Christopher Barlow
Contributor
Those who defend and uphold a traditional view of homosexuality as contrary to God’s will are frequently framed as unloving, old-fashioned, uninformed and even spiritually violent. Arguments in all camps are well-known and numerous, but there is something at the heart of this debate.
One central problem of special concern for people who call themselves Christians is the attitude that people hold when they approach the Bible. When Scripture is read, people need to be hungry for God, seeking his kingdom and his righteousness. A person should think, “There is a Ruler, and I am to be his subject.”
Coming in this posture and trusting that the King is good means that whatever is found to be the King’s will is also good.
The way to understand Scripture and God’s will is to not only come with a humble heart, but to look to the Church— the thousands of disciples who have gone before— and to learn from it. In this case, “Church” means more than a single parish, but the whole collection of Christians.
In the past, the Church’s view of homosexuality was clearly stated. It is not part of what God desires for those who follow him. In recent times, however, the church’s interpretation of Scripture’s stance on homosexuality has been questioned. The idea that ‘God is OK with homosexuality’ is not a new discovery found in a Dead Sea scroll or a new revelation from God. Instead, people come to Scripture to seek justification for homosexuality.
This is a problem, because individuals can interpret the Bible to say whatever they want it to say when they do not respect what has been passed down by the Church for 2,000 years. However, beginning with assumptions and then finding them justified in Scripture according to the spirit of the age is a problem not limited to the issue of homosexuality.
Greed, gluttony, wastefulness, consumerism. These things and more are problems across society, yet somehow they are more socially acceptable than homosexuality. While homosexuality, according to the Church, is not part of what God desires for those who follow him, it is easy for people to point fingers at gays and lesbians because they are in a minority. It is easy for people to make themselves feel good by thinking, “I am not like them, I would never do that.” All the while they continually feed their insatiable greed, lust or material needs.
The gay community deserves an apology for this. Unfortunately, they have received much more than their share of finger pointing. Every person acts in ways that are contrary to God’s word and intention. In doing this, it becomes clear that most feel like God is holding out on them.
People don’t believe that if they submit to God he will give them the abundant life that he has promised. In other words, most people act like they know what is in their best interest.
It is not popular to approach Scripture looking for correction. The debate on homosexuality, even at Pepperdine, needs to open up much more widely than this issue. The real problem at the heart of the matter is that people are not willing to submit to God as King. The only way to approach Scripture is to do so with a heart hungry for God, on bended knee, ready to examine oneself.
This is what his word says: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10).
Here the Scripture’s stance on sexual sin is clear, and is the same view the Church has always held.
But many find this verse offensive. This is because deep down people believe that ‘every person owns his or her own self.’ The rest of the passage denies this.
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you now know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:18-20).
Consequentially, to sin sexually in any manner is to harm one’s relationship with the Spirit of God, who dwells within.
Now the issue returns to where it began and is one we all face. We must each look into our hearts, and then, when we realize what we are, turn to God and listen to Him.
“With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 19:10-12).
The good news is that Scripture says over and over that God is good and that he wants the best possible for us.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28).
Christ made it clear that each person to follow Him is to walk a narrow path. Each of us is that woman caught in adultery, deserving the just penalty for our actions. But Jesus, in his love, tells us, “I do not condemn you, either. Go now and leave your life of sin.”
In the end, it is up to each individual to ask whether he or she believes that God is good and that his will is the way to find truly abundant life.
03-29-2007