February 6, 2019
“I know homosexuality is a sin, but I refuse to accept it as sin. To accept it as sin would mean that I had forgotten the words Jesus said, love thy neighbor.”
From many these words would no longer surprise me. In this world today, normal has been turned so far upside down that it is hard to understand what this world sees as “normal” anymore. But these words did not come from what we would call a “normal” man. They came from the mouth of a pastor as he stood at the pulpit. A friend of mine sat in the church as the words were said, and messaged me the following morning to get my opinion of what he had heard. After I had him repeat the words to me so I could make sure I heard the words right, I gave him my answer. I told him it was time to find another church. And as he left, he needed to take this “so-called” pastor with him. This pastor needed to give up his title, sit himself down in a pew where he could hear what a real pastor was called by God to say. This pastor needed to blow the dust off his Bible that had been so obviously unopened for a long time, and begin reading the actual Word of God again. And that he needed to be wise enough to listen carefully as he found his way again to his knees, because he had been foolish enough to stand at the pulpit and speak words that the Lord had never placed in his mouth.
I wish the response I had to give my friend was one that was not needed to be given. I also pray that it is a question I never hear again. But in the reality of the world today, this is a question I get asked way too often. We listen today as many of our pastors and religious leaders try to “straddle the fence”. They create their own response to God’s answers, trying to appeal to both sides, not realizing that all they are doing is leading both sides of that “fence” astray.
No issue causes more to straddle the fence than the issue of homosexuality. Many are so scared of the issue, they simply refuse to speak about it. Others try to compromise on the issue, seeking a middle ground that tells us little about what the Lord has to say about the issue. And others embrace the issue, telling us that God is love, and we have no right to judge anyone, and to tell anyone their lifestyle is wrong. They tell us that God made many as homosexual, and loves each of them just the way they are.
So just what does the Lord tells us about homosexuality? Is homosexuality a sin? Can a homosexual be a Christian? Does God accept homosexuality? Does the Lord love the homosexual? Exactly what does the Lord say to us about love? What did Christ mean when he told us to “Love thy Neighbor”? What does it mean for God to love us unconditionally? And what is the Lord’s definition of true love?
From Genesis to Revelation, it is very obvious the Bible tells us that homosexuality is immoral and a sin(Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9). As a result of the Fall of Man, sin has infected all of humanity. Sin looks to contort, pervert, and corrupt each of our lives, not allowing us to be all that the Lord created us to be. Homosexuality perverts the natural and creative order the Lord designed for our lives. And if we look at it closely, it denies the omniscience and perfection of our Lord. Homosexuality implies that God did not create the person the way they were meant to be created, thus He made a mistake when creating them. It also implies that God did not have the foresight to see who that person would be, thus God is not all knowing. The Bible clearly tells us that God is omniscient(Isaiah 46:9-10, Hebrews 4:13), and it makes it clear of His perfection(2 Samuel 22:31, Luke 18:19). To deny each is to deny God.
It does not take us long to see that homosexuality is a sin, a sin that denies the very nature and order of God. Homosexuality is sexual immorality, and holds it place on a list of other sins the Scripture makes clear to us. But at the end of the day, it is sin, nothing more, nothing less. While the consequences of some sin may be greater than others, all sin equally keeps us from experiencing the love that God has for us.
So if homosexuality is a sin, can those who practice homosexuality be a Christian? If a homosexual receives and accepts Christ as their Savior, the answer is resoundingly yes. But this answer must come with a clear definition. When we receive Christ, we accept His ways, and put behind us our old ways. Our hope is found in Him, not in the ways of this world. We cannot fully accept him, and all He desires for our life, if we continue to live our lives for this world.
No better example of this can be found than in the words of Christ Himself. We all know the story of the adulterous woman who was brought to Christ, as the crowd prepared to stone her(John 8:1-11). As Jesus silenced the crowd that called for her death, Christ turned to the woman, telling her that He did not condemn her. He offered her forgiveness from her sins at the moment. Then with His next words, He taught the woman what is meant to live in Christ. He told her, “Go, from now on sin no more.”
Christ taught her repentance, a word that is used powerfully throughout the Bible, but a word that has been forgotten in our society today. Most will try today to describe repentance as “turning from sin”. But actually, the word means so much more. It means, “to change one’s mind”. When we change our mind, we change our actions, and we change Who we live for. This is what Christ offered the adulterous woman. He not only offered her forgiveness from her sin, but a “change of mind” about her sin. The ability to put her adulterous ways behind her, and to live her life for Him.
