marriage and defend marriage. And so this new Respect for Marriage Act requires the U.S. federal government to recognize the validity of same-sex marriage. Now you might say, well, the Supreme Court already did that in 2015. Right, but now they're codifying it. Now the states are legislating it and making it law. Hence, this sermon might be illegal shortly. Go to rumble again. Now here's what really fires me up. This other couple words they put in here. Now the government's gonna recognize the validity of same-sex marriage and interracial marriage. So when did skin color and sexual preference get thrown into the same sentence there? An interracial marriage, last I checked, there's no reason for saying this. The only reason you're saying this is now senators and the House of Representatives are gonna look at this and go, oh, I can't be against interracial marriage. I better vote yes on this. See these sneaky little stinkers, I'm telling you. How they word things. And also this one, I didn't know to laugh or cry. And we're actually going to protect religious liberty. No, you're not, it's the opposite of all of this. And in 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled in Oberg, Ethel versus Hodge, that the 14th Amendment requires all United States to recognize same-sex marriage. And so here's what happened. Recently, and many of you, I don't know if you know this, but Clarence Thomas, one of the Supreme Court justices, recently said, now that we've overturned Roe v. Wade, we should reconsider the Oberg-Ethel decision. People were panicking. And so here comes this Respect for Marriage Act. And you're actually not respecting marriage if you go against God's Word. It should be the de-respecting, non-respecting marriage act. Because they're trying to pass legislation that will validate sin. And it was passed by the first openly gay senator. They said this, this will give millions of loving couples the certainty and the dignity and the respect that they deserve. Now, the word dignity means worth and honor. And we give people of all colors, creed, sexual preference, all men are created equal on the side of God. It's already in the Constitution. Life, liberty, there's dignity, there's worth, there's value, but you cannot legislate morality in this area and overturn God's Word. And so this hiding behind, well, they have to have dignity and they have to have respect, thoughtfulness and regard. You can have dignity, I can give someone total dignity and thoughtfulness and respect them completely, but disagree with their lifestyle. And so see the twisting of words here. U.S. Senator Pat Toomey said this, he opposed the legislation and said, it actually threatens religious liberty. This legislation would enable activists to sue faith-based groups that provide vital services for our communities in an attempt to force them to abandon their deeply held beliefs about marriage or close their doors. He said the Respect for Marriage Act does not provide any meaningful benefit to same-sex marriages that does not already exist. It does significantly threaten religious liberty. Now, here's what's interesting. When they first started to pass this, they did not have a lot of support with the Senate. I don't know if you know how this works, quick history lesson, you have Congress. It's a house of representatives, it's a larger body of groups from our district. Our district would be Mike Garcia, number 218, there when the recent election. And then you have senators, about 100 senators, correct? Two from each state, 50-50. You actually have to have 60 of them vote for this. So I believe it was 10 or 12 Republicans came on board and said, we will now support this. Why are they now supporting it? Because when it was initially drafted, they said, no way. We see where you're going with this. And so just a few little crafty words were added and now they're like, okay, I think we can pass it now. But Tony Perkins said this, of course Senate Democrats insist the threat to religious freedom that held up the bill has been fixed now. That fix is just a few flimsy sentences clarifying that the institution of marriage won't be forced, or I'm sorry, churches won't be forced to perform actual wedding ceremonies, but it does nothing to resolve the hammer this legislation takes to everyday people. It doesn't protect the worker who doesn't want to be coerced to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month. Hello, firemen, policemen, you've came to me before. Teachers, if anything, it's also not going to protect parents who don't want their children indoctrinated. If anything, the misnamed Respect for Marriage Act will accelerate the persecution that we've seen in the last seven years to a level no one has ever dreamed. And obviously, little disclaimer here because it's gonna happen. You know, you shouldn't be political. This is thoroughly biblical, folks. You better wake up and stop drinking the Kool-Aid. This is thoroughly biblical. God's Word says something about marriage. Why? Because it begins to pervert the children. This is about kids and