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La Sierra University Church will hold the “I Am Affirmed” LGBT+ Graduation Ceremony on the Lord’s Sabbath

May 19, 2023 by Andy Roman 45 Comments

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3, 4.

Adventist education is in the midst of monumental changes. On Sabbath, June 3, 2023, La Sierra University will be celebrating a special graduation ceremony “to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally students and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to the university.” [1] Even though the rest of the 2023 graduating class will not have their ceremony celebrated until Sunday, June 18, 2023 [2], this Sabbath service is a special ceremony to recognize LGBT+ students.

Paul Mallery, Chair of La Sierra University’s (LSU) Psychology Department, sent the following email along with the attached flyer advertising the “I Am Affirmed” LGBT+ graduation to all of LSU’s community:

From: Paul Mallery <pmallery@lasierra.edu>
Date: Thu, May 4, 2023 at 7:58 PM
Subject: Lavender Graduation Service June 3
To: Community <community@lasierra.edu>

The La Sierra University Church Kinship Sabbath School is organizing a Lavender Graduation Service for Class of 2023 graduates. Any graduating student from our local community who identifies as LGBT+ is welcome to participate. The date is June 3rd at 6:30pm at Sierra Vista Chapel.  Students can RSVP at tinyurl.com/sdalavgrad23 (before May 12 preferred).


Paul Mallery
Professor of Psychology
Chair, Psychology Department
he/him/his

For Professor Mallery to send a “community” email to everyone on campus through LSU’s email server means that this “I Am Affirmed” LGBT+ graduation had to have approval from the university’s administration. In fact, the flyer states that this event will take place at the La Sierra University Church, a Seventh-day Adventist Church congregation.

Adventist institutions are being targeted by a massive LGBT+ campaign, and La Sierra University is leading the way in LGBT+ affirmation. The message that was publicized to the entire LSU community is that the LGBT+ agenda is now being affirmed by school administrators. These initiatives aim to normalize the LGBT+ lifestyle among our youth.

It is impossible to deny that there is a crisis of faith when we witness churches and other religious institutions openly supporting the LGBT+ agenda. The clear moral teachings of the church are being replaced. The modern church today spends its time accepting the radical gender theories of the LGBT+ movement rather than reaffirming the faith and the fundamental truths of God’s word. We would rather proclaim the LGBT+ gospel, climate change theories, and social justice instead of proclaiming the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ that calls for repentance and conversion (Acts 3:19).

There is an effort to change the clear teachings of scripture and remove the principles established by Christ Himself:

“Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together [one man and one woman joined in holy matrimony] let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:4-6.

These scriptures are part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Tragically, both Christ and His gospel and other clear examples of divine revelation (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27) are being abandoned. The truth is being compromised by many religious and educational administrators because the fear of man has taken the place of the fear of God. Today, human reasoning supersedes the law of God. Misguided leaders today are not just welcoming but affirming the very thing that God prohibits.

The early church didn’t condone sin or affirm sinners. That is not love. True love will call others away from the path of sin. The early church spoke “truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Nothing is more cruel than to speak lies to sinners and withhold from them the life-changing power of the gospel. It’s not cool, hip, or even loving to leave people enslaved in their sins.

Seventh-day Adventists are welcoming, and we want to welcome all people. We want to welcome them into heaven. We want to welcome them to become part of the body of Christ and part of the “commandment-keeping” church (Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12; Revelation 22:14). But we will never welcome people into hell with a false, inclusive gospel that is so fixated on ignoring the moral teachings of God’s word.

Instead of contending for the faith (Jude 1:3) and resisting the militant homosexual lobby, it appears that many of our people are caving in. The gay lobby is on a search and destroy mission, and they will not rest until every church, every school, and every institution is turned into a likeness of its own LGBT+ image.

“But that which causes me to tremble is the fact that those who have had the greatest light and privileges have become contaminated by the prevailing iniquity. Influenced by the unrighteous around them, many, even of those who profess the truth, have grown cold and are borne down by the strong current of evil” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 209).

Yes, God loves all people. God loves gays, lesbians, adulterers, fornicators, thieves, murderers, hypocrites, back-stabbers, drunks, and liars because we are all humans. But the scriptures also teach us that if we continue living any kind of sinful lifestyle, we will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9–11).

