We always had Cold Civil Wars in America. The biggest of them all or least in the moment is over Religious Freedom vs. Sexual Freedom. The left defends Sexual Freedom via the Abortion and LGBTQ causes and Conservatives see the dangers of sexual freedom going too far and how that has Trumped (no pun intended to President 45) Religious Freedom. Sure, there are other issues regarding Religious Freedom, especially on medical issues and that is being delt with regarding the vaccines, but that’s another piece…maybe…but the focus of this piece is how Christians have been dealing with the LGBTQ Community and where they do get certain things wrong.
Before we get deep into this, we first go to the Bible and go over the scripture passages regarding homosexuality. For the record the Bible quotes come from English Standard Version (ESV).
Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. - Leviticus 18:22
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. - Leviticus 20:13
…God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. - Romans 1:26-27
…do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. - 1 Timothy 1:8-11
We know about the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Book of Genesis chapter 19, verses 1–28. Some have made the claim that David and Jonathan & Ruth and Naomi were homosexual couples…but that is not proven, coupled with the fact that the Hebrew Bible does mention lesbianism.
We know that God frowns on the act of homosexuality (I repeat, the ACT of homosexuality), but in this cursed creation some of us are made in unique ways. Now God created us Male and Female and while Jesus Christ himself said nothing about homosexuality, he did say we were born Male and Female…Sorry, Not Sorry…and neither is Jesus or his Father. Now, there are people (and animals) that are born androgynous (or born eunuchs) and there are people sadly that were made such because of the actions of other humans (especially those in authority)…or some become eunuchs on their own accord and commit to being sold out to the Christian faith…while others give in to their personal lusts. There are also people who have feelings for the same gender. Meanwhile, certain Christians are hiding their own sexual issues and in recent years, certain Christian leaders are getting caught. The Bible does not say if people are born homosexual. There are people that are born androgynous regarding their “plumbing.”
Still God made the institution of Marriage for One Man and One Woman only. He did not intend for same sex/gender sexual relations. Too many times the quest of sexual pursuits (both hetro and homo) have made humans take their focus off serving God and serving humanity.
So let us accept the fact that certain humans and animals have plumbing of both male and female. I will not TMI here other than what I have stated…my pastor did a good enough job at that (click here to hear him out). I will say that we need to get a hold of the issues of sexuality and deal with it hard core based on what the Bible says and says alone. We don’t need to give shock treatment to homosexuals, but we must encourage them to be celibate…and focus on serving God. God will never approve of same sex marriage, or the acts of men on men and women on women.
Marriage in God’s economy is only for One Man and One Woman.
The American Christian Church is waaaaaay too focused on sexuality and embraced certain things (some with good intentions) that are not Biblically centered and scriptural based. Because of this, certain people got turned off or feel they can’t hold up to God’s standards. While it’s important to defend the likes of Jack Phillips from those who demand respect for their sexuality, I will agree with my pastor that the extra biblical teaching on sexuality has hurt the American church, and it’s hurt our purpose to Worship the everlasting God. We changed the terms of sexuality based on our terms, not Gods, and we need to get back to basics. Remember God’s own word never goes void, but teaching on sexuality that don’t come from God are void, and that is one of the reasons why the chickens are coming home to roost in the American church. The church is declining and one of those reasons is how they deal with the issue of sexuality.
Stuff like purity rings and promises are based on good intentions but they are not fully based in scripture. What Nadia Bolz-Weber is advocating is not the answer either. It is old fashioned Pagan “If It Feels Good, Do It” mentality.
We all have clay feet, and we all can sin. But we still have a Judge Advocate in our corner. His name is Jesus Christ. God sent him many years ago to Die on the Cross for not only our sexual sins, but other sins as well.
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