::As promised, here are words from the Visionary Philosopher! Thanks to Joey for contributing while I've been sitting on my lazy rear::
I have a friend whom I know from college who, last year, “came out” to me: he let me know he was gay. When my friend, Sam, broke this news to me, he was scared to death that I, as a Christian, would reject him. I assured him that I still loved him and cared for him even though his lifestyle was one with which I disagreed. As a Christian, I really struggled with the proper response and attitude toward Sam. I always believed Sam to be a Christian, and I also always believed that homosexuality was a sin and was forbidden in the Bible.
I recall asking Sam how he reconciled his homosexuality with his Christianity, and what I got was a response about how the Bible has been misinterpreted on the subject. Sam professed his love for God and appeared to have no inner conflict between the flesh and the spirit. I found that remarkable--a Christian did not feel stretched between his flesh and his spirit. Here was a Christian who was perfectly comfortable, so it seemed, with indulging his flesh and at the same time speaking of the things of the Lord. My Bible tells me that we all, as Christians, experience the war between the flesh and the spirit: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man...” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
I don’t mean to suggest that all Christians struggle with homosexual lust, but we do all strive against this robe of flesh that is drawn to sin. Yet, for my homosexual friend and many others like him who profess Christ, there is no conflict. How could that be? How could my friend Sam be at peace with his flesh while I am at war with mine? I have a hard time not overeating. I have a hard time not staring at attractive women and thinking what I shouldn’t. I have a hard time being patient. There are many things, many sins, that I stumble over on a regular basis; but I recognize those shortcomings in my life and look to God, in His grace, to give me the strength to get up and keep running the race. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:11)
Could it be that my Christian friend has simply ignored some of what the Bible says? Could it be that he has adopted a “pick and choose” approach to the Bible? Certainly that happens among Christians; we take what we like in the Bible and reject the rest. Every word in the Bible is true, and it is overwhelming sometimes to accept that. Our flesh refuses to accept the Bible as complete and relevant, and it is easy to forget at times that “...(...in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing...” (Romans 7:18) I do not mean to appear as though I am excusing Sam for his sinful lifestyle. I do not mean to explain away his behavior because he is my friend.
As I stated earlier, I have struggled with the right approach and attitude towards Christians engaged in homosexuality. The Bible instructs us: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
The last part of that verse is a sober reminder to us all. Any one of us, if we were to stray from the Word, could find ourselves bound to sin and blind to our bondage. “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see far off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1:9)
::Thanks again. Please feel free to post comments... Joey is standing by!::
Posted by Shannon at August 13, 2003 05:15 PM | TrackBackJoey- I am so proud- good post- you should start one of these yourself.
Posted by: Ashley at August 14, 2003 09:26 AMIt seems to me that homosexuality is wrong in the same way that adultery, incest, pedophilia, bestiality, and premarital sex are wrong: they fall short of the standard which is covenantal marriage. In this regard one sin is like another. But homosexuality is, according to Romans 1:24ff, both a sin and a judgment on sin.
Posted by: LJL at August 14, 2003 03:19 PMI am in agreement with you, LJL. However, have you ever tried to make that point to someone who is living a homosexual lifestyle? The mere suggestion that homosexuality is no different that any other sexually deviant act such as prostitution or incest or pedophilia is, to a homosexual, an offense. Of course, the truth hurts; and there is no way to lessen the impact of the Bible's instructions regarding sex, nor should there be.
Posted by: Joey Wolfe at August 14, 2003 11:26 PMI don't mean to be a jackass(or to say a bad word on Shannon's blog)but "homosexual" is a term that places the emphasis on sexuality and "sodomite" is a term that places the emphasis on sodomy, which is the sin that a "homosexual" engages in. Anyway I think that we should refer to the sin instead of the preference. For example, one who commits adultery is called an "adulterer" not a "swinger" nor do they have an open-relationship with their spouse. So "sodomite" not "homosexual".
Posted by: svenska at August 15, 2003 11:44 AMSvenska, thank you for the parsing of the terms. While I see your point and don't disagree with it, I do wonder about something: Isn't homosexuality a lifestyle? You make the distinction between sexuality and sexual acts. However, if I were to have sexual thoughts but did not actually act on those thoughts, would I still not have sinned? You say that sodomy is the sin as opposed to the sexual preference being the sin. We can lust in our hearts and not act on that lust, but the Bible calls it a sin nonetheless: "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) The Old Testament law forbade certain acts, but Jesus raised the bar to include even thinking about certain acts.
Posted by: Joey Wolfe at August 15, 2003 05:29 PMjust a shot in the dark....is this my cousin joey wolfe? jim and kathy's son?
Posted by: Jessie B at August 16, 2003 11:16 PMNo, this is Joey Wolfe, Joe and Dianna's son.
Posted by: Joey Wolfe at August 16, 2003 11:25 PMIf you're trying to be technical about the act, "sodomite" only describes half of it; "catamite" describes the other half. I've actually heard it suggested that when someone says "I'm gay" or "I'm homosexual," the appropriate and funny response is, "Sodomite or catamite?"
