The 7 Most Unpopular Things I'll Continue To Teach At My Church 😬

Spring has sprung and so have the bugs. I've already endured my fair share of mosquito bites and, at this point in my life, I still have not developed enough discipline to abstain from scratching them. An itch is best soothed, not scratched. We know that, but scratching does immediately what soothing does eventually. And because of that, the Bible warns us that we will be tempted to find leaders who tell us what our "itching ears" wish to hear.

THE WORD

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. -2 Timothy 4:3

Popularity is not inherently evil. Just because something is big, trendy, or prominent doesn't mean it's wrong. Billy Graham packed out stadiums and arenas. Jesus' popularity is what eventually sent Him to the cross but He was popular nonetheless. It's what people do in order to achieve popularity that often becomes problematic.

Paul warned Timothy of the day when people would seek out teachers who scratch the itch of their selfish and sinful desires. Our sinful nature operates very similarly to a bug bite. It can be persistent and we're often tempted to give into the temporary pleasure of a scratch, but what we really need is the washing of the Word.

Ephesians 5 tells us that Christ makes His Church holy, blameless, and mature through the "washing with water through the Word." That means, in a culture that celebrates evil and normalizes unrighteousness, we are to hold the line, stand on the truth, and teach the Bible no matter how unpopular it may become, because it's ultimately what people need.

THE 7 MOST UNPOPULAR THINGS I'LL CONTINUE TO TEACH

Before I jump into this list, I want to let my intentions be known. I really searched my motives before writing this because I didn't want this to seem like some sort of "hit piece" on certain sins. There's a reason I titled this the "most" unpopular things because these are not the ONLY unpopular things I will teach at our Church. The call to follow Jesus is counter-cultural no matter what culture you are in. What sets these seven apart is how they stand in the face of current and modern trends.

I hear many pastors say things like, "I would much rather be known by what I'm for, than what I'm against." I agree with that sentiment, however, we can't use that as a justification for why we won't condemn sin. "Just preach the gospel" has served as a great guise for, "Don't confront the gaps between my faith and my life."

In Jesus' most popular sermon on the kingdom He included discourses on adultery, lust, divorce, money, and more. If anyone were to tell Jesus, "You should just focus on the gospel" I believe it's likely that His response would have been, "I am."

So, in light of the current itch plaguing our culture, here are seven things I've determined I'm going to keep teaching, regardless of how unpopular they may become.

1. ABORTION IS MURDER

Exodus 20:13, Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:13-16, Isaiah 5:20

Well that escalated quickly. Please understand, it's not judgement that you're hearing from me, it's boldness. I have no desire to hold up graphic images or yell at women in front of clinics. I will, however, pray in front of them. I will also make our Church available for women to turn to when they find themselves in an unwanted pregnancy.

This is an area where I have determined to be outspoken precisely because of the spirit of fear that has gripped much of the Church. Abortion has been labeled as a healthcare issue, a procedure, a woman's right, and a political debate, but too few are willing to call it murder.

Child sacrifice to false gods is a practice that dates back Bibles times. Then, they sacrificed their children in the name of Molech, but now we sacrifice our children in the name of freedom, independence, and sexual liberty. You can't read the Word without acknowledging God's heart for the womb. I write more extensively about this issue HERE.

2. DIVORCE IS DESTRUCTIVE

Malachi 2:16, Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19:1-12, 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Let me first say I do not condemn people who are divorced and remarried, nor do we prohibit them from becoming members or serving in areas of our Church. I am aware that the subject of divorce and remarriage has been the root of a lot of wounds within the Church.

Even the scriptures acknowledge that there is a lot of nuance surrounding this issue. We don't treat every case as the same and we certainly must give special attention to the stories behind marriages that have failed. All that being said, the scriptures are still very clear that divorce is destructive.

For several decades now, not only has divorce become largely accepted in our society, but in many ways it has become celebrated. A few months ago CNBC published an article about the new trend of "divorce parties" sweeping the nation. It's almost as though divorce has become another landmark on the journey of life: driver's license at age 16, college at age 18, marriage at age 24, children at age 28, divorce at age 32... and so it goes.

Regardless of how nuanced, touchy, and sensitive this subject is, pastors can't afford to be silent about the sanctity of marriage in our pulpits. It's shortsighted to be passionate about life conceived in the womb but not vows made at the altar. They are both sacred in the eyes of God.

By the way, the divorce rate within the Church is not significantly lower than outside of the Church. The only way we will be able to stop the endless cycle of divorce among believers is to teach and uphold what God's Word says about the importance of those teary-eyed vows we make at the altar. Yes, there are cases where separation is acceptable and even best. But it was Jesus who said, "What God has put together, let no man separate." It's controversial but it's still concrete.

