A visitor to this web site asked:

What can Christians do to counter the trend towards the homosexual movement gaining prominence in our community and the thinking of our churches? Yours Jack

Here is the answer I sent him:

You are right in your desire to do something to counter this rise in homosexuality because of the oppression it represents for those involved in it. God calls us to "do justly"! Mic.6:8. Our Heavenly Father executes justice for all who are oppressed and we are to be like Him.

The temptation is to want to deal with this in the physical realm but this will only deal with the symptoms of the spiritual problem underlying and giving rise to it. The thrilling thing about being Christians and members of Christ's Body is that we have authority and power to impact and alter things and trends by prayer.

Paul says,

"The weapons of our warfare are not carnal BUT MIGHTY in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - NKJV

We have something mighty to deal with things and trends that are exalting themselves against the knowledge God. By prayer we can cast them down!

As I was considering your question and your anquish at the state of things I was directed to Matthew 5:44.

"Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you!"

Matthew 5:44 - NKJV

It's like the old saying, "Hate the sin but love the sinner!" We need to intercede for those who are harming themselves by their own actions.

Again Paul writes,

"If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them."

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 - NKJV

By intercession for those whose actions harm themselves the Holy Spirit is given opportunity in their lives to lift up a standard against the forces of darkness and to bring to them a revelation of the truth from God's Word. The Holy Spirit can act against the devil's work that blinds them and bring them to the knowledge of the truth.

This is the will of God for them and the object of the exhortation given to us to pray for all men.

"I exhort first of all that...intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men...For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

1 Timothy 2:1-4 - NKJV

God desires, not only for their salvation, but also for their knowledge of the truth - all men, believers and unbelievers!

We need to recognise that Jesus called His church to govern on the Earth and this government is to be - in this dispensation - by asking, binding, loosing and requiring in prayer. When we, as the Church, do this then the gates of hell will have no strength to the Church's detriment or be able to hold out against its onslaughts. We will be determining where the gates of hell are!

Let's make the gates of hell far removed from all believers and their loved ones! (See Mat.16:18-20)