The church is composed of people who have renounced their sins and turned to God in faith through repentance (Ephesians 4:22–27). So yes, the church should be open so that sinners can come and hear the word of God and have an opportunity to become genuine Christians by forsaking sin and becoming “born again” into God’s image. The church should allow sinners to come in and hear the true gospel. The church should work to transform sinners through the life-changing power of God’s word.

Unfortunately, that is not happening, and Satan is laughing at us all. He rejoices because he now has certain “leaders” in the church who are doing his work. The gay agenda is not only taking over the world; it is threatening God’s very own people. Whose side are we going to be on?

“Toward those who fall into sin, the church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore. ‘Reprove, rebuke, exhort,’ the Lord says, ‘with all long-suffering and doctrine.’ 2 Timothy 4:2. Deal faithfully with wrongdoing. Warn every soul that is in danger. Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by its right name. Declare what God has said in regard to lying, Sabbathbreaking, stealing, idolatry, and every other evil. ‘They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’ Galatians 5:21. If they persist in sin, the judgment you have declared from God’s word is pronounced upon them in heaven. In choosing to sin, they disown Christ; the church must show that she does not sanction their deeds, or she herself dishonors her Lord. She must say about sin what God says about it. She must deal with it as God directs, and her action is ratified in heaven. He who despises the authority of the church despises the authority of Christ Himself.” (Desire of Ages, 805).

Sources

[1] https://tangerine-octopus-epz2.squarespace.com/

[2] https://lasierra.edu/graduation/parent-information/

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Filed Under: LGBT, Seventh-day Adventists Tagged With: LGBT, Seventh-day Adventist

Comments

  1. Jeremy says

    May 19, 2023 at 12:06 pm

    It should be renamed, I am lost.

    Reply
    • Patty says

      May 19, 2023 at 7:34 pm

      This is wrong on all fronts

      Reply
      • Leanne says

        June 19, 2023 at 1:20 am

        Why are the heads of the seventh day Adventist church doing something about it. It should be stopped asap

        Reply
        • Eamz says

          July 22, 2023 at 4:51 pm

          It is in the book of Romans 1 chapters 21- 32. read it and you will understand why people or the Adventist people in SoCAL esp in the NorCal supports lgbtq. they are blinded by their sins.

          Reply
    • Gilbert James says

      May 20, 2023 at 5:00 am

      I totally agree!
      This is satanic and needs to be called out for what it represents!
      It is a blatant desecration of the Lord’s Sabbath.
      These people are satanists who need to move out of the SDA church. God’s word does not sanction or agree with the LGBTIQ community which has a tendency to diminish and not acknowledge God’s perfect creation.
      Prophecy confirms that even the very elect will be deceived. Do not apostasize!

      Reply
      • Dale says

        May 22, 2023 at 10:22 am

        “If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matt.24:24, NKJV).

        Reply
      • Donut says

        May 31, 2023 at 5:39 pm

        No more of God’s Tithes and offerings should go to this conference to support abomination.

        🎶Lighting, Thunder Brimstone and Fire, wipe them out of creation🎶

        Reply
      • Mattie says

        June 20, 2023 at 7:07 am

        Agree a 100%. No doubt that the enemy is open to show that he is in charge, but also is an indication that the Lord will come very soon! We need to be ready and pray that nothing like this distract us from our hope and salvation that is in Jesus Christ, our Creator and our Redeemer!

        Reply
    • Chandra Brown says

      May 20, 2023 at 2:26 pm

      For the life of me, why are SDA Church members still supporting the GC and Conferences with God’s tithe and offering? Every SDA named college has a gay club on campus – most are named and can be found simply by Googling for it. Church leaders openly support the LGBTQ agenda – this is evidenced by the shut mouth of Ted Wilson when local conferences send letters preventing present truth being preached, but allow openly avowed queer/sodomites to present programs on God’s holy Sabbath! In Lot’s day the Sodomites knocked on the door – today the supposed watchmen are escorting them in in broad daylight to occupy the “high” place! Jesus has left the building!

      Reply
      • Nigel says

        May 25, 2023 at 4:04 am

        Behold,The Truth Shall Set you Free!

