Introduction:

So, the other day I headed out to the bank and then to the drug store and post office to do some messages and catch up a bit on some office work.

As I entered the bank I was faced with – it was rather loud and obvious so confronted by – a huge presentation celebrating the diversity we have in Canada and focused on Pride month. 

June has been designated the month where we recognize this segment of our national population. 

June has been designated Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride month. 

June is now focused on this segment of society in most nations of the world even those that have yet to recognize “gay rights”

Then, entering the drug store there were large posters pointing to this month’s special focus and special sales, of course. 

And, again, at the post office. 

And, again, in most email specials coming into my in-box (Hollister, Abercrombie-Finch)

I am not against having a month to draw attention to all the issues within society regarding this segment of the population. 

And, I think it is good to come to know the history behind the movement and discover all the less-than-humane treatment that this group has suffered at the hands of governments and people (society) in general.

I believe, as well, that we need to take a look at how the Church has treated those who are part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community. 

We don’t have a very good track record either historically nor in the recent past. In some cases, even today they are not understood or treated in a loving manner by the Church.

Some segments of the Church have elevated this lifestyle – and the Bible does consider it behaviour that is not in line with God’s plan – to the category of major sin.

It is the sin that the Church is targeting, emphasizing, and condemning. 

However, I believe that it is simply one of many sins and that in God’s eyes all sins are equal (James 2:10). 

So, homosexuality is no worse nor better than drunkenness, divorce, gossiping, abortion, or dishonouring your parents. 

Yet, we have elevated this one specific sin to a special place and taken aim at it while ignoring many of the other sins very evident and rampant in the Church and in society.

I believe that Jesus loves sinners. And so should we. 

I believe that Jesus accepts sinners just as they are because He knows that if they begin to walk with Him that He will change them. 

I believe that we should accept them as well – unconditionally. 

I believe that Jesus forgives all sins (except blaspheming the Holy Spirit) regardless of the gravity of the sin or what the sinner is involved in. 

He loves unconditionally, He accepts us just as we are, and He forgives us totally.

That is what I call The LAF Principle. 

And, we would do well to remember that this is how God treated each one of us who call ourselves believers. 

And, that Jesus expects us to do unto others what He has done unto us. 

We are to treat others in the same manner that He has treated us.

I believe that if we were to actually do this we would embrace all sinners and simply love, accept, and forgive them.

We would not separate one sin and make it the BIG ONE for today. 

We would, as God obviously does, simply see sin as sin and love the sinner regardless of the sin.

This means we do not judge those who are in sin – recognizing the sin in our own life helps us not to judge others. 

This means we must not be critical of others and the lifestyles they choose to live. 

This means we must not reject them because Jesus died for them just as He died for us. 

This means that we, the Church, must welcome all sinners and not fall into the traditional denominational tendency of having big and little sins – mortal and venial sins. 

Sin is sin and Jesus died for the forgiveness of all sin no matter how big or small, significant or insignificant we may consider them.

This means we must stop the “us and them” mentality

We are all sinners and no matter what the sin is we are all saved by grace and faith. 

We must welcome all sinners without categorizing the sin and declaring one worse than another. 

This means we must learn how to love, accept, and forgive. And, in doing so, learn how to no longer judge, criticize, and reject. 

We are in what is called a “culture war” as society and the culture changes. 

The battleground of this culture war is homosexuality and same-sex marriage 

This battle has been going on for almost 50 years and it is a war that we, Christians believers, are losing. AND, it is mostly our fault. 

Partly, we have our approach to the issues have caused there to be two camps – we and them

Partly, we have not wrestled with the biblical understanding of sexuality and marriage

I am all for open discussion on this important aspect of life, sex, and marriage

But, to debate the issue seriously and truthfully, we must seek an honest picture of what our opponents actually believe 

Working from what we think they believe is neither helpful nor respectful.

We need to talk with them – listen to them

And, we need to have a good grasp on the truths that inform and make up the traditional, biblical Christian belief.

Let’s look briefly at the basic Christian beliefs involved in this “culture war”

1. All humans are simultaneously sinful and loved.

All people, regardless of their story, are deeply and unconditionally loved by God, each created with profound dignity and worth, not one more than another. 

This is more than mere religious happy talk — it’s truth whether one is gay, straight, or otherwise. 

But, all people are also stricken with a terminal illness: sin. 

Everyone. 

No exceptions

And, sin is sin

Our sin demands our repentance and needs forgiveness, and God’s love and grace are where we find both. 

This is basic Christianity and the great equalizer of all people.

2. Jesus wasn’t silent on homosexuality.

Some claim Jesus never said anything about homosexuality and therefore is neutral on the topic. 

Not true. 

Jesus shows us that to understand sexuality, marriage and the sexual union, we must go back to the beginning and see how God created humanity and the purpose for creating things the way He did (See Matthew 19 and Mark 10.) 

Jesus holds up the creation story in Genesis not as a quaint Sunday school lesson, but as authoritative — reminding us that God created each of us male and female, each for the other. 

And the sexual union that God created and ordains is for husband and wife to come together in physical union, one flesh.

3. There is only one option – marriage between a male and a female

Both Jesus and all of scripture approve of no other sexual union then that between a husband and wife. 

This is the uncontested historical teaching of Judaism and Christianity, and it is not something that true Christianity is free to adjust with the times. 

Yes, concubines and multiple wives are found in the Bible, but doesn’t make them “biblical.” 

In fact, they violate the Genesis narrative Christ points us to.

4. Male and female complete God’s image on earth.

It is not just mere “traditionalism” that makes man and woman the norm for Christian marriage

When God said that it “is not good that the man be alone” (Genesis 2:18) He wasn’t lamenting that Adam didn’t have a buddy or was just lonely. 

He was saying that the male could not really know himself as male without a human “other” who equally shared his humanity but was meaningfully distinct right down to every bit of her DNA. 

The same is true for her in Adam. 

In both Jewish and Christian belief, both male and female become fully human in their correspondence and contrast with one another. 

This does not happen solely in marriage, but it does happen most profoundly and mysteriously in marriage.

5. Sex is indeed about babies.

It is a new and culturally peculiar idea that human sexuality is all about intimacy and pleasure, but not necessarily babies. 

Babies and reproduction matter. 

And sure, while not every male/female sexual engagement is toward having a baby — intimacy and pleasure matter as well

But, having babies has been the overwhelming norm and desire in nearly all marital relationships throughout time. 

It is a fact that same-sex unions will result in a human cul-de-sac. 

Heterosexual union reaches into and creates the next generation. 

To establish a sexual relationship without any interest in or openness to babies is contrary to God’s intention for such relationships.

6. Children have a right to a mother and father.

Every person ever born can track his origin to a mother and a father. 

There are no exceptions, including those artificially produced. 

This was the first command God gave to the first two humans: to come together and bring forth the coming generations of new divine image-bearers. 

Nearly all cultures in all places in the world at all historical times hold as fundamental that every child should be loved and raised by a mother and father. 

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes a mother and father as a basic right of every child.

7. Same-sex attraction is not a sin.

To be human is to have a disordered sexuality. You do. I do. Everyone does. 

We all have some manner of sexual drive that compels us to disobey God’s design for sexuality. 

But, while temptation is universal, it’s different from sin. 

Scripture tells us that Jesus was tempted in all ways as we are, but did not sin 

(Hebrews 4:15). 

Sexual sin is giving in to that desire in either mind or body. 

Faithful Christians cannot avoid temptation, but it strives to resist and master it with God’s help. 

Many are indeed same-sex attracted, but live obediently within a Christian sexual ethic. 

It can be difficult, as it is for heterosexuals who are required to live in celibacy. 

Christianity requires that we each subject our desires of the flesh and soul to our faith commitment 

And countless same-sex attracted believers do so willingly and joyfully.

8. Sexual intimacy is not a right.

Every Christian has limitations placed on his sexuality. 

For married Christians, it is exclusive to one’s spouse. 

For single, engaged, and divorced Christians, it is abstinence, no exceptions.

 Is it unfair for so many to be forced into a life that cannot know the wonder and beauty of physical intimacy just because marriage is not an option for them? 

Is it fair for a Christian to be stuck in a loveless marriage? 

Christians have long understood that fairness is not really the question. 

Sex is not a right, but a gift — and the Giver knows what is best for us.

9. Rewriting God’s rules is never an option.

One of the marks of a Christian is his or her desire to be obedient to Christ’s teaching. 

Certainly most of us would like to rewrite the scriptures to make life easier. 

I would change where Christ says that lust is the same as doing the deed…that lusting in the heart is the same as jumping into bed with a person

Christianity is a demanding faith. 

The scriptures define and change us, not the other way around. 

A biblical sexual ethic does not, indeed cannot, change with the times.

10. People are more than their sexuality.

To identify people by their sexuality is to reduce people to their sexuality. 

Every individual is so much more. 

A person’s inherent and undeniable value is rooted in his membership in humanity, not his specific sexual orientation

And standing up for a person’s rights based on their sexual preferences, desires, relationships, and behaviours – is simply not right because people are more than their sexuality

So, the Christian faith has a view of sex and sexuality based on God’s Word and the main points are:

1. All humans are simultaneously sinful and loved

2. Jesus wasn’t silent on homosexuality.

3. There is only one option – marriage between a male and a female

4. Male and female complete God’s image on earth.

5. Sex is indeed about babies.

6. Children have a right to a mother and father.

7. Same-sex attraction is not a sin.

8. Sexual intimacy is not a right.

9. Rewriting God’s rules is never an option.

10. People are more than their sexuality.