May the mumbling commence!
It is time for a trek through the book of Romans. The way that we respond to Scripture says a lot about where we are when we read it. The first couple of chapters in Romans are no different – particularly when we get to the end of chapter one. The translation that I am reading (TNIV) – and checking against the NIV – is a “Men’s Study Bible”. I find the sidebar a little interesting, shall we say. The title of the sidebar is “The Unpopular Stance”, and the issue at hand is homosexuality.
That’s remarkable. Human sexuality is an explosive topic. I wasn’t aware of one side (condemning homosexuality) necessarily being more popular or unpopular than another (condoning homosexual relationships). It depends on what circles of people you find yourself in. And there are many stances in between these two.
I also find it remarkable that some people tend to lift the issue of homosexuality out of this passage and ignore all the other sins listed at the end of chapter one in Romans. Here is a list: 1) “exchanging the glory of the immortal God for what has been made to look like mortal human beings and birds and animals and reptiles” (Verse 22) 2) “sexual impurity for the degrading their bodies with one another” (Verse 24) [Note that this sexual impurity says nothing about sexual orientation. This includes adultery and fornication.] 3) depraved minds (Verse 28) 4) filled with wickedness, evil, greed, depravity, envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice (Verse 29) 5) Gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, boastful, disobedient to parents, no understanding, no fidelity, no love, and no mercy (Verse 30).
Why do we lift out one sin and make it worse than all the others? Why is it that most of the people who do this are not homosexuals themselves? It is far too easy to focus on sins that we have no trouble with than to fully engage and attempt to rid ourselves of the sins with which we struggle. Maybe there is more going on here than we want to face. Read from the beginning of Romans chapter two, which directly follows the passage about sinful humanity:
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. (Verses 1-8)
Are you and I condemning a fellow believer over human sexuality? We are condemning ourselves. No one can honestly say that the unabridged list of sins above does not touch them at all. We do the same things. We are self-seeking and chase the deceptions of this world. Sometimes, I wonder if those who most vehemently condemn homosexuality struggle with their own sense of sexuality…
Is homosexuality a pattern? Absolutely! But so are the patterns of greed and envy and deceit and infidelity. And sinful patterns are wrong – all of them (Romans 3:5-8).
I suggest that we walk together with all Christians who seek God’s face. We walk together as broken human beings in need of the love and mercy and grace of the Lord. Let us not begrudge God’s riches. Let us grab one another’s hands to steady our journey to be more Christ-like – having obedience, understanding, fidelity, love, mercy, kindness, tolerance, and patience.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
No comments:
Post a Comment