The Weekly Epistle 6/16/21

To say that there is confusion today around human sexuality would be an understatement.  It saddens me to see how God’s great gift of human sexuality has been twisted.  At times, it downright angers me to watch our children wrestle with misguided information from the media and the messiness that exists for them because they are bombarded with lies about human sexuality. 
 
Genesis 1:27 informs us that, “God created us male and female.”  Male and female reflect God’s created order and God’s perfect design for a monogamous marital relation between one man and one woman.  Further in Genesis 2:24 marriage between a woman and a man is declared to create a “one flesh” union (see also Matthew 19:5).  This one flesh union between a man and a woman is to be a picture of the union between Christ and His body, the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33).  This is one reason that I even cringe to hear the phrase, same sex “marriage,” for that is an oxymoron that goes against a biblically defined marriage.
 
As we know, all of life from the creation to the created beings have been affected by the fall.  That includes our sexuality.  What was created good has been damaged by sin.  Homosexuality is not what God intended.  All acts of homosexuality are sinful in the sight of God (Genesis 19:4-11; Judges 19:22-25; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:8-11).  We cannot then equate biblically a committed heterosexual relationship within marriage with a committed homosexual relationship. 
 
It is the gospel that offers grace and forgiveness to all sinners.  In the church there are people from all walks of life who have one thing in common- we are redeemed, and our identity is now “in Christ.”  Paul says to the believers in Corinth, “Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves not the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”  That is quite a list.  But then he adds, “And that is what some of you were.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirt of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). 
 
That is what you were!  That suggests that all sinners are welcomed into the family of God.  That means that a change takes place of identity and lifestyle when a person comes to faith.  That means that while we cannot condone homosexuality and will not compromise the biblical standard for sexuality, we are to welcome unbelievers from all lifestyles with the hope of introducing them to the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ.  Furthermore, we are to treat everyone, including those who identify as LGBT, with love and dignity while pointing them to the truth of God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As one evangelical church puts it, “We will be welcoming but not affirming.”
 
There are many reasons I chose to touch on this in this epistle.  Not only because it is such a pervasive topic in our culture today that the church must be prepared in its response, but also because I want to hold up God’s good gift of biblical marriage.  Let’s celebrate marriage which mirrors the bond between Christ and His Church.  Let’s recognize and rejoice in our Creator’s design of our sexuality as male or female as a gift from Him. 
 
And church, let’s pray for the marriages of our church.  Let’s pray for each other that we will walk in wisdom, truth, love, and gentleness as we encounter individuals who are confused about their sexuality.  Let’s walk in the transforming power of lives changed by the gospel!
 
Blessings, Pastor Brian