I just read a blog post that basically stated that maybe it’s time to throw out the Bible because it could be standing in the way of Christ and his love for others. Specifically, it was mentioned in the dialog of people living a gay lifestyle and being no different than those not living as homosexual. The author of the post plainly states that if all we can do as disciples of Christ is to quote Scripture from Leviticus or Romans, then he says, “Enough with the Bible already!”
Before I respond, let me first state something for the record. Living in the world with no one ever seriously preaching the gospel to me for the first 37 years of my life, I wasn’t really fond of the argument (most) Christians made by condemning gay people to hell. I thought it was quite insensitive and ignorant. However, since coming to know the Lord and really studying and seeking truth in this issue, I truly believe that God clearly reveals homosexuality to be a sin that will prevent some from entering the kingdom of heaven. One of the biggest issues I had in coming to accept myself as an evangelical was the issue of homosexuality. It is a decision I did not come upon lightly or by blindly following others. It is a decision that I felt like there was no middle ground on and needed to be made--either I believed the Bible or I believed the world, but I couldn’t believe both.
Homosexuality is not the greatest of all sins nor is it the only thing that separates one from God. This is a little lengthy, but let me cite 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 from The Amplified Bible:
- 9Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality,
10Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.
11And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.
Therefore, if we as Christians say that those professing to be gay are not going to heaven, then we also must remember that neither will liars, adulterers, users of profanity, or idolaters. So, let it be known this is not another rant on how gay people are going to hell, nor is this in judgment of someone for being gay.
I’ve never professed to be gay or lived a gay lifestyle so I really have no idea what it is like. However, I did grow up as one of three Asians in my graduating class and one of about seven minorities total out of something like 180 students from my high school. I grew up in a town during a time where the KKK was visible and crosses were being burned in the front of people’s homes. I witnessed a lot of hate and was persecuted many times just for looking different than 99.9% of the other students at my high school. There were many times I wished I could change and be white like the other kids just to avoid the racist insults and fights. I wondered why some people had so much hate towards me for no reason other than my appearance. Heck, I didn’t even have a Japanese last name because I was adopted by a white father after my birth.
So, if you are gay and believe you were born that way and there is nothing you can do about it even if you wanted to, I know what you mean. I have compassion for all of those that are outside of the social norms.
While you may not agree, the strongest evidence in my mind of homosexuality being something that can be overcome was the testimony of people that lived a gay lifestyle and turned away from it by the power of the Holy Spirit. If these people were born gay, how could they now live as heterosexuals? I have yet to hear a legitimate argument that proves otherwise.
To use my life as an example, I can say that within every fiber of my being was an atheist. That I never imagined the day would come that I would admit that God was alive and the Creator of the universe. I never thought there would be a time when I profess Jesus as my Lord & Savior, not even as a joke. I was not at any low point in my life, in fact I was living a great life and didn’t feel as I needed help with anything. However, a solitary train trip to Grand Junction, Colorado one week in October 2004 changed my life forever. It was just me and God and it was indescribable.
As it states in 1 Corinthians 6:11, we were formerly liars and cheaters and idolaters, yet the Holy Spirit brought us from that life and made us dead to sin and alive in Christ. Now when we sin, it is not our spirit that sins, but our flesh. We will struggle with living in the light every day of our lives, yet through Christ we are made clean and through our repentance it is as if we never sinned…he has erased that memory from his mind. I was never gay, but I did lie, idolize money & success, drink in excess and use lots of profanity, along with several other things that would not have honored God had I been a Christian. I really believe that if I can be changed in ways that the Bible describes, anyone can!
A homosexual that never repents for sin is no different than an adulterer or thief or liar that also never repents from sin. When one chooses to live in what they know rather than what Christ calls them to, how can we look to him when we won’t follow him except in time of need?
There are denominations, churches, pastors, priests, bishops and ministers out there that believe they are doing the Lord’s work and encouraging those in a homosexual lifestyle to believe that loving someone of the same sex is honoring God. Even some of these people in pastoral ministry are openly gay as well. I am not here to judge anyone nor state that I am the ultimate authority in the matter of unrepentant sins. However, I believe that the Word of God is for us today and it is how we can know God and get insight into his plan of redemption. I believe that God uses his Word for great things! In fact, in Romans 1:16 it reads: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” The gospel is used by God so that those that believe will be saved. How can one simply just throw that away when it is convenient for their purposes anymore?
If the Bible states homosexuality is a sin, but we choose to ignore that because we say it was written in a different context or that God loves everyone and therefore would not single out homosexuals, then what is next? Can we then commit adultery, engage in sex with multiple partners at the same time, steal, lie, revel in drunkenness and say that these honor God as well? How can we look only at homosexuality in such a context? It’s not possible and only a matter of time before other aspects of Scripture are downplayed in order to make us feel better about our lives.
Whichever way you feel on this issue, please know that while God did create all of us, he did call some to be in light and some not to be. It’s his way of showing that all things can be used for his glory. I find a stark warning to those that live in ways outside of the Scripture, yet believe that God won’t judge them at the appointed time. It is in Matthew 7:21-23 and states: 21″Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Please don’t be deceived by those that tell you what you want to hear. Look beyond yourself and seek God to reveal the truth to you. If you come away with a view that goes outside of Scripture I won’t submit to your view, but I won’t turn you away or ridicule you or condemn you. God’s plan is not up to me and I can’t let my feelings or emotions get in the way of his righteousness. It’s not my views that will be relevant and your choices are between you and God. His justice will prevail and some will call upon the Lord in the final moment, but hear the words, “I never knew you.”
