K-State Collegian Opinion Article

Below is a link to an article that just ... well ... it got me thinking and made me realize just how little some people actually know (when they think they know a lot) about what the Bible actually says. The article is about homosexuals in leadership positions within the Church.

Christ's words were about love, acceptance - not hate - Opinion

I posted the following as a reply/comment on the Collegian website.

Your question: "Where did Christ say that gays should be excluded from the church? He said a lot about forgiveness and love, but I don't recall reading anywhere that he said gay people should be banned from leading the church."

1 Cor. 6:9-10, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

Also refer to the following versus for more insight on what the Bible says about homosexuality:

• Lev. 18:22
  
• Lev. 20:13
  
• Rom. 1:26-28

Just because someone is a homosexual does not mean that Christians cannot love him (or her) or pray for him (her). Homosexuality is a sin and like any other sin, it needs to be dealt with in the only way possible. It needs to be laid at the cross and repented of. Christians should treat homosexuals with the same dignity as they would anyone else because they are made in the image of God and God's love is equally great for all people. However, this does not mean that Christians should approve of the sin of homosexuality. Christians should not approve of and promote any sin. Some people find pornagraphy to be quite acceptable but if it is found that a Pastor or a Priest are addicted to pornagraphy it is likely they will be asked to step down from their position if they cannot prove they have conquered that sin and no longer view it.

You are also correct in saying that Christ, "said a lot about forgiveness and love". He said we should love one another yes and forgive each other when harmed by another, but when talking about sin he said we should approach a believer and show them their fault (Matt 18:15-17). Christians do not have the power to forgive sins, only Christ can do that. Christians should be forgiving when another hurts us in some way.

You are aslo right that you didn't read in the Bible that, "gay people should be banned from leading the church." However, there are many things that Christ did not say but are understood by studying the Scripture as a whole book and not taking bits and pieces out of context. I would like to point you towards 1 John 2:3-6:

"And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments. If someone says, 'I belong to God,' but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and does not live in the truth. But those who obey God's word really do love him. That is the way to know whether or not we live in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did."

If someone wants to be a leader in a Christian church wether it be Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic or whatever you choose... if they do not at least attempt to be Christlike in everyway they can (rejecting any and all sin in there lives as soon as they are aware of it being one step in the right direction) then that person should not be a Church leader.

Chad Johnson
Class '03

- footprints of Chad, 6:50 AM

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