your grandkids. If the nation's saying, oh, you can marry, where does it stop? You can marry your cat. You can marry your stepdaughter. You can marry, a New York City judge just allowed the marrying of three men. This is a slippery slope. We are on. We have to stop capitulating and get men again or women in office who will say this is wrong. And I'm gonna point out why this is wrong. I'm gonna stand on these grounds. But you might be saying, what is the biblical response? Well, it's very simple. To contend for what is right. To love those caught in this lifestyle. To be filled with the Spirit of God. To press in and to speak the truth in love. Why is this a big deal? Why is it? Because the foundation is eroding. And I think I have a picture I can show you to give you a little picture here. That's what's happening. And instead of legislators who will help build the foundation, I could get 100 meter tons of dirt in there, compaction, we could fix that. It would take a while. But you could fix that foundation. But instead, they've got an excavator and they're just helping it along. They're pulling the dirt down. They're destroying the very fabric and foundation of society. Have you ever thought about this? Marriage was meant for a man and a woman, all of humanity. Now people engage in ungodly acts, but God never endorsed it. It was always, always to be between a man and a wife. And that's where a man and a woman, that's where the security of the children come in. That's where the foundation of society goes. And so it's not going to be popular to stand up for the truth, but it is powerful. Because that's how lives are radically changed. And did you know, I've said this before, we're actually not a democracy. We're a republic. The reason is, James Madison wrote this, it is of great importance in a republic not only to guard society against the oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part. And so we are to have people in positions of leadership, a republic where we put people in positions, senators, congressmen, to stand up for what is true, to stand up for God's Word. Legislation cannot be formed by popular opinion. It must be shaped by Scripture. Have you ever heard what Bill Clinton said on this issue? Or Biden? Or Obama? Or Trump, for those who think I'm one-sided? I don't think Trump is actually a flip-flop. But oh, no, no, marriage between a man and a woman. Clinton, oh, between a man and a woman. Biden, between a man and a woman. You can find it all on YouTube. Oh, but now it's affecting votes. Now it's affecting my popularity. And see, we're to say what the Word of God says regardless of popularity. And you clarify your position. I would say I'm all for interracial marriage, but how dare you? How dare you put together skin color, not a choice by sexual preference and deviance, which is a choice. You can't make that connection. Have anybody heard of Johnny, Joni maybe, Ernest, Cynthia Lummis, Roy Blunt, Shelley Moore, Capito, Lisa Murkowski, Rob Portman, Dan Sullivan, Thom Tillis, Todd Young, Susan Collins. Any names? Oh, let me give you the last one. How about Mitt Romney? I just named the 12 senators that capitulated. The opportunity to stand up for what is right. I don't know how we're led into this deception. No matter what is amended, when you say same-sex is now law. Think of the wiggle room. There's no wiggle room. So actually, what I'm saying is gonna be illegal. Oh no, no, no, I won't go. Give me a break. The devil is sly. He's sneaky. He doesn't push you off the cliff. He leads you down one step at a time. Sexual revolution of the 60s. Well, it's not that big a deal. Everyone's doing it. Let's make legislation because we have to protect the dignity and respect of others. Oh, you're right. Let's capitulate. Because what about respecting and having dignity for the little ones? See, your freedom is not a freedom if it hurts others. And the devil walks us down one step at a time, one wrong choice at a time, one compromise at a time. So the first point I want to make, the pillars of truth are eroding from that picture you saw. The pillars of truth are eroding. Let this verse sink in. 1 Timothy 3.15. Paul's saying if I'm delayed, here's what I'm going to write to you so you know how to conduct yourself in the house of God. Here's what the house of God is. The house of God is not an affirming place. It's welcoming. We welcome all people, but we can't affirm destructive lifestyles. He said the church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth. This place is supposed to be the pillar of the truth. To hold up the truth. To influence senators and legislation. To be the spiritual influence. I've told you before, I don't want to beat up this whole topic again, but the pulpit used to set the tone for the spiritual climate of the nation. The Senate, the Congress, they would ask what is the pulpit saying? What does God's Word say? Williams, Blackstone's Commentaries of the Laws of England that the Supreme Court used to use would give Scripture references for laws. They would begin by praying and fasting