The church is losing its prophetic voice against the surrounding culture. We are silent to the point where we are succumbed to the force of cultural agenda. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all” (Matt. 5:14-15).
One of the ways we hide our light under a basket is to make the notion and reality of sin disappear in our message. The language of sin is offensive. It’s judgmental. It is not welcome in our society. “Words such as disease, antisocial behavior, and lack of moral development had replaced sin as explanations for human behavior.”[1] The notion of sin in relation to God is taken away from public conversation. Instead, the concept of psychological and personal improvement in relation to oneself and one another dominates our common language.
Albert Mohler wrote:
This is an abdication of the gospel. Where sin is not faced as sin, grace cannot be grace. What need have men and women of atonement when they are told that their deepest problem is something less than what the Bible explicitly teachers? Weak teaching on sin leads to cheap grace, and neither leads to the gospel.
Scripture identifies sin as humanity’s willful revolt against God. It is rebellion and disobedience. Furthermore, it is “missing the mark” of faithfulness to God’s holy standard. It is the most fundamental human problem, and it is the reason we need a Savior. It is a revolt against God’s authority and an insult to God’s glory. It is humanity in moral revolt, usually disguised as personal autonomy.[2]
Gay marriage misses the mark of God’s holy standard. It is a willful revolt against God’s original design in creation. It’s an anti-creation practice. The Scripture names it SIN.
Jesus affirmed heterosexual relationship when he discussed divorce and marriage in Matthew 19 by quoting Genesis 1:27 and 2:24: “”They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ (19:4-5, NLT) Jesus affirmed the creation account. We affirm what Christ affirmed.
Lev. 18:22—“Do not practice homosexuality; it is a detestable sin.” (NLT)
Lev. 20:13—“The penalty for homosexual acts is death to both parties. They have committed a detestable act and are guilty of a capital offense.” (NLT)
Rom. 1:26-27—“That’s why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.” (NLT)
1 Cor. 6:9-10—“Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers—none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.” (NLT)
1 Tim. 1:9-11—“But they were not made for people who do what is right. They are for people who are disobedient and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who murder their father or mother or other people. These laws are for people who are sexually immoral, for homosexuals and slave traders, for liars and oath breakers, and for those who do anything else that contradicts the right teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.” (NLT)
No comments:
Post a Comment