Homosexuality: Legally Permissible or Spiritually Misguided?1
Homosexuality: Legally Permissible or Spiritually Misguided?1 Homosexuality: Legally Permissible or Spiritually Misguided?1
Lockard, Homosexualityscriptures need to be reassessed to keep abreast with the modern culturalmores, which contend that homosexual behaviour should be an acceptablelifestyle.Revisionist theologian, Nelson (1977), served as professor of Christian ethicsat United Theological Seminary in Minnesota. He asserts and supportspropagating the following (erroneous) revisionist ideology:1) Seek the church’s full acceptance of homosexuality withoutprejudgement on the basis of a sexual orientation—given that they hadno basic choice.2) Espouse fresh insights from feminist theologians and gay Christians…who frequently manifest God’s “common grace”.3) Some stories in the Bible are based on a biological misunderstandingof man.4) The Sodom story in Genesis refers to the men of Sodom wanting toshow hospitality and not sexual perversion toward Lot’s guests.5) In the Pauline letters, Paul does not claim that homosexual practicesare the cause of God’s wrath.6) “Perhaps we should accept Paul for what he was—a peerlessinterpreter of the heart of the gospel and one who was also a fallibleand historically conditioned person.”7) “Sexuality is not intended by God as a mysterious and alien force ofnature, but as a power to be integrated into one’s personhood and usedresponsibly in the service of love.”For the past two decades, the question of moral authority has been seriouslyeroded in our society and churches. As evidenced above, even Christianleaders and teachers are granting moral legitimacy to what God condemns.The prevailing ethic in the minds of many scholars and teachers, has sadlybecome a genetically-based morality.To base morality on scientific study is to relegate the scriptures to anoutmoded moral law that needs revision and is irrelevant to address thecomplexity of human needs in the 21 st century church. To do so is to committhe suicide of Christian theology. It seems clear that the Old and NewTestament scriptures, when correctly interpreted, consistently condemn160
Lockard, Homosexualityhomosexual practices while repeatedly affirming that God can forgive anyrepentant sinner.5. Implications for pastoral ministry in the 21 st centuryProponents of homosexuality struggle with the church accepting theirhumanness as homosexuals and their need to feel human within the context ofthe church. Their premise is that within the household of God, there are noaliens.What are appropriate responses by the church to the issue of homosexuality?If same sex marriages are legally permissible should pastors be obliged toconduct homosexual unions? Should homosexuals be given full rights amongchurch leadership in preaching, teaching and leading? What about gayChristians who are celibate? Should celibate homosexual Christians be eligiblefor ordination? How does one respond to the person who says he/she ishomosexual and a follower of Christ? Should evangelical congregationswelcome and accept sexually active homosexuals? Should pastors defend therights of homosexuals as a persecuted minority and evidence support byparticipating in gay parades, marches, etc.? Each of these are salient issuesfacing today’s pastoral leader.5.1. The church’s balanced responseSimply put, homosexual behaviour, or any other lifestyle that is contrary toGod’s law, is absolutely incompatible with Christ’s call to holy living andconstitutes disobedience to the known laws of God. Therefore, a pastoralresponse to a homosexual should be the same response offered to anyonecaught in the web of sin (e.g., adultery, fornication). One cannot legitimisethat which God clearly labels sinful behaviour.Condoning a behaviour that is strictly forbidden in scripture lends to one’sown disobedience to God’s clear mandates. Pastoral counsellors are under anobligation to call a brother or sister to repentance by speaking the truth in love(Craven 2007:1). Pastors must seek a balanced response from the churchwhich should include two key components: biblical teaching and meaningfulsupport.161
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Lockard, <strong>Homosexuality</strong>homosexual practices while repeatedly affirming that God can f<strong>or</strong>give anyrepentant sinner.5. Implications f<strong>or</strong> past<strong>or</strong>al ministry in the 21 st centuryProponents of homosexuality struggle with the church accepting theirhumanness as homosexuals and their need to feel human within the context ofthe church. Their premise is that within the household of God, there are noaliens.What are appropriate responses by the church to the issue of homosexuality?If same sex marriages are legally permissible should past<strong>or</strong>s be obliged toconduct homosexual unions? Should homosexuals be given full rights amongchurch leadership in preaching, teaching and leading? What about gayChristians who are celibate? Should celibate homosexual Christians be eligiblef<strong>or</strong> <strong>or</strong>dination? How does one respond to the person who says he/she ishomosexual and a follower of Christ? Should evangelical congregationswelcome and accept sexually active homosexuals? Should past<strong>or</strong>s defend therights of homosexuals as a persecuted min<strong>or</strong>ity and evidence supp<strong>or</strong>t byparticipating in gay parades, marches, etc.? Each of these are salient issuesfacing today’s past<strong>or</strong>al leader.5.1. The church’s balanced responseSimply put, homosexual behaviour, <strong>or</strong> any other lifestyle that is contrary toGod’s law, is absolutely incompatible with Christ’s call to holy living andconstitutes disobedience to the known laws of God. Theref<strong>or</strong>e, a past<strong>or</strong>alresponse to a homosexual should be the same response offered to anyonecaught in the web of sin (e.g., adultery, f<strong>or</strong>nication). One cannot legitimisethat which God clearly labels sinful behaviour.Condoning a behaviour that is strictly f<strong>or</strong>bidden in scripture lends to one’sown disobedience to God’s clear mandates. Past<strong>or</strong>al counsell<strong>or</strong>s are under anobligation to call a brother <strong>or</strong> sister to repentance by speaking the truth in love(Craven 2007:1). Past<strong>or</strong>s must seek a balanced response from the churchwhich should include two key components: biblical teaching and meaningfulsupp<strong>or</strong>t.161
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