Maybe a Baptist Press article shows us the reason why the sin of homosexuality is talked about so much by Pastors in our day and time? I mean, homosexuality is being thrown in our faces from all angles; from TV shows, to movies, to comediennes, to songs, to government action, to gay protests, etc, etc, etc. Maybe the reason that so many SB Pastors speak on this topic so much, or mention that homosexuality is a sin, is because it’s an issue that the gay community, and liberals, and heretical, Church leaders are making into such a big issue? Maybe? You think?
Now, I know that there are other sins that are just as bad. I know that we should love homosexual people, and they need Jesus just like everyone else. I know that homosexuals can be changed by the power of God, just like an adulterer can be forgiven, and God can help the adulterer to not commit adultery anymore. And, my heart cries out for homosexuals to be saved and gloriously changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. But, when something is continually thrown in people’s faces, and people make something such a big issue; then Pastors and Church leaders usually respond in like manner; especially if it’s an issue of sin and the Bible and the Christian faith.
So, read the BP article from the link provided, and weep, and pray that God will keep our country a free place.
Here is some follow-up of the incident.
Mr. McAlpine received support from an entity called the Christian Institute and was grateful for their help.
You can see what happens when DIALOGUE is shut down, now, in another context. Unfortunately, Mr. McAlpine was no ‘rabble-rouser’ or ‘hate-monger’ and his treatment was unfairly done.
But closing doors to open communication about sensitive issues is never a good idea. People need to communicate, even if the subject is an uncomfortable one.
It’s important.
Sorry, forgot to give you the site that follows-up on Mr. McAlpine’s story. Oops. Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URCDBxVKWO8
You know, I don’t see liars trying to get laws against perjury repealed. For people to say “As long as there are fat preachers or there are any preachres that lie we have NO RIGHT to say anything against homosexuality”. Now, I know that sort of thing is popular in places with a bunch of mainstream christians like Enid, OK but real Chrisitans know that homosexuality is a sin to be repented of not a “sensitive issue” about which we should have “open communication”. Actaully, I take that back, we should have open communication about it. “That is a sin. Christ forgave me of my sins when I repented and trust in His death as payment for my sins. He’ll forgive you, too. Please, please repent today. You’re not promised tomorrow”.
There is no “discussion” that needs to take place. It is sin. It is always wrong without any exceptions whatsoever. Folks in Enid and other mainstreamers need to, how you say, suck it up and deal with it.
Just an observation: When we say that other sins are just as bad, we tend not to be thinking of other sexual sins. I submit that, in our culture, Adultery and fornication are thrown in our faces as much if not more than homosexuality. The world is pushing a view of sex free from ALL restrictions especially the restriction of marriage. Is our response lopsided? Do we detest homosexual sin more than the various forms of heterosexual sin? Perhaps we appear to be picking on one form of sexual sin when we should speak against all. (and, of course, it goes without saying that all such speaking against sin should lead to the gospel).
Of course, I don’t know what you or anyone else preaches. Just something I’ve been thinking through.
Blessings,
Todd
I agree with a good bit of what you say, Todd. We don’t deal with sin in the church or faithfully proclaim that repentance is necessary from all sin like we should sometimes. I believe, however, it’s less about picking on one sin and more a reaction to the obvious homosexual agenda. They want to ramrod the validation of homosexuality in society by any means possible. Add to that the fact that you have mainstream/moderate christians saying “It’s not a sin. Paul was prejudiced. Jesus wouldn’t treat someone like that” and it’s no surprise that real Christians are particularly vocal about it being a sin. It’s not that it’s a worse sin than adultery or fornication, it’s that street preachers are not being arrested for calling those things sin.
Before Joe gets tuned up against me for being a “moderate christian” (little “c”) let me say I agree that the practice of homosexuality is rebellion against God and therefore a sin. Period, end of paragraph, no if’s, and’s, or but’s.
