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Developments of the past week (October, 1998) compel me to say a few
things about Christians and homosexuality. A young man was brutally
murdered—strapped to a post and pistol whipped—because he was gay. That
was bad enough, but what followed was even more absurd and criminal.
Certain people, touting scripture verses with references to Sodom and
Gomorrah, not only applauded the action of the murderers, but staged a
protest at the funeral of the boy a few days later. Now the whole
country is in an uproar, with pro-gay and anti-gay demonstrations in
many major cities, including our own.
Someone needs to set the record straight when it comes to
homosexuality and the teachings of the Bible. But even more, perhaps,
someone needs to stand up and set the record straight about what the
Bible says about hatred. As one bumper sticker said, "Hate is not a
family value!"
How sad, tragic—even demonic—that Christians have been associated
with hatred… but right or wrong, we are often perceived as bigoted and
uncaring in an age when tolerance and sensitivity are seen as the most
virtuous of values.
Yes, the Bible
does teach that homosexuality is wrong. Common sense teaches that
it’s unnatural: gay men and women have to find alternative ways of
making love to one another, because their bodies were simply not made
for cohabitation with the same sex. And yes, homosexuality was one of
the sins for which Sodom was destroyed, though it was not the only sin
they were guilty of.
Which brings up one of the major points I’d like to address. All
sin is condemned by God—we all have sinned and we all fall short of
heaven by quite a bit. Adultery and premarital sex are also
forbidden—sensuality itself is something that can keep you from
inheriting the kingdom of God according to Galatians 5:19 and other
passages. Hatred, murder, stealing, lying, and wild, unruly behavior are
also condemned.
Yet all Christians would acknowledge that those who have committed
any of these sins can find forgiveness if they acknowledge the error of
their ways, turn from them, and decide to make Jesus their Lord and
Savior. What makes homosexuality so different in the sight of so many
fundamentalists today?
The truth is, homosexuals can be forgiven just as easily as
straight people. Remember, all people need to be forgiven, regardless of
their Sunday School attendance, whether or not they smoke and drink, or
how they voted in the last election. Take a close look at these verses
from 1 Corinthians, chapter 6:9-11...
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom
of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom
of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were
sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by
the Spirit of our God.
All sorts of sinful behavior deserve God’s judgment, but all those
same sins, including homosexuality, can be forgiven through faith in the
name of Jesus Christ. Notice the sentence, "And such were some of
you." Some of the Corinthians were fornicators and idolaters, and
some were even homosexuals and sodomites—but all were now forgiven and
set free in Christ. Paul addresses them as "saints" in chapter one (vs
2). Ex-homosexuals, saints—I know the two words in such close proximity
is offensive to some of my more conservative brethren, but this is what
the Bible teaches.
Those who blow up abortion clinics and condone the murder of gay
people are not Christians—they are operating in a spirit that is totally
contradictory to everything the New Testament stands for. One could make
some sort of argument, however weak, for the blowing up of an abortion
clinic—that explosion may have saved the lives of several young children
who would otherwise have been brutally murdered in the womb—but a gay
man who isn’t killing anybody shouldn’t be judged until he stands before
God. In any case, lest you misunderstand: the murder of innocent
people, whether gay, unborn, or a nurse at a clinic is never justifiable.
The Bible says "Thou shalt not kill," and it means what it says.
Instead of staging demonstrations against homosexuals,
Christians should be praying for them, seeking ways to open up
meaningful dialogue and fellowship with them, so they can tell them what
the Bible really says.
Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another," (John 13:35). In case anyone is
inclined to argue that we only need to love one another, not every
sinner, let me point out that Jesus also pointed out that if you love
your brethren only, you’re no better than the worst sinners — "love
your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate
you..." (see Matt 5:43-48). And don’t forget that "God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life," (John
3:16). Should not we, too, love those whom Jesus died for?
God loves the homosexual, and he also loves the homosexual hater.
If He’s impatient with anyone—and Jesus sometimes was—it’s with
religious hypocrites, in this context, those who say they are Christians
but who hate homosexuals. The Lord would like us all to repent of our
sins, whatever they may be, and get right with Him, so we can live
together in real unity and love.
Go out and see if you can help someone find Christ. Let the real
Christians start being as vocal and outspoken about Christ’s love as the
counterfeits are about their hatred. Don’t let folks malign our God, and
us, without having a chance to hear the straight story.
Copyright ©
1998, Kim
Harrington, Masterbuilder Ministries. All rights reserved.
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