Sunday, June 28, 2015

My Take: Sin, Sexuality, and Salvation

I don't think we're handling our response to sin properly.


 We tend to categorize sin into different levels. For example, murder might be considered worse than stealing, and apostasy in the church is talked about much less than this week's big topic, homosexuality.

 Yet James has this to say, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said Do not commit adultery, also said Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if you kill, thou art become transgressor of the law." James 2:10-11

 We must not think that some sins are "not as bad" as others. Any sin, no matter how small, separates us from the creator, and it's only through the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made that we can be returned to a right relationship with God.

 We maintain friendships with many types of non-believers, and this is not a bad thing. How can we reach the lost if we don't seek out the lost? Not every believer is the type to stand on a street corner and preach, and not every nonbeliever would respond to that. Sometimes what they need is for us to show them God's love, and then let them seek it out on their own.


 Where does that leave us on the issue of homosexuality?

 Despite the media drama, not every gay person wants to demolish Christianity, and not every christian hates people who are gay.

 Part of what we tend to forget in this whole thing is that we aren't dealing with some ineffable alien menace. We're dealing with people. People who need forgiveness as surely as we do.

 The trouble comes when we only pay attention to the ones doing the shouting, and forget that there are all kinds of people on both sides of the issue. There are people who are reasonable, unreasonable, loud, quiet, certain, doubting, and feeling every other emotion that human beings experience. 


 So what should we do?

 James goes on to say, "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body," and adds, "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." James 3:2,10


 Paul wrote on this subject to the young pastor Timothy, saying, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves." 2 Timothy 2:24-25a


 There is already a lot of hatred from every angle of this issue. I think it's time we start showing some love.


 I really do think that we have lost some of the love we should have for each other, and for nonbelievers.

 I guess I've felt like this for a long time, but wasn't certain enough in it to offer my opinion. Recently though, I had a chance to be part of a really good discussion about reacting to homosexuality, and had an older christian affirm my thought on the matter.


 Don't mistake this for me saying that I think being gay is right, or that God thinks it's ok. I just feel like screaming about it isn't helping anyone. It's not winning over unbelievers, and it's not endearing us to anyone.

 People have defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Maybe it's time to change our approach.




 I'm still working out of town, and will be until after the Forth of July. There probably won't be any more posts between now and then. I'm thinking a lot about my future, and would appreciate prayer on that front.



God bless.

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