Having gotten that out of the way, let me also say I am not particularly worried about this incident, and for several reasons. One, it happened in the U.K., not the U.S., and although much of American law is based on English Common Law, the two are not the same animal. There is neither freedom of religion nor of expression in many countries. Indeed the US is nearly unique in that our freedoms are constitutionally guaranteed, while England does not even have a written constitution. Second, while I have not studied the case beyond the BP article (and probably would not have done that were I not home today waiting for Terminex to come do its yearly inspoection), before I got very upset, I would want to know the specifics of why the case was dropped. If it turns out that the officer overstepped his authority in arresting the preacher, or either misunderstood its application himself or was given an erronious interpretation by police authorities, then the whole thing is a non-incident. Police do make mistakes; this I say as a former police officer, and police authorities do make mistakes in interpretation and application, especially when dealing with relatively new laws. Of course, if it turn out that “preaching that sin is sin” in England is indeed a crime, then I might just weep for the state of England and Europe in general; but until the facts can be established, it is a bit premature.
John Fariss
Maybe I should add a three: strong, vital Christianity has historically thrieved in persecution. That can be illustrated from the Roman Empire to Communist China. I believe some Chinese Christians a few years ago, touring the EC offices in Nashville, prayed for just that for the benefit of the SBC in particular and the American church in general. Maybe that would be just what we need!?
John
Well, here is the ‘down-side’ of the information given by SOME ‘christians’ to gay people. What is in this video tells the reaction to George Rekers and to his ‘message’, in the light of his recent publicized activities.
The PROBLEM isn’t talking to others about ‘sin’ so much as it is being seen by those others as raving hypocrites. Christian people have to begin to take the responsibility for integrity in their lives, if they wish to ‘witness’ of Christ.
This is not a ‘pretty’ video to watch, but it has a valid point, even though you won’t agree with all of its content: the point is that hypocritical ‘Christians’ are Christianity’s worst nightmare in the battle for the souls of those who need Our Lord:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/37031183#37031183
Joe, my point is that what our society is pushing is not just a pro-gay agenda. Rather, there is a radical “free sex” agenda that, while including homosexuality, includes every other kind of sexual sin as well.
Blessings,
Todd
Christiane,
Do you always believe everything that you read…the New Times?
I doubt whether any of that stuff happened…..and Rachel Maddow…you support her agenda!!!!!
Oh I forgot that Roman Catholics are really okay with those gay priests.
Robert I Masters
Todd,
I agree our society is pushing a “free sex” agenda. You’re right. Also, all sexual sin is equally sinful. I submit that the pro-gay segment is pushing particularly hard and in a particularly obnoxious, outspoken manner to demand validation of their perversion. I wasn’t contradicting you. I guess I was more “in addition to” than “instead of”.
There are simply not words to describe how stupid it is to suggest that if Christians want to proclaim the gospel and proclaim what they Bible says they have to be sinless. Certianly a Christian is called to live a holy life, but saying “Before you tell me homosexuality is wrong, you had BETTER not have ANY sin in your life”. Also, “hypocritical Christian” means “A Christian who says that what the Bible calls sin is sin even if that offends the social sensibilities of left wingers”.
By the way, since Rachel Maddow is gay, nothing she has to say about morality has any validity. She needs to repent of her sins and trust Christ to save her by faith (not sacraments–those don’t save). If she doesn’t, God will not be merciful to her and she will be punished in a real, literal hell for all of eternity in conscious torment.
Louis, yeah, gay priests and peophiles. Of course, at least they have a list. That has magically cured all their problems–at least the problems they couldn’t move to another parish before anyone found out.
I didn’t get to watch the video before I posted my above comment. Let me clarify that the man caught with a “rentboy” has pretty well nullified his witness or his ability to call on anyone to repent of sin. Even if he didn’t do anything, and I have no idea what he did or didn’t do, he certainly has not avoided the appearance of impropriety. When someone makes a dumb decision as he did, they destroy their credibility as witnesses of Christ.
