I wrote the below in response to (sadly) another article on a Christian pastor who affirms homosexual marriage.
It is sad to me that in the Christian community the media portrays 2 prominent positions on the issue of homosexual marriage: 1- We are hateful, primitive bigots who are too narrow minded to allow homosexuals "equal rights" to marry. 2- The mature, accepting, loving "Christians" who openly affirm the homosexual lifestyle and homosexual marriage (as in this article here). Can the media not be fair and see that, maybe, just maybe, many conservative Christians do indeed love, accept and affirm homosexuals, while disapproving of their lifestyle? Jesus himself loved and hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors, accepted the person, and commanded repentance from the lifestyle. And I do not disapprove of the homosexual lifestyle out of hatred and prejudice; rather, biblically, we disapprove of the lifestyle because we 1) love God and His word; 2) love the homosexual individual and do not want him/her to injure himself/herself by perverting the gift of sexuality that God has given; and 3) because we love mankind and society as a whole, and (rightly) view homosexuality as a perversion of true humanity that, if perpetuated, cannot lead to societal maturity and positive "progression." This has been preached time and time again through the media- that a person IS a homosexual the same way that some people are black, others are tall, and still others have brown eyes or large feet. Comparisons are constantly made to the civil rights movements of decades past, and it is assumed that homosexuality is no longer a matter of moral choice, but rather a matter of amoral preference, or a matter of identity. While there may be factors from one's upbringing or psyche that make homosexuality appealing, this inclination DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT! Does a bitter person who is inclined to murder or violent acts of anger get the green light due to sinful inclination? Does the person who is inclined to lie due to the example of his parents get a free pass? If we allow our sinful inclinations to become our identity, we are in dire straits, my friends. To be sure, God allows people to do as they choose; but as a Bible-believing Christian, my conscience is bound and my love for you is strong. In the same way that I would never let my child place his hand against a running chainsaw, or dip the electronic in a sink full of water, my love for you will not allow me to smile at a lifestyle that will grieve our God, harm your own soul, and harm mankind and society at large. I can do no other, because I love you!
*There are many other issues to discuss here- the role of gov't in defining marriage (& other societal values), the heterosexually sinful, the "separation of church & state", etc. Please comment or raise valid questions!
Ryan, This is really good. I liken it to my marching outside a church with a sign that says "I am a gossiper," angry at the church for saying that my gossip is sin, demanding that they accept me as I am. The church does need to show love to the person, and I believe we are starting to get that. Sin is strong, and people's feet are fiercely planted in this homosexual debate. But God's love is stronger still.
ReplyDeleteI'm always baffled at the debate and just want to shout, "Does not God have the right to tell us what we can and cannot do?" Of course he does! Once people are giving themselves to each other sexually, they're messing with the essence of themselves, so of course God hates that...if someone loves something, he/she will hate anything that separates it from him or her. God LOVES His children; God HATES sin.
This article is a good balance of love and truth.
Nice post. Well said. The balance is rarely found. Its either homophobic entranced drivel or postmodern acceptance. I'll never forget Piper's sermon/biography on John Newton - Pipes calls out pastors to be men whom homosexual's would come up and talk too - pastors whom will tell them about their sin while be accepting of the sinner. That kind of balance is rarely struck.
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