Thursday, January 25, 2007

Spiritual Lesbianism - An Epidemic in the Church

I have struggled with this message since Monday when I first began hearing God speak it. It is a sticky, difficult topic, but I must be obedient and share as I have been instructed. During corporate prayer, I distinctly heard God say, “The spirit of lesbianism is rampant in the church.” We discussed it briefly following prayer, but God has continued to speak on the subject, and I must share what He has given me, though this is a hard word – even for me to swallow.

All that God said particularly caught my attention, because He said “lesbianism” rather than homosexuality. I had to get further clarification on why He used this term. I took the message as a general one for the Body of Christ, but God said this message is a direct one for those in my sphere of influence – those with whom I interact on a daily basis. In that case, mostly women...

One of the first indications of lesbianism is the denial of natural affection. “I don’t need a man. A woman can do anything a man can do. I can take care of myself.” There is a polluted level of independence that moves beyond the natural tendency, causing a woman in the natural to dismiss what God has designed – the union between a man and a woman. Essentially, women in the church are doing the same thing as women in the world – denying the dependence God has ordained.

Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Yes, God has shown me and rehearsed the conversations in my ears. “I don’t need a Pastor or a covering. I operate in all the gifts. I can do ministry all by myself.” Many are moving outside of God’s natural order – outside of what God has designed for the Church. Even in the realm of partnered ministry, many women in particular are dismissing the mandate on their husband’s lives. Pulpits are becoming divided. How many churches have we seen pastored by a man or a couple when suddenly the wife has a television show titled “Her Name” Ministries? Why the division and the need to be separate from the unity God has put in place? Ladies, why have we adopted the lie that we must walk alone in order to prove our strength? Why do we feel that we can only trust one another with what God has given us? Why are we threatened to submit to the men God has placed over us, whether they be in ministry or our own homes?

Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.


I understand there are times when God will call a woman out for spiritual or ministerial service. There are situations when a man in a relationship may not be at the same level spiritually as the woman or vise versa. NO EXCUSE. In fact, this used to be my excuse for many of the things I did to “overstep” my husband’s position as head of the household. God’s response – “YOU married him. By doing so, YOU submitted to the authority.” Yes, the same holds true in the church. When we feel our leaders are out of line or that they have “missed God”, we take it upon ourselves to overstep their authority or step out into our own ministries, without their covering and without accountability. We then justify it by saying they are not in God’s will. The word of God remains the same. This is the season to LEAVE or CLEAVE. Stop bashing, insulting and criticizing those to whom you can’t submit. God is saying the same thing. “YOU decided to make covenant with that body of believers. In doing so, YOU agreed to submit to the authority.”

We spend too much time justifying disobedience by exploiting what we consider to be the sins and shortcomings of our leaders in the spiritual and the natural. Oftentimes, men are the target of this ridicule. Either way, it is out of order. Instead, we should be asking God to reveal our own character. If, in fact, they are so wrong and flawed, what made us CHOOSE to enter the covenant? Even more, where is the POWER we should have to bring change to that situation? Are we so special and holy – are our ministries so sanctified that God will excuse us from His plan, allowing just a select few to defy authority and step into the spotlight, leaving behind the ones we agreed to follow?

Women of God, let’s be careful not to leave God’s plan and order – naturally or spiritually – as they are both against the nature and will of our Father. The spirit of lesbianism is being manifested and is running rampant in the church. Do not be a carrier, but work to restore order in your homes and the Body of Christ.

Spiritual lesbianism is a serious ordeal, and it is rampant – not only in the organization of the church, but on the internet. The internet is flowing with “lack of order” because accountability cannot be mandated. The internet can be hidden. One’s true identity, motives and emotions can be covered up. This is a season of exposure. Some of us need to return to what God has ordained. Natural order has been abandoned. Many are more accountable to an email inbox than to spouses and pastors. We feel that reading a message board is ministry. We allow Yahoo! Chat rooms to take the place of prayer. Hmmm… Fellowship is good, but there must be balance. We must use this tool to glorify our Father, not to defy Him or His order. Submission must return to the Body of Christ, and it must be done in God’s order. Women of God, YES, we must submit to our husbands. YES, we must submit to the Church as God has ordained it. NO, we cannot do this alone. NO, we are not called out alone. What good is your elevation if you have brought no one along? Selah!

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

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