That having been said, that doesn’t affect the witness of any other Christian or the message that the Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality is always wrong all the time without any exception whatsoever. All real Christians recognize that. Also, the arguement “You can’t call homosexuality a sin because that guy hired someone from rentboy.com” makes no sense. If he sinned sexually, that does not affect the truth of the gospel.
Todd,
The reason for this post is to answer all the people out there right now, who are saying that we’re making homosexuality the “BIG” sin; while neglecting others. But, I really dont believe that anyone is neglecting the other sins, although homosexuality does seem to be on the forefront right now. Why? Why are many Pastors speaking on this issue so much? I think it’s because the homosexuals are pushing this issue so much.
I mean, they want their marriages to be legal. They want books like “I have Two Mommies” to be in elementary school libraries. They want to be able to be openly gay, and in the military. And, they have a host of other pro-gay issues that they’re trying to ram down the throats of the American public…all in an attempt to be not only accepted, but to be praised for their sinful lifestyle. Thus, many Pastors feel the need to speak against this sin….SINCE IT’S BEING PUSHED BY THE GAYS, AND THE LIBERALS, AND THE HERETICAL CHURCH LEADERS OUT THERE.
David
All Believers sin. All Believers fail God. All Believers struggle with their flesh. For someone to say that Christians cant speak out against sin, if they have committed some sin, is just plain wrong. And, it really suggests that that person does not understand grace at all. It really suggests that that person does not really understand the Christian faith at all.
The Christian faith is not about being good and nice and sweet; although Christians should be good and nice and sweet. The Christian faith is not about being religious, or trying to show everyone how good of a person I am. The Christian faith is not about trying to put on some kind of a show…to make me look good, or to make me look like a good person.
The Christian faith is about grace. It’s about a relationship with the Lord. It’s about being a new person, with a new spirit, who loves the Lord, and who wants to live for his/her Lord. And, when the Believer fails God….because we will fail God….then, the Christian does what King David, the man after God’s own heart, did… we confess and repent of our sins…so that we can be close to God again.
So, someone who thinks that a Christian who sins cant speak against sin is someone that really doesnt understand real Christianity. They’re probably thinking of dry, dead, religion where the people in the Church try to be good people, and they want everyone to know that they’re good people.
David
Good point in #15 brother Vol!
-Chris
Hi DAVID WORLEY
You wrote:
“But, when something is continually thrown in people’s faces, and people make something such a big issue; then Pastors and Church leaders usually respond in like manner; especially if it’s an issue of sin and the Bible and the Christian faith.”
I was thinking about that part ‘Church leaders usually respond in like manner’, and I wasn’t sure about your meaning of that wording.
Could you clarify the phrase ‘in like manner’, and could you speak to those ‘unusual’ times when some Church leaders respond to ‘such a big issue’ in a way that is seen as out of the ordinary?
Thanks, if you can help.
Christiane,
When some group makes a big, big deal out of an issue, then Pastors usually respond to the issue in the same way. The Pastors usually make their response a big deal. The Pastors have a tendency to also deal with that issue a whole lot. Does that clear it up?
For instance, back when divorce started happening much, much more in our society; then divorce was preached on a whole lot in the churches around the part of the world that I live in. In fact, it was said by a lot of people that the church thinks that divorce is the unpardonable sin…because the Pastors preached against it so much…in response to so many people starting to get divorces.
Now, we’re hearing a crowd say that Pastors are highlighting homosexuality, and that Pastors think that homosexuality is the greatest sin, etc, etc, etc. And, the question is why? Why is this issue on the forefront of many, many Pastors minds? I think it’s because the society and the liberal, heretical churches are making it such an issue…that Pastors of Bible believing, evangelical churches feel the need to respond in like manner…with a lot of talk about it.
A good example of this happened not too long ago…another homosexual was ordained as an Episcopalian Priest. In fact, she is a lesbian. And, the news media jumped all over this. They ran it on the morning and evening news all across our land. So, guess what? A lot of Pastors probably responded to that by calling it sinful and shameful.
David
Thank you, David. Yes, your answer helps to clarify your first statement.