There’s been some backlash in the face of recent comments made by Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty Dad in a GQ article, regarding homosexuality. Although I was outraged that he was suspended for speaking Biblical truth, after further research, I have to say he didn’t do Christians any favors. Yes, he spoke Biblical truth, but he sprinkled it with enough crudeness and personal bias that the truth got lost somewhere in the mix. He later backpedaled, but the damage had already been done.
This morning on the news, response to Phil Robertson’s comments were aired. One young gay gentleman said something to the effect that the world is different than when the Bible was written and it’s time those of us who believe it as truth realize this and change our focus accordingly. Yes, Phil Robertson made Christians look like a bunch of intolerant, gay-bashing (in the name of Jesus, of course) Bible thumpers, but regardless, God, thereby His teachings, are as relevant today as ever.
Psalm 102:25-27 says “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will remain; they will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe and they will pass away, but You are the same, and Your years have no end.”
We are so surrounded by sin—in thought, mind and action—that we become desensitized to it. And those of us that attend church and take part in regular Bible study are just as guilty as the unsaved. Just take a look at the divisiveness that occurs in most churches. I know mine has had its challenges. But that doesn’t make it right, nor does it change how God will judge it. The Corinthians struggled much like we do today, but Paul didn’t pull any punches in his letter to them.
According to www.gotquestions.org, “As the Bible’s story of God’s redemptive plan for humanity unfolds, many different characters are vividly described. In those descriptions, the Bible provides a great deal of information about human behavior and tendencies. Our own day-to-day experience shows us that this information is more accurate and descriptive of the human condition than any psychology textbook.”
We are here to spread the truth of God’s love and Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross. But how we spread that truth is imperative to the work God calls us to. It’s through relationship, which is how God relates to us through Christ, that we will draw attention to the gospel. It’s in being honest about our own struggles with sin, and how we’re being transformed through the Holy Spirit, that will touch the hearts of unbelievers. We are called to speak truth, but it always needs to be filtered through the love of Christ.
This being said, I will be the first to admit that I don’t know how to speak to homosexuality. There is such a fine line between truth and judgment, which we are not called to make, in regard to this particular sin. Some say homosexuals are born gay, but this confounds me. Why would a loving God (and I know He’s loving) put that sin on people before they’re even born? Some say that it’s life experience that changes sexual orientation—nature versus nurture. This doesn’t necessarily hold up under scrutiny, either.
But part of our Christian walk is to trust in the sovereignty of God, not in the wisdom of man. There will always be circumstances in this world that we cannot understand—and that’s as it should be. Because if nothing confounded us, we’d believe we’re on par with God.
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“But part of our Christian walk is to trust in the sovereignty of God, not in the wisdom of man. There will always be circumstances in this world that we cannot understand—and that’s as it should be. Because if nothing confounded us, we’d believe we’re on par with God.”
This is profound, I wish more Christians would remember this. I don’t understand why there are homosexuals, but Jesus called us to love all people, let God sort out what he will.