Christians and Homosexuality?

Christians and Homosexuality

(this topic was part of our Marriage & Family Series, on 7-14-13)

Two weeks ago, we alluded to this question in my message.  This is a huge topic with the church today it is popularly disputed.

In this topic, there are two real issues that arise, and should NOT be confused.  Often concerning Homosexuality, these two areas are mixed, and thus create confusion.

·                  1.  WHAT is Truth?

·                  2.  HOW should we use this truth?

When Asked: “Is Homosexual Marriage Wrong?”

Many Christians unfortunately believe that the issue of Homosexuality in the Bible is a “grey” area—but it is NOT.  And some bring into the conversation that God really made people homosexual.  It’s not true, and not even scientifically backed.  Genesis 2, and where it is repeated in the NT, makes it clear that God created marriage to be One Man, for One Woman, for One lifetime.  Romans gives even more detail:

Romans 1:26-27

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

The Homosexual relationship is a perversion of God’s beautiful plan.  And thus it is a sinful lifestyle, just as any inappropriate relationship would be with another person. 

Addictions

Because of our sinful nature and our sinful world, we can be drawn towards addictions.  I don’t see any reason to doubt the studies that some genetics can actually be more drawn towards certain addictions.  Some are more likely to be drawn towards drunkenness.  Most of this is because they have seen that behavior displayed, but there is SOME physiological draw towards this addiction. 

That draw we can have is not a sin.  Rather, when we act on that draw, then it becomes a sin.  For instance, a person can be drawn to be a drunk driver, but if they engage in that behavior, it is wrong.  They cannot blame it on “That’s just the way God created me.”  Another example is how a man can be drawn to cheat on his wife, but he cannot say “That’s just the way God created me.” 

Similarly, a person can be drawn to be attracted towards a person of the same gender, but it can still be (and is) a sin when they actually engage in that lifestyle, just as it would be a sin to have sexual relations with a person in which you are not married. 

So now the second question:  How should we now stand for this truth?

Many actually believe that we should just never bring up the topic of homosexuality in our churches, and make it a non-issue.  I agree that homosexuality SHOULD NOT be an issue when it comes to evangelism and the church being a welcoming community.  One day, when we have the café and weekly church services there, and a homosexual couple walks up, obviously we would not say “Sorry, we don’t serve their kind here.”  Rather, we treat them like anyone else who needs the gospel!!

However, any sin that is openly practiced among believers, becomes that little “yeast in the bread” – a Biblical phrase for how a little sin breads more sin.  So when we see sin among the believers, we lovingly make it known, ask for confession of it, and then try to keep them accountable to do better in the future. 

Sense it is clear that Romans shows homosexual activity to be wrong, would we not also deal with any openly practiced homosexuality among the believers, as we would any sin? 

Would we allow an openly gay couple to join our worship service? 

Absolutely. 

Would we allow a gay couple to become members or take key serving positions in the church?

Well, let me ask:  would we allow someone who was cheating on their spouse to become a member without first working through those issues?  Of course we wouldn’t. 

Homosexuality is NOT the unforgivable sin, but rather God sees it just as he sees countless other sins…as a danger for us and His church.  Homosexuality IS sin, and should be made known in the church just like any other sin.