Homosexuality among Christians clarified
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter in response to Brian Shreve’s column, “A Bigot’s Guide to Life: 2006 Edition.” Contrary to what many might expect, I’m not writing an angry rebuttal of Mr. Shreve’s opinions on homosexuality and gay marriage. In addition, given the space provided, this letter will not give non-Biblical arguments against same-sex marriage. Instead, I simply will clarify the Biblical position on homosexuality that is far too often distorted.
Believe it or not, I understand Mr. Shreve’s frustration. The common status of homosexuality among “Conservative Christians” is that it is one of the worst sins and sometimes that it is unredeemable. However, a simple look at I Corinthians 6:9-11 shows that homosexuals are listed alongside thieves, drunkards, idolaters, and other sinners “who will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The eleventh verse then says, “such were some of you, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” Without Jesus’ death on the cross, those sinners would be eternally apart from God. This salvation, however, does not mean that a person can continue to live in that sin in direct rebellion to God’s law. The reason that some churches have banned homosexuality is not based on a hierarchy of sin but on the unwillingness of some to acknowledge its sinfulness. Just as with any other sin, the person must attempt to move away from that lifestyle by the power of Christ. If a person lives an unrepentant lifestyle of homosexuality, drunkenness, idolatry or any sin for that matter, then he/she is in defiance of God’s law and should be considered contrary to church doctrine. “Conservative Christians” who preach hate speech against homosexuals are singling out one group instead of recognizing the weaknesses of all humans in relation to God’s law. It is Christ’s perfect sacrifice that redeems all, not just some, of the sins of a repentant heart.
Once again, I acknowledge the common hypocrisy in the church, and I don’t claim perfection either. However, I hope that one will not judge the Christian faith by a few of its followers just as one should not judge the Islamic faith based upon some of its disciples. As in everyday life, people are bound to mess up and fall short of expectations. Instead, one should investigate the basic tenets of those worldviews in order to determine their validity.
Sincerely,
Sam Rauschenberg
Junior
Economics
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Feb 3 2006. Filed under Opinion.
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