3. SEX IS SACRED

Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 6:18, Colossians 3:5, Romans 1:26-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

The words "sexual immorality" are used approximately 30 times throughout the New Testament. That's at least once for every book. It would appear that perversity and promiscuity isn't a modern phenomenon. If you think our culture is sexually immoral, you should have seen the Romans and the Greeks! We may have pornographic websites available at our finger tips but they built whole monuments and temples for the purpose of easy-access prostitution, which they considered an act of worship. The reality is, sexual perversion is still an act of worship to a false and lesser god, we just don't like to admit it today.

The Biblical sex ethic is simply defined as one man and one woman in marriage for life. Anything outside of this blueprint is not only immoral, but imperfect; a knock-off brand of the real thing. The scriptures teach sexual immorality in it's various forms include:

• Pre-marital sex (sex before marriage, considered adultery)

• Extra-marital sex (sex outside of marriage, also considered adultery)

• Sex with an Image (pornography, lust, masturbation, once again, also considered adultery)

• Sex with the Same Sex (homosexual acts, not necessarily attraction)

• Sex with multiple-partners (orgies, which are mentioned quite a bit in the Bible)

The list goes on...

Rather than tackling each one and giving credence as to why they are so destructive, it's perhaps much more effective to point to the over-arching truth here: God has ordained sex as a sacred union. He defined marriage and the practice of sex in Genesis 2:24 when He said, "...a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." Therefore, any distortion of that is a misuse of what God has created and ordained as holy.

God made sex, but today our culture is attempting to make sex a god. The idea that a person should identify and be defined by their attractions and sexual desires is a flawed belief that distorts the Biblical sex ethic. For that reason I will not simply, "just preach the Gospel." You can't preach the Kingdom of God without preaching the culture of that Kingdom, and culture comes with a set of morals, ethics, and laws. Our Church, our home, and my life is wide open to people of all backgrounds and lifestyles, but our message remains the same for everyone: we must lay down every inferior identity at the feet of Jesus when we say yes to Him. That doesn't always happen immediately nor is it our place to force it on anyone. Loving people well and sharing the truth in love is the key.

4. MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT

Ephesians 5:21-33, Genesis 2:18, Genesis 1:27, 1 Peter 3:7

God uniquely designed two sexes to operate in different capacities. Women should be encouraged, valued, treated equally, and championed in every facet of life. Men should not be degraded in order to do so. The roles of men and women are meant to compliment one another, not compete with one another.

Despite how unpopular it has become, I still firmly hold to the Bible's instruction for men to lead their homes and to be priests over their families. That's not domineering, abusive, toxic, or old fashioned, it's Ephesians 5. Men are to lead with love and women are to help with honor.

When God fashioned the woman in order to be the "helper" that was not a title given in contempt. "Helper" is often the title that the Holy Spirit gives Himself. If the woman is to be a helper, that means the man should be giving himself to a vision that he is unable to accomplish on his own.

This doesn't mean women cannot or should not lead. It doesn't mean women don't deserve respect, nor does it mean that men aren't in need of love. The Bible simply speaks to the overall purpose and function God gave to the sexes when He created them. So, I'm determined to uphold the Word of God on this very contentious topic.

Women can't be men and men can't be women. We're not all the same and that was the intent of the Creator from the beginning. Much of what society is calling toxic masculinity today has been characteristic of men for centuries. It only became "toxic" in light of a culture that desires to see men become more feminized and less masculine. You would be hard-pressed to find a righteous man in the Bible that culture today wouldn't label as "toxically masculine." Even Jesus flipped tables and drove money-changers out with whips, and rightfully so. Bottom line: the Church must take a stand on God's unique design and teach against the trends when the Word requires us to do so.

5. RACISM IS EVIL

1 Corinthians 12:13, 1 John 2:10-11, Galatians 3:26-28, James 2:1-4, Revelation 7:9

You might be thinking: racism being evil is not an unpopular belief! I agree. I believe the overwhelming majority of people in America today are NOT racist. But this statement is currently unpopular because speaking out against racism has largely become associated with political ideology, much like abortion.

If you speak out against abortion, it's largely assumed you align with the right. If you speak out against racism, there's an under-lying assumption that you align with the left, not because the right is racist, but because the left has made racism a major part of it's platform.

Allow me to be clear, I do not in any way believe racism is one of the major problems in our society, as many on the left would postulate. At the same time I believe racism is alive and well, as many on the right would argue with. I've personally witnessed racist comments, actions, and attitudes towards those close to me over the years that are hard to ignore.

So, I've determined, regardless of what political tentacles may try to attach themselves to this subject, the Bible is very clear on the value of all human life and the tearing down of racial divides. Jesus is the uniter of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation! When we come to the cross we submit our racial identity to our identity in Christ. My race, nor that of someone else, has no bearing on our worth. To love Christ is to love everyone who is created in His image.

For that reason I will continue to teach that every form of racism and prejudice is evil, regardless of who it is aimed at: black, white, Jew, Palestinian, Asian, Christian, Muslim, etc.

