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"Thinking Drafts" and writing by Keith Drury -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .
What if you seriously applied your practical theology to Homosexuality? Where
would you come out? Assuming you accept homosexual acts as sin (which some of
my readers don't) and assuming you'd openly accept a homosexual who wanted to
attend your church (which some of my readers wouldn't), how would your theology
of sin apply to this newly-attending homosexual? To get you thinking here are
four example positions. Three of them are incompatible positions -- if you
chose one, you must reject the other. I've noticed that people often take one
of these positions for their own sins, but switch to another position for other
people's sins. When it comes to your doctrine of sin-in-the-believer's-life,
which door do you go through? And are you consistent?
Door #1. Sinners-in-recovery.
All sin is of equal seriousness -- if you break one part of the law you are
guilty of breaking the entire law. You have your sins, I have mine -- the
people in this church all sin in one way or another. All sin is equally
condemned by God -- my gossip or your homosexuality. In this church we have
practicing gossips, practicing gluttons, practicing tax cheaters and practicing
homosexuals -- we do not recognize more serious or less serious sinners. So
join the rest of us sinners -- we are a hospital of sin-sick people trying to
get well with varied success. Join our church of recovering sinners.
Door #2. Sinners-already-forgiven.
Christ died on the cross to forgive all your sins. If you are a saved
homosexual then God has already forgiven your sins -- even those you'll commit
tomorrow -- just keep confessing them. Face it, we all sin every day in thought
word and deed, but for the Christian sinner God cannot see these sins, for they
were removed as far as the East is from the West, more than 2000 years ago on a
cross. Your homosexual sins along with all your other sins are already
forgiven. When you sin (for you will, even St. Paul called himself the chiefest
of sinners) your sin merely shows you the true state of your sinful nature and the
absolute purity of Christ. Keep your eyes on Him, for you are clothed with His
righteousness. God can't see your homosexual acts. Rejoice that there is
therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. God can't see
your sin, rejoice that all your sins -- past, present, and future were wiped
away long ago.
Door #3. Victory-over-sin.
You may have homosexual urges, but you don't have to act on them. We here
believe that God's transforming power can enable a Christian with homosexual
urges to live victoriously -- you can become a non-practicing homosexual. You
can have victory over this sin. We even accept that you might have been
"born that way." Besides our general disposition toward all sin,
individuals sometimes have a particular disposition toward certain sins caused
by either genetic or environmental factors. You may have a particularized
genetic-environmental bias toward homosexuality, and thus you struggle more
with that sin than others. However, just because you have a particularized bias
doesn't mean you are helpless and thus must sin -- it is possible to
resist anything the Bible calls sin -- no Christian has to sin. You don't have
to act on your sinful inclinations. Living above any particular sin is
possible. Indeed, if we follow this position to its logical end we must accept
the notion that living above all sin is at least conceivable. But, for now, we
proclaim that you do not have to act on this urge -- you don't have to be a
sinner every day. Just because you are homosexual doesn't mean you have to act
on it - you can have victory.
Door #4. Deliverance-from-sin.
God can change who you are inside -- even deliver you from this urge toward
homosexual sin you were born with or acquired. It may not be easy, and seldom
happens quickly, but we believe God can change your nature... so you are not
even driven or drawn to the sin of homosexuality. God can make you straight if
you seek this healing of the soul. Indeed we believe God can deliver a person
from any particularized propensity to sin, so that you won't even want to do
that sin again. In our church we have delivered alcoholics who no longer even
thirst for a drink. God delivered them. We have adulterers who no longer yearn
to have sex with someone besides their spouse. They were changed! And we have
homosexuals in this church who were healed of their inner inclination toward
homosexual acts -- they no longer even desire it. Our church is a place where
God delivers people -- even from their inclinations to sin.
I come from a denomination that traditionally chose door #4—deliverance from sin. That is when dealing with any willful sin we taught you could be delivered not only from the practice but the “inclination” to do it. (I admit that many in my own denomination now choose the victory door and even some who chose door #2, but our tradition is door #3). So here is my question: how come folk with position #1 apply it to all their own sins but not to homosexual behavior? People in the “holiness movement” can rightfully call for “deliverance” for homosexuals because we call for it among ourselves for all the rest of the sins. But if you are a practicing Baptist who sins every day in word thought and deed, and you focus on your standing in Christ, not your continual sinfulness…why in the world would you switch theologies of sin over with we holiness people when it comes to homosexuality? C’mon—apply your theology of sin to everybody equally, yourself and homosexuals too.
As for me I like the teachings of my heritage. I know, we see less “deliverances” than we’d hope for. But I have seen some. I’ve experience some. So it is possible. Wish others could believe it too.
So what do you think?
To contribute to the thinking on this issue
e-mail your response to Tuesday@indwes.edu
By Keith Drury, 1995. You are free to
transmit, duplicate or distribute this article for non-profit use without
permission.