If the church remains silent when biblical truth is compromised in the public arena, millions are at risk of deception.
I released a prophetic message to Charisma that must be read in the new light of Lauren Daigle’s recent statements regarding homosexuality. Titled simply, “Worship Leaders Must Take a Stand Against Homosexuality,” I highlight another extremely influential artist, Carrie Underwood, who was leading worship at a Christian event.
Afterwards, these comments came to light:
Our church is gay-friendly. … Above all, God wanted us to love others. It’s not about setting rules, or “everyone has to be like me.” No. We’re all different. That’s what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It’s not up to me to judge anybody.
She also said:
As a married person myself, I don’t know what it’s like to be told I can’t marry somebody I love and want to marry. I can’t imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love.
Similarly, Lauren Daigle said on The Domenick Nati Show when asked, “do you feel that homosexuality is a sin?”:
I can’t honestly answer on that. In a sense, I have too many people that I love that they are homosexual. I don’t know. I actually had a conversation with someone last night about it. I can’t say one way or the other. I’m not God. So when people ask questions like that … that’s what my go-to is. I just say, ‘Read the Bible and find out for yourself. And when you find out let me know, because I’m learning too.’
A Prophetic Prescription
I just returned from a ministry trip to Albany, New York. While there, I shared a simple but intense prophetic prescription that definitely applies to this situation.
- Embrace radical holiness.
- Engage in fervent intercession.
- Impact culture with truth.
As we are deeply devoted to a life of supernatural prayer, and are walking in extreme holiness, we will not be able to keep from impacting culture.
Our mandate as believers is to confront compromise and immorality in culture by trumpeting truth without apology. It’s time to shout it from the rooftops! Yet, today, when clear violations of truth are committed, especially by Christian leaders, fellow Christians all too often demand silence as passivity overtakes them. They get mad when messages are preached that deal with sin. They rise up in indignation when error is exposed, even when it’s done with great care and deep love.
We can no longer allow those opposed to the proclamation of truth and the confrontation of error to drown out the prophetic voices that have been commissioned by God to bring the sharp sword of the Word to our nation.
Be holy. Pray continually. Confront culture. Do it all in love.
What Should Our Response Be to Lauren Daigle’s Comments on Homosexuality?
Pray for Daigle.
While it’s shocking that Daigle isn’t clear on the unmistakable, historic and orthodox truth that homosexuality is a sin, it’s encouraging that she admits to being teachable. She humbly said she’s willing to learn. I actually have a lot of hope for Daigle, believing that this might be a learning experience for her. If she sits under the right leadership, attends a healthy local church and allows the word of God to saturate her life, she will most certainly correct course and move right into the place that God has for her.
My great hope is that she would become a women of fervent prayer, living a supernatural life in God and modeling a life of purity and passion for Jesus. To be a Christian leader requires nothing less than a life of radical intercession and devotion to the Word of God.
Protect those under her influence.
I’ve read posts on Facebook from quite a few people who are slamming others for sounding the alarm about this situation. Their argument is the same old, tired, “We aren’t her judge.”
Are those who are using those Bible verses (incorrectly) arguing that we should remain silent when error is promoted? Ephesians 5:11-14 says:
And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; instead, expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things are exposed when they are revealed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
If your pastor made the same comments as Daigle, would you stay silent? Would you ignore it and go on with life as usual? Would you argue that “we are all sinners” and that the pastor‘s position is a non-issue? I certainly hope not. Your pastor has the ability to influence dozens or hundreds, possibly thousands. Daigle, as a minister of the gospel on a national and global platform, is influencing multiplied millions. People under her influence are now at extreme, eternal risk. Does anybody care?
We must wake up the sleepers. We have no choice but to expose darkness!
The fact that Daigle is young and learning how to respond to the demands of fame doesn’t remove the responsibility of the church to protect those who may be hurt by her ideologies. If my 5-year-old does something to put other people in harm’s way, I don’t ignore it and let the people get hurt or killed just because my child didn’t know better. Warning the people at risk doesn’t mean I don’t love or understand the maturity level of my child. They are two separate issues.
Do you understand how easy it will be now for people to embrace homosexuality due to Daigle’s comments? Many others probably already have shifted their position to affirming homosexuality as acceptable for Christians. Others are now taking the casual approach that Daigle did, abandoning any urgency to promote righteousness.
When influential public figures make damaging comments or promote destructive theologies, it’s the responsibility of prophetic messengers, pastors and every Christian to look out for those who are at risk. To do otherwise would be an abdication of our responsibilities. Love demands we don’t stay silent. {eoa}
John Burton has been developing and leading ministries for over 25 years and is a sought out teacher, prophetic messenger and revivalist. John has authored ten books, is a regular contributor to Charisma Magazine, has appeared on Christian television and radio and directed one of the primary internships at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City. A large and growing library of audio and video teachings, articles, books and other resources can be found on his website at www.burton.tv. John, his wife Amy and their five children live in Branson, Missouri.
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