By Not Known
Our church family includes men and women who struggle with homosexuality, along with such heterosexual issues as premarital sex and adultery. It also includes people who struggle with greed, selfishness, hatred and such like.
That should not surprise us, for Paul saw the same struggles when he looked at the early church (see 1 Cor 6:9- 1O for a fuller list).
The Bible teaches that homosexual behaviour is sin (see Lev 18:22; Rom 1:25-27; 1Cor 6:9). It is sin because it is against God’s ‘order of nature’. Our sexuality is a good gift ȯf God. But like all good gifts it can be put to sinful uses when driven by our fallen nature. Because our sexuality is so powerful, it does greater damage when misused.
While homosexual behaviour is sin, it is no worse than other sexual sins. Along with them, it draws God’s judgement if it continues (1Cor 6:9). Along with them, it draws God’s grace if it is confessed and repented with faith in Jesus (1Cor 6:11).
How should we react to proposals for decriminalising homosexual behaviours, or allowing homosexual marriage?
On the one hand we can bear strong witness to Christian moral values. And, we can argue a ‘public benefit’ case that society gains by reflecting Christian values in legislation. However, we need care. Why support legislation against homosexual behaviour while being legally silent on heterosexual sins which are for more common?
We need a good sense of priorities. Rejection of God’s rule is the root problem, not homosexual actions or other sinful behaviours. Romans 1:18- 32 gives a clear perspective on this. We need to focus on ministering to the homosexual at this root problem rather than being distracted by the symptoms. We may get a lead from John 8: 1- 11. Try substituting ‘homosexuality’ for ‘adultery’ in this passage and see where it takes us.
We are all sinners and stranglers at one point or another. Christ came for people like all of us (Lke 19:10). Let us extend his welcome to one another, whatever the point of struggle.