Not long ago, something of a brouhaha erupted through social media regarding the stars of a popular television show on HGTV called “Fixer Upper.” The husband and wife team who star on the show, Chip and Joanna Gaines, were outed by a popular Internet site as – wait for it – attenders of a Christian church that holds to orthodox Christian teachings on homosexuality. Their pastor has preached that homosexuality is a sin, a lifestyle choice, and that it can be overcome. These are not recent statements from the pastor, but they are indeed the present doctrinal stance of the pastor and the church that the family attends. As you may have heard, such beliefs are unacceptable by the cultural standard-bearers today, so anyone who holds to them must be identified, stripped of any cultural influence or platform, and reeducated to the attitude du jour. Standing firm for one’s convictions today is only acceptable if your convictions match the shifting sands of the prevailing culture.
Our surrounding culture has made it clear that there are only two possible choices on this issue: celebrate the homosexual lifestyle (as opposed to tolerating or acknowledging its existence) or anything other position, which would be deemed as wrong. There have been no shortage of “churches” seeking a “third way,” where people are free to hold whatever position they want so long as they do not insist others believe that way, but the reality is that such a position is untenable. The question of human sexuality and gender reaches back all the way to Creation, where God instituted marriage and the family, leaving us with no wiggle room in this debate – if we are committed to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. Society tells us that people are born this way (despite a lack of scientific evidence identifying any genetic link) and that even if they were not, we have no right to tell someone who they can or cannot love (even though we do this all the time: pedophilia, incest, polygamy, and so forth), yet Scripture says something very different (cf. Rom. 1:26-27; Leviticus 18:22; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Tim. 1:8-11; Matt. 10:3-6).
I’ve said that the time is coming when every single believer and every single church will be forced to publicly declare where they are on this issue. For now, this seems to be directed towards those who have a very public profession or ministry (such as the Gaines), but we have also seen examples of those who are far from the public eye being forced to give up their livelihoods based on their answer. For now, churches our size have not been specifically targeted, but that needs to be followed by yet. We, as a church, have been very clear where we stand on this issue, with the full backing of both the congregation as well as the Elders, and the day will come – and it is approaching all the more quickly – when we will be given the option to either change our stance or suffer some sort of consequence (probably something along the lines of the loss of our tax-exempt status, but possibly even the confiscation of our property). When that day comes, brothers and sisters, know that the elders will stand firmly on the authority of Scripture, citing Acts 4:19-20.
But you must also know that when that day comes, it will not only be the church corporately that will have to make a public declaration, it will be the individual members as well who will be forced to do so. If you haven’t already, consider the costs of your answer, especially in the light of eternity. Just something to think about…
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