        Reply
      • HAGENIMANA Jean de Dieu says

        May 30, 2023 at 12:03 pm

        where do you want them to put their tithes and offerings?

        Reply
        • Paul says

          May 31, 2023 at 12:58 am

          It must be placed where it supports the ministers spreading the gospel of truth with no compromise, also the stranger in need, the widows in need and the fatherless in need.

          Reply
    • morphat says

      May 23, 2023 at 7:34 am

      🤣🤣🤣👍

      Reply
  2. LINDA F TAYLOR says

    May 19, 2023 at 12:08 pm

    Well, we know that whole churches will be passed over. I suppose now that whole universities will be passed over also!!!

    Reply
  3. AIB says

    May 19, 2023 at 12:19 pm

    I am affirmed? No! But rather,
    “I am damned” “in” my sins.
    This is the works of darkness!

    Reply
    • Terry Moreland says

      May 20, 2023 at 11:39 am

      Amen

      Reply
    • morphat says

      May 23, 2023 at 7:33 am

      Amen !

      Reply
  4. Susie Bethencourt says

    May 19, 2023 at 2:48 pm

    SDA Churches should only honor GOD in his church on his holy day. There should not be any private praising or acknowledgment of anyone for whatever purpose on the Sabbath and that goes for ordaining ministers. Any praise given on that day should be to our great and holy creator. Jesus Christ our lord and savior and him alone!!!!!! I notice way to often that praise is given to man on his day instead of God only. Honor the Lord your God and him only and stop tramping on God’s holy day!!!!!!! LEAVE GODS HOLY DAY ALONE PEOPLE

    Reply
  5. Wilson says

    May 19, 2023 at 4:19 pm

    And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more. Amos 8:2

    Reply
  6. Betty+M. says

    May 19, 2023 at 9:44 pm

    How did this change in our beliefs and our behavior happen? It was prophesied so it was bound to happen – and yet – you would think that ALL would be on alert so that “they” would not be caught up in it.

    Reply
    • Chandra Brown says

      May 20, 2023 at 2:31 pm

      Many of us have been asleep. This did not quietly creep upon us … the sodomites among us have been quietly, not unseen, moving in our schools from the K12 now they have moved to the churches. We must NOT now be quiet or we will be complicit!

      Reply
  7. Jon says

    May 20, 2023 at 3:15 am

    KJV 2 Corinthians 13:5
    5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

    The good tree will produce good fruit. If the fruit is unpalatable and worthless, the tree is evil. So the fruit borne in the life testifies as to the condition of the heart and the excellence of the character. Good works can never purchase salvation, but they are an evidence of the faith that acts by love and purifies the soul. And though the eternal reward is not bestowed because of our merit, yet it will be in proportion to the work that has been done through the grace of Christ.{DA 314.2}

    KJV 1 Corinthians 5:1, 5-9, 11-13
    1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
    5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
    6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
    7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
    8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
    9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
    11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
    12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
    13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

    But man cannot transform himself by the exercise of his will. He possesses no power by which this change can be effected. The leaven–something wholly from without–must be put into the meal before the desired change can be wrought in it. So the grace of God must be received by the sinner before he can be fitted for the kingdom of glory.{COL 96}

    KJV 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
    9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
    10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
    11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

    KJV 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
    18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
    19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
    20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

    All men have been bought with this infinite price. By pouring the whole treasury of heaven into this world, by giving us in Christ all heaven, God has purchased the will, the affections, the mind, the soul, of every human being. Whether believers or unbelievers, all men are the Lord’s property. All are called to do service for Him, and for the manner in which they have met this claim, all will be required to render an account at the great judgment day.{COL 326.1}

    KJV 1 Corinthians 15:34
    34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

    KJV 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17
    14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
    15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
    17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

    “The love of Christ,” said Paul, “constraineth us.” 2 Corinthians 5:14. This was the actuating principle of his conduct; it was his motive power. If ever his ardor in the path of duty flagged for a moment, one glance at the cross caused him to gird up anew the loins of his mind and press forward in the way of self-denial. In his labors for his brethren he relied much upon the manifestation of infinite love in the sacrifice of Christ, with its subduing, constraining power.{MH 500}

    Great as is the shame and degradation through sin, even greater will be the honor and exaltation through redeeming love. To human beings striving for conformity to the divine image there is imparted an outlay of heaven’s treasure, an excellency of power, that will place them higher than even the angels who have never fallen.{COL 162.4}

    KJV Leviticus 20:13, 22-23
    13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
    22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.
    23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.

