I Prayed have prayed
Father, we lift up to You the youth across the nation who are struggling with their identity. Break their chains, God, and free them from this bondage.
Reading Time: 5 minutes

This column by Dr. Brown encourages pastors to deal with one of the most prevalent issues in America, touching Christian homes everywhere.

From Ask Dr. Brown. If you have accepted God’s calling on your life to serve His people as a shepherd and a leader, then you have my respect. I honor you for your service, and I recognize your sacrifice.

Pastoral ministry is anything but easy, and only those who have served as pastoral leaders know the immense pressures you face.

You are the one to get the phone call from the shocked parents who just learned that their child was killed in a car accident. You have to bring comforting words at the funeral. You have to answer the questions of, “Where was God?”

And you have to do this while preparing your message for Sunday. And while counseling a couple on the verge of divorce. And while helping a young man struggling with porn. And while figuring out how to make up for the budget shortfall. And while trying to encourage your people to spend more time in prayer and reading the Bible. And while looking for new ways to do community outreach.

No wonder so many pastors burn out and quit, especially when they do not have a strong support team with them.

That’s why the last thing I want to do is add more pressure to your life.

Instead, on behalf of many of your people who are hurting and really need help, I want to make this appeal: My brothers and sisters, at times like this, you simply cannot be silent.

What, exactly, am I speaking about? I’m speaking about LGBTQ+ issues and people.

I’m speaking about the mothers and fathers facing crises within their own home, not knowing where to turn. I’m speaking about the kids in school (from pre-K to college) who are getting indoctrinated with all the radical LGBTQ+ talking points until they have embraced them for themselves.

I’m speaking about the family members that write to me in tears, sharing their own horror stories.

That’s why I say that, at times like this, you cannot remain silent.

I understand the reticence you may have had in the past to talk about homosexuality or transgenderism from the pulpit. Why stir up a hornet’s nest? Why be branded a homophobe and a bigot? Why subject your church to a flood of hateful attacks and bad publicity? And who has time to research all the relevant issues? Isn’t it just better to preach through the Bible and bring your flock into spiritual health? Why not leave the politics to others?

The answer is that this is not a matter of politics but of human lives.

The answer is that the Bible absolutely speaks with authority and relevance to these difficult cultural issues.

The answer is, as representatives of Jesus, we can never avoid controversy and conflict.

And the answer is that people in your own congregation are hurting, and you have a sacred responsibility to help them.

Last Sunday, after touching on some of these issues while preaching at a fine church near Saint Louis, there was a line of people waiting to talk with me.

One woman told me that in a local, private pre-school, a boy recently announced that he was a girl, because of which the teacher decided to educate the other kids about trans issues. (We’re talking about kids as young as three or four.)

Books were read to them about a red crayon that feels like a blue crayon, helping them understand that they too might be trapped in the wrong bodies. And this went on for a few weeks before the parents found out about it.

Another woman told me that she has been working in special education in a local high school since 2006. When I asked her if the school had changed over the years, she replied, “Totally.”

She then told me that the new principal only wants gay faculty at the school and that he will not hear a dissenting word from anyone.

Those were just some of the stories.

My driver then told me he had been working at Wells Fargo bank for 41 years. When I asked him if things had changed (with specific reference to LGBTQ+ activism), he literally grabbed his head with his hands (while driving). He was grieved beyond words.

Things have gotten to the point, he explained, that if you do not actively support this radical agenda, you will be marginalized and pushed out.

In fact, a friend of mine who used to work for Bank of America left the company a few years ago after getting systematically pushed out because of his failure to be an open and active LGBTQ+ ally.

For years now, I have heard horror story after story, including impassioned pleas from a mother whose teenage daughter is now getting hormone shots to help her transition rather than getting the mental health care she needs.

Or teary-eyed looks from a father whose 17-year-old daughter suddenly began to identify as a boy. (The older daughter has cut off all communication with their father because he won’t affirm her sister’s trans identity.)

The list is as endless as it is heartbreaking – and in truth, I have not even scratched the tip of the tip of an absolutely massive iceberg.

To say it again, these are your people too, families and individuals within your own congregation. (Perhaps that 15-year-old who walked into your building last week is struggling with same-sex attraction, considering either suicide or embracing his gay identity. You may be his last hope.)

