Part one of a series — By Pastor Tedd Mathis
I’m addressing this topic because the godless assumption behind the idea of gay Christianity inundates us today. My prayer is you read this in accordance with Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Here’s what threatens to take us captive: Since the mid 1970’s there has been a concerted effort to teach the world that being ‘gay’ (or LGBTQ+) is an essential definer of some people. This truth claim wants us to believe that same sex attraction (SSA) or transgenderism is part of a person’s fundamental humanity. That’s just who they are. Therefore, to call them to repentance and flee to Christ for forgiveness and put to death the deeds of their body is like calling someone to repent for being right-handed. This view is now being argued for in the name of Christ (see below and future essays).
This essay will be published in several installments. This first installment will summarize the following:
+ The biblical standard for sexuality and sexual practice
+ The man-based definition of sexual orientation
+ The two main ways ‘gay Christianity’ is being promoted and accepted
Next month I will dig deeper into gay Christianity’s view of man and view of Christ and His gospel.
The Standard God Has Given Us
Here’s the standard for sexuality and sex according to Christ:
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, 8 and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” – Mark 10:1-12
Our Lord’s standard comes from Genesis 1-2. It is what God decreed from the beginning. God made males in His image. God made females in His image. This divine blessing of maleness and femaleness comes with a commission: be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with more image bearers (Genesis 1: 28). This commission is to be fulfilled in the union between one man and one woman. There is to be a sacred solidarity that comes with this union. A husband is to sexually desire and enjoy his wife alone and she respond solely to him. They are to become one flesh, and neither of them, nor anyone or anything else is to defy, defile or divide this blessed union.
That’s why the Holy Spirit declares in Hebrews 13:4 — Marriage is to be held in honor (counted precious) among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
With sin came a disposition to reject and defile God’s blessed commission. Sin brings an ongoing effort to suppress and distort that truth (See Romans 1:18-32; Mark 7:20-23; Gen. 6:5; Eph. 2:1-3). Rejecting what God has revealed both in our bodies and in Scripture, man’s perceptions appear to be wise, but we have become fools. Our empty deception results in evil desires and practices considered natural. Normal.
Who Gets To Define Us?
Consider the term ‘sexual orientation.’ Here’s some background: Sexual orientation is a concept that was invented by the American Psychological Association in 1975. It means: “An enduring pattern of emotional, romantic and/or sexual attractions to men, women or both sexes. Sexual orientation also refers to a person’s sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors and membership in a community of others who share those attractions” – Aquila Report.*
This is man’s attempt apart from God to understand and accept as final what man reports about himself. Since this concept doesn’t start with a moral God, there is no assessment of right or wrong. Yet it is written by experts who offer their counsel to those troubled about their self and sexual attractions. With God absent, the APA has no standard. With Christ dismissed, the APA has no Gospel. No troubled sinner leaves a psychologist saying, “that is who I was. But I’ve been washed. I’ve been sanctified. I stand justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!” (I Cor. 6:9-11)
Whoever writes the dictionary determines what man believes. Not long ago the common term used to describe man-with-man sexual attraction and activity was ‘sodomite or sodomy.’ This label was rooted in the belief same sex sin would be judged for its abominable defilement of what God says is good. Today, it’s ‘gay.’ A positive, happy, celebratory word describing what God still considers abominable and only brings His wrath (I Cor. 6:9-11; Jude 7).
Who determines your beliefs? Man’s ever-shifting philosophies, or Christ — in whom all the fullness of deity dwells?
Two Approaches to Gay Christianity
Today there are two prevailing camps that want you to believe one can be gay and a Christian. They’ve become known as Side A and Side B.
Side A Gay Christianity believes there are multiple forms of sexual orientation and practice and all should be embraced by all as gifts from God. Whatever some-one’s orientation, they should be embraced and defended by Christians (so long as it’s practiced without coercion or violence – a loving and meaningful relationship).
Side B Gay Christianity believes same sex attraction is not a ‘morally culpable issue. Although it is a consequence of the brokenness from the Fall (of Adam), Side B teaches against homosexual sexual practice, but only for the sake of Christian tradition. It sees sexual orientation as an accurate category of personhood (i.e, there is such a thing as a gay person – that gayness describes who someone essentially is). {Therefore, Side B gay Christianity} in no way allows for an understanding of why homosexuality, even at the level of desire, is sinful and needing the grace of repentance. To the Side B Christian, homosexuality is a sexuality – one of many’ – Rosaria Butterfield. *
With this Side B teaching, we’re being led to believe that Gay Christians should be considered a sexual minority, defended as such, and commended for their example of sacrificial celibacy.
We’ll dig into this more in next month’s newsletter.
Sources & more resources:
https://www.theaquilareport.com/the-myth-of-sexual-orientation/
https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation
https://rosariabutterfield.com/new-blog/2018/2/14/what-is-wrong-with-gay-christianity-what-is-side-a-and-side-b-anyway
https://cbmw.org/topics/homosexuality/challenging-gay-christian-identity/
https://hipandthigh.wordpress.com/2019/08/28/temptation-christ-gay/
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