Thursday, June 26, 2008

Ordination #3a: Homosexuality

These next Ordination posts have to do with "Contemporary Issues" in the church. Some are more contemporary than others, but here we go...

This is a tough issue to write on/blog on because it is such a heated debate on a broad cultural level. I'm looking forward to reading unChristian by Kinnaman and Lyons (I think), which deals with perceptions of Christians in the broader culture. One such view is Christians are anti-homosexual. Because of the sensitivity of this issue, we need to communicate lovingly, but we must communicate the truth as well. I think where we make a big mistake is elevating this issue beyond other sins that we have come to wink at in the church. Given the political intensity, I'm not sure how to stand for the truth in love, but it must be our goal. Disclaimer done. Here's the statement.
Sexual union is intended to be the consummation of a marriage commitment between man and woman (Gen. 2.23-24) and Jesus makes it clear that husband and wife are no longer two, but one flesh (Mt. 19.6). Sexual engagement outside of a marriage covenant is becoming one flesh with another, but it is an illegitimate relationship (1 Cor. 6.15-17). Given the man/woman bond that marriage is built around, the biblical witness is unanimous in teaching homosexual acts are illegitimate, sinful expressions of sexuality (Dt. 18.22; Rom. 1.26-27). It is not, however, a sin from which one cannot recover because believers are not slaves to sin (Rom. 6.1-2) and we are called to subject our bodies in service to God (1 Cor. 9.27).

No comments: