Here's my first post, as promised. Please let me know what you think of the post, as well as your opinion in the comments below. Thanks in advance!
Alright, so this is what I believe the Church's answer to the "problem" of homosexuality going on in American culture:
Issues to be discussed:
Answers:
Alright, so this is what I believe the Church's answer to the "problem" of homosexuality going on in American culture:
Issues to be discussed:
- Should people who practice homosexuality be allowed to lead a church?
- Should we reconcile differing beliefs about homosexuality? Or push our own agenda?
- Should we fight for DOMA and other "Man and Woman" legalities? Or against them? Or maybe not get involved at all?
Answers:
- No, "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?"
This is the problem: You cannot follow this model and hold to the doctrine as taught (someone at some point had contradicted it.), "He [An overseer] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
So no, you cannot and should not be teaching false doctrine. I think we can all agree with that. Even if we disagree that it might not be "false doctrine". My argument for that is, you can argue context, all you want, but you can't argue something that's a clear condition of humanity as we were created. A man and a woman is not culturally contextual to when the bible was written, it's a human condition. There will NEVER be a time where ALL people are born hermaphrodites. Not arguing any more about that in here. On to number two!
- This is a little trickier. I think this relates to the answer for number three. The short answer is Yes. I'm sure we all can understand God wants His church unified not tearing itself apart at the seams (which we know it's currently doing.). Now, should we be pushy and boisterous to other Christians that marriage is MAN and WOMAN only? Well, my thought is this: "Is your passion for sound doctrine going to cause you to be blamed for the next reformation? If so, can you sleep at night knowing you're the reason God's church is splitting at the seams? By now you're probably fired up depending on the side of the fence you're on. Let me just remind you that I'm not promoting the teaching of Homosexuality as being acceptable in churches across the nation, (see number one if you forgot already
). I'm simply arguing that I believe they have the right to sit in the pew beside you to worship the same God who has forgiven your sins just as much as He has forgiven your neighbors. - Food for thought -
Number 3!
- So, in the theme mentioned with the answer to number 2, I'd like to add this quote from a Casting Crowns song called "Jesus friend of sinners" to drive my opinion home:
[background=rgb(204,204,221)]Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided
...
Help us to remember we are all the least of these[/background][background=rgb(204,204,221)]Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees[/background][background=rgb(204,204,221)]Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded[/background][background=rgb(204,204,221)]What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did[/background]
What I'm trying to get across is, if we're more worried about legislation stating our position than showing the love of Christ to people, they're never going to understand why we (those of us against it gay marriage.) hold it so dearly. I don't think Jesus is holding us as accountable for the legislation that is passed as much as He is for having the knowledge of the truth and doing nothing with it. More acutely, our ability to witness to people could be at stake if we're being more worried about getting the "Rights right." than showing people there is more joy in living for Christ whether the law says gay marriage is ok or not. It's our job to be raising our kids, and changing our community. In my opinion, that happens through people's actions not their enactions.
Later
