A few years ago a Christian brother approached me and confessed that he was in a relationship with a married woman for the past two years.
He went on and told me the woman was unhappy in her marriage and that he and this woman were in love. The real shock came after he told me that he had spoken to his pastor about this relationship. Under full disclosure, he had asked the pastor if he should continue with the relationship, and the pastor’s reply:
“Well, let me pray about this and get back to you.”
Scripture is quite clear as to the answer of my friend’s question and confusion.
Why are so many Christians practicing sexual fornication, adultery and other destructive lifestyles unchecked and unchallenged by Churches and pastors?
Why are so many Churches and pastors so outspoken against homosexuality, yet tolerate their congregation’s practices of heterosexual sins and adultery?
Sexuality is sacred and purposed filled, and is sanctioned only in the bonds of marriage between a man and a woman. Yet, even Christianity is progressively easing back from the sacredness of sexuality and marriage. And, is creating excuses and confusion by its silence towards the biblical view of sexuality and its sacredness.
I guess its more profitable to be silent as a pastor regarding sexual sins then to preach God’s Word and Truth as it relates to the sacredness of true sexuality. Christianity has created within itself, a sin-dependent class and a sin tolerant class of Christians. I think many pastors and church boards believe if pastors and teachers preached the biblical truth on sexuality their church attendance and tithing would rapidly decline.
And so, many Churches and Christian leaderships across this nation, are flirting with the development of a hybrid-Christian world view of sexuality and political/religious correctness. Thus, mixing two world views to increase their fame and fortunes. I sincerely wish it were not so!
You cannot use post-fallen man as a template of God’s ordination for the sacred. Only in Christ is man/woman restored, body, mind and spirit. Either his/her mind is transformed or it is not. Our identity is not our sin, nor is it our sexual proclivities. Our identity and sexual orientation is redeemed and cleansed, and so we must cease from sin through the power of God’s grace and the blood of Christ Jesus, his Son.
Therefore, one cannot be a Christian and be homosexual, bisexual, transgender or transvestite in thought or in deed. Nor can one be a Christian and live a lifestyle of unchecked fornication and adultery. For Christ not only fulfilled all the law, but changed the direction of the law to inwardly, making even our hearts and minds the territory of His Holy Presence and Kingdom.
Sexual purity is a necessity and is not an option! Even so, God is full of grace and mercy. Only do not use his grace and mercy as a crutch.
The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit transforms and conforms us, even those with homosexual thoughts and feelings into the attitude and image of Christ, the perfect man. It is a cooperative relationship between the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of man, and it is not an easy process. It is at times messy and wrought with failure and setbacks, but God’s grace is not only his goodness, but more so, his enabling power of transformation and aid in our times of need. The Spirit of Grace does not leave us in our sin and with our proclivities, nor leaves us subjugated to its strongholds of thoughts and imaginations, but rather delivers us from evil.
Yes, race, sex and gender are sacred and ordained by God as he originally created them to be. But not what sin has devolved or distorted it into.
Do not equate the plight of racism with sexual orientation or gender confusion. Even if gender confusion and homosexuality happens in the womb or is a result of early childhood environmental development, does not make it sacred, but rather the results of the original fall and rebellion of man.
We are all born into sin and none are innocent. Whether one is born heterosexual or homosexual, we are all in need of a Redeemer, and utterly lost and hopeless without Christ. The power of the Gospel is good news to both the outer and inner life of all people. None are left out or excluded from salvation and redemption in Christ. In God there is no favoritism; nor racism; nor sexism. He is the God of all and has all power to transform any sinner and of any sexual orientation.
Even though God originally created man heterosexual, the fall of the heterosexual man and his sexual promiscuity is just as vile as the sexual actions of homosexuality. The promiscuity of one is met with the same consequences as that of the other.
God ordained man and woman to be one. Anything beyond this is outside of God’s ordination, and is subject to the laws of sin and death, for both the heterosexual and homosexual.
Christ is the hope of all peoples of the earth and none are excluded from his saving power, except only those who refuse to believe and obey.
“Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 World English Bible (WEB)
Don’t be confused, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, thoughts and imaginations.
A life without standards is a life without value. A valueless life, is a life without real love. Don’t be that person that cheapens love for sex; don’t do as the world does, but rather do what’s right, true and pure. Value your sexuality and the sexuality of others. Honor God with your bodies.
Call To Courage 