"The Bible and Homosexuality: Where We Go From Here"

Here are the notes from Sunday's message at New Life Community Church.  This was the second message dealing with "The Bible and Homosexuality" and dealt particularly with "Where We Go From Here."  The broader series is CHRIST AND CULTURE.  If you would like to listen to this message, you may do so by going to our website at www.newlifesite.com.  God bless!

Christ and Culture, Part 2                                                                 Sunday, July 28, 2013

 “The Bible and Homosexuality – Where We Go From Here”

¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, …. ¹⁴ I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  John 17:11-18 (NIV)

Three Questions:

1.      What does the Bible say about homosexuality and same-sex marriage?

2.      What are the objections being thrown at us by our culture?  How do we answer these?

3.      Where do we go from here?  What should be the appropriate Christian stance and response concerning homosexuality, same-sex attraction, and gay identity?

⁹ 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 practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  I Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)

of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do …  I Chronicles 12:32 (NKJV)

Objections, Myths, and Questions:

1.      But God made me this way?  Is it a choice or is it genetic?

2.      Why don’t we just live and let live?

3.      Why are we making such a big deal about one particular sin?

4.      But Jesus never addressed homosexuality.

5.      Is it possible to change sexual orientation?

6.      Are homosexuals irredeemable?  Can homosexuals go to heaven?

7.      If it doesn’t hurt anyone, why is it wrong?

8.      Why shouldn’t two people who want to love one another for a lifetime be allowed to do so?

9.      Can the Bible even be trusted in what it says about homosexual activity?

Objections, Myths, and Questions:

1.      But God made me this way?  Is it a choice or is it genetic?  The Gay Gene.

No evidence of a genetic origin of homosexuality.  If it is genetic, is it an unalterable aspect of identity?
What about the “alcoholism gene” or the “warrior gene”?
The old “nature vs nurture” question.
Even if it were, example of individuals with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or addictive tendencies.

2.      Why don’t we just live and let live?

This is the chief temptation to Bible-believing Christians.  Don’t make trouble.  Leave it alone and it will go away.  Problem:  we become only concerned about that which takes bread off our own table. 
The Gay Agenda involves three stages:

ACCEPTANCE

APPROVAL

PROMOTION

3.      Why are we making such a big deal about one particular sin?

Aren’t there other sins that are just as bad that we don’t worry about at all?

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

4.      But Jesus never addressed homosexuality.

Underneath this question is a misunderstanding about Scripture.
 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, II Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

5.      Is it possible to change sexual orientation?

I Corinthians 6

6.      Are homosexuals irredeemable?  Can homosexuals go to heaven?

There is only one sin that the Bible describes as unforgiveable.  That is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.  A larger question would be can an alcoholic go to heaven?  Or a drug addict? Or a mass-murderer? 

Only one reason anyone goes to hell.  Because they rejected the forgiveness and life that is in Jesus.

7.      If it doesn’t hurt anyone, why is it wrong?

Sin is never based in Scripture on man’s understanding of right and wrong.  It is based on God’s.

8.      Why shouldn’t two people who want to love one another for a lifetime be allowed to do so?

What happens behind closed doors is a matter of personal conscience before God.  What happens by way of normative activity in our culture is quite another.

9.      Can the Bible even be trusted in what it says about homosexual activity?

The Bible has been used to support many evil things throughout human history.  How can we now trust the Bible to speak to homosexuality?

Where do we go from here?

1.     Build strong, biblical FAMILIES. 

FBI policy concerning counterfeits

2.     Biblical understanding of GENDER and SEXUALITY.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  Genesis 1:26-28 (NKJV)

3.     Correct view of all SIN. 

Consistent in our moral positions. 
No sin is worse than any other sin.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV)

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Colossians 3:5-8 (NIV)

Romans 1

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.  ²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.  Romans 1:24-27 (NIV)

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.  Romans 1:28-32 (NIV)

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  I Peter 4:17 (ESV)

4.     Be PATIENTLY REDEMPTIVE.

If you are struggling against sin, we will help you.

5.     Use “TOUGH LOVE” only when people stop trying. 

If you stop struggling against sin and begin accommodating it, we must speak.

6.     Preserve RELIGIOUS FREEDOM without fostering HATRED. 

Religious freedom cannot be classified as a “hate crime”

7.     The first question should be RELATIONAL and secondarily MORAL.

Don’t be surprised when people far from God act like people far from God. 

8.     Be EVANGELISTIC. 

Jesus invites first and only condemns as the last resort.

9.     Show the LOVE of God while BELIEVING the Bible. 

We must dispel the idea of hatred while also holding up the validity of truth.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  I Peter 3:15 (NIV)