It is indeed a foundational truth of Christian doctrine that salvation is the work of Christ alone, that sanctification is effected by the Holy Spirit, and that God alone discerns the true state of the human heart. Where your reflection is especially important is in its implicit reminder that orthodoxy of doctrine must always be accompanied by orthopraxy, that is, faithful action shaped by the character of Christ. History and Scripture alike testify that zeal divorced from charity can become destructive, and the Church must continually examine whether its witness reflects the self-giving love of the crucified Lord or the spirit of accusation and harm.
At the same time, it is also the Church’s calling to speak truth, including on difficult ethical questions, yet this must be done in a way that embodies the patience, humility, and restorative intent of the Spirit rather than the coercive and condemnatory impulses of the flesh.
If the Church is to be credible in its witness, it must pair doctrinal fidelity with Christlike love, seeking always to heal rather than to harm, to reconcile rather than to alienate, and to let even its hardest words be shaped by the redemptive mission of God rather than by human anger or fear.
Well said Sam. I appreciate this perspective.
KP
Christians are commanded to love people but they are never commanded to accept or approve of sin. “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). “Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). To “accept” homosexuality as good would be to call evil good, and God hates that (Isaiah 5:20).
At the same time, God forbids us to be hateful or abusive. “Let your speech always be gracious” (Colossians 4:6). “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind” (2 Timothy 2:24). We must speak the truth about sin and the gospel without rage, insults, or self-righteousness. That is Christ’s way.
So a Christian does not scream, condemn, or bully. But a Christian also does not affirm or celebrate sin. We call all sinners, including homosexuals, to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). That is real love: “Speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), pointing people to Christ who can forgive, cleanse, and change them (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
You’re right about this: Only Jesus saves. Only the Spirit transforms. And only God sees the heart. Amen to that. But that’s where I need to pull some wild-card detail into this conversation. God never designed his people to remain silent while the world runs headlong off a cliff. He told us in 2 Timothy 4:2 to “preach the word… reprove, rebuke, and exhort.” That’s not a recommendation, that’s a command.
Okay, sure, some Christians have gotten it wrong. A lot wrong. We get loud, get personal, more heat than light, and we can wound as much as we can heal. That’s true. But don’t mistake the abuse of truth for the use of truth. The Spirit doesn’t whisper in our ear, telling us to avoid conversation about sin. He’s the One who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). If we won’t speak, we’re not following the Spirit, we’re following fear.
Look, here’s a little truth story for you. If your house is on fire, and I see it, love doesn’t mean I smile and keep walking by so you “feel good.” Love means I come running up, bang on your door, and scream until you open it. That’s going to sound harsh in the moment, but it’s mercy in motion. That’s what Ephesians 5:11 means when it says, “Expose the deeds of darkness.”
Wolves aren’t the ones shining God’s light. Wolves are the ones who dress up lies and spin stories to keep people comfortable in sin (Acts 20:29–30). Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). That’s not hate speech. That’s a rescue mission.
Too much verbal rhetoric frequently hides the basic truth about an issue. Blatant sophistry is mainly composed of rhetoric that is totally nonsensical. So, the shortened version of a proper examination of homosexuality follows. Is homosexuality a dire egregious sexual sin? Yes, it is. Has homosexuality been condemned by God ever since the creation of the world? Yes, it has. Is there any way a person can practice, or condone, homosexuality and be regarded a true Christian? No, there is no way. Must a person repent of his, or her, homosexual behavior and turn away from it in order to receive the salvation by grace promised by the Savior? Yes, a person must repent of all sin and try never to do again the sinful things that he has done.
The only things that can perniciously distort the truth of the foregoing is a bunch of “ifs, buts, and although(s)” followed by words designed to make gullible people believe that what is as black as the darkest night is a white as the driven snow. James Clavell supposedly quipped on one occasion, “If ifs and buts were beer and nuts, we’d have a hell of a party.”
Read 1 Corinthians 13 and realize that Paul wrote it after writing what he did as an Apostle of Christ about sexual sin to the gentiles. True Christian love is neither acceptance of toleration for sin, especially sexual sin. If you tolerate your son’s or daughter’s homosexual behavior, you are doing probably what the people of Sodom and Gomorrah did to encourage the practice of sexual sin. Jesus stated that he came to bring the sword, not peace, to families. Sons hating fathers and daughters hating mothers are a prophecy that is being fulfilled today in families. Toleration of sexual sin always leads to greater sexual sin. Looking at a person and saying, “I love you but I despise your sinfulness,” is a component of Christian love taught by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. If a man or woman is told by a minister, pastor, or elder that desiring a homosexual relationship in one’s mind is perfectly alright if the desire is not consummated by homosexual intercourse, that church leader has deceived the affected person into believing something totally wrong. Homosexuality applies the same way as does adultery. If a man lusts after a woman in his heart, he has already committed adultery.
I personally wish that the Lord God had put eleven commandments into the Holy Law, the eleventh being, “Thou shat not commit sexual sin in the form of homosexuality or bestiality.” He had already stated it in the Book of Leviticus, and he probably thought that mankind would have enough common sense to realize how unnatural, beastly, and vile homosexuality and bestiality would be in the myriad ensuing centuries. God had also probably thought that mankind would handle free-will acceptably and obey his laws before the flood. Yet, in the Book of Genesis (KJV), Moses wrote that “God had repented that he had made man.” Homosexuality is an utterly depraved and sinful human choice, just like murder or rape. But isn’t that why God the Father loved the world so very much that he gave his only begotten son as a Savior for the world, as a propitiation for sin? Homosexuals don’t realize how fortunate they are to still be able accept the salvation by grace offered by Jesus. May they all repent and come to Christ for that salvation.
Hello Tillman, I was trying to stay out of this conversation because it has been clear to me in the past that if someone uses the Word of God to justify sin, or ignore what it clearly says about sin, they do not want to hear the truth. However, you got my attention when you said
Not true. Homosexuality- Leviticus 18:1-5, 22-24, 29, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:49-51, Romans 1:18-32, just to name a few. Transgenderism- Deuteronomy 22:5, Romans 1:18-32, 1 Corinthians 11:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 Pedophilia - Mark 9:42, Luke 17:1-37, 2 Timothy 3:1-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-6 Beastiality- Leviticus 18:19-30, Exodus 22:19
The Bible makes it extremely clear that those who do such things shall never enter into Heaven. As for them being added? Proof? As for Sodom? The reasons God destroyed it included arrogance, gluttony, neglect of the poor, social oppression, and a shocking display of violent inhospitality and sexual transgression, which was deemed complete and unrepentant. Yes, Homosexuality was one reason. Not the only, but was included.
Honest questions. A- Do you feel that Homosexuality is NOT a sin? B- If it is, and clearly the Bible calls it such, are you saying it is hurtful and or dangerous to tell someone the truth because they may be so hurt they could harm themselves? C- Do you truly believe someone could live in sin, willfully, and still get to heaven?
PC