At times like this, you cannot be silent.

And, if I may be totally candid, one reason that we are in the midst of this very real crisis which is affecting millions and millions of people is because, for all too many years, we have failed to address the relevant biblical and cultural issues.

I appeal to you, then, as a fellow-worker in the Lord, please don’t wait another minute. Ask the Lord for His wisdom and strategy, and then take the plunge. Our Father will be pleased, your people will thank you, and whatever opposition you endure will be worth it.

If you need a good place to start, consider this terrific resource that you can share with your people, a terrific documentary from American Family Studios titled In His Image. And be assured that there are many support ministries around the country that would be glad to lend a helping hand.

Let the healing begin!

* No sooner had I finished writing this article than I saw this tweet from a colleague: “My son got in trouble today for ‘misgendering’ a confused sixth grade girl. The mother actually came to our house, told my wife she’s a disgusting parent, screamed at her, and said she’s gonna sue us. This is what all you poor homeschoolers are missing out on.”

How are you praying for our youth and our pastors? Share your thoughts and prayers below.

(Used with permission from Ask Dr. Brown. Photo Credit: Teddy Österblom on Unsplash)

 

Comments (10) Print

Comments

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Linda Vaughan
May 8, 2022

Father God,

We thank You for Your written word & the Living Word.

We pray for our children and youth. We pray for our ministers, Sunday School teachers & youth & children’s pastors.

We pray for courage, boldness and compassion. We pray for parents & families.

We pray You would break this deception & stronghold off of America & the nations of the earth.

We apply Jesus Precious Blood to this situation and ask for Your protection over all concerned.

We ask this in Jesus Mighty Name, amen & thank You for hearing our prayer!

5
Barbara Janicki
May 7, 2022

my heart breaks as I read the examples you gave and I see it all around me, people struggling to find their place, struggling to find their identity. This search for identity is not something new, but the option to pursue this search by changing sexuality and gender were not common, easily accessed and constantly promoted options in other times in history. Teenagers are in transition to adulthood, but changing your sex/gender if you are unhappy was not an option before. Now it is promoted as commendable or as what? The answer to teenage angst? maybe you were born in the wrong body instead of this is life, life is challenging and sometimes painful, we learn and adapt and grow, we don’t hate who we are and wish to recreate ourselves in some image of our own making. Which is the root of the problem. We are rebelling against the Creator, saying You made a mistake instead of knowing the truth that we are “wonderfully and fearfully made” and that we are God’s “masterpieces.” Identity in Christ answers all our doubts and fears with His eternal truth that we are His, created in His image, of infinite value and worth precisely because we are His creation. This is what we should be teaching our preschoolers – they are perfect just as they are, skin color, gender, abilities or lack of them, and all. When they learn to accept and value themselves, they are then able to accept and value their classmates and others, from the math genius to the downs syndrome child, all are equally loved and valued in God’s eyes and kingdom. God’s eternal truth is what should be being taught in all our schools everywhere. Then we will know the truth and the truth will set us free! http://www.mtothe5th.wordpress.com

15
Ellen
May 7, 2022

Obviously this is a message from the enemy. The Bible says in the last days there will be children against parents, parents against children. Father against son, etc. Even to the point of death. I read this when my child was a strong willed 2 yr old. I prayed daily for all my children. I saw something in this one, so anti-authoritarian. I begged God, not my child. When she fought the rules, we loved and disciplined her.. When she announced she was lesbian, we loved her (no longer a time to discipline). One time she confessed we were the real deal. She has turned against us, we haven’t talked to her in 5 years. I still pray daily. The last time we saw her, she told me the thing we did wrong was “teaching her to submit to authority.” I pray we come back to our senses. God’s way is always best. I do believe it would have been easier if God was followed in the schools, community, etc. I prayed about that frequently too. One time I heard God say to me, after I bemoaned the fact that I wasn’t raising her in an earlier time, “would you rather raise her in the 50’s when she would look better on the outside, but her inside was still putrid? Or now, when you can see it clearly?” We may be facing horrible times, but we can see the “real deal”. Not much room for fence sitters and tightening up all the time. These influences are horrible for our children – bad company corrupts good character. We need to get to the point where we pull them out. (I did). We sacrifice for others kids as well whose parents can’t do it. Where we are the “living word”. I live in a place where other denominations (especially Catholic and Lutheran) are criticized. We cannot stand until we can become one. I agree there are many churches not following the Bible. We should hold up the scripture not the denominations. The church is divided, we must work on this. It is a luxury to debate beliefs. We must practice “in essentials unity, non-essentials grace.” Saying this, I think we can fight other fronts as well. I pray God sends us a leader who will unify the church, inspire millions to repent and cause us to be the influencers. I am thankful for our Supreme Court and so far it seems our constitution is holding. I pray it holds. Praying God would keep the members of our Supreme Court neutral and not political. I am so thankful God is in control and our enemy has limits. Let us fight for our rights and hold up Biblical standards. I know many, many people who are frustrated and need direction. They want to make a difference but have no idea of how or where to start. Prayer is a starting point. I am a prayer warrior. Not everyone is. We need hands on directives that align us. The left seems better at that.

