Grace is in danger of becoming the supreme casualty of the current debates surrounding the issue of homosexual acts and homosexual orientation in the church. I believe thus far it has been. We are deeply embroiled, as a church, in what is most certainly one of the most defining conflicts in the history of the church. Or maybe better said, this conflict has the potential of becoming one of the defining moments in the history of the church. But not as you might think.
I am an evangelical, for whatever that label is worth, and I do believe in the unique power and import of the evangel, the gospel, and the need to declare it the world over. I stand as an evangelical with Martin Luther, and a host of others before and after him. And that is why I fear this current debate may become one of the defining moments of church history. It has the potential to become, if we let it, the Protestant counter-reformation. Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ has been too often diminished or jeopardized by the very people who claim to be defined by Luther's (and Paul's) legacy.
I believe we are in danger of jeopardize the gospel by defining identity in Christ by action alone. Homosexuals, once we know who they are, better not be a member of my church! Forget whether they believe in Christ as the Way, Truth, and Life. They're sinners. Yes, but . . . We are all sinners. The attitude of the church, and of every one of its members, should be an attitude of gracious love toward all people, enemy or friend, regardless of their sexual orientation. Charles Spurgeon?in my opinion summing up extremely clearly the main thrust of Paul's argument in Romans 1, one of the main passages used in the arguments against homosexuals-very astutely reminds all of us: there (no matter where "there" is) but for the grace of God go I. That is the heart of the gospel. God has stooped to claim the lost; God has, while we were sinners, come to earth and died for us. God didn't wait for us to ask, God didn't die just for the worthy or holy among us: God died for sinners. That is the good news.
Are we preaching good news or bad news?
I fear that too often in this very important ecclesiastical discussion of the issues surrounding homosexuality, we are far too eager to point people to hell, and nowhere close to being eager enough to point them to Christ. Christ is good news, and that good news is for everyone. We don't preach that "everyone is ok," or that all is acceptable to God. That is a distortion of the gospel too. But the gospel starts with God's direct address to us and to everyone, right where we are at and nowhere else. It is time the evangelical tone in this discussion took a dramatic shift. There can be little doubt that the tenor of our message has far-eclipsed its content. We aren't welcoming people who are homosexual or who struggle with homosexuality, we are too busy condemning them.
This discussion must go forward. It is an important opportunity for the church to evaluate the role and purpose of Scripture, the message and ministry of the church, and most importantly the content and meaning of the gospel. I believe that the Bible sets up heterosexuality as God's design for humanity. And it is important for the church to work out what this means in today's world. But meanwhile, let's just be careful not to sacrifice the very thing we should treasure as a pearl of great price. |
