A prominent American Christian leader, John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Caliafornia, has issued a call to American church pastors to join in a fight being waged by their Canadian brothers.
Decision Magazine reports that MacArthur wants American Christian church leaders to join with Canadian pastors on Jan. 16 to preach on God’s plan for human sexuality.
MacArthur also has posted online a statement that Christian leaders are encouraged to sign.
The problem is a coming Canadian law that specifically contradicts the Bible. According to MacArthur’s posting, the preamble to the new Canadian law, which is to take effect Jan. 8, states that “heterosexuality, cisgender gender identity and gender expression that conforms to the sex assigned to a person at birth are to be preferred over other sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions” is a “myth.”
MacArthur explained, “According to Canadian law, as of January 8, 2022, the belief in God’s design for marriage and sexuality will now be seen as a myth.”
The Decision report explained the Canadian law is an attack on speech and faith under the guise of banning “so-called conversation therapy.” That agenda already has gotten a start in the United States with several states that have banned it.
Essentially, the idea would restrict any speech or belief that would counsel individuals, especially youth, against adopting a homosexual or transgender lifestyle. Counseling in promotion of those horrific body modifications and mutilations still is allowed.
MacArthur includes a call to repent of sin and turn to Jesus Christ as the first step of Christian discipleship.
MacArthur cited comments that came from Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church of Edmonton, Alberta, and Pastor Andrew DeBartolo of Encounter Church in Kingston, Ontario.
Coates explained the law “directly comes against parents and counselors who would seek to offer biblical counsel with respect to sexual immorality and gender” and could “criminalize evangelism” if a person turns from homosexuality or transgenderism or is encouraged to do so.
And DeBartolo explained, “On January 16, 2022, faithful men across this country (and many in the United States as well) will be preaching on God’s design for marriage and a biblical ethic of sexuality. We will be doing so illegally, declaring to the state that there is one God and one Lord over His church, and that Christ alone gets to both define marriage and dictate what is required in the pulpit. We are honored that our American brothers will be joining us in this.”
MacArthur pointed out what pastors are supposed to do: “Our calling as gospel ministers is to preach the truth, confront sin, and call all men to repentance and obedience to the gospel—the good news that achieves soul conversion and saves sinners from eternal wrath.”
He asks other pastors, “Will you stand with me and our Canadian brothers and confront, in a spirit of love and mercy, the damning sins legalized in our culture? And will you join the nationwide effort to preach on a biblical view of sexual morality on January 16, 2022 and proclaim the gospel of salvation that is now criminalized?”
The Decision report explained the law, C-4, “amends the Canadian criminal code to include anything deemed conversion therapy. It also states that ‘conversion therapy causes harm to society because, among other things, it is based on and propagates myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, including the myth that heterosexuality, cisgender gender identity, and gender expression that conforms to the sex assigned to a person at birth are to be preferred over other sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.'”
MacArthur explained a unified message from Christian pastors “will put the Canadian and the U.S. governments on notice that they have attacked the Word of God. We are all well-aware of the evil power and destructive influence of the homosexual and transgender ideology. Our government is bent on not only normalizing this perversion, but also legalizing it, and furthermore criminalizing opposition to it.”
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