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By Darren Walker

Today, we live in an ever-changing world, where the faith we grew up on is being challenged by many different outside entities.

To believe that same-sex marriage, abortion, and transgenderism are wrong and a sin before God seems to be the minority opinion. Even though the loud, vocal supporters of these lifestyles want us to believe that we conservatives are in the minority in these matters, I believe that true Christians who believe that the Bible does not support this lifestyle are in the majority.

 As a pastor and Christian for over 45 years, I will not apologize for believing and following the Word of God. As Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth,”

 As a pastor and a Christian, I want those who live a different lifestyle than my own to know that I do not hate you, I do not think that you are a second-class citizen, or that you have no worth.

I believe that you were created by God (Genesis 1:27) and that God loves you (John 3:16). But the hard truth that no one wants to hear, is that because we live in a depraved world full of sin (Philippians 2:15), that many will choose to follow paths in their lives that differ from how God would want us to go.

When we do these things, the Bible says we are sinning. This sin separates us from a holy God (Isaiah 59:2) who loves us but cannot approve of our sins. Because of this, we all have a choice to turn from our sins (1 John 1:9) and follow a holy God or to stay separated from Him. You cannot have both. Therefore, affirming this sin and saying it is okay does not truly show you love but is leading you to death.

 As Christians, God has called us to be different from the world (Ephesians 4:17). To not live in darkness (1 Peter 2:9). To be separate from the sinful world (2 Corinthians 6:17; Romans 12:2). For me to affirm a sinful lifestyle that goes against the teaching of God’s Word would be a sin.

We are told both that God’s Word never changes (Hebrews 13:8; Matthew 24:35) and that we are not to add or take away from God’s Word (Revelation 22:18-19). Because of this, we must hold tight to our faith in an ever-changing world.

My church cannot and will not approve of these sinful lifestyles, but that does not mean we hate you or do not love you. A church should be a safe place for the sinner to come to and find the love of a Savior who died for them, not a place that coddles non-Christian ideals.

Darren Walker is the Senior Pastor at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Washington.