It would be a lot more pleasant, in some ways, to be able to support the pro-homosex position. It would certainly be easier. After all, the church is called to welcome everyone in the love and grace of Jesus Christ, and it’s a fair bit easier to make people feel welcome if one can simply affirm their choices and decisions. That’s one reason why so many churches wink at so many other sins.
Beyond that, though, in American culture these days—perhaps not here, but in our country in general—being a straight guy who supports gay rights is a pretty comfortable thing to be. After all, the bigots on the conservative side—and there certainly are some—might yell at you a little, but they save the real abuse for homosexuals; the price paid by heterosexuals who argue for gay rights is pretty minimal. Meanwhile, liberal bigots—and there are definitely those, too—will pat you on the back and tell you how enlightened you are. For that matter, so will most of the American intelligentsia, and most of our rich and famous. And if a lot of other Americans disagree with you—well, that just offers the chance to indulge the ancient vice of snobbery.
These are some of the things that would make it a lot easier to throw in the towel regarding homosexuality. And yet, I am committed to understanding the Scriptures—which means standing under them, letting them read me and control my thinking, not trying to read my thinking into them. I am committed, further, to the principle that the call of God is a radical one, that Jesus calls us to give up everything to follow him, and that anyone who hears the call of Christ and is not challenged on some point of sinfulness in their lives didn’t really hear his voice at all. As uncomfortable as it might make me, as risky as it might be, if I start backing down on the issue of homosexuality, it won’t stop there. After all, it would be a lot easier just to affirm gossips in their gossiping and liars in their lying, too.
I keep coming back to the Rev. Tim Keller’s point, in his sermon at GCNC last year, that we cannot truly preach the gospel if we aren’t identifying and confronting the idols in our churches. It’s not just a matter of confronting sin; if all we do is point out and condemn the behaviors people already acknowledge as sinful and for which they already feel shame, we aren’t doing anything but piling on. The crux of the matter, rather, is identifying the desires and behaviors and heart attitudes that people (including ourselves, no question) don’t acknowledge as sin, and don’t want to admit are sinful—not the ones people already hate and wish they could give up (the challenge there is to support and encourage them in that work), but the ones they love and to which they cling, because those areas of sin have become idols in their lives.
That’s a necessary task in ministry, but it’s one from which we too often flinch, because people usually don’t respond pleasantly to it. Try it, and you’ll be called every name in the book, and maybe even some that aren’t in there yet; and in particular, you’ll be called hateful, unloving, judgmental, and maybe even pharisaical (depending on the other person’s vocabulary). And yet, doing so isn’t unloving in the least; in truth, it’s a profound act of love. Too often, I think, we don’t love others enough to risk their anger and abuse by telling them something they don’t want to hear, even if they deeply need to hear it. Easier not to care that much, to just be quiet instead. It’s a shame, really; in fact, it’s a damned shame. Literally.
Living in Western Washington I am surrounded by Christians who have voted in laws to allow everything but marriage benefits, euthanasia, and abortion to name a few of the things God warns us about. Instead we have those Christians and pastors who are against any war, and for ending poverty, which is fine but not a specific word from God I think. I pray and leave the rest to God. Meanwhile I left a church where up to half of the congregation and the pastors voted Democrat. Do I have an idol?
We all have idols; giving them up is a key part of the process of sanctification. Not knowing you, I wouldn't presume to guess what yours might be or have been or where you are in your growth.
And I know western Washington, since that's home. (See the last section of the sidebar above the archives . . .)
Maybe my idol is truth. Sometimes I'm too forthright on issues that really don't matter that much.
So when are you guys gonna go an a multi-year electoral campaign to abuse divorced people who have remarried? They are adulterers, right? Don't just say they can't be a pastor, pass laws to deny them the right to remarry. Treat them like Gay people. Punish them like you guys PUNISH gay people. You have nothing to offer Gays but a lonely life of living alone (celibacy). I reject your Jesus Christ. Please tell me what you guys, POLITICALLY are offering me as a citizen of the state as a Gay man that will not convert to evangelial Christianity.
And you wonder why people who don't follow your religious laws that you attempt to punish see you as haters? Actually, I don't think you wonder. You know what you are doing. May God forgive you.
Our big issue is that you disagree with us, but rather that you seek to use the power of the state to enforce penalties for defying your dogma. Example, I'd like to get my foriegn citizen partner immigration status to join me in the USA. I can't. Because you guys hate me and my family. I can if the Federal Gov't recognized my marriage. I'm not going to your church. But you advocate penalties because you hate me. And you can't explain in any other terms other than 'God hates you' why you actively seek to keep me from the man I love. And no, I can't live there either (I can't get a visa to his country either). So you are, PERSONALLY, keeping me from my husband. Think about it. This has NOTHING to do with your religion. But simple hate.
Your idol is political power used to punish people in public policy that you disagree with. There is no love from you guys. Focusing on adultery amongst straight couples would hurt your political power, so you downgrade that sin.
You guys are the reason why the fastest growing religious preference is 'decline to state/none'. And that, unfortunately, will be your biggest legacy. But pandering to the bigotries of your flock while ignoring their sins (or not treating them with the same exclusion you reserve for Gays) sure does fill the pews and donation box, doesn't it rev?