If the church remains silent when biblical truth is compromised in the public arena, millions are at risk of deception.

I released a prophetic message to Charisma Magazine that must be read in the new light of Lauren Daigle's recent statements regarding homosexuality. Titled simply, Worship Leaders Must Take a Stand Against Homosexuality, I highlight another extremely influential artist, Carrie Underwood who was leading worship at a Christian event. Afterwards, these comments came to light:

Our church is gay-friendly. … Above all, God wanted us to love others. It's not about setting rules, or “everyone has to be like me.” No. We're all different. That's what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It's not up to me to judge anybody.

She also said:

As a married person myself, I don't know what it's like to be told I can't marry somebody I love and want to marry. I can't imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love.

Similarly, Lauren Daigle said on The Domenick Nati Show when asked, “do you feel that homosexuality is a sin?”:

“I can't honestly answer on that,” Daigle responded. “In a sense, I have too many people that I love that they are homosexual. I don't know. I actually had a conversation with someone last night about it. I can't say one way or the other. I'm not God. So when people ask questions like that…that's what my go to is. I just say read the Bible and find out for yourself. And when you find out let me know, because I'm learning too.”

A PROPHETIC PRESCRIPTION

I just returned from a ministry trip to Albany, New York. While there, I shared a simple but intense prophetic prescription that definitely applies to this situation.

1. Embrace radical holiness.
2. Engage in fervent intercession.
3. Impact culture with truth.

As we are deeply devoted to a life of supernatural prayer, and are walking in extreme holiness, we will not be able to keep from impacting culture.

Our mandate as Believers is to confront compromise and immorality in culture by trumpeting truth without apology. It's time to shout it from the rooftops! Yet, today, when clear violations of truth are committed, especially by Christian leaders, fellow Christians all too often demand silence as passivity overtakes them. They get mad when messages are preached that deal with sin. They rise up in indignation when error is exposed, even when it's done with great care and deep love.

We can no longer allow those opposed to the proclamation of truth and the confrontation of error to drown out the prophetic voices that have been commissioned by God to bring the sharp sword of the Word to our nation.

Be holy. Pray continually. Confront culture. Do it all in love.

WHAT SHOULD OUR RESPONSE TO LAUREN DAIGLE'S COMMENTS ON HOMOSEXUALITY BE?

Pray for Lauren.

While it's shocking that Lauren isn't clear on the unmistakable, historic and orthodox truth that homosexuality is a sin, it's encouraging that she admits to being teachable. She humbly said that she's willing to learn. I actually have a lot of hope for Lauren, believing that this might be a learning experience for her. If she sits under the right leadership, attends a healthy local church and allows the Word of God to saturate her life, she will most certainly correct course and move right into the place that God has for her.

My great hope is that she would become a women of fervent prayer, living a supernatural life in God and modeling a life of purity and passion for Jesus. To be a Christian leader requires nothing less than a life of radical intercession and devotion to the Word of God.

Protect those under her influence.

I've read posts on Facebook from quite a few people who are slamming others for sounding the alarm about this situation. Their argument is the same old, tired, “We aren't her judge.”

Are those who are using those Bible verses (incorrectly) arguing that we should remain silent when error is promoted?

¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:11-14 (NIV)

If your pastor made the same comments as Lauren, would you stay silent? Would you ignore it and go on with life as usual? Would you argue that “we are all sinners” and that the pastor's position is a non-issue? I certainly hope not. Your pastor has the ability to influence dozens or hundreds, possibly thousands. Lauren Daigle, as a minister of the Gospel on a national and global platform, is influencing multiplied millions. People under her influence are now at extreme, eternal risk. Does anybody care?

We must wake up the sleepers! We have no choice but to expose darkness!

The fact that Lauren is young and learning how to respond to the demands of fame doesn't remove the responsibility of the church to protect those who may be hurt by her ideologies. If my five-year-old does something to put other people in harm's way, I don't ignore it and let the people get hurt or killed just because my child didn't know better. Warning the people at risk doesn't mean I don't love or understand the maturity level of my child. They are two separate issues.

Do you understand how easy it will be now for people to embrace homosexuality due to Lauren's comments? Many others probably already have shifted their position to affirming homosexuality as acceptable for Christians. Others are now taking the casual approach that Lauren did, abandoning any urgency to promote righteousness.

When influential public figures make damaging comments or promote destructive theologies, it's the responsibility of prophetic messengers, pastors and every Christian to look out for those who are at risk. To do otherwise would be an abdication of our responsibilities. Love demands we don't stay silent.

Stand for truth.

¹ You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Titus 2:1 (NIV)

¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, Titus 2:12 (NIV) ¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. Titus 2:15 (NIV)

Since Lauren told the world that she doesn't know if homosexuality is a sin or not, the church must clear up the confusion.