We so easily forget, only two words separate the sinner from the Christian. Those two words? Jesus Christ! Those who follow Him, seek His forgiveness of our sins. And we recognize where our sin leads us. With Him at the center of our life, we have the power to not only turn away from that sin, but to not to be driven by our sin. If we continue to live for that sin, then we deny what Christ did for us on the Cross. Hebrews 10:26 tells us, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”. The truth is, sin separates us from God, and keeps us from the arms of God. When we choose to follow sin, we choose to keep ourselves from a love that can only be found in His arms.
The homosexual who truly accepts Christ no longer lives for that sin. Sometimes that “change of mind” is instantaneous, other times they may continue to struggle with the sin of homosexuality for years to come. We all struggle with some form of sin. Although we may struggle with sin, when we accept Christ we are no longer enslaved to that sin. Sin may tempt us, but sin will not dominate us. It will not control us. It will not be the driving force in us. Christ is! And the love He has brought each of us is what drives us each day!
There is no better definition of that love, than for us to look at what Christ showed the adulterous woman that day. His love is not just offered to us today, but longs to have us with Him tomorrow. His love knows we are not perfect, but He shares that love with each of us in the most perfect of ways. His love desires to draw us close, and to protect us from all this world would throw at us. That is not only a love He has for us, but a love He wants us to share with the world around us. A love that not only cares about where someone’s life is today, but a love that continues to care about them tomorrow.
God’s love is infinite, but a very finite example of this love can be seen in the love a parent has for their child. A parent loves their child no matter where that child may find themselves, or what situation that child may find themselves in. The parent loves that child because they are a part of them, and they cannot imagine their live without that child. When the child is young, and does something wrong, the parent will do everything they can to keep the child out of harm’s way. They know for the child to repeat the same mistake again could bring damage and destruction to that child’s life. The parent will go to the end of the earth to protect their child, and to show them the truth of the situation they find themselves in. The same is with God! And if we, as Christians, are to reflect the love that Christ shows us, then we have to give our all to let the world know the truth of that love. To show them the truth of where sin will lead them. And to share with them the love that Christ has for them.
When Christ was asked what the greatest commandment was, He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”(Matthew 22:37-40). Here Jesus tells us what true love is. You cannot know love if you do not first know the love of the Lord. And you cannot love those around you, if you are not first willing to show them the whole truth of that love. We must be willing to show our neighbors the joy and love that can only be found in Christ. That love requires us to share with each of those neighbors the truth that can only be found in that love. A truth that is written in each verse of His Word. And each of those verses show us that true love must be grounded in His Truth.
God’s love is proactive, it is never reactive. His arms are always open, waiting for someone to reach out and take ahold of His hand We have been blessed to have found those hands, to have been pulled into the love of His arms. Each moment we spend in those arms calls us to share that love with those around us. To tell them of that love, and to help them to see that love cannot be seen without His Truth. We must never forget, true love can never be shown part way. The love of Christ can never be shown without truth.
As we look at the world today, sin now stands like a mountain towering over this world. A mountain that we cannot walk around, and do not dare try to climb over. But many today stand and admire that mountain. They stand in awe of that mountain, finding it easier to honor the mountain than to tell the world the horrors of that mountain. The truth of the destruction that awaits them on that mountain. Never forget, our strength does not come from that mountain, but from the only One who holds the power to destroy that mountain. One word of His love can bring that mountain to rubble, and can pave the way to the glory that awaits beyond that mountain. We must be willing to help Him crumble that mountain! Willing to reach out and surround the homosexual, and all who are slaves of sin, with open arms. Showing them the life-changing love He has shown us. And as we share with them that love, we must also share with them a truth that is grounded in His love. A truth that leads them away from the sin that would destroy them. A truth that leads to a perfect love.
The eternal fires of hell will be fueled with the regrets of so many. So many we could reach, so many we could save, if we only followed the love that Christ taught us. But so many today look to redefine that love, to make excuses for a truth only found in His love. A truth than cannot be found outside of His love. A love that never needs redefining. A love that we can truthfully say, is perfect in every way.
Praying you see the truth in God’s perfect love.
