Making Wise Choices

tharderdesign: February 2012

Over twenty five years ago, I heard Kay Arthur (Precept Ministries) describe what she thought would be the most perilous battle the church would fight – and it was not against the -isms that threatened us in the 20th century.  The antagonist she declared would be from within the homosexual community. I thought she was overreacting. But she had been in a northwestern state recently (1989-90) and had witnessed how heated local political campaign that ignited a debate over the rights of the homosexual community and the candidate who was a Christian.

 Was she overreacting or giving us an ample warning?

She might have been prescient. 

Pressure from the entertainment industry grows. Just recently, on a favorite TV show, Blue Bloods, I heard Tom Selleck’s character, Frank Reagan said what many Americans believe: "I do believe the [Catholic] Church is backwards on [gay marriage]. And of all the stands to hold onto. In the midst of the scandals of the past decade." 

A growing number of people outside the Catholic Church, and in other churches think so too. The social and political pressure on the church to embrace and sanction alternative sexual practices is mounting – all the best, most admirable people seem to have joined the chorus of being open-minded -- people do not want to be condemned for what they say they cannot help, their sexual identity.

Now, people with political power also have acted. The Houston Chronicle reported on October 14, 2014:

City attorneys issued subpoenas last month as part of the case's discovery phase, seeking, among other communications, "all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO, the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession." City Subpoenas Sermons in Civil Rights Case

As the culture tries to force acceptance or even approval of homosexual practices, what is a wise and workable response from Christians who disagree?

1.     We can exercise our political freedoms guaranteed by the US Constitution, First Amendment.

2.     We can acquiesce, albeit sullenly.

3.     We can respect those who advocate a right to do as they please, and pray fervently and respectfully win them over.  

But, how do I navigate the choppy waters, which Kay Arthur anticipated?

Remember God didn’t die to leave me in charge – He let me live, to love and serve Him, and those He puts in my path. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

My behaving the way God commands in the multicultural world the church now serves, may make an appealing a defense of the Gospel to one who is perishing. The cup of cold water everybody needs to hear is what Tim Keller declared: “sin doesn’t send you to Hell.  What earns that one-way ticket after this life is the sin under the sin; the sin that says I can be my own God.”  (Tim Keller on How to Treat Homosexuals) 

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