So now what? If you are against the lifestyle of homosexuality, you're a bully? If you're for gay marriage, you're not? That's a bunch of garbage!
Now if you speak out against bullying, will you be associated with supporting the gay lifestyle? If you speak out against the gay lifestyle, will you be associated with being a bully? What a crock!
Not everyone who has been or is bullied is gay. The gay community doesn't have a corner on speaking out against bullying (but at least they ARE taking a stance against it). Also, some of the folks who are pro-gay lifestyle are some pretty tough bullies themselves.
So as a Christian, how should we respond?
I’m not sure what this says about me, but my first reaction to the news of Obama’s new position on gay marriage was fear this turn of events would end up giving the church just one more black eye as Christians respond in ways that sound like hate to our world.
On the other hand, I wish more conservative Christians had deep relationships with people with same sex attraction. Believe it or not, you probably already do. Many probably won't say anything because of the fear of being ostracized. This is a complicated issue that the church has been either overly hostile, overly receptive of Ungodly behavior or overly ignorant.
Let me say this, I do not believe homosexuality is part of God’s intention for human beings. I believe it is one of the many symptoms of a broken world caused by human rejection of God’s reign. I do not support the legalization of homosexual marriage.
I believe God created humans in his image and this is reflected in the male-female of our natures and in heterosexual marriage. Having said that, I do not understand why this issue has been made the poster child for Christian morality when it affects so few people (1-2%) compared with other sins so common in society and the church.
Jesus also seemed to have great compassion for people whose experience of brokenness was sexual in nature compared to those who were hateful, condemning, oppressive, exclusive, and hypocritical. Of course, the historic rejection of homosexuality by Israel and the church should be overturned in this age of “enlightenment.” Yet the church’s obsession with this issue has hurt the gospel more than helped it.
Divorce among Christians has harmed the respect for marriage in our country far more than homosexuality. It seems that many young adults are leaving the church because of the church’s reaction to homosexuality more than any other issue. We just look mean and Jesus did not call us to be mean.
On the other hand, as man over fifty, I worry about the degree of acceptance for homosexuality I see among young adults, but at least they are motivated by compassion. I recently read some thoughts by Dan Bouchelle that bear repeating here to conservative Christians, which I am one, in general and to preachers specifically before they formally respond to the political rhetoric.
Get to know One
Before you talk about homosexuality you really should get to know and love several people with same sex attraction. You need to know their stories and listen deeply as they describe their lives and their understanding of themselves.
When you talk about homosexuality, you need to see faces of people you love and with whom you have meaningful relationships. You need to hear of their pain and struggle with God and the church. This will keep you from painting with a broad brush about “them” and will change the tone of what you say to something more Christ-like.
If you have never known and loved a homosexual, why not? Do you honestly believe Jesus would not be seen hanging out with them as he did others rejected by the “Religious Right” of his day?
Put this issue in perspective
If you let straight people in your church who indulge lust feel like they can take a moral stand of condemnation toward people with same sex attraction, you are not being fair. If you give people a pass on more socially acceptable sins in the church like greed, bitterness, envy, gossip, or dissension while you vilify “those homosexuals,” you are being hypocritical. If you are going to work out of Romans 1, look over Paul’s whole list of sins and treat them all with equal seriousness.
Are you ready to welcome gays?
Make sure that you encourage your church to love and welcome people with same sex attraction. The way we deal with homosexuals needs to communicate God’s love not our hate. This won’t be easy for many of us. Honestly, I am personally very uncomfortable around effeminate men. I really want to help men embrace masculinity, but I don't like bigoted rednecks either! I am the chief among sinners and my attitude toward sinners!
Most churches are not prepared to welcome people with same sex attraction. Prepare your church by getting help from ministries like Exodus, Living Hope, or Cross Power. What exactly do you know about the issue and the church's redemptive approach?
If you are going to require people with same sex attraction to live celibate lives as followers of Jesus (which is appropriate), are you also willing to provide them the kind of loving community that will keep their lives from being unbearably lonely? The church that takes a stand against homosexuality has a responsibility to provide a higher form of love to those it asks to leave the gay life.
Imposition of values doesn't change any one's soul
Don't talk as if people who do not believe in the Christian God, do not trust the scriptures, and who do not follow Jesus should be compelled by law to support Christian values. I know I am going to get some pretty harsh responses to some of my colleagues from religious right (of which I am one), but the advance of God’s reign is not at the ballot box but on the street.
The world won’t be won to Christ through politics or power but by the gospel of sacrificial love, good news telling, and disciple-making. Jesus rejected a throne at his temptation and embraced the way of the cross. We should follow his methods and not just his name. I say this will much trepidation for the backlash it will like create, but I would rather be criticized for loving a homosexual than applauded for condemning homosexuality because I think that is the Christ-like response.
Don't be clanging a cymbal
Don't let the winds of public opinion determine your views. This is not about being fashionable, it is about speaking the truth in love and helping people mature into the fullness of Christ. It's not about condoning bad behavior or accepting any kind ungodly lifestyle (whether homosexual or heterosexual), but it's about sharing LOVE in truth.
If what we say is not first in love, then shouts of truth are nothing more than sounds of resounding gong or clanging cymbal! Hmmm, that last phrase sounds strangely familiar. I wonder why?
This is the best blog on this subject that I have ever read. Keep posting Mark! I am a conservative Christian and I am certain that Jesus would have shown much love and compassion to those struggling with same sex attraction. Those who reject homosexuals are being prideful and/or hypocritical in their actions, because all sin is sin, and we all sin. It takes courage to stand for the truth of the gospel as you. I will share this article!
ReplyDeleteVery well said, Mark. I share many of your views, but am far less eloquent about them. I know God loves me, the heterosexual, just as much as He loves the homosexual, and thus I am commanded to love that person, too. I want to be a Christian that shows others the love, grace, and mercy that Jesus has shown me with my own sinful nature. I am no better than anyone else and can point my finger at no one but myself.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your thoughts Mark. Right thinking and acting towards homosexuality is definitely needed in the Church, and I think you expressed that well. However, it gets a lot tougher and blurrier when you are a pastor, dealing with seekers/church-goers who practice homosexuality. How do you express the love and grace of Christ while at the same time express his commands for purity and his call for obedience? How does one not sound like every other "gaybasher" when conveying the need for repentance of sin and belief in the gospel for salvation? And what exactly does repentance mean? These are tough questions that we have to answer well, alongside a compassionate heart. We have to find that fine line of upholding the truth of Christ which is foolish and sometimes harsh to the eyes of the world, but also that fine line which upholds the love and humility of Christ who eats and drinks with and touches the sinners of the world. God help us!
ReplyDeleteDo you think David? Things get blurrier? How can grace be blurry?
ReplyDeleteI am certainly not suggesting that truth should not be spoken into someone's life. Also, I would not think that a person should "join the church" if he/she is actively and rebelliously living in sin; however, aren't there many in the church already actively and rebelliously gossipping, committing adultery, lying and cheating?
We MUST speak out against those behaviors as sharply as we speak the truth about sexual sins...ALL sexual sins. I know of many people who have sat in the church for months hearing the truth, but finally the Holy Spirit touches their hearts and THEN they repent.
So what are we to do in the meantime? What do we do when what we SAY does not pierce their hearts? We MUST continue to speak truth, but we MUST do so in love. We MUST show we care because are drawn to God by His kindness and His mercy. They are convicted and changed by the Holy Spirit and truth.