In the next year you can be sure that you will have to face one or more of these scenarios:
- A brother or sister in the Lord will tell you that he/she is gay.
- Your university will host a series of workshops on the proper use of gender-neutral pronouns.
- Your elementary-aged child will come home from school talking about the sex-ed. curriculum which features a major section on the need to respect peers from the LBGTQ community.
- You’ll show up for your child’s softball practice and discover that the two women who come to every game with little Billy are not sisters.
- Your company human resources department will hold a session on how to build a tolerant workplace for LGBTQ co-workers.
- You’ll have a conversation with your university-aged child and discover that she thinks your view on homosexuality is bigoted, a throw- back to the 60’s. She equates you with the racists of that era.
- You will discover another church in our denomination has decided to endorse same-sex marriage.
Are you prepared for any of these? It’s no secret that our culture has experienced a complete change of mind when it comes to homosexuality and gender. Churches are divided in how to respond. Some are saying that we should fully endorse homosexual activity, after all they believe, God created them this way. Other churches believe it is a sin but they come across as bigoted, insular, and even hostile. How are we to respond, are you prepared?
As we read through the opening chapter of 1Timothy we see that Paul lists a group of sins that the law condemns. In verse 10 he specifically mentions “practicing homosexuality”. Our culture would probably call him a homophobe. But we Christians believe that this is the word of God and as such, it is the truth.
This Sunday I want us to think about that verse and the issues it raises. I want us to begin crafting an answer to our culture that is in desperate need for Christian leaders who believe the word of God and are willing to put it into practice. May we truly be a people who compassionately demonstrate an uncompromising testimony in a culture that has turned its back on the truth of God’s word.
In thanksgiving for you, Pastor Tom