Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ,
Greetings from Charlotte, North Carolina! As I write this, Mr. Gerald Weston, who usually writes these letters to you, is traveling in Canada where he conducted a Tomorrow’s World Presentation in Manitoba last weekend. I am sure he appreciates prayers for his efforts to preach the Gospel of God’s Kingdom to the audience there and for his safe return. In his absence, the team here at our headquarters in Charlotte continues to press forward with God’s Work.
Regrettably, the world around us continues to conduct “business as usual.” As many of you know, June is considered “Pride Month” by many. While this observance celebrating LGBTQ culture and “values” has its origin in the United States, it has spread to many corners of the world—probably including yours. Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom each have their own incarnations of Pride Month. Even Israel has Tel Aviv Gay Pride Week in June—a celebration so popular that the website TouristIsrael.com highlights it as Tel Aviv’s attempt to prove it is “the Gay Capital of the Middle East.”
Advocates for these celebrations argue that they represent tolerance, acceptance, and love. But what values are paraded before us—quite literally—during these weeks?
Each year “Pride Parades” turn the streets of our major cities into public stages for some of the most sexually explicit and provocative behavior imaginable, normally kept behind closed doors: public nudity, simulated sex acts, and strange fetishes—all in full view of families and children. In fact, many organizers encourage young children to attend and witness for themselves!
Some justify these celebrations as opportunities to show it is OK to live according to one’s “authentic self.” Yet the “authentic self” of every human being runs contrary to God’s law: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). The Bible is clear that no sexual activity outside of biblical marriage—including fornication and adultery—should be celebrated and promoted, “authentic” or not!
Yet celebrating and promoting sin—and taking pride in doing so—is what our civilization increasingly excels at doing. Sex is used to sell everything from automobiles to junk food. Governments rush to praise and subsidize every form and configuration of the family they can, all while the biblical family is painted as “nothing special.” And our most influential educational institutions seek to aggressively “program” students concerning every faddish worldview that their academics can dream up—just so long as those worldviews contradict the laws, principles, and loving guidelines of the Bible and the God of that Bible. Indeed, those schools quite proudly present many of those unbiblical principles in advertising and promotional materials, even as those principles continue to contribute to the irrational mess Western civilization is becoming.
Occasionally, the contradictions within those worldviews manifest themselves. Just days ago, on June 10, U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration held what it described as the largest “Pride event” ever hosted by the White House, which included a giant, so-called “Progress Pride” flag hanging from the balcony of the White House—flanked on right and left (that is, in the lesser positions) by two American flags. The administration was certainly proud of its achievement, promoting it far and wide—until some of the invitees posted photos of themselves topless with the White House behind them.
Perhaps sensing that such behavior might not sit well with voters, the White House denounced the actions and promptly said the individuals would not be invited back—even though, given the behavior at many “Pride Parades,” mentioned above, it is hard to understand why the President or his staff should have been surprised. In fact, going topless—for all genders—is (believe it or not) completely legal in Washington D.C.!
The words “Pride Month” should call to mind the many biblical admonitions concerning this dangerous attitude, such as that of Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.” The prophecy of Isaiah 2:12 also seems fitting: “For the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up—and it shall be brought low.”
The Bible does not record those words solely for the sake of those celebrating sins during Pride Month. The prophecy applies to all who deceive themselves into thinking they can pridefully continue in their sins before the face of the God of Heaven—including the husband blatantly cheating on his wife on business trips, the CEO lining his pockets by taking advantage of his “off the record” workers, and the politician who lies with a straight face on camera knowing that he has enough votes to get away with it.
And who is the real leader of all those who pridefully parade their sins before God? Satan the Devil, who earned his condemnation by being filled with pride, himself (1 Timothy 3:6).
Speaking out against sexual sins, fornication, and adultery—and speaking up for the eternal laws of God—is not popular with many, and it attracts enemies who seek to silence you. As many of you know, our stand for the truth has caused us to be kicked off many a television station. But God’s command leaves no room for cowardice! “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). And what is sin? As Scripture explains, “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4, King James Version).
Against a virtual tsunami of acceptance, praise, and glorification of sin, Tomorrow’s World seeks to stand firm as an unapologetic source of truth—and with your help, dear members and co-workers, we do just that. Every sin represents, in its own way, a lie. A lie about what is good and what is evil. A lie about what we should value and what we should cast aside. And the only real antidote to lies is the truth.
At the return of the Son of God, we want to be found preaching that truth—the truth of God and of the coming of His righteous Kingdom—without hesitation or reservation, so that we may hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). With ill will toward none and love for all, we want to do everything we can to ensure that every human being on earth has heard the true message Jesus Christ brought to this world. We know we cannot achieve any significant success in that effort without the Almighty’s power, blessing, and support, and we appreciate each one of you, our members and fellow workers, for allowing yourself to be used of Him to provide that support.
Last month you should have received Mr. Weston’s offer of our newest free booklet, Understanding Bible Prophecy, by long-time evangelist Mr. Richard Ames. I hope you took advantage of that offer or soon will! As of this writing, more than 31,000 people have requested this new booklet and will receive it at no charge to them whatsoever, in great part because of your faithful support. Also, we have been able to send ministers to cities around the world to conduct more than 150 live, in-person Tomorrow’s World Presentations so far this year—including 17 just last weekend alone!
Of course, the Living Church of God is also commissioned to feed the flock of Christ (John 21:15–17; 1 Peter 5:2). In that, too, we appreciate the support you have provided. Next month, for instance, we will conduct another Living Youth Teen Camp, bringing together teenagers from all over the world for two weeks of fun, exercise, fellowship, and instruction in the good way of God. While so many youths throughout the Western world are increasingly caught up in “gender ideology” nonsense, for two weeks we will provide a respite from the pressures of this world and equip the next generation with the armor of God to stand against such self-destructive deceptions—helping them to see why God made them the way He did and how to live fulfilling and productive lives in the light of His truth. Your prayers for this camp in July, as well for the preteen camps we will be running around the same time, will be appreciated.
And if you are a co-worker reading this letter and find yourself curious about that flock of Christ and wondering if any of our more than 500 congregations worldwide are near you, I hope you will not hesitate to reach out for more information. As we stand against the sin and moral corruption that seeps ever more deeply into every crack and crevice of our society, we are so grateful that you choose to stand shoulder to shoulder with us—with your prayers, your financial support, and your many messages of encouragement. But should you ever seek to stand shoulder to shoulder with us in person, as well, few decisions could make us happier.
In the meantime, we know that times like these may seem dark, and that the darkness may seem overwhelming. But we know, too—as the Apostle John instructs us—that “the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8). For your every effort, small or large, to help us spread that light to every corner of this dark world, we humbly thank you.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Wallace G. Smith