and seeking the heart of God. Sermons were published all across and put into the newspaper. Why? Because words shape destiny. The words from the pulpit can shape destiny. Look at what Jesus did with 12 men. He didn't come in with swords and clubs and a battering ram. He came in with the power and fullness of the Spirit, and those words carry weight. Words can bring down the Roman Empire. Words sparked the American Revolution. Words caused the proclamation, the Declaration of Proclamation and the freedom of slavery. And the words create life and destiny or death and destruction. So, pastor, wake up. This is not a popularity contest. The power of the Spirit must resonate again in your hearts to call the nation back to God. And I'm not angry. The reason I got up so early is to get my own heart right. Can I just publicly confess something? I am a people pleaser. I don't want to offend. I don't want to upset. But when the Spirit of God takes control of you and calls you and gives you a burden, the Word of God is in my heart like a burning fire. My flesh wants to shut up, but the Spirit's saying, no, don't hold it back. Help change the course of history. Change the course of destiny. With the words, they carry weights. Jeremiah 2. Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods? Of course not. He's saying the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perveyites, whateverites, and all these Babylonians, and Median Persians, they've never changed their gods. They still bow to their gods that are not gods. But my people, my people have changed their glory for what does not profit. Be astonished. Be astonished at this. Be horribly afraid. Be very desolate, says the Lord. That's Bible. For my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have hewn themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. So what happens is if they've forsaken God, the living water, Jesus said, if you drink of this water, you will never thirst again. Woman, if you drink of this water, you will never thirst again. I am the living water. I am the living hope. Out of your belly will flow rivers of living water. And God says, I will give you this living water, but you've rejected Me. You've turned from it, and now you're trying to drink of cisterns that are broken and dirty sewage water, and you're trying to find this living water and things that are supposed to hold Me, but they are broken. They are depleted. Come back to the living water and thirst again for Me. It's a call of God to His people. They drifted from God and they searched for fulfillment in sexual promiscuity and idolatry, broken cisterns. You know, I have to mention this because no matter what you watch, no matter who you listen to, when we talk about same-sex attraction, homosexuality, I always let people know, biblically speaking, sin is sin. The drunkard, the adulterer, the fornicator, the liar, it's all coming out of a heart that is depraved and doesn't know God. All of it. So we don't stand up here with a judgmental spirit. We stand up here with a loving challenge to turn to your Creator. And so what happens is, but Shane, look, look what you're doing. You're causing people to be suicidal and depressed. And look, the suicide rate is alarming. The depression is skyrocketing adderall and they have to take off. Why? Because of conviction. I've been in places where the person caught in adultery wants to take their life. Suicide and depression. The person who can't stop drinking. They're ruining everything. Oh, I'm so depressed. See, it's the sin that causes the suicidal thoughts. It's the sin. It's the conviction of being away from God. So you just have to point them to the Savior. Point them to the cross. Point them to eternal life. It's the same look I get from anyone caught in sin. Yeah, but if I look to Jesus, He might not take this away. He might not. If I had time, we could go through this room. How many people can not still go into a bar? They hear the click of the ice and the whiskey. Why didn't He take this away? People can't go to the gym or the beach because of lust. Why doesn't He take this away? Why am I struggling with depression? When will God's spurge and His depression will come upon Him like nothing He's ever felt before? See, it's common to all man. Sometimes God delivers and sets free. Praise God for those testimonies. But sometimes, sometimes you gotta walk with a limp still. And you say, I can't go back there. That pull is strong. That demonic stronghold is still whispering to me. Sometimes He doesn't set you free because the greatest testimony is to get to the end of your life and say, Christ held me the entire journey. Christ walked with me. Yes, though I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, He held me. He lifted me up. Though the devil tried to pull me back into that stronghold, God kept me. That is just a powerful testimony as God's setting a person free. Now I'm gonna put up Scriptures. It's in the Bible. You're not gonna see this too often. Are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you sure? Deuteronomy 22.5. I'm not ashamed of the Bible. Actually, what I've noticed, the more I commit to the Word of God, the inerrancy of Scripture, preach the totality of a Scripture, the more I feel the boldness and the fullness of the Spirit. And when you start to question it, man, that's really not for today. No, no, no, no, no. You know, Paul really didn't mean that. I can't count, give me a break. You might as well pull up a couch and have a conversation and get rid of the pulpit. A woman shall not wear man's clothing, nor shall a man put on woman's clothing for whoever does these things. Let me just tell you how much of a people pleaser I am. The first draft of this sermon, I had ellipses. And I didn't have the word abomination in there. Like, oh, Lord. It's like, are you embarrassed of my Word? Abomination means a stench. Do not do these things. It's an abomination to the Lord your God, Leviticus. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It's an abomination. And then you're going to get the people, yeah, but you're also not supposed to eat shellfish. Ceremonial laws, dietary laws for the nation of Israel that can change. Fulfillment in Christ. Moral laws never change. Moral laws never change. The excuses. See, here's what we're supposed to do. Reach out to those struggling, but react to the agenda. Fight the agenda. Love those who are struggling, but hold the line against the agenda that's trying to pervert the next generation. And this is what God's Word says. This is the truth of God's Word. But they'll so try to twist Scriptures. It's probably still there if you put My Name, Homosexuality, and Fox News. There's an audio recording of an hour where I sat down with another pastor. I don't think he's a pastor anymore. Of a large church that shrunk down to 200 people. And he says that these are not applicable today to give into your desires. And you can hear the different thoughts. And they'll say, well, look at David and Jonathan's relationship, huh? You never know there. What? You've lost your mind. Well, all the references in the Bible have to do with sodomites and prostitution and rape. No, it doesn't. No. It's pretty clear. I made Adam and Eve, not Steve. I made Adam. I formed them. I let what God bring together, let not man put asunder, King James, or separate. Let not man separate. Not only that, you just look at creation. Come on. I don't need to get graphic. Hello. When you create something, when you build something, men, like I remember I built my daughter something, a little playhouse. Not built it, but you know, just did something. And she goes and throws it in the pool. Well, that's not what it's for. That doesn't work. It doesn't float. And so you see, you look at design. Points to a designer. Man's way versus God's way. The definition of marriage has never changed throughout all of human history until recently. Did you know that? All societies, all nations, all creeds, all colors, Africa to Asia, it was actually a given. Nobody would even, that would not even enter the minds of people. Now, sexual deviation in all areas has always existed. Why are they saying that all of this is increasing at an alarming rate? Because they're being fed this, the kids. Now it's a cool thing to do. Now I can rebel against my parents. And when you start to mess with sexual identity, you hurt people at a very, very deep level. Creation speaks to the character of God. And remember, the Supreme Court, this is what I've had to remind some people, is not a law-making body. Hello? I just talked to somebody, I'm not going to mention names and things, but it's like, well, you know, the Supreme Court sets the law of the land. So, you know, you really, you have to, pastors, you have to submit to that. No wonder they don't say much about abortion because it's the law of the land. But the law of the land is the Word of God, people. The law of the land is God's Word. That's the law of the land. And then the Supreme Court, what they're supposed to do is come up alongside legislation and say, is this in line with the Constitution? They're not supposed to make, and they used the 14th Amendment in 2015. The 14th Amendment has nothing to do with marriage. It's unbelievable how far we have drifted. But leaders in the Christian community are leading us to confusion. Leaders are leading us to confusion. The leaders that are supposed to lead us to the truth are leading people to confusion. Here's the thing, many pastors lack the fire of the Spirit, and therefore they lack fervency for the truth. Fervency for the truth is a byproduct of being filled with the Spirit. So what you're seeing across our nation is actually an indictment against the pulpits. It is a spiritual indictment. It's like God is dropping the hammer and saying what you're seeing is the spiritual condition of the leaders. It's coming out. Or I should say nothing is coming out. In social media, there are some blessings. There's definitely a curse. And that curse is how many likes and followers do I have? Just last week, 350 people left my Twitter. Well, if we're doing it for the