Logical Conclusions, Pragmatic Emotionalism, and the LGBTQ (P?) Movement

A Guest Post by Van McDaniel

As Christians we have a monopoly on truth and morality.  Not because of anything true or moral within ourselves, but because we belong to and serve THE Standard of truth and morality.  Jesus Christ is the Truth, and His word is the objective, ultimate standard of what is moral, as well as what is immoral. As Christians we are obligated to seek truth and defend it through a proper, logically and philosophically consistent, biblical worldview.  If a non-believer wants truth they have no choice but to go through Christ. If a non-believer is seeking knowledge and wisdom on literally anything at all they must go through Jesus Christ, because as we see in Colossians 2:3, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.  We must see the world through a biblical lens in order to navigate the rough waters of every other worldview that stands in hostile opposition to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 the Apostle Paul writes “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”.  

A Biblically Correct View of Salvation

This is no easy task to be sure, but through the power of the Holy Spirit we persevere, and through faith in the Person and finished work of Christ we have absolute hope and assurance that the truth will stand alone on the last day when we are resurrected and glorified.  Until that day we run our race and fight for the truth of scripture without apology or compromise, while proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom to anyone and everyone indiscriminately with humility, love, and grace. This is not as easy as it sounds, but when we exercise a biblically correct view of salvation and see that the unmerited grace of a holy and righteous God is the only thing separating us as Christians from those who reject Christ and His gospel, we should feel compassion on the lost, which should compel us to brave the hostile waters of the secular world in order that those whom have yet to be called will be through the proclamation of the gospel.  This is what the Great Commission is all about, and it is our honor and privilege that the Lord of Glory would use us to accomplish His purpose and will.

The LGBTQ Movement

It’s important to lay the groundwork just laid, as I write about the LGBTQ movement.  When doing so we must remember that those who identify with the LGBTQ movement, either through action or support, bear the image of God and by virtue of that are worthy of dignity and respect.  Our disagreement isn’t personal… it’s biblical. Scripture gives us clear and objective commands in regards to human sexuality and gender, and as Christians we must adhere to what scripture teaches and commands.  More than that, we must not only adhere to it as if it’s something that we don’t want to do, but feel somehow coerced to; we should have a willing desire to affirm what scripture clearly teaches. I hate homosexuality, but I love homosexuals.  I hate transgenderism, but I love transgendered people. As Christians we are not to judge such people for their sin, because you and I are sinners saved by grace. Instead we love them by telling them about the holy and righteous God that will judge them unless they repent and surrender in faith to Christ.  Whether that happens or not is wholly the sovereign prerogative of God. Our job is simply to proclaim the truth in love and then pray for God to be glorified through our faithful witness of His truth.

Window of Discourse

Changing gears, there is a political theory known as the Overton Window, or the Window of Discourse.  This theory describes the process by which ideas or policies are considered politically acceptable in the current climate of public opinion.  If a politician recommends an idea or policy that is outside of the window, it would be considered too radical and would not be accepted by the public.  The theory states that over a period of time this window can be slowly moved, or manipulated, so that what seemed radical 15 or 20 years ago would be acceptable today.  Both political parties have employed this strategy in the past, and continue to do so today. I can remember back in the 1990s when it was thought of as radical for two people of the same sex to be in a relationship, let alone get married.  It was a radical idea and was not accepted by the public. On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled 5-4 in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry. What happened between the 90s and 2015?  This was a very long argument that slowly gained traction and eventually became widely accepted by our society. It was argued in lower courts for years, until finally SCOTUS stepped in and ruled. As Christians such a decision should offend us because it offends the God that paid for us with the life of His Son.  God has objectively defined what marriage is in His word. Marriage is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, created by God. Marriage is a picture of the gospel. Marriage is designed by God as the best means of human flourishing. In one ruling SCOTUS decimated this biblical truth, and we are now being told that if we do not fall in line and accept this ruling that we are judgmental, hateful bigots.  Political demagoguery at its best.