    KJV Ezekiel 8:6, 9, 13, 15
    6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
    9 And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
    13 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
    15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.

    KJV Ezekiel 9:4
    4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

    In the time of the end the people of God will sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. With tears they will warn the wicked of their danger in trampling upon the divine law, and with unutterable sorrow they will humble themselves before the Lord in penitence. The wicked will mock their sorrow and ridicule their solemn appeals. But the anguish and humiliation of God’s people is unmistakable evidence that they are regaining the strength and nobility of character lost in consequence of sin. It is because they are drawing nearer to Christ, because their eyes are fixed on His perfect purity, that they discern so clearly the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Meekness and lowliness are the conditions of success and victory. A crown of glory awaits those who bow at the foot of the cross.{PK 590.2}

    Reply
    • Thomas says

      May 29, 2023 at 6:50 pm

      Must we accept this because schools accept Federal $?

      Reply
  8. James Owen says

    May 20, 2023 at 4:28 pm

    What a abomination to God, the Bible and the SDA church.

    Reply
  9. CBL says

    May 20, 2023 at 6:56 pm

    Wow thanks for the update! This is wrong on every level. This school has been taken off my list. The SDA conference must speak out against this.

    Reply
  10. DjV says

    May 20, 2023 at 9:24 pm

    The General Conference (MUST) address this. My daughter had to leave one of our SDA University’s to uphold her Christian standards. How terrible. We are in the LAST DAYS!!!

    Reply
  11. LG Brandon says

    May 20, 2023 at 9:45 pm

    My daughter got kicked out of La Sierra for not getting vaccinated. What a blessing that was! We did not waste any more of our money! Then we learned about Edward C Allred…a major donor. I have read many articles justifying unbiblical stances…then there was her Marxist religion teacher…Marx denied God…The mental gymnastics to justify things is astounding…such unwise educated people.

    Reply
  12. Jerry O'Donnell, Four Angels' Messages says

    May 20, 2023 at 10:05 pm

    Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; [it is] iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

    Reply
  13. LaMarcus Thomas says

    May 21, 2023 at 9:07 am

    The celebration of sin makes me want to puke!

    Reply
  14. Lee Buddy says

    May 21, 2023 at 1:14 pm

    This is the sad, sick state of La Sierra University. Don’t let it become the mantra of the Advent Movement.
    SDAs pray! Pray without ceasing!

    Reply
  15. James Ballard says

    May 21, 2023 at 9:57 pm

    The sign’s are here (Jesus is coming soon) But, beloved be not ignorant of this one thing, one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness: but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2Peter-3:8-10

    Reply
  16. YesMsJane says

    May 22, 2023 at 6:44 am

    Lavender is often used to help
    people go to sleep…..

    Reply
  17. Lester McSherry says

    May 22, 2023 at 12:09 pm

    Who can truthfully say: “Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world”? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: “Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? ‘How is the faithful city become an harlot!’ My Father’s house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking.” { 8T 250.2}

    Reply
  18. Gérard says

    May 23, 2023 at 12:54 am

    Osons poser la question de la dîme, la conférence générale dans son fonctionnement, obéit elle toujours à Jésus Christ ou à la papauté ? La Bible dit aussi que l’ouvrier doit mériter son salaire. De plus,
    le vrai message n’est plus prêché ????

    Reply
  19. Marva says

    May 23, 2023 at 9:13 am

    This is so wrong in all aspect. Love them yes….but do not uphold their teachings. You put them on a pedestal instead of encouraging them to change their ways? On the blessed Sabbath day too. God forbid. How can the General Conference embrace that? Doesnt seem real at all. Is this false news? They should b loved and welcomed as Humans , not as L BTQ whatever.

    Reply
  20. Irineo Koch says

    May 25, 2023 at 6:31 am

    Each one can choose what they like… Each one will receive the consequences. The parameter is not our conscience, but the Bible of God.

    Reply
  21. Perry says

    May 27, 2023 at 12:41 pm