Just a few more thoughts from me about the questions of
homosexuality, the church, redemption and sin.
First, the church is composed of sinners and to Christ all may
freely come. But remember Acts 2:37, Peter's first command to those
who would join the church is to repent; in Luke 24:37, Jesus
instructs the disciples to teach that "repentance for the
forgiveness of sins" be taught, not mere forgiveness. In short,
salvation is taught in the Bible as a free gift from God but one
which requires repentance for its acceptance.
Second, to those who argue that homosexual tendencies are from birth
and hence should not be considered sin in a person's life, I argue
that tendencies toward sin are part of our nature but that doesn't
exempt us from the commandments of God. From my earliest youth, I
confess before God that I was addicted to pornography prior to
becoming a Christian and I must continue to resist my "natural
impulses" to this day, even after becoming a Christian. The
commandment from God to me is clear (Matthew 5:28), my impulses I was
born with are sin and there is no excuse for disobedience. I have
the right to proclaim that homosexuals must repent because I am bound
by the same Word of God that condemns their "natural impulses"
condemns mine; the same grace that God extends me for forgiveness He
offers them, but there is no excuse for sin, only rationalization.
Third, to those who argue that the church should accept persons as
they are without imposing a requirement of conforming to a Christian
lifestyle (although that contradicts 1 Corinthians 5:9-13), I ask
you to consider this: by what right do we judge adultery? Is
polygamy adultery? There is a sect of the Mormon church today that
condones polygamy and teaches it as the commandment of God. With my
own ears I have heard members of that sect say that they are happy
with their polygamous relationships. Does the Christian church
accept them in without judgement of their lifestyle, though no one
is hurt? What then is the distinction between polygamous and
monogamous homosexuality? How is someone hurt in the polygamous
relationship if they are are happy with it? And, does merely
someone being happy make sin not a sin?
Again, in Nevada prostitution is legal. Should the church in Nevada
welcome prostitutes to attend with their Johns? What if the Johns
are single? Should we allow high school boys to attend Sunday school
with their copies of pornographic magazines? After all, no one has
"proved" that pornography hurts anyone, at least in the eyes of the
courts.
What about incest? If a physical brother and sister love each other
and desire to marry, should the church sanction it? The Bible
condemns homosexuality as much as incest (compare Leviticus 18:22
with Leviticus 18:1-18). For that matter, why don't we marry people
to animals?
The list goes on and on. In summary, we are all sinners and stand in
the need of God's mercy and forgiveness. None of us can by their own
merits be righteous. But nowhere in the Bible is the Church told to
accept anyone without regard to their accepting God's way and
commandments. By the words of Jesus and the apostles, we are to
repent to join and to pursue holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1) afterwards;
to renounce innate desires (Matthew 16:24, Titus 2:12) and strive for
perfection (Matthew 5:48).
I do not condemn homosexuals as beyond the grace of God, but the
Word of God is clear (1 Corinthians 6:9) that unrepentant
homosexuals will not be saved. They must repent of their natures
which contradict God's way, as I must, and turn to the grace of God
for forgiveness and help.
William M. Frix
Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering
Box 3021
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
Phone: (501) 524-7466
FAX: (501) 524-9548
EMAIL: wfrix@engr.jbu.edu