A Special Bulletin On Marsha Stevens
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
In our church hymnal on page 263 is a song titled "For Those Tears I Died" by Marsha
Stevens. Our song leader got up as is his pattern and instructed the congregation to turn
to it and sing. I interrupted and explained that we would not be singing that song
because the author is and has been a practicing lesbian. Our song leader had genuinely
forgotten the conversation we had had some time previously indicating that we should not
sing that song. Actually there are three good reasons NOT to sing the song. First, it is
theologically unsound. Second, Ms. Stevens was called by Christian Century "The
Mother of Contemporary Christian Music." And last, but not least, she is a committed
lesbian. In this brief report I will deal only with the "lesbian" issue.
Marsha Stevens "came out of the closet" a number of years back and is proud to be a
Lesbian, "Christian," Evangelist. Here is what’s posted on her web page located at --
http://www.balmministries.com
"In 1979, after seven years of wedlock, she divorced. She had fallen in love with a
woman." Marsha says, "When I came out as a born again lesbian, I didn’t anticipate that
people would come unglued the way they did. Once the church found out, people came over
and told me to take the ‘Jesus Is Lord’ sign off my door."
Why would they say that? Because the Bible makes it clear that such behavior is vial
affection and against His design. We read in Romans 1:26 "For this cause God gave
them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into
that which is against nature."
Ms. Stevens claims to be a Christian. In fact, she has started a business called BALM
Recording which stands for Born Again Lesbian Music. This is
an arm of the Southwest District of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches (a group of homosexual activist organizations and "churches."). Through that
organization she has produced six solo albums and a concert video. Her releases are
regularly recorded in the "Gay Music Guide" and in fact her last two releases were rated
by that organization as "among the top 20" best records.
The biggest lie that Marsha is telling is that God does not care if you are a
homosexual! You can be a homosexual and a Christian! She says on her web site, "I found
out that I didn’t need to come out to God…"
I’m not sure where she found that out, but it certainly was NOT in the Bible. The Bible
says those who are born-again leave that behavior behind. In fact, anyone who continues
in a lifestyle of sexual perversion "shall not inherit the kingdom of God." We read in
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "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." The word "effeminate"
refers to an individual who allows himself or herself to be sexually abused contrary to
God’s design. The phrase "abusers of themselves with mankind" is one word in the
Greek, meaning a sodomite. Marsha has NOT repented of her perversion and in fact
continues to practice it. It’s her lifestyle! This is the picture of Marsha Stevens and
her sodomite "partner" Susan McKeag, which is posted on her web page.
In fact, I do not believe that Marsha was ever genuinely saved. I say that because of
her "salvation" testimony posted on her web site. "In 1969, Marsha Stevens was a troubled
adolescent when she had her first conscious encounter with Christ while participating in
a Bible study group. In the vision this encounter evoked, she saw herself walking
with Jesus near a deep blue river and this experience both changed and saved her life."
Is that how someone gets saved? Does a vision of "walking with Jesus near a deep
blue river" meet the Bible’s standard of repenting of you sins, faith in the finished
work of Christ on the Cross an His bodily resurrection? I think not.
In conclusion my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, I cannot, in good conscience
allow, "For Those Tears I Died" (or any other songs) by Marsha Stevens to be sung
or played in the church, in my car or in my home. To do so would offend our Holy Triune
God.
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"Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved."