Random thoughts - part V

Here are some responses to an old acquaintance, asking about my views as a Christian and a pastor. Some of it might not make sense, as it's just my side of the conversation...

Pastoring the Homosexual issue
I believe homosexuals are created and loved by God, with equal dignity as any other person. As a pastor of a person struggling with same-sex desires and wondering about it, I would point out the Scripture that regards this as sin, remind them that I, too, struggle with sexual temptation and must resist it, and ask them to pray to God about what's going on in their desires. I believe God can give them the strength, self-restraint and grace for them to either come to desire a spouse of the other sex, or remain single and chaste for the rest of their lives.

The government should not give homosexuals any less or any more rights than any other people, as individuals. However, the church and the state both have a responsibility to define what marriage is, which is the couple's identity, so the state HAS to take a position, even if it ends up moving away from the church's position. Notice that there is no neutral ground morally for the state. There is no way to not offend someone. As with prayer in school, laws against abortion, nativity scenes on public property, etc., if such things are upheld people against religion will be opposed, and if such things are taken away, religious people will be opposed. It doesn't work logically to say that we can't have ANY religious expression in public, because that itself is a religion (secular humanism), besides being against the first amendment. I'm getting off field here; coming back... The government will either support and endorse what Scripture says on this issue, or it will support the humanist idea that we can make what we want to make of life, since there is no rulebook. Giving the same rights to same sex couples, even if calling it a different name besides marriage, endorses the latter view, against Scripture. Ministers of the state that do that will be held accountable to God for it, in the end.

I would not say that simply holding to a mistaken view (according to God) on one issue like this would make you deserving of death. What makes us deserve death is our running from God, rejecting the Savior He provided for us. I think there are many with a weak faith in the church, who place more weight on what the world says and so go along with same sex marriage, who may be saved in the end. It is very dangerously sectarian to say that if you don't agree with me about any certain issue, then you're going to hell. Hell is for those who refuse to come to Jesus Christ, lay their sins before Him, confess them, and ask Him to cover them in God's sight.