One
night I was reading the stories of people who had left the church because they
thought God hated them simply because they were attracted to the same sex. I
was so overcome with emotion that I put the book down, got alone in another
room, fell to my knees and wept. The pain of these men and women for whom Jesus
died was palpable and heartbreaking.
night I was reading the stories of people who had left the church because they
thought God hated them simply because they were attracted to the same sex. I
was so overcome with emotion that I put the book down, got alone in another
room, fell to my knees and wept. The pain of these men and women for whom Jesus
died was palpable and heartbreaking.
Could
it be that we have been misinterpreting Scripture when it comes to their
salvation? Could it be that there is some new understanding of the Bible that
would allow us to affirm committed, same-sex relationships?
it be that we have been misinterpreting Scripture when it comes to their
salvation? Could it be that there is some new understanding of the Bible that
would allow us to affirm committed, same-sex relationships?
If
not, does that mean that we tell a 15 year-old girl who identifies as lesbian,
"If you want to follow Jesus, you'll have to be celibate for the rest of
your life, never enjoying the companionship of a spouse and abstaining from sex
for life"? Do we tell her, "If you do want to be married, you'll have
to find a way to be attracted to men"? Is that the good news of the
gospel?
not, does that mean that we tell a 15 year-old girl who identifies as lesbian,
"If you want to follow Jesus, you'll have to be celibate for the rest of
your life, never enjoying the companionship of a spouse and abstaining from sex
for life"? Do we tell her, "If you do want to be married, you'll have
to find a way to be attracted to men"? Is that the good news of the
gospel?
A
spate of books, videos, articles and blogs would tell us that, indeed, that is
not the gospel and that the good news of Jesus is that you can follow Him and
enjoy a committed, homosexual relationship too. And some of the authors of
these books, videos, articles and blogs claim to be committed Christians
themselves.
spate of books, videos, articles and blogs would tell us that, indeed, that is
not the gospel and that the good news of Jesus is that you can follow Him and
enjoy a committed, homosexual relationship too. And some of the authors of
these books, videos, articles and blogs claim to be committed Christians
themselves.
How
do we sort this out?
do we sort this out?
It's
really not that difficult. God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our
path (Ps. 119:105). It is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb. 4:12-13).
really not that difficult. God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our
path (Ps. 119:105). It is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb. 4:12-13).
If
we will humble ourselves before the Lord, keeping our focus on Jesus and asking
the Father to give us His heart for those who identify as LGBT, letting the
unequivocal testimony of Scripture guide us, we will find clarity.
we will humble ourselves before the Lord, keeping our focus on Jesus and asking
the Father to give us His heart for those who identify as LGBT, letting the
unequivocal testimony of Scripture guide us, we will find clarity.
So
what does the Word of God say about homosexual practice?
what does the Word of God say about homosexual practice?
Here
are five simple truths that will help separate truth from error and biblical
revelation from emotion. (For those wanting a more in-depth treatment, please
see my newest book, Can You Be Gay and Christian?)
are five simple truths that will help separate truth from error and biblical
revelation from emotion. (For those wanting a more in-depth treatment, please
see my newest book, Can You Be Gay and Christian?)
1)
The testimony of Scripture remains unchanged: The Bible forbids homosexual
practice.
The testimony of Scripture remains unchanged: The Bible forbids homosexual
practice.
It's
clear that the vast majority of those who have changed their views on what the
Bible says about homosexuality and now believe in "gay Christianity"
have done so based on either their own same-sex desires and attractions or
their interaction with "gay Christians" (or with any gay or lesbian
person who challenges their assumptions).
clear that the vast majority of those who have changed their views on what the
Bible says about homosexuality and now believe in "gay Christianity"
have done so based on either their own same-sex desires and attractions or
their interaction with "gay Christians" (or with any gay or lesbian
person who challenges their assumptions).
In
other words, they have not changed their thinking based on study of the
Scriptures alone, since no new textual, archeological, sociological,
anthropological or philological discoveries have been made in the last 50 years
that would cause us to read any of these biblical texts differently.
other words, they have not changed their thinking based on study of the
Scriptures alone, since no new textual, archeological, sociological,
anthropological or philological discoveries have been made in the last 50 years
that would cause us to read any of these biblical texts differently.
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