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August 09, 2003

So What's the Big Deal?

I am convinced there are millions of non-Christians and even not a few Christians that, watching the Bishop Robinson drama, have muttered to themselves, "What's the big deal?"

After all, we are all grown-ups here. If a man wants to sleep with another man, it might be uncomfortable for some, but as long as he's not hurting anyone, why do we care? If the gospel is about the free grace of God, and a person believes in Jesus Christ, then why can't he or she be homosexual? Won't the blood and grace of Christ cover their lifestyle?

Perhaps.

But I submit the most important aspect of this issue is not about homosexuality at all.

In the last 50 years our culture has been changing. Increasingly we are taught that there is no absolute truth - that one person's values are as significant as another's, regardless of how different or outlandish these values may seem to you.

But Christians believe in absolute truth. Why? Christians believe that God has revealed truth in the Bible - and that truth is incontrovertible. Because of this, the Authority of the Christian faith and the Christian church is directly derived from the Word of God.

Without the Bible morality and truth is merely one man's opinion against another's. Those that follow man "A" surrender their moral authority to his pronouncements. Those that follow man "B" do the same. Conflict between the two camps is driven by comparing the equal wisdom of man "A" to man "B".

But in the context of the Christian church, the Bible is the accepted authority, not any man.

On the issue of homosexuality, the Bible is clear - it is plainly and completely a sin. One may be able to argue whether they think homosexuality is right or wrong, but there is no way one can argue that it is condoned by the Bible.

The Bible is equally clear about who is qualified to be in leadership in the church -- and someone who practices unrepentant sin (homosexuality, adultery, divorce -- pick one) isn't qualified. But don't we all sin? Of course we do. Even Paul, the Holy Spirit-inspired author of more than half the New Testament, struggled with sin. So by that token, no one is qualified for leadership, right? Wrong. While even Christian leadership sins, those with integrity recognize their behavior as sin (ie: they agree with the Bible that it is a sin) and repent. Bishop Robinson and his supporters have not done that. Instead, by mere pronouncement they cast homosexuality as sinless.

So what we have here is a clash between what man thinks is right and what the Bible says is right. Everyone who is a Bible believing Christian has faced this crisis. When we find our personal beliefs or feelings in conflict with Biblical truth, we have a choice: reject what the Bible says, or reject what we feel is right and align with the Bible. The choice that the Bishop and his supporters have taken is clear.

Is it right to leave your wife for another person? The Bible says no.

RRRRIIIPP - just tear that page out.

Is it right to allow such an adulterer into Church leadership? No again.

RRRRIIIPP - there goes another page.

Is it o.k. to ordain those who practice homosexuality? No! No! No!

RRRRIIIPP - it's getting easier now, isn't it?

Is there any way to heaven without Jesus? The Bible says absolutely not.

RRR…can your hear it?

The bottom line effect of all this ripping and tearing is to take authority from the Word of God and give it to men. No longer is the Bible the judge when conflicting opinions occur, but men are. In other words, what's being attacked here isn't morality but the authority of the Word itself. If, in the end, the Bible doesn't have final judgment on all issues, then men have final authority - and Christianity becomes just another religion, devoid of faith and distinction.

Posted by bubba138 at August 9, 2003 08:05 AM