Overton Window Strategy

This is just one of many examples of the Overton Window strategy being used.  If you have been paying attention since Obergefell, you have seen the window continue to move.  After same-sex marriage was normalized, soon after the transgender movement took center stage. Boys can become girls, and girls can become boys depending on how they “self-identify”.   Feel free to use whatever restroom you identify with. Biological males winning sports contests designed for females. We are told that such abominations are progressive and good and that these competitors are brave and virtuous. All of this is just another example of a world that hates God attempting to overturn His purposes in creation.  Biology has been thrown to the wind. The natural order of God’s good creation has been overturned, and we are told to just shut up and accept it. Some people who identify with this movement even try to claim Christ as their Lord, rewriting the text of scripture to fit their narrative. Biblical Christianity is being marginalized and is being replaced by a false Christianity… but that is a discussion for a different day.  

Love is Love, Right?

As the window continues to be moved by those with an antichrist agenda, we are now seeing Pedophilia take center stage.  Who would have thought 20 years ago that our society would even entertain such evil? When you are thinking logically such a thought is incomprehensible.  I personally see consistency in the fact that a nation that murders 3,000 children in the womb everyday would eventually turn those children who were fortunate enough to be born over to sexual predators.  I mean, love is love… right?

In 2018 what we are seeing is a godless worldview that is based in nothing more than subjective, blind emotional pragmatism.  There is no logic or reason. Critical thinking… what’s that? Your truth is just as true as mine, even though they stand in stark contrast to each other.  If you say that an eight year old child has the emotional and logical capacity to determine their gender, then in the interest of logical and philosophical consistency you must also say that same child has the emotional and logical capacity to consent to sex with an adult.  The only way around that is blind emotional pragmatism. In such a worldview there can be no objective, ultimate morality. There is only arbitrary personal preferences.

Objective Sources of Morality

Such a person can say that my seven year old son has the ability to determine that he should have been born a girl, and then call the 35 year old man who wants to have sex with him a pervert and call for him to be incarcerated.  The latter is certainly true to be sure, but from what objective source of morality is that conclusion being drawn from? As a Christian I can objectively say that it’s immoral and evil, because God calls it immoral and evil, but when your worldview rejects God and has placed man on the throne in place of Him what then?  Isn’t the 35 year old Pedophile just living his truth? Once again, love is love, right? It has already been conceded that a child is capable of determining his or her gender, and so it certainly must follow that they can choose their sexual partner. What if the 35 year old man self identifies as a nine year old? What if the eight year old boy self identifies as a 41 year old woman?  Do you see the infinite spiral of immoral absurdity that is the natural consequence of a rejection of the Lordship and authority of Jesus Christ and the ultimate standards of morality found only in biblical Christianity?

Spitting in God’s Face

Sure, the non-Christian can do moral things and have moral opinions, but because their worldview fundamentally cannot provide for it, they must steal it from the Christian worldview, and they do so while spitting in God’s face.   In closing, Christians, we haven’t seen bad yet. Bad is coming… are you ready for it? Can you defend the Christian worldview? You may know what you believe, but do you know WHY you believe it? How far will the window move in the next five years?  What about 15 or 20 years? Today as I write this, Pedophilia is still considered too radical, but if the secular totalitarians have their way, as they have for the past several decades, it will eventually be normalized and accepted. You may read that and think I’m crazy, but consider the public view on homosexuality 30 years ago compared to the view today.  

Good News

The good news is that this madness will eventually end when the sky cracks open and the Lord returns in glory to conquer His enemies once and for all and claim His Church.  Until that day comes we must remain vigilant and uncompromising. There is no neutrality. We are not to be apathetic or indifferent on this issue. May God grant all of His Church the strength to overcome as we look forward to the day when Jesus will make everything new.  No King but Christ.

Van McDaniel lives in Virginia Beach, VA with his wife Angela and 3 children.  He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and currently works as a Systems Analyst.  He is a member of New Song Fellowship Church in Virginia Beach.