6. HELL IS REAL

Revelation 21:8, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 25:46, 2 Peter 2:4, Mark 9:43

Cancel me later, but Hell is still real. I grew up in an era where, if the Church couldn't get you to want Heaven, they would at least get you to fear Hell! Cue the judgement houses during Halloween, the horrifying Church skits to Carmen songs (iykyk), and the popular books written by people who experienced Hell and were sent back to tell us about it!

The Church used to preach on Hell A LOT. And perhaps we went a little overboard (ok, we most certainly went overboard). But now we have swung very far the other way. No one talks about Hell anymore. In fact, it has almost taken on this very anti-intellectual tone. To believe in Jesus' death and resurrection is one thing and when it comes to believing in Heaven, you won't find a funeral where that's not mentioned at least once! Believing in eternal reward seems to come naturally, but to believe in eternal punishment is definitely out of vogue. But the irony is that the cultural acceptance of Heaven is directly connected to the teachings of the Bible, where we also find quite a lot about Hell.

Now, perhaps it's an Old Testament vs New Testament thing? Maybe all the scriptures about Hell are found in those really hard-to-understand Old Testament books like Ezekiel or Nahum. But it's actually the opposite. Most of the scriptures that mention the lake of fire and eternal damnation are in the New Testament and it was Jesus Himself who spoke about Hell more than anyone else in the entire Bible.

We don't call it "being saved" for nothing. We aren't just saved TO life, we are saved FROM death. Christ's death and resurrection rescued us from eternal separation in Hell. The Gospel is not complete without sin and judgement, therefore we must continue to teach about the reality of Hell. If you want to put on a skit to do that, more power to you, but I'm probably just going to stick with sermons for now.

7. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN

John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9-10, John 3:16

We are now living in a post-post-modern society (that's two posts on purpose, not a typo). That means we are far removed from the days where truth was objective and there were certain rules and principles we could all agree on.

Society has now gone the way of moral-subjectivity, where everyone possesses their "own truth" and the greatest sin is not being true to oneself (unless of course oneself is a Bible-believer, in which case you should abandon said truth and join the rest of the modern world in denying anything that hurts someone's feelings or opposes someone's paradigm).

Moral relativism has taken on many slogans today including "COEXIST" bumper stickers, "My Body, My Choice" chants at militant abortion parades, and even 'LET IT GO" by the beloved Ice Queen from Arendelle as she embraces who she was always meant to be. Post-modernism is largely characterized by the celebration of all beliefs as being equally valuable and true. Synonymously, it calls for the rejection of anything that even smells of moral superiority.

Because Christianity has long been the dominant religion of the western world, it quickly became the enemy of the relativistic movement. Never mind that Christianity is thriving way more today in Africa and South America or that Islam is far more dogmatic in its approach to forcible conversions via the sword and brutal violence. The bottom line is that you can love Jesus as much as you want but you can't claim Him as the ONLY way to Heaven or the RIGHT way to find meaning and purpose. In today's climate we are taught to not only tolerate alternative beliefs, but we also to celebrate them and even educate our children on them so they can find their own "truth."

Let me remind you, it was a moral relativist who ordered Jesus to the cross. After asking, "What is truth?" Pilate failed to see truth in human form was standing right in front of him. Jesus is not one option among many. He's not the best choice, He's the only choice. He is how we come to the Father and are made right with Him. The Bible calls it reconciliation. He is the mediator, the advocate, the propitiation for our sins, and the atoning sacrifice. This is not just a major tenant of our faith, it's THE major tenant of our faith. Jesus has always been and will always be the only way to Heaven and to the forgiveness of our sinfulness and shame.

I have no desire to judge people who follow others religions or philosophies. I do however love them. The greatest way we can love our neighbors is by holding up the truth of Jesus for them to see. Jesus promised that if we do that, He would draw all heart to Himself.

CONCLUSION

I'm aware there may be many who read this that don't know me and there's no way I can adequately fit everything I believe and teach about these topics into a single blog (even one as ridiculously long as this one). So, allow me to just end with a little window of perspective.

Our Church is filled with people who have abortions, failed marriages, sexual immorality, and much more in their past. Romans 3 makes it clear, we have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In Christ, not only does our sin no longer define us, it also no longer enslaves us. Jesus DIED to FORGIVE us of our sin, but He ROSE to FREE us of our sin.

Does that mean we won't sin anymore? No. But it does mean that we are empowered by His grace to say no to ungodliness and to walk in the righteousness He has laid out for us. We're also empowered to boldly proclaim the truth of His Word to a culture that rejects it. Newsflash, we all rejected the truth before we repented and gave our lives to Jesus.

If any of these topics hit a nerve with you, I encourage you to dig into God's Word and seek His will on them. Pastors and leaders, I encourage you to dig your heels in where the world is determined to combat the truth. There's a reason the enemy is fighting so hard in these areas and it's because much of the Church has allowed the spirit of fear to keep us timid where we should be bold. Back on your feet soldiers!