Controversy

I recently encountered a post on Facebook where the person had shared someone else’s post about a supposed employment flyer from a fast food restaurant which said that homosexuals (implied by wording) and those living in sin need not apply.  News articles have since uncovered that the flyer was part of a satirical protest against a local restaurant and the company in general.

This post was a call for those who “support equal rights for the LGBTQQIAP community” to boycott the fast food franchise.  I don’t think I need to address someone getting all wound up over false or misleading information.  Everyone one of us is guilty of doing that at some point in our lives.  Instead, I would like to talk about the controversy surrounding Bible based moral positions.

Since the LGBTQQIAP community was brought up in this post I will use some of their issues in this blog post.  With that, let us begin with “gay marriage” since it seems to be the most talked about controversy lately.

First, let me define gay marriage as marriage between two men or marriage between two women.  I know it seems self-defining, but I did not want to leave any room for misinterpretation. 

Now I know next to nothing about what reasons non-Christians have for opposing gay marriage so I will not include their positions here.  Also, I will not try to address any “religion’s” position on the matter.  Only a Bible based, Christian perspective will be discussed.

I believe that most Christians familiar with scripture would refer to Genesis 2:22-24 when defining marriage as being between one man and one woman.  Those verses say:

“22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made him a woman, and brought her unto the man.  23 And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.  24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

In Matthew 10:4-6 part of Jesus’s reply to the Pharisees concerning divorce identifies what marriage is.

4  And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read , that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,  5 And said , For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?  6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The last verses I would like to quote are from Paul in 1 Corinthians 1-3:

1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.  2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.  3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

These verses should provide some insight into what marriage means to a Christian.  It should also highlight that marriage is more than just a contractual obligation.  It is also a deep commitment and sacred responsibility because “…They are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” 

For a Christian, marriage is clearly defined in scripture and is not between two men or between two women.  Asking a Christian to recognize gay marriage is in essence the same as asking a Christian to disregard what is written in scripture.  For a true Christian, scripture is all or nothing.  You either believe it is the Word of God, or you don’t.  Disregarding anything in the Bible is to a Christian the same as disregarding the Bible completely.  This does not leave any room for compromise in the context of marriage.  Gay marriage simply will not be accepted, and those who claim it has Biblical support or is not defined in the Bible are misinformed or are not Christians at all.

I understand that you can probably find someone or some organization claiming to be Christian that would support any immoral and sinful act or belief.  I discuss these imposters in early blogs so I will not go into this here.  And this is not to imply that a person is a Christian just because they do not accept gay marriage.  I am just saying that it would not be hard to find someone or some organization that would provide some perceived legitimacy within a social context.

While there are many who do want to be accepted as LGBTQQIAP Christians, I would think most are focused on the legal aspect of marriage.  I also believe that Christians and their Churches that do not accept gay marriage are one of the main roadblocks to changing the laws across America concerning marriage.

In addition to a Christian’s position on gay marriage, I believe another factor in this controversy is their position on homosexuality.  The following are just some scripture references concerning homosexuality:

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. (Leviticus 18:22)

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural 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 indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.  Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. (Romans 1:26-28)

If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13)

Once again a Christian has scriptural foundation which is contrary to the actions and beliefs of those who want gay marriage.  This is a more personal affront because it goes to the core of their emotions and affections and intimacy.  They are not faced with only a lack of acceptance; they are also faced with their lifestyle being identified as sinful.  I think this raises the level of controversy.

It is clear that there is cause for the controversy.  I also think some Christians spend too much time and effort in self-righteous activism and protest.  In their pursuits they fail to realize they have sinned as well.  And I recognize that some sin has a greater impact on families and the fundamental core of Christianity than others and should get as much attention as possible.  It is just my belief that some have lost sight of the person when focusing on the group.

The conflict is not against Christians.   The conflict is against God.   It is His Word that has drawn the line that we should not cross.  And judgment will come to everyone because we have all crossed that line.  That line, however, is not just for judgment but also for Love.  God has made clear His expectations because He loves us.   If we did not know right from wrong, how can we repent of our sins?  If we do not know why Jesus died on the Cross, how would we know to come to Him for salvation?

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 talked about sinners and how they will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  There is a feeling of hopelessness in that.  But verse 11 provides the hope when Paul says “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Some will never come to accept their sin.  Others will understand they have sinned and receive salvation.  As Christians we must stand on the Word of God, but our goal should be more than perseverance.  It should also be love and discipleship.  We should reach out in love and share the gospel of Christ to the lost.  Conviction will come from the Holy Spirit, not from us.  Realize that the controversy is between God and sinners and don’t forget that you once were as lost as they are.