Dallas and Fort Worth are within hollerin' distance of each other and comprise the fourth largest metroplex in the nation with approximately 6 ½ million population. But, as much as the cities share in common, each celebrated sin with its own unique septic style this Gay "Pride" season. Dallas flaunted corporate sponsors and dignitaries and elaborate floats in its 25th Annual "Pride" parade, September 21. While, in keeping with its cow town image, more cowboy boots and far less flash were in evidence at Fort Worth's 27th "Pride" event, October 5, 2008.
Dallas
When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19
Our little Gideon band of 20 Christians went to battle against Satan for the hearts, minds and souls of thousands of homosexuals (promoters claimed 20,000!) attending the 25th annual Dallas Gay Pride parade the third Sunday in September.
Armed with the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, our preacher boys preached and our young women prayed as we took the Lord's message across enemy lines.
While handing out gospel tracts to parade-watchers, we met a lady in her 70's who said she lived in the neighborhood and came out because "I enjoy the fun." She turned down our tract. "I don't want your Jesus literature!" she said, calling us "church people out here preaching hate." We assured her we weren't doing this out of hatred, and our literature quoted what the God of the Bible said. She retorted, "That's your God, not mine! My God is the God of the Old Testament. Jesus isn't in the Old Testament." In a gentle tone, one of our men said, "Oh yes, he is, read Isaiah 53." She looked unconvinced but replied, "I will!" then turned in a huff and walked away. We pray she does. What started out as a witness to homosexuals had quickly broadened to become an outreach to the Jews, the people chosen by God to bless the families of the earth through Christ Jesus, (Gen 12:3)
A homosexual approached us and handed us a tract he was passing out. The cover read "What Jesus Said About Homosexuality." Inside the tract was blank. The back of the tract explains that Jesus didn't say anything about homosexuality - the basic argument being that Jesus didn't mention anything about it, therefore it can't be wrong. When we told him that Jesus also didn't say anything about bestiality, rape, or many other specific sins, but that he upheld the Old Testament moral law, he started making other excuses and arguments. He even denied that Paul ever condemned homosexuality in I Tim 1:10 and ICor.6:9, stating that the Greek word used meant something else.
Sadly this is just a reflection of the deception that many homosexuals live in. We know that only the Holy Spirit can break through the hardness of their hearts and reveal to them the truth. We pray that God will use each word spoken in love at the parade to convict, heal, and save those who, like us, desperately need the life saving power of Jesus Christ.
Fort Worth
[ I ] praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride. Daniel 4:37
Ten humble Believers gathered on a Fort Worth street corner this past Sunday with Scripture signs and a bull horn to sound the biblical warning that there are eternal consequences for rebellion against God. This is a new effort for this group whose first outreach was last year. Thanks to their faithfulness, the 1,000 or so attendees at the Tarrant County Gay "Pride" parade were given the opportunity to learn the Truth, repent, and be set free from their transgressions.
Several of us walked among bystanders passing out gospel cards that extol the wonders of the human body and asks the questions "How have you used your body so far? Have you ever used your mouth to lie? Your hands to steal? Your eyes to lust (adultery of the heart)?" As I was returning for more supplies, a homosexual wearing a T-shirt advertising the Episcopal Church he belongs to, stopped me. "I understand and appreciate what you're trying to do," he said, "but you're just going about it in the wrong way." (What a familiar ring that had!) When he told me we wouldn't be able to reach homosexuals using our methods, I assured him that we had reached homosexuals in past years using these methods. He then insisted that they hadn't really changed. His take on the salvation story was that Jesus died for sinners, therefore homosexuals are forgiven and free to continue in their sin. It didn't matter to him that Jesus himself said, "Repent [turn from your sin], and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15) He became louder and more assertive with each attempt to speak truth to him. He had been shackled by this sin for forty or more years and made it abundantly clear that he had no intention of casting off its bonds.
Later, when we admired a little boy sitting on a man's shoulders and asked if this was his son, he turned to the man next to him and said, "He's our son." Knowing that pedophilia is more than three times more common among homosexuals than among heterosexuals, the saddest thing we face at these "Pride" events is the sight of little children. This is a major reason to keep shining the light of the gospel on the darkness of human souls. Paul gave us encouragement to continue the fight in the familiar passage "Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor 6:9-11).
