A relatively small band of progressives have declared war against the PCA, demanding greater conformity, not to our confessional standards but to a version of the world’s standard of human sexuality in which one’s identity is determined by the sum total of their lusts. Their efforts have been magnified by the National Partnership; a highly organized, clandestine fraternity of block-voting progressives. While naïve moderates and confessionalists have been busy writing sermons and pastoring their churches, NP leaders have been mastering the art of denominational chess, stacking committees, distributing General Assembly voting guides, and maintaining anonymous mailing lists, closed Facebook groups, and password-protected websites

In 1643, George Gillespie traveled to London as one of the eleven Scots chosen to participate in the Westminster Assembly. Initially tasked by Parliament to revise the 39 Articles of the Church of England, one of the most contentious topics of the Assembly was the nature of the relationship between the church and state. On one occasion the renowned legal scholar and Erastian, John Seldon, argued for the spiritual subordination of the church to the magistrate. The logic of the elder statesman seemed so unassailable none rose to challenge him. Parliament had called the meeting, after all. But then, Gillespie heard the whispered voice of his friend, Samuel Rutherford, “Rise, George! Rise up, man, and defend the church which Christ has purchased with his own blood.” Gillespie stood and with scripturally-saturated wisdom, trumpeted Christ’s supremacy over his church and won the day, leaving an indelibly biblical mark on the ecclesiology of the Standards and the Reformation itself. He was 31 years old.
Gillespie’s bold example should serve as smelling salts in the nostrils of young churchmen in the PCA. Caught in the crossfire between a godly impulse to show deference to fathers in the faith and a culture of prolonged adolescence, it can be difficult for young elders to know their place and find their voice. When controversial issues like Revoice come knocking on the doors of our sessions, presbyteries and general assemblies, conventional wisdom kicks in, urging the greener presbyter to “Sit tight. Stay out of it. Let the older titans clash. ‘Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise’ (Proverbs 17:28).” For the assistant pastor whose livelihood is umbilically connected to the good graces of his senior minister and session or for the RUF minister, missionary, chaplain, or church planter whose support may come from a broad coalition of churches with conflicting visions for the future of the PCA, biblical boldness can have a steep price tag. But while there is a time for young elders “to keep silence,” there is also “a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).
Brothers, that time is now.
The PCA ordains gay pastors.[1] The commitment of men like Greg Johnson to abstain from homosexual activity is important, but their insistence on identifying themselves by their sinful desires — instead of renouncing them with holy hatred — is a tragic compromise. While the adoption of the Nashville Statement and the Report on Human Sexuality were encouraging psychological victories for those eager to guard the purity of Christ’s church, all actual judicial attempts to exercise discipline have proven unsuccessful. This, coupled with the recent failure of two-thirds of our presbyteries to approve overtures intended to slow the spread of Revoice theology, is symptomatic of a denomination in crisis.
The Ephesian church of Paul’s day faced similar challenges. False teachers had risen to prominence and infected the church with their “strange doctrines” regarding marriage, celibacy, and homosexuality, among others (1 Timothy 1:10 & 4:3). To resist these wolves and shepherd the Ephesian flock, Paul sent in young Timothy, urging him, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:10). You see, Paul knew that while “the splendor of old men is their gray hair,” “the glory of young men is their strength” (Proverbs 20:29). He knew that “it is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth” (Lamentations 3:27). He knew that Joseph was 30 when he entered the service of Pharoah and saved the world. He knew that Levitical priests were 30 when they started pleading for sinners before the mercy seat. He knew that David was 30 when he began to rule as king over Israel. He knew that Jesus was 30 when he came “into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God” (Mark 1:14–15). Paul knew that a man’s usefulness to the Kingdom of God has never been determined by his age but by his faithfulness. Young elders in the PCA must know it too.
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[1] See Greg Johnson’s USA Today article, I’m a Gay Celibate Pastor of a Conservative Church. Here’s a Trick for De-Escalation. 

To state the obvious, Scripture is very concerned about our holiness. For example, Peter says,
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14–16)
The Bible’s main term for “holiness” occurs about 850 times in the Bible. Of those, 152 occur in the book of Leviticus. This frequency demonstrates that holiness is preeminent in this biblical book.