If we don't, we must be ready for the end result, a result that a silent church will be responsible for: God will turn people who surrender to homosexuality over to a depraved mind.

Friend, this is extremely serious. I know Lauren would never want to do something that would result in people going to Hell, but her position could do just that.

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. ²⁸ Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:26-28 (NIV)

Again, for someone who is ministering the Word of God through music, Lauren has made a grievous error that is so clearly contrary to truth that it's stunning that anybody would give her a pass.

The Word also says:

⁹ Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders ¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)

Lauren Daigle's theology is absolutely important if she is to continue ministering as a Christian artist. Her position matters.

Another article I wrote for Charisma regarding worship music might be a good resource as well. Here is the bullet point version:

Three Ways Lucifer Can Infiltrate Worship Music

1. Theology

Many people wrongly believe that the worship leader's theology is unimportant. The train of thought is that the senior pastor is the gatekeeper regarding theology in the local church, and the worship leader plays a lesser, supporting role. All we have to do is jump back a bunch of years to see that the great gatekeeper, God himself, was assaulted and his mission was radically damaged.

Lucifer, the worship leader, was not unified with God, and truth was violated. God Himself couldn't (or didn't) stop what happened next:

• One-third of the angels fell with Lucifer.
• Countless millions of humans will burn in the hell that was made for him after he was cast out of Heaven.

Bad theology in your worship leader can easily lead to many others in the church succumbing to the deception.

2. Secret Life

Worship leading should not be the primary job description of worship leaders. It should be the natural outflow of a life of intense, continual prayer. Praying in the spirit night and day must be job one for all of us, and especially those who are supposing to lead us into an encounter with a holy God.

It should be obvious that we cannot lead people where we have not gone. I propose many of today's worship leaders are simply pointing people to the holy place instead of going ahead of them and leading them there.

3. Lyrics

Does anybody else notice the trend in worship music toward the glorification of man?

Benefits, our position, our experience—shouted in song after song.

We need to get back to God-centered lyrics that proclaim His goodness!

It is becoming more and more common to hear worship lyrics (and contemporary Christian music lyrics) that are either wishy-washy and watered down or simply not biblical at all.

LAUREN DAIGLE AND ELLEN DEGENERES

While I think it's wonderful that Lauren had an opportunity to meet Ellen DeGeneres, I wonder if she truly understands how devastating homosexuality is. You'll notice a verse below about engaging people outside of the faith. Was Lauren wise? Did she truly impact Ellen? We don't know. I hope so. Is it possible Ellen influenced Lauren? I pray not. This is why it's so critical to know Jesus intimately and to stand for truth boldly.

I do believe Lauren was loving toward Ellen. That is impressive and she should be applauded. We need to love more deeply and also stand for truth at the same time. It can't be one or the other. Is it possible that Ellen comes to Jesus because of Lauren? I absolutely believe it is! I pray it happens! I'm ready to celebrate and dance and shout!

I had a dream about Ellen, and I shared it in another Charisma Magazine article. I strongly recommend that you read it. It's possibly the most provocative and intense message I've ever delivered to the church. Here's the portion about Ellen that's certainly relevant to this situation:

After I woke up from a significant dream about Ellen DeGeneres, I read my verse of the day… here it is:

Be wise when you engage with those outside the faith community; make the most of every moment and every encounter. Colossians 4:5

I felt God had a message of love for Ellen that I should try to get to her.

I decided to email Ellen. I have no idea if she will ever get it, but I pray she does.

Here's what I sent to Ellen DeGeneres:

Here's a strange story for ya! I'm a pastor & author, and I had a dream about you last night. It was crazy long and detailed and the first two-part dream I've had (I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle, and the dream continued after I went back to sleep).

You aren't someone I think about often at all (sorry!), so I have a feeling God may have dropped that dream on me. It started with you at the Academy Awards (or something similar) and you called me on stage from the audience. I was overwhelmed with grief and whispered to you, “Please forgive me for judging you.”

Later, you went on to share with me from your heart about some pain and you talked about your mom. Later on I met your mom and your brother at their home. (I didn't realize you had a brother until I googled it just a moment ago.)

There were other pieces to the dream, but I thought I'd leave it at that for now.

A little about me; I may appear to fit the stereotype as I do believe any lifestyle that embraces activities that God, in his wisdom, deems unhealthy must be avoided. Homosexuality included. However, what's also included is pride, which the Christian church is often steeped in. So is selfish ambition and having cold love. All deadly, all have hit the church at large. Again, please forgive me.

After the dream I decided to preach tonight on a crazy controversial message calling the church to repentance titled, “Almost Homosexual: The Church in Crisis.”

God likes you, he loves you. Me too.