Christianity Without Hooks: Gay Pastors & Angry Bloggers

Last week’s post on whether the Apostle Paul would have lunch with a gay pastor stirred up a hornet’s nest of comments.  The contributors were a pretty passionate group but after 40 or 50 comments or so you could see a pattern of two distinct view points.

The first group were the religious legal experts who wanted my friend (who shared the post to Facebook) to “take a stand”. They were vocal that Paul would NOT have lunch with a person who claimed to be a Christian and refused to acknowledge homosexuality as a sin.  This group was rabid in their intent to get my friend to acknowledge their interpretation of certain scriptures were correct and proceed to condemn Christians who are gay.

The second group of commenters attempt (at least in their own minds) to be kinder and gentler but I think it’s this “Christian” who actually damages the Good News of Jesus much, much more. This group, when asked if the Apostle Paul would go to lunch with a gay pastor, says “yes”  but like this:

“He would go to lunch with him, and tell him to repent…”

“Have lunch with whoever you want to, murderer, rapist, thief, prostitute, liar, pedophile, if possible to save them.”

“Probably…but in order to draw him in to Jesus with the gospel and Christ’s” love.

Ugh…

The first group, to their small credit, is at least honest about the contempt they have for gay people.  The second group sees people as a target to be won over.  A lunch with a person who is gay is not about the fun of sharing a meal and life with another person.

No…

It instead comes with the secret agenda of trying to change them.  It’s a well meaning intervention.  It’s bridge building into a life not because the person has value in and of themselves, but rather so when the moment is ripe they can share how Jesus would want them to stop doing this or that.

And I guarantee if the person is not responding within a certain time frame that “friendship” will reveal itself to having never been a friendship at all.

Seeking and Saving the Lost

“But Steve, didn’t Jesus come to ‘Seek and save the lost”?  (Luke 19:10)

Yes, he did but he didn’t do it like he was trying to sell a product.  People responded to him because at his table they found love, mercy, and forgiveness.

They were valued just for who they were.  As sons and daughters who were given the message that their Father in heaven missed them and wanted his children with him again.

Treating a gay Christian as “lost” is showing contempt for the body of Christ. God doesn’t just come up with some rules off the top of his head; sin is sin because God sees it as destructive to his children.  He hates the things that causes hurt, pain, and sorrow to his sons and daughters.

I can’t imagine what it must be like to be attracted to a man the way I am to a woman but if I was told by people in my faith that my marriage to Tammy was evil, that God condemned it, and that by his love I could be delivered from it, I would probably be psychotic right now.  I can see why many people of a same sex orientation, particularly Christians, are driven to suicidal thoughts.

Somehow I can’t see the Father saying to Jesus, “You know what I’m going to do just for fun.  I’m going to make Steve sexually attracted to women and then tell him how much I hate and condemn it…won’t that just be a hoot!?”

God forbid!

Sin has to be destructive…or it isn’t sin.  Yes, there are homosexual and heterosexual relationships that lead to destruction; both for themselves as well as to the lives around them that are affected.  Thats why God warns against these things.  Not to condemn the person (John 3:17) but to reveal the way that leads to life.

Taking a Stand

Many commenters on this issue note the need for Christians to “take a stand”.

“Taking a Stand” can sometimes be a good thing.  People who know me also know I have strong convictions in a number of areas and I’m not timid in expressing them.  But when Christians want me to take a stand because “the Bible clearly says ‘X’…” I know something weird is getting ready to happen.  (See my thoughts on Taking a Stand here)

But it’s interesting how we are supposed to Take a Stand on this issue but are never to really called to make a stand against the many things Jesus seemed to really care about.

As a thought experiment lets say we waved our hand and homosexuality was supernaturally eliminated from the life of the church at every level.  From church leadership down to the occasional visitor. What affect would that have on the church and it’s call to be the representation of Christ on Earth?

Probably little to no change whatsoever.  Statistically a non-issue!

Now, suppose all gossip was eliminated from the lives of the church at every level from church leader to visitor;

Dear Lord there would be such a tectonic shift  to the way the church operated that it would be darn near unrecognizable.  The life and restoration flowing out from Christ’s Bride to the world would be the fulfillment of prophecy!

And that was just gossip…

Christians, lets keep our eyes on whats important.

Love God…

Love people…

It’s pretty simple

Peace,

Steve