The Westminster Confession of Faith, in its chapter on the law of God, states:
Beside this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties. All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the new testament. (19.3)
This paragraph raises some interesting questions. For example, do ceremonial laws have any bearing on the New Testament people of God? Why would God give so much space in the canon of Scripture to describe such strange rituals and laws if they no longer apply to the people of God?
This article will focus on the so-called Holiness Code in Leviticus and the purposes of rituals, ceremonial regulations, and other practices so that we may see how Israel was different from the other nations. Next, we will discuss what God was trying to teach His people by including these prohibitions in His revelation to His specially chosen people. Finally, we will conclude by briefly discussing the significance of these ritual laws for God’s new covenant people.
The Holiness Code in Leviticus
August Klostermann in the nineteenth century was the first to call Leviticus 17–26 the Holiness Code. Chapters 1–16 of Leviticus were considered a different editorial strand. Nevertheless, to make Leviticus 17–26 a distinct section from chapters 1–16 would seem to destroy the connections between chapters 16 and 17 and unnecessarily separate chapter 17 and the manual of sacrifice in chapters 1–7.
Holiness is the dominant and all- encompassing theme in these chapters of Leviticus: 17:1–16 addresses the place of sacrifice and the sanctity of blood; 18:1–20:27 speaks about sins against the moral law; 21:1–22:33 makes clear how priests must be holy; 23:1–44 addresses holy convocations (e.g., the Sabbath, the Passover, the offering of the firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks, the seventh month, the feasts of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Booths); 24:1–23 discusses the holy oil, the bread of the Presence, and the sin of blasphemy; 25:1–55 addresses the sabbatical year and the Year of Jubilee. Finally, 26:1–46 addresses the sanctions—that is, the blessings and curses. Now, let us be honest: when we read through these chapters in Leviticus, many of these practices seem strange to our modern sensibilities. Even so, this was our forefathers’ world: it was filled with blood and guts and demanded strict adherence to these practices, or the consequences would be dire.

While warning the world of sin and judgment, the Lord in His infinite mercy and grace does not leave you with the pronouncement of death for all your perversions. Yes, He tells you that by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight (Romans 3:20). Yes, He says sodomites and homosexuals and boasters in the flesh and haters of God will not inherit eternal life. But He does not stop there. That is where we in our sin – apart from Christ. But then the glory is revealed. But now… You, who cannot find life or salvation on your own, have this glorious message revealed, life and salvation come to you. By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight… But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed…even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. Romans 3:20-22 NKJV

Do not be proud, for the LORD has spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God before He causes darkness.
Jeremiah 13:15-16 NKJV
More than 2,000 years ago a king named Herod made a speech at the occasion of a peace treaty. Those that heard him speak said that his voice was that of a god and not of a man. Rather than giving glory to God, King Herod took the praise for himself. In his pride, an angel of the Lord struck him, and he was eaten by worms and died (Acts 12:20-24).
Pride – a great sin among the nations throughout history is a sin that afflicts us today. Pride was involved when Eve in the garden listened to the serpent and gave the fruit to Adam so that he sinned against God. (Genesis 3:1-19). With all our advances in technology and understanding of the creation, we have not humbled ourselves before the Creator who is blessed forever, but we worship and serve the creature who is passing away.
Sodom, that infamous city of Canaan was notorious for its sin of pride. She was a city full of wealth, idleness, and in her pride she committed abominations before God. Therefore, God took her away through fire and brimstone from Heaven (Ezekiel 16:49-50).
Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon, the conqueror of Judah, the destroyer of Egypt, was full of pride. When he was repented, he made this confession of God, His “works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (Daniel 4:37).
Nebuchadnezzar’s son repeated his father’s sin. Full of pride, relishing in his wives, treasures, and friends, the Lord brought the Medes and the Persians into Babylon and destroyed Belshazzar and his kingdom in a single night. For the Lord said, you have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting (Daniel 6:27). For [Babylon] has been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel…the most proud shall stumble and fall… I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all around him” (Jeremiah 50:29-32).
The empires of the ancient world, from the Greeks and Carthaginians to the Romans whose emperors were supposed to be gods, all were full of pride and were destroyed. Modern history is much the same. The 1,000-year Reich of Nazi Germany lasted less than 15 years. The glory of Mussolini’s Italy ended with his body defiled. All the proud have been brought low by the God they denied, while His Word which they hated has endured.
