I'm pretty sure that many will disagree somewhat with this post, but this issue has been a big discussion all around, not just this month but for years now.
The church has wrestled, fought, argued and gotten a bit scrappy on this issue.
The world around us has fought back with similar vigor.
I'm not into culture wars, so I mean no flare ups from either camp (although I may incur some), I simply feel the desire to shed some light in areas that we seem to be missing.
1. Homosexuality is NOT the main issue facing the church
Sadly both the liberal Christians and the Conservative Christians have made this single issue "the issue". Many have focused their entire lives on either side of the issue, reading Scripture through a "for" or "against" stance. Both sides do this with a sense of "Fighting Satan" or "Fighting Hate" but at this point, those war cries are bogus, maybe they always were bogus. Many would say that fighting against this issue may offend some, but the Gospel is offensive, my answer is if your Gospel is only anti-gay you're missing a huge piece of the Gospel...Jesus. The Cross is what's offensive. His death, for our sins, which includes his dying for the sin of homosexuality, other sexual sins and the sins of the people holding the signs, declaring a "Gospel war". Jesus is the main issue facing the church and He always has been.
"This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone" (Acts 4:11 ESV)
By making Homosexuality the issue, both camps lose focus on Jesus and the cross. The Holy Spirit within us calls us to live the Story of Jesus in this world, and He gives us the power to do so. Jesus isn't always a nice happy clappy guy, but he does love deeply. Jesus called people out on their sins, but he did so in love. The woman caught in adultery,
the same sin of sexual immorality, was first protected by Jesus, then he lovingly said: "Now leave this life of sin". The implication was that he could offer something better than the sins she allowed to rule her life. Does God have something better for homosexuals? Yes. Does he have something better for us? Yes.
The fog has been created
by the enemy in order for us to take our eyes off the real issue: Jesus. Sadly, we are more focused on will their be Gay marriage than is Jesus being preached. We're more willing to put a self proclaimed cult leader (Mormonism is a cult) then ever before, because of this single issue.
Not saying one candidate is better than the other, just saying
we are allowing the enemy to FOG us to death and He's winning the battle by taking our eyes of the main thing.
2. My Generation is Leaving the church because of this issue
Many young people in my generation are using this issue to hang their "I'm done with church" hat on, the fog of this issue has clouded their minds as well as the generations above. Let me first talk to my generation. Guys, this is not the issue to hang it up on. Don't pack it all in, don't sell out. Maybe God is speaking to many of you about this issue and I truly believe he's calling us to be middle ground people, not far right or far left on this issue. The Bible is clear on many things and sexual immorality is one of them. Our generation has struggled with sexual temptation more so than any others. The availability of porn, the free open sex relationships, friends with benefits all of these issues have clouded our thinking on sexual conduct and the enemy has won some ground on how we think about sex, giving us over to thinking these things are OK but they are NOT. We need to re-learn the Bible and re-learn true sexual intimacy. If God is calling you to help make a change in the church...leaving won't help. We may get frustrated, we may get down but if the Spirit is truly leading us, then He in us will make headway, He will turn His people back to himself and He may call us to help make the change. Don't run like so many in our generation do, stay the course and be used to make the change, not just blog and complain about it.
Older generations: don't allow one particular sin blind you from the rest. Don't allow my generations voice to turn you completely away from us. When a young person speaks and you completely dismiss everything, you cause more pain than you know and in so doing you prove my generation right about how they see/think about you. I know you care. I know you love, don't be so quick to dismiss us or call us heretics as many have done. There are a good number of us who hold to the Scriptures, who Love Jesus and who are filled with the Spirit. It will be on us who hold to Jesus and to course correct our generation because sadly, when you're gone we will need to hold the fort. Please pour into us, pour in with love, passion and Jesus. Pour the word over us, not by bashing it into us but by lovingly talking it out. Don't push us away, I beg you. I won't, leave because God has called me to be a bridge but many of my generation will keep leaving if our voice is completely ignored. Debate with us, help us see when and where we're wrong but don't dismiss us.
This issue is a FOG folks, let's all look to Jesus, let's pray to Him, let's allow His Spirit to permeate all we say and do. I think then we'll see this issue isn't the giant we need to slay, but simply a fog blocking the real enemy from view.
