Homosexuality: Legally Permissible or Spiritually Misguided?1

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Lockard, HomosexualityFirst, firm biblical teaching on the subject will ensure that confusion does notrest with Christians who are influenced by media and the behavioural sciences.Pastoral counsellors are responsible to God to sound forth to society a clearword from God. The Bible does not teach that homosexuality is anunforgivable sin: offer them hope and help. Reject the sin while embracing thesinner.Second, meaningful personal support for the homosexual who is seekingchange from the orientation is vitally important. Christian supportivefellowships can be established to support people in their brokenness and desireto change their sinful behaviour. Homosexuals must be faced with a caringand compassionate church to assist them in seeing a God who reaches out tothem even through condemnation of the behaviour. At the same time, thechurch must teach that homosexuality is contrary to the divine purpose forhuman sexuality.The old sin nature can be transformed through repentance and faith in Christand the work of the Holy Spirit within the depths of every personality. Thereis no such thing as a “powerless grace”. If behavioural scientists, Masters andJohnson, can achieve a 66 percent success rate in dealing with homosexuals,how much more can pastoral counsellors accomplish with the power of theHoly Spirit? It is a biblically-based hope which pastors and churches shouldhold forth as a tangible possibility for delivering people from the bondage ofdestructive homosexual behaviour (NARTH 2001).Dr Russell Waldrop (2001) is a pastoral counsellor, psychiatric chaplain and alicensed professional counsellor. He provided this warning to the church:There is a real threat here to the church and it comes from bothwithin the church and outside it. From outside the church,secular licensing and training groups could withhold licensesfrom people who do not believe in gay-affirmingcounselling . . . and they might be able to withdraw the licensesfrom those who still do not agree with gay-affirmingcounseling.162
Lockard, HomosexualityThe divisive issue of whether to ordain homosexual clergy has received centreattention in many Christian churches throughout the 21 st century world. It hasbeen clearly stated: the scriptures give very clear guidelines for theappointment of ecclesial leaders. Churches seeking to align themselves withthe authority and inerrancy of scripture cannot ordain avowed and practicinghomosexuals to positions of leadership. If unrepentant sexual practices bar onefrom the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9), surely it must prohibit one fromleadership in the church (Davis 1993).Another issue facing pastoral leadership today is: Should churches support thedrive to ensure “civil rights” for homosexuals? Christians cannot consistentlysupport making a civil right that which has been condemned in scripture to bemorally wrong. Equally wrong, would be for Christians to participate incampaigns to physically harm and persecute homosexuals (Davis 1993).5.2. Care and counselling resources for homosexualsThe Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) has offered three well-definedguidelines for the care and counselling to homosexuals: education, friendship,and healing and counselling resources.• Education. They recommend that the church provide education on thebiblical understanding of human sexuality through sermons, study, andsupport groups in order to lay a foundation for understanding. Thoseseeking answers to their sexual confusion may work toward wholenessin Christ.• Friendship. The basis of friendship must be a recognition of ourcommon need for the grace of Christ. Evidence the incarnation ofChrist by identifying those we are trying to reach. There is a need forhomosexuals to experience an acceptance of their person apart fromtheir sexual concerns.• Healing and counselling. It is essential that the church provideresources for healing in the area of sexual identity through Christiancounselling or other ministries to homosexuals. These could include:pastoral counselling, Christian psychologists, worship and prayer. Ashomosexuals move away from their behaviour, they need supportive163
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Homosexuality: Legally Permissible or Spiritually Misguided?1

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