 
 
PART FOUR OF EIGHT PARTSChristians who condemn some of "God's children," such as gays.By Thomas M. Parsons
|
God loves everybody, so why do some Christians condemn gays or people who have had abortions? Well, if we actually were condemning such people, we would be in trouble with God, since He has not given us the authority to condemn anyone. Only He can do that. More accurately, this objection should be stated in terms of excluding, or judging, rather than condemning. We don't condemn anyone. But God has revealed in His Word that homosexuality and the killing of unborn babies are both sins in His eyes. His Word teaches that. Genesis makes it clear that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexuality. (The Bible Condemns Homosexuality). Paul also states that homosexuality is "unnatural" and an offense to God." David, in one of his psalms, declared that God knew him when he was still in his mother's womb. God formed all his parts. David was a person before his birth. Because of these Biblical teachings, the Biblical Christian cannot accept homosexuality and abortion as anything but sin in God's eyes. And because the Bible makes clear the requirements for ministry (I Timothy and other passages), Biblical Christians must exclude practicing homosexuals and proponents for abortion from ministry. We cannot condemn them, however. That is God's place, not ours. We are to love those who have sinned against God, because, when the truth is stated, we also sinned against God. I find homosexuality repulsive and have no desire to participate in it, and I have never encouraged anyone to have an abortion. But I have sinned against God. That He forgave me reminds me He will forgive others. My place is to love and encourage any sinner to trust Christ for forgiveness and cleansing.
|
This is an eight-part series of articles. To be certain you read all eight parts, please click on the link that appears at the end of each article to take you to the next part. Or select from the links below. Part 1. Introduction to the problem. Part 2: What do we mean by the term 'Biblical Christianity?' Part 3: Arrogance of people who claim to speak for God Part 4. Christians condemn God's children, such as gays. Part 5. Christians believe God will send people to Hell. Part 6. Christians believe people as sinners need salvation. Part 7. Christians believe in the authority of the Bible. Part 8. The Christian response to these objections. If you are a Biblical Christian who condemns sinners whose sin you find especially repulsive, please keep in mind that in God's eyes your sin was just as repulsive to Him. You are wrong to condemn, because you are a sinner, too. If you are a Biblical Christian who recognizes that sin does stand between us and God, and that sin not repented of can limit opportunities for ministry, and you in humility proclaim God's Word, then you are right. Keep trusting Him and in humility stand for His Word. It is also important to remember that physical birth makes no one a child of God. We are not all God's children. Jesus said it was necessary to be born again, to experience a spiritual birth as well as a physical birth in order to be a child of God. This is what He explained to Nicodemus. On the authority of Jesus we can say that the only way to become a child of God is to have a faith relationship with God's Son, Jesus Christ. Without that, we are not God's children. "I am the way, the truth and the life," Jesus said. "No man comes to the Father except through Me." |
|
| Copyright © 2009, Thomas M. Parsons, All Rights Reserved. - 26 |
