Podcast Introduction

Today is Monday, so we’ll read from one of the books of the law. Deuteronomy 20-22. I’m calling today’s episode “There Are Two.” 

And I have an important announcement today.

Comments on Deuteronomy 22

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”? I don’t think I’m a fool, but if I am, so be it. Every so often, current events and/or cultural conditions can’t help but influence my commentary on the day’s reading. This is obviously not a political or a news show, and I do dislike participating in political speech on this show. As a matter of fact, I don’t think that what I’m about to say is political, because I’m only going to talk about what the word of God says. But some might want to paint today’s episode with a political label. Whatever. What I am about to talk about needs to be addressed, especially with what’s going on in our current culture.

Genesis 1:27 So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.

Genesis 1:31And God saw everything that he had made and that it was very good. (GW)

Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman must never wear anything men would wear, and a man must never wear women’s clothes. Whoever does this is disgusting to the Lord your God. (GW)

Now listen. I’m not a transphobe. I do not hate people of either sex if they disagree with me or Scripture. And I am certainly not afraid of them. That is what “phobia” means. You know that, right? The reason I’m talking about this today, my motivation, in everything I say on this show, is to explain the Scriptures in such a way that the true nature of God is revealed. I believe that when He is properly understood, people’s hearts will be changed and eternal lives will be saved. Failing that, my hope is that there will at least be understanding, and maybe even less antipathy.

When these scriptures were written, it was common for men and women to wear clothes that were similar. Both sexes wore long robes, but with distinctive styles that differentiated between the sexes. Deuteronomy 22:5 was a command not to blur the lines between the sexes or to purposely dress in the manner of the opposite sex.

You see, as Genesis 1:27 says, God created only two sexes. Male and Female. There is not a spectrum. It’s one or the other. Now, before you say, “But Steve, some people are born with the organs of both.” Yes, I know that’s true. But hear me. 

We live in a fallen world. We live in a world that is suffering the effects of sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, all of creation has been under a curse. Romans 8:22 says, “All creation groans…” Every living thing on the planet is less than God intended it to be. Humans were not meant to die. Humans were not meant to be born with any kind of defects. There was not supposed to be any disease. Every system on the planet is not what God intended. The weather is not the way God intended. Earthquakes were not supposed to be something we worried about. Everything is broken. Sin ruined everything. Including how we think about ourselves and each other. 

Birth defects do happen, and when a baby is born with a defect, it is not because God made it happen. It is because of the condition of the world. Yes, God allows bad things to happen, but He is not the cause of bad things happening. Couldn’t He just step in and stop bad things from happening? Sometimes He does, but other times He doesn’t. God is sovereign, which means that He does what He does, and He answers only to Himself. But know this: His way is perfect. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he…” One day, everyone who has ever been born will see that and acknowledge that.

So, back to the subject at hand. God says that it is wrong to dress in the manner of the opposite sex. Why? Because, for one thing, it is rebellion against God’s will. If he created you as a male, He wants you to be a male. If he created you as a female, He wants you to be a female. God truly does love you, and He has a marvelous plan for your life. He wants the very best for you. To reject that plan is really cutting off your nose to spite your face. 

As I have said many times on this show, God’s laws are not given to take our fun away. God is not a cosmic killjoy. He is a loving Father who knows what is best for us. 

But there is an Enemy. He is called Lucifer, Satan, the Devil, the god of this world and many other names in the Bible. His mission from the beginning of the creation, has been to pervert God’s creation and keep people from having a relationship with God. He takes what is beautiful and perverts it. What we are seeing in our culture today, with the blurring of sexual boundaries and distinctions is nothing new, as is evident by the fact that God talks about it in Deuteronomy 22. People today think they’re being progressive by advancing this agenda. They’re not progressive. They’re puppets of Satan himself. 

The Good News is that their sin can be forgiven. God said in Ezekiel 18:23, “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” And 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 

Repentance is turning away from, going in an entirely new direction. It is agreeing with God that I have sinned. That I want to begin living as He wants me to. That I acknowledge that His way is better than my way. 

But listen. I cannot do it on my own. It is impossible for me to live a perfect life. Only one man has ever done that. His name is Jesus. But Jesus is more than a man. He is also God. He is fully God and fully human, and He is the only way that I, or anyone else, can have a restored relationship with God. John 3:16-21 says, “16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

God loves you. And He loves you enough to give you free will. You must decide. The time is now. If you have not yet accepted the free gift of salvation that Jesus is offering you today, you can do it now. You may not have tomorrow. The Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I were reminded recently how quickly our lives could be snuffed out, with no warning. We were involved in a hit and run traffic accident, and believe me, there was absolutely no time to think about what was happening. We were driving along a street that we have been on literally thousands of times before, little more than two miles from our home. All of a sudden, there was a terrible crashing sound of metal against metal, our car shook, and I had to wrestle the steering wheel to keep control. LeeAnn screamed and I watched the car that had sideswiped us accelerate down the road in front of us. Praise the Lord, we were not hurt, but we could have been. Instead of rear ending our car, he sideswiped it. The point is, you never know how or when your life will be over. 

Will you make the decision now to follow Jesus? If you want to have a changed life….a changed eternity, let me lead you in a prayer where you will tell God that you want to turn from your sin, and that you want to follow Jesus. Will you pray with me? Once I publish this podcast, I don’t know who or where or when it will hear it. I still have episodes from almost 18 years ago at lifespringmedia.com. And I have no idea how many episodes are on hard drives all over the world. So whether you’re hearing this on the day I publish or days, weeks, months or years later, this invitation is for you to hear right now as you’re listening to my voice. Decide NOW that this is the day to have your eternity changed. Pray with me.

“Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you now confessing my sins. I know that I have not lived the way I should, and I ask You to forgive me now. Thank you for sending Your son, Jesus, to take my sins upon Himself. Jesus, I’m asking You to be my Lord and my Savior now. Show me how I should live. Teach me. Help me to follow You. Thank you for hearing my prayer, Lord. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family. You might have felt like a weight was lifted from you, you might have felt some strong emotion, or you might have felt nothing. Whatever you felt, that’s ok. Our relationship with God is not based on emotions. Our relationship with God is based on His promise. God promised that anyone who accepts Jesus will be saved. If you accepted Jesus just now, you are saved, because God promised it, and He always keeps His promise. 

If you did just pray that prayer with me, I have a gift for you. It’s free. I want to send you a special edition of the New Testament called the New Believer’s Bible. All you have to do is send me a quick email with your name and address so I can mail it to you at my expense. This NT has hundreds and hundreds of notes in it by Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Church, written with new believers in mind. They’re meant to help you get a good start in your walk with God. When I get your email, I’m not going to put you on a list, and I’m not going to send you any spam. I would just like to send you this NT, and I would like to pray for you. And If you have questions, I’ll answer any that I can. st***@*************ia.com.

GBY, and welcome to the family of God. Not to mention the ls fam!

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. Deuteronomy 20 and 22 GWT; Ch. 21 NLV

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The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise
Podcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael Haner
Show Art: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider and Lifespring Family Berean Jason Paschall
Newsletter Publisher: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney