First, let us establish the fact that Scripture is inerrant, unchanging, and the final authority for every
sincere Christ follower. That statement is nonnegotiable and should you not be in agreement, there is no point in reading the following commentary, as this is the basis for the discussion and the means by which we will seek Truth in response to the topic of homosexuality in the Church. There are those who believe that one can receive truth (revelation) apart from scripture. This is simply not biblical. In the "God-breathed" Holy Scriptures we find everything we need for teaching, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God (each believer) may be complete and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). There are others that believe that there are "new" things to be found in Scripture, if we simply study hard enough. Ironically, those who use this idea for "finding" greater liberty in the words of the Bible, align themselves with the Pharisees to whom Jesus said, "You search the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very scriptures that testify about me" (John 5:39). What was being communicated here was a rebuke of a pharisaical version of idolatry of the law (self-righteousness - see Paul's remarks in Romans 2:23, whole chapter for context) and cultural gnosticism (seeking wisdom rather than Jesus, like the Greeks - see 1 Corinthians 1:22). These "new revelations" from popular Christians are rooted in these two fallacies. The one, leaves scripture for extra-biblical mysticism; while the other searches diligently to vilify their opinions and exalt their positions as Christ honoring - what we term eisegesis.Second, how do we know that homosexuality (today's version - since the defense is that there is no mention of monogamous voluntary homosexual relationships in the Bible) is in fact a sin? Romans 1:24-27 says the following.
"Therefore God gave them up in the lust of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God Gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error."
The Hatmakers have said, "Every verse in the Bible that is used to condemn a 'homosexual' act is written in the context of rape, prostitution, idolatry, pederasty, military dominance, an affair, or adultery." They propone that it was condemned because of destructive acts being committed and because there was no legally permitted marriage, so they couldn't honor God with their love. This is simply not biblical, not contextual, and not truthful. Obviously their were cultural ideas and standards regarding sodomy between men and youth, relationship between women, etc, however sexual acts among free-youth was consensual. Look up the relationship between the emperor Hadrian and his lover, Antinous. Or in Roman mythology the love between Jupiter and Ganymede; Plato said it was a love greater than that found in marriage. But this is besides the point. Look at the verse above from Romans. Notice the wording "among themselves" also translated "between themselves." Or, "passion for one another." This wording shows us consensual acts between participants who lusted for "one another," the reciprocal pronoun is used in response to the lust, not the act. So regardless of age, etc - the verse condemns the act as the product of the lust for one another - calling it "shameless" and "dishonorable" and "unnatural" and "due penalty." There is no need to offer other proof text as there shouldn't be any conflict or controversy. While there are ample verses to construct a case against homosexuality, there is no verse to support it.
One area where the Hatmakers were accurate is their identification of the Biblical reproof of idolatry. Apart from being sexually immoral by Biblical standards, homosexuality is most definitely the product of idolatry. And it is also a perversion of God's plan for marriage as a testimony and example of Christ's love of the Church. First, let me explain the later. Paul says the following in Ephesians 5:22-32.
"Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of the water with the word, that he might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband."
We must see the significance of God's plan for marriage as an example of the relationship between Christ and the Church. As Peter mentions in 1 Peter 3:7, the church represents the "weaker vessel" of the union with Christ, who is the "stronger vessel" - the head. The Church is to submit to Christ. The purpose of the roles "man" and "wife" is to show how we are to submit to Christ in everything. To pervert or corrupt this purpose is to undermine God's plan for marriage as it pertains to it's role in actively living the gospel. In a relationship, "marriage" if you will, between two men or two women, who is to maintain the role of head? In reading scripture carefully and honoring the words as "God-breathed," how do we respond to the gender of the terminology used in "husband" and "wife"? You can't explain that away. If we truly believe these words are God's, then we have no place to say, "well there was just no terminology, etc." If we do this, we insult God's intelligence. Do you not think the God of the universe, the Alpha and Omega, the creator of all couldn't invent the vocabulary needed to communicate what he wanted? Scripture is inerrant or it is not. If it is not, God is not, because in beginning, "the Word was God" (John 1:1).
This perversion of God's plan is, as mentioned above, the product of idolatry. It is the idolatry of "self." We've already shown that it is sinful, that it revolves around lust. Scripture teaches us that temptation comes when we are "dragged away by our own evil desire and enticed" (James 1:14). So, participation in this lust and the act of homosexuality is a submission to the evil desires of our flesh; we choose to honor our flesh over honoring God. We chose to worship the creation rather than the creator (see Romans 1 excerpt above). Let me put it this way. Let's imagine that scripture is indeed vague and that Homosexuality is truthfully permitted in the Bible. What of Paul's words to the Romans (Romans 14:21) and the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 8:13)? Eating meat and drinking wine was permitted Biblically, yet to some it was deemed sinful (like Baptists oppose alcohol today). So, although there was freedom to enjoy meat, Paul said that if it caused his brother to sin, he'd never eat meat again. This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23 (ironically following a rebuke of idolatry), "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up." The problem with homosexuality is that it can in no way glorify God. It undermines the church's understanding of our relationship with Christ and it is a form of self-idolatry that (if it were indeed permissible) places one's freedom above the good of the body.
We were created to glorify God by keeping Christ commands and by bearing much fruit. In no way does the case for homosexuality, or homosexuality in and of itself, provide a means to bring God glory. Instead it promotes the works of the flesh and minimizes the fruits of the Spirit. If we hold it next to Galatians 5:19-26, we should see this plainly.
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
Keeping this passage in mind, there is also needed a sharp rebuke against the Church in it's typical response to the topic of homosexuality. We too, must bear the fruits of love, joy, peace, forbearance, etc. Yet, too often we only speak the truth in fear rather than love. We call out sin without humble service. We offer proof texts without time in prayer and intercession for their souls. Yesterday, the Gospel Coalition published an article to Facebook, and in the comments below, someone by the name of Nikki Quaranta left the following comment, with which I'll close this article.
"As I read the Hatmakers words, I see a deep desire to love people of the LGBT community... they talk about all the pain and rejection LGBT feel from the church, which fueled them to "dig deeper." The problem is they didn't dig so much as try to justify, as this article explains much more articulately than me... if only they dug deeper into what it means to love like Christ. Love welcomes a brother or sister despite ones sin, but it doesn't accept or encourage it. Love points someone to the glory of God and desires what is ultimately good for that person. Love understands our hearts are deceitful and will speak truth into someone's sin, even it means persecution. However, love doesn't just yell truth at people, it builds a relationship and listens well.
"This is a great time for the church to discuss how we love members of LGBT. As someone who used to identify as lesbian, I can attest to the pain and rejection many LGBT feel from church. What changed my heart was not being told over and over that I was wrong and living in sin. That seems to be all some Christians can say or do on the matter... No, what changed my heart was the same thing that changed every other believer, it was a deeper understanding of God and his character; it was falling in love with Christ. And ultimately the work of the Spirit. I believe so often when approaching the issue of homosexuality we want to get straight to the correction, but 1 Thessalonians 5:14 reminds us to "encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."
"My prayer is that instead of just debating the issue and proving why homosexuality is a sin, we all will consider our approach to those conversations, and ask whether or not we need more gentleness and patience."
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