I just got out of my Bible class, and I am less than pleased with a lot of the other students in there. We are doing our closing unit on morals and ethics, and have been discussing grace and forgiveness. In the video series we have been looking at, the man, Philip Yancy, talks about a friend of his who, after 35 years, came out of the closet and admitted to being a homosexual. He is, despite that, and Evangelical Christian, and is shunned by both other homosexuals and other Evangelicals because of it.
After watching the movie, we entered into a class discussion about homosexuality, and how we, as Christians, should address it, and act around people who are homosexuals. The very first point that was raised waas that a person cannot be gay and a Christian. That is exactly the mentality that is giving Christians a bad name in today's society!
I made a few points:
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[*]Every sin is the same in the eyes of God. Me telling a white lie, and my neighbour endulging in homosexual acts are the same to him.
[*]With the way much of the world still looks at homosexuality, very few people would choose to live their lives under such persecution. Yes, it is becoming more and more acceptable, but there is still a very negative outlook on homosexuality by a lot of people.
[*]There is some studies that hint at a difference in brain functions of heterosexuals as compared to homosexuals (however newer studies have shown that there is no evidence that the difference in chemical and hormone levels in the brain come before the homosexual activity. These new studies suggest that, perhaps, the differences in levels come as a result of such activity).
[*]Christians are called to love people, despite their sin. Too often we condemn a person outright because of their sin, or look down at them because of it. However, like the story in the Bible (Whoever is without sin, cast the first stone), none of us are blameless, and we need to look at ourselves before we start condemning others.
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This got me a lot of dirty looks, and people in my class actually, outright, said I was stupid. More than ever I am beginning to see why the rest of the world looks at Christians the way they do. Even I am disgusted with the actions and thoughts of people in my school. We talk about love, forgiveness, grace and acceptance, but all we give is hatred and condemnation. We tell the woman who had an abortion she is a murderer, the divorcee that they are no better than an adulterer, and the homosexual that he is an adomination. What is wrong with this picture?
Anyone reading this, Christians and non-Christians alike, we need to start living our lives with the idea in our minds that we will be forgiven the same as we forgive others. How can we expect grace and forgiveness if we do not give it? Treat others as you want to be treated (and to the other believers reading this, treat others as if they are Christ).
