Also see: The Bible and Gay Marriage
My freshman year I took a class on Christian discipleship. I remember that I thought my prof was pretty liberal when she questioned why so many churches are appalled by the thought of gay men and women coming into their church. In fact, at the time, I was pretty disgusted. My thought was pretty clear: “I guess she hasn’t read the Bible. It says that homosexuals aren’t going to heaven.”
This year California is in the news for Prop 8 which would give/or not give equal marriage rights to gay couples as heterosexual couples. Some great bloggers have opposing views on this subject, check them out HERE and HERE.
Let me first say this–to me, marriage is between a man and a woman only.
This post isn’t meant to be taken as a political one either, Prop 8 is just one example of a hotly debated issue on homosexuality and marriage.
Why are Christians so scared of gays coming to church and even being Christians? Why do so many Christians believe gays can’t believe in Christ? How is being gay any different than having an affair?
These are all questions I have grappled with since that day in class freshman year of college. Going back to homosexuality in the Bible…
1st Corinthians 6:9b-10 (NIV): “Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
When is the last time you heard a pastor say that the greedy won’t get into heaven? That is what comes to my mind when I read that verse. Reading that verse makes me wonder if I might get to heaven. But this isn’t my point…
For a long time I’ve struggled with homo-phobia, unable to have any respect for the gay community. Just look at my reaction to my teacher. I just couldn’t go there. “Gays in church…come on! No way!” The Bible tells us to present our requests to God through prayer and petition. So that is what I’ve done…prayed that God would give me a softer heart, able to care about those not like me.
I hear Christians all the time talk down about homosexuality, I’m sure many have been holding up signs in California for months. They probably say something like “God Hates Fags.” Something really disgusting like that. Yet what I read in the Bible makes me think that homosexuality is no different than other kinds of sexual sin. Sexual sin is elevated in the Bible, I understand that, but I don’t see the Bible distinguishing homosexuality as a sexual sin worse than other sexual sins.
I wish the church would love gays like they love their pastors.