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble
James 4:6
Many major cities around the world celebrates the great evil of pride. Rather than confessing we are but men who are here for a moment and perish, they act like they will live forever, delighting in evil, and condemning good. And yet the Lord cries out a warning that the day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up – and it shall be brought low (Isaiah 2:12).
The world’s prophets tell you not to worry about pride, rather, celebrate it. Your friends and family members celebrate your pride with you. Though all the world join with you in pride, the Lord will still be against you. For this reason, we do not come to you today telling you Peace, Peace when there is no peace and you are on the path to destruction. Rather, we come to you crying Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand!
The Lord will destroy the house of the proud
Proverbs 15:25
The matter of destruction ought to possess your greatest attention. The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah in one night were destroyed by God with fire and brimstone. The judgment of the Lord is coming again and is being revealed now as a warning to the living. Death has come and is coming upon you and all people, for all have sinned (Romans 5:12).
The judgment that is coming on the proud is a place of great terror and torment. It is the place Jesus refers to as Hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:44).
We plead with you… Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).
The Bible on PRIDE
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.
Mark 7:21-23 NKJV
Hear and give ear: Do not be proud, for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God before He causes darkness.
Jeremiah 13:15-16 NKJV
The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure.
Psalm 101:5 NKJV
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18 NKJV
When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2 NKJV
A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.
Proverbs 29:23 NKJV
These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood.
Proverbs 6:16-17 NKJV
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.
Proverbs 8:13 NKJV
For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
I John 2:16-17 NKJV
Homosexuality: God Gave Them Up
What is good? You are living in a time where the answer to that question is generally, “whatever you say it is.” When it comes to a mother murdering her child, the world tells her, “Your choice is the right choice,” and “Your body your choice.” When it comes to sexuality and identity the world tells you, “You are how you feel” and “love is love.”
A problem with these slogans is that the underlying truth they present is “you” and you are always changing. Therefore, what is good is not stable but is constantly in motion, always changing, never certain, and will eventually die.
God who is good has not left you to determine good according to your own ideas but has rather shown you, O man, what is good: And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).
If you love God, you will humble yourself before Him and seek to keep His commandments. If you hate God you will walk in pride, not only sinning against God but approving of those who do the same (Romans 1:32).
You know God today because you are made in His image. But do you glorify God as God? For much of the world the answer is “no.” Professing themselves to be wise, the world has exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God into an image like corruptible man and worshipped the creature instead of the Creator who is blessed forever, Amen.
For this reason, exchanging the truth of God for a lie, God said He gave them up to vile passions, men and women practicing homosexuality, given over to pride, haters of God, and similar sins.
These acts, activities, and lifestyles that you may engage in or celebrate as an ally are perverted pursuits. The word perverted is not meant as a slur but rather a statement meaning to turn aside or away from what is good and morally right.
Leaving what is good, that which is from God, you have become perverted in your ways. God refers to this perversion as a reprobate mind and is His judgment against a wicked people.
In similar manner God speaks concerning Sodom and Gomorrah. It is from Sodom of course that the name “sodomite” and “sodomy” are derived. Of these cities, God said, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire (Jude 1:7).
Sodom and Gomorrah gave themselves over to sin and God gave them up to their sin. This is the reality of homosexuality and LGBTQ+ culture, God has given over to perversion those who have given themselves over to sin.
It is not the goal of this short pamphlet to convince you of your sin and misery in this perverted and sinful condition. Rather, this condition is known to you. Those who were in homosexuality before you and have been born again of the Spirit and saved by the blood of the Lamb of God have had this testimony – that they heard the Word of God from faithful witnesses and knew their own sin but for some time, perhaps years, they suppressed the truth, crying out louder against it and blocking their ears from it until God by His Word and Spirit convinced them of their sin and misery enlightened their minds to the knowledge of Christ and renewed their wills so that they could  embrace Jesus Christ who is freely offered to us in the Gospel.
The arm of the Lord is stretched out today toward you sinner by His Word. He has shown you what is good. Will you listen to Him who is good, hear the call of God today, and heed His call?
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