Pete's Divine Comedy
Lately, I have read from a few Christian writers as well as multi-media posts and blogs, condemning homosexuality. Is it a sin? I believe that the Bible is specific that it is.
Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 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.
I will come back to that in a minute. The thing that bugs me is why homosexuality is singled out by Christians. I have heard it said that there is an applicable gradation to sin in the bible and that homosexuality is on the upper end of the "bad" scale. So I researched it by posing the question "Are there different levels of sin listed in the bible?" I read several different takes on it and all have said yes. The scriptures I have seen in support of this were references to people who were involved in multiple sins not just a comparison of one sin to another. One of the popular support scriptures was quoted from Jesus in the pharisee Simon's house. Luke 7. The woman comes and washes Jesus feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, kisses them, and annoints them with oil. Jesus goes on to tell Simon a story about 2 debtors that have their debts forgiven and asks which would love their benefactor more. Simon answers the one who had the larger debt cancelled. This was an example of sins forgiven, like debt, accumulated, and not a sin-to-sin comparative of which I cannot find in the bible. The previous scripture I quoted from Romans is not a stand alone passage. Please read all of below.
Rom 1: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 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. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
This presents a different picture doesn't it? Seems like verse 32 sums it up. So why is it so heinous for homosexuals to be in their sin but for the unmarried couple engaged in a sexual relationship, it is a waywardness needing correction. Not according to Paul in the above passage. Both are equal. Christians don't see that. Why? How is a practicing gay man or woman more guilty of sin than the people who purposely steal office supplies from their employers?
Now I have also read how God has brought swift punishment for some sins and for others has been more gracious and merciful. OK. I will agree with that as long as you realize who made the judgement call and who and WHO ALONE had that authority to make it.
We are called to love God above all with all of our hearts, minds, and souls, to love one another, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40 and John 13:34-35) This is not that. Please don't quote tough love to me. I have been beaten very thoroughly in the past under the auspices of "tough love." Not for practicing homosexuality but for other human judgement calls of my sin.
Readers, please do not make the assumption or presumption that I am condoning homosexuality. I am not. I do indeed believe that it is a sin. What concerns me is that many in the church see it as being deplorable above other sin. It is not. It also is not blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Should we address sin when we see it? Absolutely. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells us the correct process and in Gal 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted, Paul tells us how. I see more anger and righteous indignation in the outcries against homosexuality than restoration with a "spirit of gentleness."
So, while I know there are folks more knowledgeable of scripture than me, who see shades of gray in reference to sin, I still see no shades of gray in the bible. I do know two things as being absolutely true. That is that I am not the judge and I am definitely guilty of many sins and they all carry equal weight. Rom 3:22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and Rom 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Therefore, let's be diligent in our war against sin. First in ourselves, and then with gentleness and love in others. All sin. Not just one.
Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 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.
I will come back to that in a minute. The thing that bugs me is why homosexuality is singled out by Christians. I have heard it said that there is an applicable gradation to sin in the bible and that homosexuality is on the upper end of the "bad" scale. So I researched it by posing the question "Are there different levels of sin listed in the bible?" I read several different takes on it and all have said yes. The scriptures I have seen in support of this were references to people who were involved in multiple sins not just a comparison of one sin to another. One of the popular support scriptures was quoted from Jesus in the pharisee Simon's house. Luke 7. The woman comes and washes Jesus feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, kisses them, and annoints them with oil. Jesus goes on to tell Simon a story about 2 debtors that have their debts forgiven and asks which would love their benefactor more. Simon answers the one who had the larger debt cancelled. This was an example of sins forgiven, like debt, accumulated, and not a sin-to-sin comparative of which I cannot find in the bible. The previous scripture I quoted from Romans is not a stand alone passage. Please read all of below.
Rom 1: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 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. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
This presents a different picture doesn't it? Seems like verse 32 sums it up. So why is it so heinous for homosexuals to be in their sin but for the unmarried couple engaged in a sexual relationship, it is a waywardness needing correction. Not according to Paul in the above passage. Both are equal. Christians don't see that. Why? How is a practicing gay man or woman more guilty of sin than the people who purposely steal office supplies from their employers?
Now I have also read how God has brought swift punishment for some sins and for others has been more gracious and merciful. OK. I will agree with that as long as you realize who made the judgement call and who and WHO ALONE had that authority to make it.
We are called to love God above all with all of our hearts, minds, and souls, to love one another, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40 and John 13:34-35) This is not that. Please don't quote tough love to me. I have been beaten very thoroughly in the past under the auspices of "tough love." Not for practicing homosexuality but for other human judgement calls of my sin.
Readers, please do not make the assumption or presumption that I am condoning homosexuality. I am not. I do indeed believe that it is a sin. What concerns me is that many in the church see it as being deplorable above other sin. It is not. It also is not blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Should we address sin when we see it? Absolutely. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells us the correct process and in Gal 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted, Paul tells us how. I see more anger and righteous indignation in the outcries against homosexuality than restoration with a "spirit of gentleness."
So, while I know there are folks more knowledgeable of scripture than me, who see shades of gray in reference to sin, I still see no shades of gray in the bible. I do know two things as being absolutely true. That is that I am not the judge and I am definitely guilty of many sins and they all carry equal weight. Rom 3:22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and Rom 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Therefore, let's be diligent in our war against sin. First in ourselves, and then with gentleness and love in others. All sin. Not just one.
Comments
Post a Comment