Just my own opinion- from asking God and listening to people at church. They want to influence outside the church boundaries. I don’t have answers, just questions

6
Pamela C
May 7, 2022

Our pastors are called to teach the word of God. If our pastor is teaching a book of the Bible, homosexuality may not even be mentioned but there will be plenty of other sins mentioned. No we should never tolerate this sin or any other sin. But we cannot change other people. We can speak the truth in love, and not compromise God’s truth.

We are called to read our Bibles. We cannot just blame pastors. We know the truth ourselves; we have the Holy Spirit of God living in and teaching us. Someone told each of us about Jesus. We need to be that someone telling others about Jesus.

It is true that every day this agenda is being taught and pushed on all of us. But I do not accept that it’s the fault of Pastors. Each of us will give an account. Our pastor will not be there with us.

6
KATHLEEN OBRIEN
May 7, 2022

A group of us are praying this morning over the Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast in Port St. Lucie, FL. This LGBTQ+ organization is holding a “family friendly” event promoting what they stand for. We will be praying from 11am until noon. There is a marine warning at this time for severe weather and we are expecting thunderstorms with a 70% chance of rain. Ironically, this location was also the site of the National Day of Prayer Service on May 5th. If you see this message, please pray with us! God bless you all for your efforts!

16
Donna M Liput
May 7, 2022

I was molested as a child and cannot tolerate anything that might harm a child sexually or otherwise. I am on the verge of screaming at anyone who I think might try to indoctrinate a child into their lifestyle. If it’s anything to do with sex or sexuality, and has to do with a child, I fly off the handle….. I’m shocked it even exists. I will continue to pray.

14
    Julie
    May 7, 2022

    Thank you for your courageous testimony, Donna. Praying with you in agreement, in Jesus’ Precious Name!

    “But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” ~ Luke 18:16

    12
Melanie Freeman
May 7, 2022

We must chose Christ every day. His truth won’t be heard if we stay silent. Satan has always used intimidation . Paul and the apostles prayed for boldness. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to boldly proclaim His Word and truth. To stay silent is to quench the Holy Spirit and deny Christ. It also says we don’t really believe they are worth saving. Examine yourself and see if you are really a disciple of Christ’s. You cannot be silent after all He’s done for you. We need to repent of our silence and complacency.

13
Bobhuseby
May 7, 2022

This issue is also gaining strength in the most conservative of states. All forms of media focus on spreading this demonic agenda.. Satan has certainly produced victory after victory as we Americans are conditioned to “tolerance “.As pulpits remain silent christians are being a supporter of this stronghold..
In Jesus mighty name we stand as one against this evil in our land. Father please have mercy on us and forgive us for not recognizing and acting against this way before now!!!

35
Susan Paxson
May 7, 2022

I agree that this issue and many other sexual sin issues are not being addressed from the pulpit.
I fear for and pray for the church of Jesus Christ in America!
God will hold pastors who fail to do this accountable!
Unfortunately the guy community feels we hate them if we disagree!!

31

Partner with Us

Intercessors for America is the trusted resource for millions of people across the United States committed to praying for our nation. If you have benefited from IFA's resources and community, please consider joining us as a monthly support partner. As a 501(c)3 organization, it's through your support that all this possible.

Dave Kubal
IFA President
Become a Monthly Partner

Share

Click below to share this with others

Log in to Join the Conversation

Log in to your IFA account to start a discussion, comment, pray, and interact with our community.