numbers, we have to say, Lord, did I please? I actually would be surprised if I don't have, like what's going on here? What's going on here? Oprah's asking me to be on her program? The View wants my opinion? And do you ever hear those pastors go on there? Well, tell us, Carl Lentz, for example, about your thoughts on abortion. Well, that's a private matter. So many variables. It really depends on the situation. And we have to understand the nuances behind what women are experiencing. And this could happen, and we know the government says this. And then also, you have to take into consideration, we really don't know the inner struggles. What's the Bible say? Hello? They're confusing you because they're confused. Many times, they don't take God's Word as the authority and errancy of Scripture. And people say, I only preach the Gospel. Well, okay, but you fail to realize that the Gospel affects all areas of life, from the unborn to LGBTQ+, I don't know how many things we're gonna keep adding. Do you know now that San Francisco is giving out money to the transgender community? I believe it is. And there is 100 identities that you can choose from. Why not 101? Or where's it gonna stop? What you're seeing is the fruit of cowardliness, not boldness of the Spirit. And these leaders will be held accountable because your silence speaks volumes. Did you know that? Your silence speaks volumes. When God says, I'm telling you to say something, prophet, Ezekiel, and you say nothing, Jeremiah, Isaiah. Well, we don't live in the Old Testament, we're not Old Testament prophets. True, but you're New Testament pastors, and you're called to speak all of God's Word. And here's what's happening. Feelings outweigh God's Word, and people are going with feelings. Like they should just be able to marry who they love. Okay, what about if that feeling goes against God's Word and it's gonna cause damage? It's all about rights, rights, rights, but your rights are hurting others at a very deep level. And so the silent pulpits must awake. And I did a quick view of history in the church. It's amazing. Many of you heard of St. Augustine, right? He was bold and he confronted things. Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Savarola in Italy. He said the Italian people are full of wickedness, and he went to his grave. They killed him. The papacy killed him. Tyndale, John Hus, Whitecliffe, they all spoke the truth with love in their words, and Luther, and Calvin, and Swingly, and John Knox in Scotland. The queen wanted to kill this man. She feared his prayers more than the armies of England. The prayer, they would confront the culture, and that's why we hear of them today. Whitefield would confront the culture. Wesley would confront the culture. D.L. Moody, Spurgeon, all these people you guys love, and you read, and you send me their information. Did you know they confronted the culture? You show me one passive pastor who kept his mouth shut in critical times. You show me that person, and you show me where he's at. None of them changed the course of history. Oh, but Shane, they've got a million Facebook followers. I don't care. Trump has 17 million Twitter followers. That doesn't make what he says right. Oh, they just let him back on Twitter, I guess. I don't know if that's good or bad. More information later. Here's what's happened. Many pastors lack the fire of the Spirit, and therefore, they lack fervency for the truth. Boldness on these issues comes from time with God, folks. So to me, it's an indictment on the spiritual condition of today's pulpit. It's an indictment on the condition of today's quiet pulpit. And I've told young pastors, I said take some time off if you need to and spend it with God and come back on fire. Oh, but I'm busy. I've got to do this. I might lose some followers. Yeah, oh, for sure. What is highly esteemed among men is abomination of the sight of God. Be careful when all men speak well of you. I love what Leonard Ravenhill said. He was talking to a group of pastors. And he said get unction or get out of the pulpit. And I hope, I know this is going to be on about 80 different radio stations next week across the United States. And I hope pastors get P.O.'d. I hope they get so mad, they go back and they say, Lord, is it I? Oh, I don't like what he said, but is it true? Is it true? Take it to the Lord. And then of course, what I hear often, I only preach the Gospel. They say they fail to realize that the Gospel affects all areas of life from the unborn to LGBTQ issues and from wokeness to wicked legislation. The Gospel changes the heart which in turn changes the nation. You are supposed to tell people, maybe not all the time, I mean, this sermon, 95% of the time my sermons aren't like this. It's through the Word of God helping people. But there has to come a point where you talk about these issues of abortion and marriage. But Shane, they're hot-button issues. Man, I'm going to upset you. Exactly! That is the point. That's the point. You're not a motivational speaker. The sad thing is the reason when they say I just preach the Gospel, but actually the Gospel they often preach is watered down, it doesn't offend, and it's powerless because they lack the boldness to tell the truth in other areas. I have never seen anybody send me a message, if you can find one, that is not bold on these controversial issues. I'm not going to talk about that, I don't want to talk about that, I don't want to talk about that. I've got half Republicans, half Democrats in the audience. I don't want to talk about that. I don't want to upset anybody. You show me where that person is bold in the pulpit about the Gospel. Repentance, the blood of Christ, judgment, sin, atonement. They're not. It's an excuse to hide behind their silence. There is no wiggle room. No wiggle room. Mark 10. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife. The two shall become one flesh, so they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate. There is no wiggle room. So again, what I said earlier, the next point, we must love people, but expose the agenda. Love people, but expose the agenda. I just found, I just came across it on YouTube. About five years ago, I stood in this very spot, and I preached and led a memorial service for an openly gay man. His sister put me in contact. We went down there. He lived in North Hollywood. He was sick. Thirty-five years old. Looked like a GQ model. And it was pretty bad, and we talked on the couch and just left him my book. Prayed with him. Just encouraged him. And then two months later, I found out he passed away, but his mom said he was passing around the book everywhere, highlighting it. God was working in his heart. And I said, sure, I'd love to do that. I'd love to preach at the memorial and honor him. Loving the people that came. It was mixed. Loving them. There's no hatred. Why is love speech hate speech? Have you thought about that? The truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth. You can get your phone out for that one. Tweet it. The truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth. So here's how they get out. It's just hate speech. No, actually, it's love speech. If you want to be honest, your speech is hate speech. Because you don't love them enough to tell them the truth and help them. You think telling them to cave into their desires is going to help? How's that goddess so far? Where's that goddess? Nowhere. Ephesians 5.11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. So here's how this works. People, sinners, come to church. Amen? We love them. But I've got to expose that thing that is taking you down. I have to expose that darkness that is hindering you from coming to the light. How do you expose something if you're silent about it? Ephesians 4.14 We should no longer be children tossed to and fro, carried about by every wind of doctrine. Doesn't it sound like America today? Paul's saying stop. And this is why this happens in America. Well, this person says, this person says, we're tossed around by every wind of doctrine and by the trickery of man. What do you believe? I don't know. What do you think? What do you believe? Paul said stop it. Speak the truth and love to get people back on the right foundation. And then I love this point. Don't be shamed into silence. Don't be shamed into silence. National polling supports marriage equality among the mainstream. Of course it does. They're swimming downstream and we are swimming upstream. And you know what? How many rabbit trails do you want me to go on? Well, I'm glad many of you like it. I know some people won't be back, but that's okay. Because I'm not here to appease the masses. I'm not here to tickle ears. Because why are you saying these things? Why are you being so bold? Do you see what is happening? Have you seen the videos of the transgender men pole dancing in front of seven-year-olds? That's child abuse. How dare you be quiet? Let me turn the table on you, Mr. Quiet Guy. How dare you? Have you seen it? Have you seen it? It's out there. LGBTQ story hour in the library. That is sexual perversion and child abuse. How dare you be quiet, sir or ma'am? Why don't you speak up and say this is not right with tears in your eyes? Where is that going to lead? Do you think sexual sin stops at a good, healthy spot? Myself, Pastor Abram, we talked to somebody in the sheriff's department who handles and works with the sex trafficking area. And he said the filth and the perversion, you would vomit. The door that pornography opens up. And I can't even tell you. It's sick and it's perverted. It's things like I wouldn't even enter my mind, and people are doing this and filming it. How dare you be quiet? How dare you think I'm the loud mouth? What about the pornography industry and all these agendas that are killing our children? Spiritually, emotionally, mentally. Who's really the hater? Think about that. He said it's growing. It's an epidemic. And this is opening the door. John 12, nevertheless, even among the rulers, many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess Him, lest they be put out of the synagogue. Why? They loved the praises of men