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Much
discussion has been given to the idea that homosexuals
are being targeted for punishment by those of us labeled
as "conservative Christians." Many observers
claim we do not oppose adultery and other sins in the
same way we oppose homosexuality.
Two
events in the State of Georgia will serve nicely to discuss
this issue. Both revolve around the Southern Baptist Church,
but this argument is heard in numerous other denominations
as well. This is a Biblical problem, not a Baptist problem.
Event
1: Atlanta Churches Here is a quick summation of one controversy
in the proverbial peanut shell. Southern Baptist associations
and conventions, including local, state and the national
convention, and other Christian groups have been following
the case of the Atlanta Baptist Association and two of
its member churches -- Atlanta Oakhurst Church of Decatur
and Virginia-Highland Church of Atlanta.
Atlanta
Oakhurst and Virginia-Highland created controversy when
they went beyond ministering to homosexuals and chose
to affirm and endorse homosexuality, evidenced in placing
homosexuals in church leadership positions and providing
access to church property for same-sex union ceremonies.
Atlanta Baptist Association created controversy earlier
this year by not doing anything about the two member churches'
unscriptural position.
This
has been a long saga, but recently the Atlanta Baptist
Association voted to amend its bylaws, stating "an
affiliated church does not include a church which knowingly
takes, or has taken, any action to affirm, approve, or
endorse homosexual behavior." This would seem to
terminate the membership of the two churches in the Association;
but in another vote on the membership of Atlanta Oakhurst
and Virginia-Highland, the two-thirds majority necessary
to oust the two churches was not attained -- so, they
remain members of the Atlanta Baptist Association. As
a result, the Atlanta Baptist Association has now been
de-funded by the Georgia Baptist Convention due to the
Convention's Biblical stand on homosexuality.
Much
of the above information was garnered from an article
by William Neal, editor of The Christian Index. The "singled-out"
specter was raised in a direct quote from Mr. Neal's article:
"Perry Ginn, pastor of Valley Brook church in Decatur,
questioned the fairness of singling out one particular
sin like homosexuality, when 'all of us are contaminated
by sin.' "
There,
it has been said, the dreaded phrase -- "singling
out." It conjures up images of childhood rejection
and alienation; the one who was always picked on. But
before we get to the discussion, let's take a look at
the second situation.
Event
2: Jimmy Carter In October 2000, former President Jimmy
Carter left the Southern Baptist Church, citing the SBC's
conservative views and subsequent stand on the issues
of homosexuality, abortion and ordination of women. A
Baptist Press article stated "Jimmy Carter believes
homosexuality is a sin, but he approves of the ordination
of homosexuals. If a homosexual 'was demonstrating the
essence of Christianity, I would not object to the individual
being ordained,' Carter said in an interview with Baptist
Press. 'Adultery is a more serious sin than homosexuality...
Homosexuals have a perfect right to profess to be Christians,
accept Christ as Savior, and I wouldn't have a problem
if they worshiped side by side with me,' Carter said.
'Jesus never singled out homosexuals to be condemned.
When the Southern Baptist Convention started singling
out [emphasis mine] homosexuals as a special form or degree
of sinfulness, I didn't agree with it.' "
Once
again, the phrase "singling out" has been cast
upon the waters. Are conservative Christians really "after"
the homosexuals? What's the real reason conservative Christians
take a stand on homosexuality? Could it be because it
is a sin and Christians must take a stand against sin,
including the sin in their own lives? Even Mr. Carter
said he believes homosexuality is a sin, although not
as "serious" a sin as adultery. It would seem
Mr. Carter believes the best way to deal with sin in the
church is to decide the level or severity of sin. After
establishing the sin quotient, you then tolerate or encourage
the lesser sin.
Sin
'Normalized' Perhaps there is another reason more groups
are defining their view of homosexuality -- specifically,
the organized effort to normalize and promote this sinful
behavior. During the 1970s, homosexuals organized and
started promoting their lifestyle. What Christians know
to be sin, this movement calls "alternative lifestyle";
what Christians know to be aberrant, this movement calls
"normal"; what Christians know to be a choice,
this movement calls "genetic." (By the way,
there is no scientific evidence to support the "gay
gene" theory.) The national news media and entertainment
industry joined this campaign and are careful to present
homosexual-friendly images. Because of this campaign,
morality has been breached. Churches are now trying to
establish the level of sin that is acceptable. Some are
even trying to redefine what sin is -- these are the ones
who believe the only sin is to speak out and hold firm
to moral truths. This overt campaign to normalize the
abnormal and sinful brings up another question: Where
will we stop redefining God's word?
Let's
suppose there was an organization called the National
Association to Promote Adultery, whose mission was to
promote adultery as a healthy and beneficial alternative
lifestyle. What if their campaign started making inroads
into some churches? What if churches even started allowing
"adulterous union" ceremonies on church property
and allowing open adulterers to be church leaders? Should
the church take a stand? Or should Christians fold their
hands and say, "We are all sinners. Let's embrace
their alternative lifestyle"? Would the church champion
the ordination of an open adulterer?
Wait
a minute ... there are people in the church actively committing
adultery, including some who are leaders. Sure, they try
to hide it, but others know their secret. And what about
all the premarital sex that is going on? Maybe there is
a reason some people are confused and think Christians
are "singling out" homosexuals. Could it be
the overwhelming lack of church discipline? No one wants
to be accountable for his/her actions -- thus, no one
holds anyone else accountable. It grieves me to think
there are those who call themselves Christians, including
church leaders and even ministers, who are cheating on
their spouses, taxes, and who knows what else. But what
grieves me even more is for another Christian to be aware
of this ... and do nothing.
Sin
Confronted God's word clearly lays out the process for
confronting a believer who is in sin:
"I
have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually
immoral people -- not at all meaning the people of this
world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or
idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with
anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral
or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a
swindler. With such a man do not even eat." 1 Corinthians
5:9-11 (NIV) This passage clearly states we have to confront
those who call themselves Christian but choose to live
contrary to God's word. If they choose not to repent,
the church has no choice but to remove them from fellowship.
Should people continue to compassionately reach out to
the expelled immoral believer? Yes -- but true compassion
is always shared with God's truth, which will lead to
restoration if there is repentance.
Can
we call those who are not believers to this standard?
No -- and we should reach out to unbelievers and share
the Gospel of Christ with them. Conversely, we cannot
allow unbelievers to hold positions of leadership in the
Church, nor can we allow the perverting of the Word of
God to make them feel more comfortable.
Call
for Obedience Once again we are faced with our initial
question: Are conservative Christians "singling out"
homosexual sin over other sins? The answer would depend
on the "Christian" you are speaking about. I
am sure there are those who focus on someone else's sin
to make themselves feel better about their own sin. But
there are Christians who want our churches to be filled
with those who are truly seeking the face of God. They
want their fellow believers to have a passion to live
in faith and obedience to God.
The
solution to this is not in accepting homosexuality. The
answer is clear: we must call those who bear the name
of Christ to obedience in the Word. The answer is in cleaning
up our churches and confronting the immoral believer.
The answer is sanctification -- the process of becoming
like Christ.
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