If, however, the argument for using "sodomite" is that it's the biblical term, then fine, but the Bible has a range of ways to describe this sin...just like we do. Granted, "homosexual" and "gay" don't address the sin aspect, but we all know what homosexual/gay acts are, and you and I know that they are sin. Also, much like what Joey said, the preference for sinful acts is itself sinful.
To insist on using the word "sodomite" is to paint yourself into a corner such that you can be easily written off as a bigot. I think it's better to engage from a more strategic position. Using the common parlance of "homosexual" or "gay" isn't necessarily wrong or weak or compromising; in fact, it can be a contemporary application of Paul's "all things to all people" principle. ("I have become all things to all people, that I may by all means save some." [1 Cor 9:22b])
Posted by: jon amos at August 17, 2003 10:13 AMJon, thank you for weighing in on the issue as I've raised it as a guest commentator on Shannon's blog. Regarding the "sodomite" versus "catamite" distinction in homosexuality, I would have to say that I find neither funny nor appropriate in that both are repugnant activities and both omit the other side of homosexuality: lesbianism. I know; I know: that's getting technical.
The larger, and more important, point is that it isn't just the physical acts of homosexuality that are problematic. It also isn't the emotional aspect of someone being romantically attracted to someone else of the same sex. The real problem is the rejection of all or part of God's Word. (Keep in mind, here, that I am speaking of professing Christians who pursue homosexuality as a lifestyle, whether in thought, word or deed.) Somewhere along the way, my friend, Sam, strayed from the Word and ended up believing the world's lies. Somehow, Sam rejected the truth contained in the Bible and has become blinded to his sinful lifestyle.
We, as Christians, must be on guard against the enemy. We have to know the Word of God. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to give us discernment to know truth from error. We have to measure everything against the Word of God. There is a lot of worldly teaching taking place today that is meant to tickle our ears. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3, 4) When we attempt to measure the Bible against our lives rather than measure our lives against the Bible, we are headed down the path to blindness.
Posted by: Joey Wolfe at August 17, 2003 08:22 PMJoey... well done... Uncomfortable or not, God's Word is the final authority, and I couldn't have said it better. I have an attorney friend who loves to put me on the spot when we're with a group. His views echo mine, and he likes to bring up a controversial subject... toss it into my lap... and let me address it... then sit back and watch. Once he said, "So... Vickie... I understand that, being a Christian, you hate homosexuals..." All heads turned to me, and the lunchtime din quieted while I explained that I don't hate homosexuals... I love the people... pray for them daily... but I hate the sin.. particularly the blatant disregard of God's word and dishonor to Him. Matt furthered the conversation by asking, "But, you don't like to be around them?" And my answer was that I'm not comfortable around blatant homosexuality... that I also don't like to be around someone who colors every sentence uttered with profanity... or someone who I know is lying to me every time they open their mouths... or someone who brags about the things they steal... or hints at the deaths they helped to cause... or brags about the number of people they've slept with (fornication)... or how wonderful the affair they're having is (adultery). Blatant sin makes me uncomfortable. Political correctness in today's world says it's not okay for me to be uncomfortable with sin, especially homosexuality, but God's Word says I'd better be uncomfortable with it... I'm not to associate with it. Nope. I'm not perfect. I fail every day, I'm not better than or worse than anyone else... I'm just forgiven. And every time I fail, the Holy Spirit in me gently, or not so gently, chides me. Like Joey, I have to wonder when someone is engaged in blatant sin and claims to be at peace. The Holy Spirit doesn't sleep. If we're not convicted by our sins, it's because of the hardness of our hearts... not because God has decided that He doesn't mean what He says...
Posted by: Aunt Vickie at August 18, 2003 09:37 AMJoey, you wrote:
Regarding the "sodomite" versus "catamite" distinction in homosexuality, I would have to say that I find neither funny nor appropriate in that both are repugnant activities and both omit the other side of homosexuality: lesbianism.
My thoughts exactly.
Posted by: jon amos at August 18, 2003 12:49 PMVickie, your comments reminded me of these verses:
"For thou art an holy people unto the Lord the God; and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people until Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 14:2)
"Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God; and to walk in His ways; and to keep His statutes; and His commandments; and His judgments; and to hearken unto His voice: And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar people, as He hath promised thee; and that thou shouldest keep all His commandments; And to make thee high above all nations which He hath made; in praise; and in name; and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God; as He hath spokem." (Deuteronomy 26:17-19)
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." (Titus 2:11-15)
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9, 10)
As this world gets worse and worse (I know, Shannon, that you don't think things are getting worse!), our stands on the Word oF God and in Christ are going to set us apart and make us peculiar. Insofar as we compare ourselves to the world, peculiarity should be a goal. Conformity should be anathema.
Posted by: Joey Wolfe at August 19, 2003 01:50 AMTo clarify Joey's statement "I know, Shannon, that you don't think things are getting worse!", that's not exactly accurate. Yes, our generation has seen a decline of faithfulness. My arguements are that there have been points of godlessness throughout history and that the current state of things is not new and not necessarily permanent. I think the world is still capable of revival...
Just wanted to state that before everyone goes post crazy on me!