more than the praises of God. And then of course, this point is very valid. I was born this way. Elizabeth Warren ensures this act that was passed. I believe actually it was passed, but it has to go through another procedure before the President signs it. So be in prayer about it. I don't know what can happen at this point. Maybe God would revive Biden, the Holy Spirit, and say, I can't sign this. Who knows? Or America might be heading down the toilet. But she said this will protect and ensures that everyone can marry whoever they love. See how that's garbage? Who defines that? Who defines what that looks like? Romans 5.12 Just as one man's sin entered the world and death spread to all men because all sin. Ephesians 2.3 Among whom all we conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and we were by nature children of wrath just as others. So, I've talked to homosexuals in Palm Springs and this often comes up. I was born this way. I mean, there's complex issues if we unpack this for a little while. But the bottom line is, I would say probably so. Did you know? You guys might leave after this, and I'll never come back. Did you know I was born to lie? I was born to cheat on my spouse. It's in here. Do you know that? Don't look at me as so holier than thou. How many of you, by the grace of God, you don't go out and get drunk and hammered today? See? Oh, don't have to raise your hands. What's going on? I was born this way. Why am I so angry and explosive? I was born this way. But to me, that's actually very encouraging because yes, you and I were born into sin. All manner of evil. And that's why we're here this morning. Because of the cross. Just because I have an inclination to do something doesn't mean it's right. Think that through. Did you know that many were born to murder? Have you ever felt that way? Not anymore, but I've been there. Like the heat of passion, that's what they call it. Yes, yes, yes, you were born to sin. But thank God for 1 Corinthians. Changing from the inside out. Now this is a profound and powerful Scripture. Do not glance through it. Even if you've read it before, you know it. Open your ears. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Could it be that silent pastors are actually leading people to hell? Absolutely. Because they should be able to lovingly warn people with tears in their eyes. Not anger, love. Do not be deceived. Many are deceived. Neither fornicators, sex outside of marriage, nor idolaters, nor idolaters, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, male prostitution, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor rapists, nor revelers, those angry, arguing, bitter people, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. Now it's supposed to go, wow, I'm in trouble! Right? Whoa! And then he goes on to say, and such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God. So it's profound. Yes, that's who you were. That's also why I have an issue sometimes when you say I am an alcoholic. No, that's not who you are. Who you struggle with, possibly. But who you are is a child of God. I was that. I was that. I was on the highway to hell. And see, these things are a byproduct of sin in our heart. It comes out of us. And like I said earlier, your sexual orientation may not always be changed, but everyone can be restored. Everyone can be restored to the loving relationship with the Father. And yes, life is challenging. Life is difficult. I've fallen many times. I've had to get back up and fight the demons of my past. But I didn't quit and give up and say I'm out of here. God can strengthen you and see you through. He loves you. Even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. How powerful is that verse? I forgot about it. I told this story at that memorial five years ago. It's always stuck with me. It was of this young man, probably 20 years old, walked away from God. He's coming home every night, drunk, on drugs, and his dad is trying to let him have it. I'm kicking this guy out of my house. I think the wife's finally on board. Praise God. And so here he comes at 2 in the morning. This little boy she used to hold and nurse and care for. And he comes in and passes out on the couch. And the dad's like, he's really going to get it now. And he stayed upstairs. He didn't hear the wife saying anything. And he came downstairs and he saw her holding him on the couch hoping, praying he doesn't have an OD, caressing his hair and praying for his son. And the dad got so upset. What are you doing? And she said, he would not let me love him while he was awake, so I will love him while he is asleep. The grace of God, the love of God, calling, drawing, petitioning, asking, convicting, such were some of you that you've been washed. You've been cleaned. No doubt many listening. This will probably hit close to 100,000 people next week. Many of you listening need to be washed. You need to be cleaned. It's a loving Father. Stop letting the enemy beat you up because of your sin. And allow Christ to cleanse you because of His redemptive work on the cross. Praise God.