On June 2015, I wrote a blog entitled, Does God Ever Say "Maybe" to Homosexuality Among Christians?
I was expressing concern over the softening position of major Evangelical leaders regarding same-sex marriages. It seems since then to have become a widening horizon.
Any position that would emphasize holiness and purity of life is likely met with harsh judgment, accusations of being unloving, and one with a diminished capacity for grace.
There will be theologians and spiritual leaders rise to dogmatically defend the oft-used statement, “We are not perfect, just forgiven.”
They continue by explaining that Jesus forgives our sin and understands our frailty.
We spend a lifetime, after all, struggling with sinful desires, human failings, and we often give in to temptations.
Modern day theologians, Bible scholars, and preachers have mastered the art of weaving a softened positioned of grace that no longer requires holiness of the born again child of God.
Should one dare take a firm position that holiness is expected and even required in Scripture, they must be prepared to receive a barrage of arrows and javelins with razor sharp words of “legalism,” “graceless,” “hater of sinners.”
Even worse, you might be considered “homophobic.”
After all, they will steadfastly contend, we are not made perfect until our glorification when Jesus returns.
A recent article in Christianity Today spotlighted this issue. Rachel Gilson wrote an article contending Scripture does not command one be heterosexual.
She claims a walk with Christ in the power of the Spirit but steadfastly holds Jesus Christ has not made her “straight” because, by her own words, that has never truly happened in her life.
How does this match with Scripture?
Does God understand our propensity to sinful weakness and therefore give us pass for areas of sinful behavior or does He expect holiness in living?
Does God prefer we live godly lives in purity but understand our weakness to addiction and passion?
Does He prefer His children live in heterosexual relationships but realizes some are born with an attraction to same-sex relationships?
The final answer is not to be found in contemporary psychiatry, social engineering, or in contemporary theological treatise.
Let’s go directly to the Word of God.
What was Jesus saying when He declared to the crowd gathered around Him on the hillside outside of Capernaum?
“Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
The context is established in these words:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old… but I say to you…” (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-34, 38-39, 43-44).
Jesus Christ is defining the significant difference between the godliness of the Law of Moses and the godliness of the law of the Spirit.
Grace is not establishing an easier standard but a higher standard of behavior.
Grace is not godliness and holiness derived from outward actions but from the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” that come from the inside out.
The Apostle Peter reit
