Not surprisingly, LGBTQ+ issues have been thrust into the forefront of church life in America. These points of contention are rapidly becoming increasingly divisive, progressing to the point where churches and individuals are now taking sides. Sides A, B, X, and Y... each have their own view about what constitutes sexual sin. Proponents of Side A, also known as the “affirming view”, believe that God deliberately created homosexuals and that same-sex relationships are acceptable in the eyes of God. Advocates of Side A claim that ancient Bible passages that describe homosexuality as sinful no longer apply today. They believe we are under a new covenant of “God’s love”, not the old, outdated set of rigid rules and commandments. Many on Side A refer to themselves as "progressive Christians” or social justice warriors. Sadly, increasing numbers of people in churches today support Side A. Those on Side B believe that same-sex attraction is not a sin, but acting on such homosexual desires is. They claim celibate same-sex partnerships are not necessarily sinful. Erroneously, they profess that someone can identify as homosexual or transgender, without the need to repent of such inappropriate attractions because they were “born that way”. Adherents of Side B are also growing in number. Sides A and B both represent willful rebellion against God... Some supporters of these sides want to rewrite the Bible to justify their opinions and behaviors. They want to deny the sovereignty of God, accusing Him of “making mistakes” in terms of their inborn sexuality. Side X supporters understand that acting out in homosexuality, transgenderism, and inappropriate homosexual attraction is sinful. In other words, what is true for heterosexual attraction must also apply to homosexual attraction as well. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explicitly taught this...
It makes complete sense that this would also apply to men lustfully looking at other men... perhaps even more so given what Paul wrote in Chapter 1 of Romans...
Side Y does not believe that maintaining a homosexual or asexual identity can be in any way God-honoring... but seems to stop there without fully calling out the practices of homosexuality and transgenderism for what they really are. Only Side X is fully Biblical... But that doesn't stop some preachers from watering down or ignoring the Word of God. “Pastor Rob Bell, the author of Love Wins, says this... "I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man. I think the ship has sailed and I think the church needs to think this is the world we are living in, and we need to affirm people wherever they are." That is NOT love... How much do you have to hate someone to affirm, encourage, and even celebrate their sinful and unrepentant behavior? Jude, the half-brother of Christ wrote this...
Sides A and B, Y represent a malignancy spreading in the church, seemingly threatening to destroy it. But it will not... at least not the truly faithful, persevering church as described by John in Revelation 3:7-12. Here are two other passages to consider as well...
and...
I’ll take Jesus’ side on this one... If you are enjoying our posts, help us cover the expense of this blog by buying us a coffee! |