I am responding to the practice of gay-bashing and also the actions returned in-kind. This kind of stuff has been going on as long as murder. And that is from the beginning of mankind!
In a Peanuts comic strip, Lucy tells Linus, “I finally figured out how to prove to everyone that my religion is right.” Linus asks, “How do you do that?” “It’s simple,” says Lucy, “I hit ‘em over the head with my lunch box!”
I lay claim to being a born again Christian and so my beliefs are grounded from God’s Holy Word.
We must recognize that some people have mistreated homosexuals in the past. It’s a shame that people do mock, taunt, or bully another human being. If those things are done by Christians and I am quite sure they are I want it known I do not support that action. We were made in God’s image and although I admit it is hard should work to carry ourselves in His image.
I should remind you of what was reportedly found in a late medieval manuscript: “The church is something like Noah’s ark. If it weren’t for the storm outside, you couldn’t stand the smell inside.”
That said, I think we need to make one thing clear in regard to civil discourse: To differ is not to hate. I hope we can still have a real conversation in this country about different points of view without casting one another in the worst possible light. The idea that disagreeing with homosexual behavior necessarily results in harm to gay people is designed to shut down conversation and immediately rule one point of view (in this case, the Christian one) out of bounds. The same thing happens the other way around and we have the Christian zealots ruling the other point of view out of bounds. I think this issue is blown so far out of proportion it is without question used by the devil to divide humanity. We Christians should be heralders of the Gospel and not the judge and jury. We need to leave that to the Lord. When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, he listed homosexuality among other sins—idolatry, adultery, burglary, greediness, drunkenness, slanderers, and cheaters. He didn’t just single out the homosexual issue.
Merville Vincent wrote, “In God’s view, I suspect we are all sexual deviants. I doubt if there is anyone who has not had a lustful thought that deviated from God’s perfect idea of sexuality.” That in itself makes one person no better than another. According to God sin is sin, simple as that.
As a Christian, I am to love my neighbor and seek his good, even when I don’t see eye to eye with my neighbor.
Joseph Sizoo writes in his book, Preaching Unashamed, “Jesus healed them all. He identified Himself with the paralytic who had just enough feeling to know pain. He became one with the lepers whose bodies withered with anguish. He seemed to belong to the blind who stumbled through the streets of eternal darkness. He cared what happened to the lily that faded, the reed that was bent, the coin that was lost, the prodigal son who had stepped across the threshold of indiscretion. He was the most compassionate man who ever lived.” We in Christ’s likeness need to show compassion.
First Peter 3:15 reads, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
If you truly believe the Holy Bible this is important, if not nothing I can say is important. Read in Leviticus 18 and 20, Romans 1, or 1 Corinthians 6—classic passages which condemn homosexuality.
Jesus did not say “Go and make heterosexuals” but rather “Go and make disciples.” Remember–it is not a sin to be attracted to the opposite sex; it IS a sin to be involved in any form of sexual activity apart from the husband/wife relationship. What’s more, mankind is already heterosexual—physiologically, anatomically, and biologically.
I want to be careful to not leave any hint of self-righteousness. I am nothing but a lowly sinner saved by grace. Jesus died to save lustful, homo- and heterosexual sinners and transform our hearts and minds and behavior.
Joe Dallas, who writes, “Our response should show interest and concern, two qualities the church has rarely shown when dealing with homosexuality. We must admit we have mishandled the issue in many ways: we have veered between ignoring the problem to becoming obsessed with it, we have made hasty and false generalizations at times about homosexuals themselves, and we have shown a tremendous zeal for defeating the political goals of gays while showing less concern for their eternal well being.”
I believe the church has let society down in many ways, but that is a topic for another time. If Christians believe Christ is the answer, and we do. At least I do. I would then say if we speak of the homosexual with contempt, disgust, and hatred, we will never win him to Christ. I could reason that because gays strike at us it gives reason to fight. I don’t believe that. I believe we are to respond in love and compassion as Jesus did. We can differ with one another and not hate. We can have a genuine conversation about our different points of view. To differ is not to hate and to differ is not forcing my belief on others. I lovingly ask to not have your belief forced on me. Let us agree to disagree!
“The Tubthumper”
