Matt Barber, CWA's policy director for cultural issues has posted an insightful essay, at Worldnetdaily.com, written by his brother Jared Barber regarding the homosexual issue and the Christian response. In it, Jared asserts:
"... Christians, as a whole, focus too much on the homosexual issue alone. They attack it solely, denounce it and live whichever way they please. Adultery, fornication, racism, pride, jealousy, selfish ambition, drunkenness – all of these immoral acts take to the background in view of homosexuality, and so we as Christians are set up as anti-gay instead of anti-immorality. We need to end our own hypocrisy, all of us, I as much as any, so that we can more blamelessly broach this subject and others."
To which Matt has written a profound response:
Incisive analysis, Jared. Nicely done. I think C.S. Lewis himself might have said so. The only sentiment with which I take issue is this: "Christians, as a whole, focus too much on the homosexual issue alone."
Here's why I disagree.
You're spot on when you say that we need to confront all forms of sin, call sin sin and repent of that sin. God hates hypocrisy, no doubt, and as you rightly observe, "We need to end our own hypocrisy, all of us. …" Furthermore, you're absolutely right when you say, "above all else, we must love." But as you essentially point out, this does not mean that we indulge sinful behavior and call it good. True love does not facilitate immorality, it takes it to task.
However, consider this: A particularly heavy focus on the sin of homosexuality by "Christians as a whole" is not at all gratuitous. There is such emphasis, not because we intentionally and specifically chose to target this particular sin, but rather, because strident moral relativists demand that, in contrast to the other sins you address, the sin of homosexuality not only be "tolerated," but celebrated. That's what the euphemistic slogan "celebrate diversity" supposes.
Sexual relativists are anything but relative. They are quite affirmative in principle. But the principles they foist demand comprehensive acceptance of homosexual behaviors – by force of law – through federal edicts such as "hate crimes" legislation and the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
Unlike the sin of homosexuality, the other sins you cite – the sins of adultery, fornication, racism, pride, jealousy, selfish ambition and drunkenness – do not have the benefit of a tremendously powerful and prosperous lobby that is blindly supported by people in positions of political influence, and other leftists in media and elsewhere who have been duped by the crafty and disingenuous rhetoric of "tolerance" and "diversity."
Proponents, practitioners and enablers of homosexual sin demand that we all renounce God's express condemnation of such conduct and embrace this spiritually and physically destructive behavior as virtuous – as a wholly equal, alternative sexual "orientation."...And so, fervent and relentless homosexual propaganda goose-steps along, trampling upon those who observe traditional notions of sexual morality. This sets homosexual sin worlds apart from the other sins you reference. Therefore, we Christians are left no choice but to assign homosexual sin significance commensurate with that which it demands.
Thus we find ourselves – back against the ropes – in a fight we did not pick, struggling in a culture war we did not ask for. It's a clash of worldviews in a zero-sum-game. Make no mistake; the sin of homosexuality is the bunker-buster bomb in this war against morality.
AMEN.
Please read the entire commentary.I'd also like to make an observation:
MOST Christians are NOT focusing on the homosexual issue. (at least publicly)
MOST pulpits are virtually silent on this issue, neither equipped nor equipping believers to stand.
Therefore:
MOST believers are silent in their public schools, work places or government, declining to either defend or even articulate the truth about this sin.
We must love and God and our fellow man enough to overcome our fear...I John 4:18
