Claiming they represent the true Jesus, the “He Gets Us” organization has spent millions of dollars to run Superbowl ads.
This year's ads illustrated God's love as “washing the feet” of people such as prostitutes, homosexuals, Muslims, and women at abortion clinics. It would be a good thing if they were encouraging Christians to lovingly warn people of harmful sins and false beliefs, but that isn't the case.
According to HGU, the problem is “those who represent
Jesus who have made people in the LGBTQ+ community feel judged and
excluded” (HGU Frequently Asked Questions).
If you believe God's Word about the harms of LGBTQ+ lifestyles, consider
yourself “judged and excluded” by HGU.
HGU explains, “How did the story of a man who taught and practiced unconditional love, peace, and kindness; who spent his life defending the poor and the marginalized; a man who even forgave his killers while they executed him unjustly ... how did this man’s story become associated with hatred and oppression for so many people? And how might we all rediscover the promise of the love his story represents?” (HGU Agenda)*
HGU presents Jesus as a lovable, non-confrontational
social worker. But the real Jesus says this: “If the world hates you,
keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18).
The world hates the real Jesus because He calls all people, including the poor and marginalized, to repentance, forgiveness, and salvation.
If you’ve never met the real Jesus, read the Scriptures at the bottom that explain why He never has been and never will be popular with the world.
✜✜✜
After last year's Superbowl, HGU had billions—yes billions—of views on YouTube and on their website, and they expect the same this year. That means billions of people are introduced to a Jesus who preaches love apart from righteousness, approving or at least remaining silent about lifestyles that damage people's souls. On their website, HGU refuses to call LGBTQ+ lifestyles sinful when directly asked to state their views, and they describe themselves as:
“a coalition of supporters who represent a variety of lived experiences that have led them to wildly different perspectives on many things. Some are on opposite sides of different political and social issues in our day. But they share this one thing in common: They’ve been inspired and transformed by the story of Jesus and want to invite you to explore it, too. They are troubled by how many people feel excluded from considering the personal relevance of Jesus’ example, life, and mission for their own lives. And so, they’re supporting a movement dedicated to helping foster more and better conversations about Jesus.”
The real Jesus does not inspire some people to approve LGBTQ+ lifestyles and abortion and some to warn against LGBTQ+ lifestyles and abortion. If genuine believers are funding HGU, it's a “coalition” God doesn't approve of (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
It seriously breaks my heart to see this group having so much influence.
* First let’s look at the “He Gets Us” description of Jesus. They claim He:
✔ Offered “unconditional love” – See God’s Love Is Better Than Unconditional for a full explanation of this error.
✔ Offered “peace” – Jesus never promised peace between Christians and the sinful world, and He never promoted that kind of peace (Matthew 10:34-36). The peace He gives is given only to those who follow Him (John 14:27). And He guaranteed that His followers would face the kind of criticism that comes from HGU (John 16:33).
✔ Offered “kindness” – Yes, Jesus practiced kindness if we understand that part of kindness is warning people they will perish if they don't repent of their sins (Luke 13:3).
✔ Spent “his life defending the poor and the marginalized” – This is not an accurate description of Christ's life. Jesus spent His life warning us of Hell (What Jesus Said about Hell), rebuking sin (John 7:5-7), calling us to repentance (Matthew 4:17; Matthew 11:20; Mark 2:17; Luke 13:1-5; Luke 15:7; Luke 17:3; Luke 24:46-47), and teaching us the truth about God (25 Things Christ Revealed about His Father).
He also healed the sick and did miracles, but His most important mission was dying for the sins of all who repent and believe (John 3:16). And He clearly explained that He is the only way of salvation (John 3:36; John 14:6). His life was not spent simply to defend the poor and marginalized. And it was definitely not spent defending people who choose sinful lifestyles. It's a mockery to compare Christ's mission to making unrepentant LGBTQ persons feel comfortable in their sins.
✔ “Forgave his killers while they executed him unjustly” – It’s important that we correctly understand His forgiveness from the Cross. See God Does Not Save Unrepentant People
Now let's meet the real Jesus:
“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Jesus, John 9:39
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Jesus, John 14:21
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” Jesus, John 15:9-10
“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” Jesus, 1 John 5:3-4
“Broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Jesus, Matthew 7:13
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’” Jesus, John 15:18-25
“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Jesus, Matthew 10:38
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” Jesus, Matthew 16:24-27
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Jesus, Matthew 5:11-12
No matter how graciously we share God's truth, whether we're talking about greed, homosexuality, or dishonesty, it makes unrepentant sinners “feel judged and excluded.”
So according to Matthew 5:11-12, if you believe God's Word and believe that He wants you to encourage LGBTQ+ persons to repent and experience the forgiveness and salvation of Christ, you can rejoice and be glad when you hear your views insulted by HGU.
I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word.
If you'd like to know why Wisdom for Life might be a good gift for you or your loved ones, see 10 Reasons You'll Love Wisdom for Life.
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