What’s the World Coming To?

By Rev. Kevin Karner

“It was one of “those” days. A long day. A stressful day. A “thought full” day. By the time I ate dinner all I wanted to do was put my brain on cruise control. I shouldn’t have looked at the newspaper. But there it was – page one in the Living section: “Newspaper Editors Decide to Print Gay Wedding Announcements.” I skimmed the article and moved on. I didn’t fare any better in the Business section – page three: “Major Corporation Offers Benefits to Same- Sex Partners.” Reading was giving me a headache, so I put the paper down, grabbed the TV remote, and turned on the tube. It wasn’t sixty seconds later that I watched a commercial for one of the new Thursday night comedies: something about the “fun hitting the fan when Mark finds out Julie has been cheating on him – with another woman!”

I thought,“What’s the world coming to?”

That’s a good question. What IS the world coming to when it comes to the question of homosexuality? The culture we live in is shouting words like “tolerance,”“homophobic,” and “equal rights.” Well, who wants to be intolerant – it’s so selfish and rude. And to be “phobic” about anything sounds like a psychological problem. Equality is one of the building blocks of democracy, so I’m all for it! And if you think differently about any of this, you’re a narrow-minded, un-American bigot!

Thank God that the only opinion that really matters is God’s! And the Bible is totally clear: in both the Old and New Testaments homosexuality is said to be “wicked,” “contrary to nature,” a “dishonoring of the body,” and “an abomination.” Homosexual behavior is a sin. Period. End of discussion, right? Not so fast.

I’m a sinner. And I’m forgiven. I may not be a homosexual, but does that necessarily mean that gays and lesbians are worse sinners than me? I mean, Jesus died for everybody, right?

Yes, we are all sinners.Yes, Jesus died to take away the sins of the world. No, homosexuals aren’t worse than all the rest. We’re all dead in our sins. But God comes looking for us. The Holy Spirit, working through the Word, convicts us of our sin and our need for forgiveness in Christ. He leads us to repent of our sins and to trust in Christ for full and free forgiveness. That’s what is missing in the life of someone who has been “entangled” by the homosexual lifestyle: repentance. There’s no evidence of sorrow (contrition); no turning back to God.

O.K. Now the Lutheran question: “What does this mean?” It means that Christians can’t remain silent when souls are being lost in the name of tolerance! It means that when we speak we need to bring both the Law and the Gospel. Where an individual has embraced the homosexual lifestyle with little or no regard for God’s will, the Christian must lovingly use the Law to accuse the individual of his or her sin and to point toward the need for a Savior. But when an individual is struggling with his or her sexual orientation in light of God’s will, the Christian must be a messenger of the forgiving and healing power of the Gospel.

But wait a minute! Healing means change. Does that mean a homosexual can be changed? Yes. The Gospel of St. Luke reminds us that “[w]hat is impossible with men is possible with God.” And St. Paul writes in Philippians: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Change is possible, but never easy. It’s similar to alcoholism or drug addiction. Some people believe it’s just a simple matter of choosing what to do or not to do. Unfortunately, things aren’t always that simple. Too many times Christians have said, “We want nothing to do with your sin,” instead of reaching out with the Gospel and providing the care and support and understanding that would go a long way in helping someone in their sexual struggle.

What’s the world coming to? The acceptance of homosexuality, as an alternative lifestyle, is gaining momentum. Will Christians be willing to hold out a lifeline to those who would otherwise be swept away? I pray we will.

The Rev. Kevin Karner is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Muncie Indiana.