Phobia or Truth?

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 (Rom. 26:27).

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10).

Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable (Lev. 18:22).

The Bible calls homosexuality degrading (Rom. 1:26), unrighteous (1 Cor. 6:9), and abominable (Lev. 18:22). Granted, it says that about every sin. Still, to me, that seems pretty straightforward. God is blunt about it — He always has been — across time and covenants. Nowadays though, if I may be so bold, were I to mention homosexuals without, in the same breath, singing their praises as the most beautiful, heroic, and glorious people ever to walk the earth, then I would be labeled a homophobe. What gives?

For most of history it was perfectly acceptable to speak of homosexuality without doing cartwheels, swishing pom-poms, or weeping tears of joy. Now I find myself in a time and culture wherein even ambivalence on the issue is inexcusable. And if you dare to repeat the Spirit inspired words of Paul or Moses? Whew, son, you're guilty of ultimate blasphemy! You, by definition, are a bigot and the worst person ever.

Should we be surprised by this reaction? "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..." (2 Tim. 3:12).

The dreaded labels and branding by the world are inevitable (Rev. 13:17). Please understand: Christians will be struck with charges of homophobia no matter how delicately we speak the Truth. Because the Truth, by nature, is forceful and unapologetic. Simply being honest about what the Bible says on any issue does not, in itself, mean you are hateful and childish. Certainly we can be when teaching Scripture (Phil. 1:15), but this is not the pattern (Eph. 4:15). The point I'm trying to make is that Truth will cut to the quick, simply because of what it is (Heb. 4:12). Yet, it is also the very thing that ultimately heals and frees us (Jn. 8:31–32). A person may feel uncomfortable hearing it, but it’s his sin causing him real pain. So what do Christians accomplish by hesitating or apologizing? What’s ever been accomplished by Christians apologizing for speaking the Truth? Nothing.

Biblical teaching about homosexuality (really, all sexual sin — adultery, fornication, "living together," lust, etc.) is prohibited with ruthless intensity in the public square. Many Christians have simply stopped speaking the Truth about it, and sadly some have stopped believing it too. Did Christians have a sudden change of heart? I think it unlikely. More often than not, our failure to speak the Truth in love has nothing to do with ignorance about God's Word and everything to do with our conviction in it (Jn. 12:42). When the fear of man outweighs the fear of God, loyalty collapses and we end up bowing to the world instead of standing with Christ. Is our faith so weak and passive that we can't courageously stand firm against the tide of public opinion?

Don't be fooled. The lie they wish us to believe is : "Love me (tolerate and embrace my behavior) or hate me (condemn my behavior)." Not even they equate love with tolerance! If they did, they would tolerate Christians! In their hearts, they know it’s impossible to be “all accepting.” On this we agree. However, the Bible teaches it’s not only possible to love someone without accepting all of their behavior, it's commanded (Matt. 5:44). That is a defining characteristic of love: “it does not rejoice at sin, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6). Call me crazy, but it sure sounds like there are some things we just can’t accept while loving people as we should. Things like, you know, SIN.

Come to think of it, this is what we see in Jesus. Take one example — the thief on the cross (Lk. 23:41–43). We should welcome the penitent thief, as Christ did, but we should not and cannot welcome his thievery. Remember, only one of the thieves crucified next to Christ was promised paradise — the one who acknowledged his crimes and repented. The other, who clung to his wickedness up until the moment of death, was not offered an invitation. Yet Jesus loved both of those men; He died for them as much as for you and me. Would we dare lecture Christ for not being sufficiently inclusive and accepting on the cross? The Kingdom is for those who renounce their sin, including homosexuality.

Take another example — the father of the prodigal son (Lk. 15). It’s true that we should be like the father in Christ’s parable, running to greet the son who had squandered his inheritance on booze and prostitutes, eager to embrace and forgive him. But note how the father didn’t go out, find his son at the brothel, and say, “Son, why don’t you just fornicate and get drunk back home? No need to change your lifestyle. Come on home and do whatever you want, and I'll support you." His father loved him too much to tolerate his sin, and the rebellious man had to abandon his sin, seek forgiveness, and surrender to his father.

Thankfully that's what he decided to do: "I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants" (Lk. 15:18-19).

Notice that when he came home he said, “I have sinned against you and against heaven. I am not worthy to be called your son” (Lk. 15:19). He did not say, “I’m proud of all the debauched, drunken sex. I’m not sorry, I won’t change, and you just need to shut up and accept it.” There would have been no reception or celebration. There would have been only more grief and sadness.

Christ died so that we may be released from the bondage of our sins. When homosexuals (or any sinner) ask Christ to accept the very sin He shed His blood to free them from, they ask for what He will not do. Worse, they reject His sacrifice, without which there is no hope (Heb. 10:26–29). So, let the world revile and insult and call you whatever they want for teaching people the Truth about their sin. You stand on the side of Scripture — the command to repent of and forsake homosexuality. You’re in good company: "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you" (Matt. 5:11-12).

Don’t apologize either. Never apologize for speaking the Truth. When you apologize for Truth, you’re making it seem as though the Truth is too shameful to be said out loud. You’re reinforcing the idea that it’s the Truth-speaker’s responsibility to avoid offending people, rather than the responsibility of the listener to avoid being offended. It’s not your duty to figure out a way to finesse and finagle the Truth so that it’s palatable and inoffensive as if it were de-wormer that needs to masked by a spoonful of peanut butter. Nope — people are obligated to properly receive it. Period.

Tell the world that it needs to face the ugliness of its own sin, and obey the ony One who died to save them from it. To apologize for Truth is to apologize for God. He owes no one anything, least of all an apology. The last thing we should ever do, as His disciples, is presume to give one on His behalf We ought to be apologizing for our sins, not demanding God apologize for failing to accept our sins as virtues.

Perhaps on some level I want to be made comfortable in sin. Maybe I would like someone to pat me on the back and say, “Everything about you is perfect and you’ll go to Heaven no matter what you do.” That is mere fantasy. A fiction. A story whispered in my ears by the enemy who longs for my destruction. But the One who loved me and gave Himself up for me, says, "Repent or perish" (Lk. 13:3; Gal. 2:20).