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Monday, June 29, 2015

An Open Letter to the Christian with the Rainbow-colored Profile Picture.

While my heart ached to see my non-believing friends rejoice at the SCOTUS same-sex marriage ruling, I did not and do not judge them because we have different standards by which we live and form our opinions.

My prayer has always been that each of my friends who does not know Christ will someday have a revelation of him as Lord and Savior.

On the contrary, when one after another of my professing Christian friends made their support for same-sex marriage known, most using the ubiquitous transparent rainbows on Facebook, my heart burned with questions from the Scriptures as to the wisdom their decision.

This post is a result of that burning:

Dear Christian With The Rainbow-Colored Profile Picture,

A. Did you know Jesus (yep, THE Jesus Christ) taught marriage was a special union of male and female?

When asked about marriage, he said, "Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?" (Matt 19:4)

Christ's teaching is clear and definitive: marriage is the result of God's desire to bring together again the two halves of the sexual spectrum, male and female, in union.

One biblical scholar who supports same-sex unions, Dr. William Loader, has some bold things to say about this passage:

1. "Jesus’ "statements clearly exclude sexual relations beyond that union. Nothing indicates that Jesus would have approached the prohibitions of Lev 18:22 and 20:13 any differently than his Jewish contemporaries."(Sexuality and the Jesus Tradition, 337).

2. For Jesus "one flesh" referred to "a singleness of being" and "reflects the idea that the male and female originally belonged togetherand that sexual intercourse in some way rejoins the male and female to one" (Sexuality and the Jesus Tradition, 243).

This means by choosing to affirm same-sex marriage, you must walk in contradiction to the Lord whose name you bear.

B. Did you know other Scriptures back up Jesus' teaching, like Romans 1:25-27:

"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."

Words as strong as these require little commentary.

However, some argue Paul would not have prohibited loving, committed same-sex relationships if he had known of them. Again, let's see what Loader has to say:

1. "Paul’s indictment in Rom 1:26-27 "included, but [was] by no means limited to exploitative pederasty," "sexual abuse of male slaves," or "same-sex acts… performed within idolatrous ritual contexts" (The New Testament on Sexuality, 325).

2. Homosexual relationships in the Greco-Roman world "could include lifelong consensual adult partnerships" (324).

3. "It is inconceivable that [Paul] would approve of any same-sex acts if, as we must assume, he affirmed the prohibitions of Lev 18:22; 20:13 as fellow Jews of his time understood them" (322).

Another scholar, this time historian and openly gay man Louis Crompton, said this:

1. "According to [one] interpretation, Paul’s words were not directed at "bona fide" homosexuals in committed relationships. But such a reading, however well-intentioned, seems strained and unhistorical.

2. Nowhere does Paul or any other Jewish writer of this period imply the least acceptance of same-sex relations under any circumstance.

3. The idea that homosexuals might be redeemed by mutual devotion would have been wholly foreign to Paul or any other Jew or early Christian" (Homosexuality and Civilization, 114).

In other words, Paul meant what Christ's Church always said he meant, and if you walk away from this teaching, you walk away from teaching authority of Scripture.

C. Did you know choosing to affirm same-sex marriage may lead your friends with same-sex attraction away from God?

I believe you when you say coming to know loving and amazing gay people sparked your change of mind.

This is why I appeal to you saying Christian love demands we stay strong in the truth (Ephesians 4:15) with the patient expectation our faithfulness will incite a hunger for God in the hearts of all who see us.

To love our neighbor is to refuse to do anything that might prevent them from being everything God wishes for them to be in His Son Jesus, whether they are gay, straight, or anything in between. 


And in my life, I have been able to foster precious relationships with LGBT people on this basis.

However, we cannot accomplish this goal if we reject the teachings of Scripture in favor of feelings, cultural shifts, or personal opinions.

Is temporary acceptance really worth causing those you care about to stumble before they reach the loving arms of God?


D. Did you know defending homosexual behavior as acceptable before God harms not only those who act on same-sex inclinations, but also those supporting such action?

In Romans 1, Paul ends his blistering critique of sinful mankind with these words: "they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (v 32.)

God's love and justice is such that even leading someone to sin is wicked and carries with it the penalty for wickedness.

Are we not to respect and fear God and His Judgment?

E. Finally, did you know 
supporting those we care about by opposing homosexual behavior is all about counting the cost of following Christ?


A few years back, I lost a good friend because of my beliefs on homosexual behavior.

The ordeal hurt me greatly and I repented before God of anything I said or did wrong that made my friend think I did not love or respect him because of his same-sex attraction.

I write this post knowing I may lose a friend or more and the thought grieves me. 

However, even more than I desire friendship, I desire to know Christ and make him known as he is, not as I want him to be.

And I can only do that by following him and his teachings, even when it may cost me something or someone I love dearly.

Yet, I know whatever I have lost is all for the sake of the name of Christ and his glory alone.

Can you say the same thing?


22 comments:

  1. Thank you so much. I have been in and out of scripture for the past few days gathering biblical backing for my one post about the "believers" and their support for an obvious life of sin. This hits the issue perfect!

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    1. So glad I could help! Blessings!

