Where I Stand on the Homosexual Lifestyle

I know where I stand on homosexuality. I know what the Scriptures say about the homosexual lifestyle. I understand what the Scripture has to say about homosexuality, that it is a sin and that, like all sin, it is wrong and those that continue to practice this lifestyle will be judged for their sin.

Yet, as I have said in the past, I don't understand why so many followers of Christ have decided to paint homosexuals as the worst of the worst, the most sinful of the sinners. As I said to a man almost a month ago, we all face a struggle with sin and although you may not struggle with the sin of homosexuality, you should not condemn others who do. You see, just as I do with people that struggle with greed, lust, deceit, and so many other sinful lifestyles, I feel sorry for those dealing in the homosexual lifestyle. Why? Because they are caught in a bondage with sin that they are being told is not sin, is not bondage, is not wrong at all.

There is a lot of ignorance in our country today, on one side is the ignorance of the homosexual community; ignorant to the fact that it is wrong and demands correction, on the other side is the ignorance of the judgemental Christian community; ignorant to the fact that we are not to judge but to live a life of love and light, portraying Jesus Christ. So many tend to point to this lifestyle as that which is ruining our culture and our children when the truth of the matter is that there are many things ruining our future, and much of it has already been accepted into our churches and our homes.

Glee/What People Need

 

This past Tuesday the show "Glee" was on and although I do not normally watch it, the storyline this week was that of religion and spirituality. So, not only did I stay in the room and on the channel, I actually paid attention (something I do not always do).

  

In this episode, one of the characters makes a grilled cheese sandwich and when he opens the grill sees what he believes to be an image of Jesus. He then deems this "grilled cheesus". He proceeds to pray to the sandwich, asking it for various signs and confirmations of control. Although this opening made me skeptical that this was yet another television show that was trying to bash the name and the image of Christ, I stuck around and gave Glee more of a chance this week.

The most basic issue I had with this portion of the episode was that it was as if someone with no understanding whatsoever was attempting to explain Jesus Christ, Christianity, and everything about faith, prayer, belief, etc. As one fellow blogger wrote "I suppose it would be like me, an Asian American, writing about what it’s like to be black; I can research and I can see the cultural or societal view of being black, but it would be quite amazing if I could write about the true experience."

These words explained where the writers of this show were coming from, because a basic level of research had been done, a cultural or social view had been considered, and then off to the writing boards they went. Yet how can I say this? I do not know if the writers, the producers, or the actors of the show Glee are born-again Christians or if they make claim to any faith at all.

Yet this same basic approach is made by so-called Christians everyday, those that claim to follow Christ and have a faith in Him. So many are not truly experiencing the saving grace, the fellowship, and the presence of Jesus Christ and His Spirit within their lives. Yet they are "Christians".

We are told in Matthew 7 not to judge, and for this reason we leave this alone. Who are we to judge those around us that claim the name of Jesus and yet do not have the depth of understanding, the depth of relationship, or the depth of desire to truly know Him? We so easily forget that we are to hold one another accountable, that we are to "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24 ), that we are to "encourage one another and build each other up"  (1 Thess. 5:11), and that, if we are truly a part of the body of Christ, we are all a part of the same body (1 Cor. 12).

Back to Glee, as the program went on various situations played into the storyline, "church and state", "religion in school", "homosexuality", "death", "the afterlife", "family", and several more. The basic conclusion to the episode was that, we all need to have faith in something, we all need to believe in something. I can definitely get behind this on the most basic level. I don't see how anyone can live in the world and honestly believe that there in no "higher power", that there is no God. Further, I don't see why anyone would continue to live if they honestly believe that there is no God and no hope after they pass away from this world.

We all need to have faith in something. True! Yet the issue in our world today is that so many have a faith in something, and that something is anything. What people NEED in our world today is a faith in The Living God, The God that does not change, The God that created, loves, and sustains everything. What people NEED in our world today is a lasting relationship with The God that offers forgiveness for yesterday, joy for today, and confidence for tomorrow. What people NEED in our world today is God!