Does Protesting Gay Marriage Advance the Gospel?
May 10th, 2012
06:05 PM ET
Matt Moore
"...We,
as believers in Christ and believers in the truth, need to not merely announce
to the gay community that they are in sin, but also provide answers to the
questions they ask. Much of the Christian community that has taken a stance
against homosexuality has done so more within a political mindset than an
eternal, gospel mindset..."
"...They
want to stop gay marriage, forbid gays from adopting, etc.; and I am not saying
that those are bad things fight for. But let’s be realistic, the government in America is not
a Christian government. We may be founded upon gospel truths and morals, but
the 21st century US
government is not centered in on Jesus nor does it strive to adhere to Biblical
principles..."
"...By all means, the Church
needs to take a stand against the darkness of this world… but I urge you all,
let us do so with grace and truth..."
Before you read this, if you aren’t familiar with
me, you need to know that I am a Christian who struggles with homosexuality.
The Lord pulled me out of the gay lifestyle a couple of years ago and has
graciously granted me repentance every day since. I write on this subject as
someone who understands the mindsets of both the gospel-rejecting, unrepentant
gay person and also the regenerate, born again Christian. My goal in addressing
this issue is to hopefully get a few people’s eyes fixed back on Jesus and the
mission He has entrusted us with.
Homosexuality is a very complex and an often
confusing subject, and most Christians really don’t have the slightest
inclination on how to approach their admittedly gay friends. Most of us have
some sort of idea how to help people like addicts or atheists, but when it
comes to approaching a homosexual, we don’t even know where to start. Then all
of a sudden something happens, like Obama’s proclaimed support of gay marriage
yesterday, and everyone goes into a frenzy. My social media has been covered in
comments on both sides of this issue. But is all the chatter really getting
anyone anywhere?
Protesting gay marriage or gay parades does not
advance the gospel in any way, shape or fashion. People picketing with their
signs of “Homosexuality is an abomination!” or “Gays don’t go to heaven!” only
communicates to the gay person that you believe their lifestyle is a sin. And
this is true, the gay lifestyle is a sin and those who partake in it without
ever turning away from it and to Jesus will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But what these people need more than our opposition is our answers. Because of
the constant flow from the secular world through media and other means, the
minds of most of the population are flooded with worldly ideology about
homosexuality. The media is shaping the minds of people from a very young age
to believe that homosexuality is identical in goodness to heterosexual
behavior. We, as believers in Christ and believers in the truth, need to not
merely announce to the gay community that they are in sin, but also provide
answers to the questions they ask.
Much of the Christian community that has
taken a stance against homosexuality has done so more within a political
mindset than an eternal, gospel mindset. They want to stop gay marriage, forbid
gays from adopting, etc.; and I am not saying that those are bad things fight
for. But let’s be realistic, the government in America is not a Christian
government. We may be founded upon gospel truths and morals, but the 21st
century US
government is not centered in on Jesus nor does it strive to adhere to Biblical
principals. A lot of people may disagree with me, but I believe that if a same
sex couple wants to have the right to file their taxes together or be able to
be in the hospital room with their partner before they die, we should give it
to them.
Does depriving them of these privileges show them the love of Jesus in
any way? I do not think that it does. But the gay community also must realize
that marriage is a Biblical concept and Christian Covenant, not a secular means
of attaining rights. Therefore if the concept of marriage is solely based on
the Scriptures, then the act of marriage should be in line with the Scriptures;
one man and one woman. The government can give gay people the rights they seek
without ordaining it as marriage, and I believe that is the avenue that they
need to take and hopefully in doing so the Church can regain their focus and
start really trying to help these people rather than just opposing them. By all
means, the Church needs to take a stand against the darkness of this world… but
I urge you all, let us do so with grace and truth.
Matt Moore
www.facebook.com/moorematt89
mmoore0689@yahoo.com
www.moorematt.com