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    2. how do you know if its a sin??? why can't it be about morals and right verse wrong??? you have no IDEA what is in store for us as humans after we die???? does anyone have a single piece of evidences, real TANGIBLE evidence???? open your eyes and stop taking the bible so literal. extreme consertive christians are the only people that would take a hashtag such as #LOVEISLOVE and make hate and judgement out of it?? thats so wrong. how in the world does gays being able to getting married affect you? if they are living a life of sin how does that affect your personal daily life??? how?? it does not!!!!! you still go to sleep with hate, and wake up with it. NOW the only answer if your so concerned with this Giant Sin and its worrying you so much does that mean your living in this sin? and its your own insecurities about your own personal sexual identity and you feel as if you have been living in sin because you find another female or male attractive?? but you have been raised that its a sin and you will go to hell, so you project your issues and fears onto to those that are living the life deep down you wish you could, which is being free?? not having to worry about what your church folk will think, or your pastor. because lets be real, no one is concerned with the masses around them and is in pursuit to make sure they are god fearing humans. no one cares about your views no one. keep them to yourselves and in your churches where you stay behind doors and fear what you dont know.

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    3. Firstly, we can know what happens after death based on testimony of Jesus Christ, who died and rose from the dead, and those whom he appointed, the writers of Scripture. The historical evidence for the resurrection cannot be adequately summarized in this format, but you can see a short explanation at the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AduPVkqbis

      This is also why I believe in a concept like sin.

      Secondly, the reason I write about this topic is because I want all people to come to know and love Jesus Christ, which is impossible if they choose to support or practice same-sex behavior. I don't follow a pastor or a church, I follow the Jesus Christ and trust in his Scripture.
       
      Finally, I am sorry you feel I am being hateful. I only want to encourage people to examine their beliefs and see if they line up with the will of God. In my view, that is love, not hate. Blessings.

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  2. Thank you for your words and your researched quotes. This is a challenge for us all to be loyal to Jesus and not to ourselves.

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  3. Way to much interpretation. Your words skew scripture and defile it's meaning. Some people think it's okay to disguise homophobia and bigotry as defending their faith, but it is clearly not okay. You do not speak the truth, you do not convey a strong message, and you most certainly do not have the right to skew scripture by poisoning it with your malformed and biased interpretations. I had to keep myself from gagging while reading this post because of how ridiculous and uninformed your arguments were. The bible is too be read wholly, not taken apart and used sparingly to benefit your argument. Shame on you. Far be it from me to judge you, but i hope your heart stops burning when you see these rainbow pictures; it seems to be the deep seeded hatred and evil festering in your soul. I hope that you one day see the true light and live accordingly. Proverbs Chapter 26
    24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart. [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] congregation.

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    1. I can assure you no hate or bigotry is in my heart. The scholars I cited are in favor of same-sex marriage and gay rights, but they would agree with me the Bible takes the opposite view. I pray you will research this issue with an open heart and mind. Blessings.

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  4. you're just an intolerant bigot who can't just live and let live.

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    1. I am sorry you feel that way. I can assure you no hate or bigotry is in my heart. I just want all to know the love of Jesus. Blessings.

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  5. Let me just quote you from a few posts ago…

    "And with widespread bullying of LGBTQ youth and a skyrocketing suicide rate among transgender individuals, Christians, more than ever, must be obedient to these admonishments of Scripture.

    In fact, in some cases we should do a little less talking and more listening!"

    You need to speak less.

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    1. I'm sorry you feel that way. It is not in my nature to see a problem and be silent. Blessings.

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  6. How come even some flies are gay?

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    1. Animals don't have sexual orientations in the way humans think of "gay" and "straight." In addition, while some animals exhibit same-sex behavior, this is irrelevant to the moral question of such behavior or its legitimacy. For example, Angelfish may eat their young and some sharks forcibly impregnate their mates. We recognize, however, these behaviors are morally illegitimate if humans do them. Blessings!

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  7. I'm just curious - if we shouldn't support gay marriage because it's a sin, as I believe you are saying, then should we also not support the remarriage of someone who is divorced? Should we prohibit the marriage of people who had pre-marital sex, and/or a child out of wedlock? I'm a Christian, but not catholic. So I'm asking as a non-denominational Christian.

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    1. Given 1 Corinthians 7:10-13, Matthew 5:31-32, and Matthew 19:9 we should not support a person being remarried after divorce. However, the opposite is true for those in a sexual relationship outside of marriage, with children or otherwise. We should encourage them to do the right thing and be married or else remain chaste until marriage. Blessings!

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  9. Quoting the Bible (what I believe to be true) does not make someone the names you have called Eric.
    We all have a voice and can share what we know.
    If you have the right to choose your life differently, then I, Eric or anyone else can choose what we believe.
    Eric, continue to spread Love in Christ's name.
    No where do I see you spreading hate, only the Word.
    God Bless you Eric in your walk of Faith.
    Lisa - A child of the One True King

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  10. I wish to openly state that I am an atheist (raised, baptized, and confirmed Catholic, mind you). I disagree with many the points of this post, and I am in full support of same-sex marriage. I have many friends of the homosexual orientation, and my aunt has found lasting happiness in her wife, a happiness that to me, has never been matched by any other heterosexual relationship I've witnessed. That said, I want to thank you. This post does what I believe it claims to do. It is unpretentious, and I do believe it to be "bigotry free" (if that phrase works). This is the type of open belief and idea sharing that leads to better understanding of each other's ideals, and will eventually strengthen us as a world community. Thank you for taking the time to research your points and present them in a comprehensible and honest fashion.

    Much love,
    -A

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    1. Thanks so much for the kind words, A! I appreciate it!

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