Homosexuality

This article on Mark Driscoll was in the paper today. It's not so bad for secular media. I just wish they didn't specifically write "condemn premarital and gay sex" like that because it was unnecessary and unrelated (were they going to list all the other things the church is against too?) and has connotations likely to spark some kind of backlash. I don't understand why so many times Christianity is mentioned, some kind of message that reads "God hates gays" has to creep in too. It's like the media is purposefully trying to create tensions and divisions. I know that they exist already. And I'm not going to pretend that the church has not mistreated gays in the past and continue to do so in many cases. I know there is a lot of hurt there. In all honestly, I think both sides tend to generalise and jump to conclusions without much consideration, respect or love for the other party.

I am a Christian and I have gay friends. I've had gay friends/family friends ever since first coming to live in Australia and I love them. I love my friends. A couple of years ago, I was contemplating, amongst other spiritual issues, whether homosexuality is OK in God's eyes. I wasn't (as strong) a Christian back then and I wasn't sure what the Bible's stance on it was. I have since come to a conclusion about it but this has only altered my Biblical understanding of the matter; it has not affected my relationship with or treatment of my gay friends in any way (except of course in the way that I have learned to love all my friends a little better now that I know God's love for me and mankind a little better).

The Bible, which is the true word of God states that homosexuality is a sin. It does not say that God hates gays. God loves everyone! He loves everyone so much that he sent his son Jesus to save and redeem ALL of us by paying for ALL our sins, that we may be freed & find life in Him if we place our faith in Him as our Lord & Saviour. Christians should believe in the authority of the Bible, including regarding homosexuality as a sin. But note that it is sin that God hates - not sinners. In fact He loved us from before we even knew Him: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8. Therefore, Christians are not called to hate homosexuals. The Bible tells us to love unconditionally, as God first loved us.

Christians (and non-Christians alike) certainly, absolutely do not have 'the right' to discriminate against, judge, or dislike homosexuals. Yes, gay sex is a sin. Just like pre-marital heterosexual sex is a sin. Just like any sex outside of the marriage of one man to one woman is a sin. And just like lying or stealing is a sin. Homosexuality is not a 'worse' sin than any other. Sin is not one 'thing' - it is an attitude of rebellion against God. Those who intentionally mistreat homosexuals are also rebelling against God, and thus committing sin, and going against his command to "love your neighbour as yourself".

We are ALL sinners and all deserve to die and go to hell but Jesus' death on the cross paid for all our sins and his resurrection (triumph over death and sin) is powerful enough to redeem all of us so that we may be completely forgiven for our sins if we place our faith in Him as our Lord and Saviour, repent and be reconciled to God. That is what I believe and I encourage you to think about it. Make your move. Stop gay-bashing / church-bashing. Seek God. Find Life. Learn to love.

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

By the way, here is what Mark Driscoll says on the topic.