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Joelle Diepenbrock - Junior
3/10/2005, 5:08:47 p.m.
As others have already said, I also just want to say how important it is for those who call themselves Christians - and especially heterosexuals - to realize that, on our own strength, we are no different nor any better than any other sinner on earth. Yet at the same time, if we have accepted Christ's salvation and forgiveness, and His command to speak His truth in love to the world, we can't simply edit out those parts which might not go over easily, just as we cannot ignore God's commands to us as His followers, and continue to press forward in Him.
If we think that 'those homosexuals' are going to someday be held accountable for their sins, how much more will we be held accountable for our own, after professing the name of Christ, if we refuse to recognize them and address them in our own lives?
One of the misconceptions about the Christian-homosexuality issue is the assumption that those who say up-front that homosexuality is a sin are simply homophobic, using Scripture to justify their fear of those who are different. While this is probably the case in many people in the Church, I would like to suggest that those who have truly recognized the reality and gravity of their own natural sinfulness (even 'natural' does not mean 'ok') and accepted the incredible gift of forgiveness and salvation by the grace of God, and then repented of their sinful nature will recognize that homosexuality - a sin - is just one of many sins that God utterly despises in our lives.
The worst sin would be, after having received the knowledge of God's word and His truth, to go on in acceptance of sin (perhaps in the name of 'tolerance') and by doing so we would be "denying the sovereign Lord who bought us" (2 Peter).
While we are never to tolerate or accept that which God sees as wrong and sinful - whether it be homosexuality, marital unfaithfulness, dishonesty, gossip, boastfulness, or evil thoughts against another - this does not mean that we are not to show love to those we believe are living in sin. Apart from Christ we are equally sinful. On our own strength we are equally sinful.
My roommate at my previous school identified herself as both Christian and practicing bisexual -- and she knew what my theological views on the subject were. And yet I am still able to call her a friend, and can only hope she thinks the same of me. While my theological outlook agrees with Dirk, I also want to stress Dr. Mullinax's major point that honest dialogue with those whose views are different can truly open doors (no pun intended).
While my views did not change (but were rather strenghtened) during the course of our friendship, the honesty which we both held as key in our relationship overcame her (all-too-commonly-held) view of theologically-conservative Christians as being homophobic and hateful to people like herself.
Perhaps what we most respected about each other was the mutual desire to see the other as an actual person and individual - with no 'more' or 'less' of a sinful nature than any other person. We were able to be frank with each other and respect our differences of opinion. I did not have to compromise Christ or His truth revealed in the Word when speaking to or around her. And (luckily) she never asked me to.
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