A Biblical Response To Homosexuality, Pt 1 Series

A Biblical Response to Homosexuality

Centerpointe Church

(2 Timothy 3:1–8 NLT-SE)

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.) These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.”

(2 Timothy 4:1–4 NLT-SE)

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

This is not a “Your glass is half-full” scripture. The scripture tells us that in the last days, there will be difficult times.

Our Culture at War

A. Over the last 40 years, our society has gradually pushed an agenda that has the potential to change the way we think about sexuality, marriage; especially the issue of homosexuality.

This is a culture war that we can no longer avoid. It is a culture earthquake. Furthermore, tolerance seems to override our understanding of right and wrong.

B. Relativistic thinking says, “because something is right for me” it’s ok. Therefore, we are to tolerate every thing and every sin. We don’t want to tell anyone that there is sin in his or her life.

Today, we tread on an area of extreme sensitivity – homosexuality.

As stated before, if I were not a Christian and I watched or listened to the Christian response of hatred to the issue of homosexuality, I would not be attracted to Jesus at all. We have not represented him well in our response.

C. As much as I want our church to grow, I cannot stop preaching truth.

Homosexuality and Culture

A. Gary Collins, Christian Counseling:

Several decades ago homosexuality was rarely mentioned in polite society. It was viewed as sinful, sick, or illegal. It was treated by psychiatrists who viewed it as sexual deviation.

In the 1950’s, Alfred Kinsey estimated that 4 percent of the American population was homosexual and that 37 percent of the male population had participated in at least one homosexual act.

His now debunked work was a match that lit a fire-storm, so much so that:

In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association decided, under extreme political pressure from gay activist, to remove homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and settled the issue: homosexuality is normal. When it became “common knowledge” that homosexuality was “not a problem,” clinicians were discouraged – and in many cases, prevented – from expressing opinions to the contrary or presenting papers at professional meetings.

Since then, the acceptance and toleration of homosexual behavior has slowly become the norm. The media industry has slowly but surely added to the idea of normalcy. Sitcoms like “Will and Grace” became popular which portrayed openly gay people living and enjoying life. Ellen DeGeneres and Rosey O’Donnell also spoke openly about their lives.

The mainstream media has now normalized homosexuality. More shows are emerging like Modern Family and Glee portraying life as normal. In the fall, a new series called “The New Normal” will redefine traditional marriage and parenting.

Here is a trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXbTDQcvhyM&feature=related

This week, Entertainment Weekly listed many of the actors who have started to come out and confess their lifestyle. Cultural acceptance has increased the number of friends and family they know, or know of, that are openly gay. These are powerful combinations.

B. We are now at a point where many believe that couples who are living a gay or lesbian lifestyle should be afforded the same rights of marriage as those between a man and a woman. Somehow, this has now become a civil rights issue.