* Religious attitudes are a major source of sexual prejudice. For LGBT people of color, many of whom are regular churchgoers, the conflict is acute. More than half of LGBT people of color interviewed feel treated like sinners by their ethnic and racial communities, and faith communities are among the places LGBT people of color feel least accepted;
via www.salon.com
It's a very interesting article, but this particular paragraph jumps out at me. To be perfectly frank, if unrepentant sinners are "treated like sinners by their... faith communities" (specifically, Christian faith communities), I'm surprised that they're so surprised!
Look, I understand that Christians still sin (hello! I look in the mirror every day!), and that some churches and denominations often pick the sin of homosexuality as a convenient target and seem to use it as the "unforgivable sin." I understand that, and I condemn it - because we are all still sinners, and even Christians stumble and fail in their walk with God every day.
But the point is that a Christian is to live a life of repentance. When we are confronted by God's Word with sin in our lives, we are to renounce that sin and turn away from it - but too often we're far more inclined to try and twist Scripture to make it say something it doesn't so that we can remain in our sin.
Frankly, that's hardly a godly and holy thing to do, folks! When you read the Bible at face value, it says that homosexuality (and stealing, and lust, and coveting, and bitterness, and laziness, and...) is a SIN. Period. And the Bible is quite clear on what we are supposed to do with people who claim to be Christians but who refuse to put away (or even TRY to put away) their sin:
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
It's a serious and solemn thing to have to do. And the goal of this excommunication is NOT for the "good" Christians to get all hoity-toity and I'm-so-much-better-than-you about it. No. The Christians who remain in the church are to pray diligently that the lost sheep will repent and return. Those who remain are to consider their own lives and strive to diligently follow their Savior. Those who haven't had to be cast out are to walk carefully and humbly, lest they, too, should fail in their witness for Christ.
So, if you're an LGBT person who is feeling condemned by your (hopefully) Bible-believing church, how about you take a look at God's Word with the rest of us sinners, and work with Him to change your life to reflect His holiness and righteousness? Because, frankly, the rest of us liars, cheaters, shirkers, fornicators, and coveters would like to help you conquer sin while you help us do the same.
Just sayin'.
Interesting. Perhaps the problem for homosexuals and other perverts is that other sinners don't ask that theirs receive public validation.
Good post, Kat.
Posted by: James Young | August 12, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Clearly, our values are shared among Jews, Christians, and many other religions. Aside from abortion, many activities considered sins are not necessarily prosecuted unless they negatively affect another person. One of the more frustrating issues with left-wing politics is that it ends up SUBSIDIZING things like abortion, out of wedlock birth, gay marriage, etc. Insult to injury, if you will.
Posted by: ron | August 12, 2009 at 01:13 PM
Thank you, Jim - but you're wrong; we DO ask for and receive public validation.
"Oh, well, his wife has been such a nag, it's really not surprising that he had an affair."
"Well, sure she's had three abortions. But you know, she just can't find a job, and welfare isn't enough if you have kids..."
"Oh, it's just a little white lie."
You see what I mean? ALL of "us sinners" like to excuse our own sin and point the finger at someone else. We ALL need to live lives of humble repentance and rely on the Holy Spirit to show us how He desires us to live.
Posted by: Kat | August 12, 2009 at 02:10 PM
That is true, Ron. Of course, since I'm a Christian myself, that's the angle I used ;-)
But, as I replied to Jim, in a very real sense, we are ALL in the same boat. As sinners, we ALL want our sin condoned or excused.
I'm hardly perfect (I'm still here on earth, aren't I?), but God has been gradually working on me to reveal a whole host of "acceptable sins" in my life. These sins do NOT glorify Him, and I need to root them out of my life, just as someone with a more "obvious" sin needs to do the same.
Posted by: Kat | August 12, 2009 at 02:16 PM
Hmmm...
"More than half of LGBT people of color interviewed feel treated like sinners by their ethnic and racial communities, and faith communities are among the places LGBT people of color feel least accepted;"
ONLY half? That's not so good. See, in my church, EVERYONE is treated as a sinner! Because as Kat mentioned, WE ARE.
Of course "acceptance" is a different angle. All people who repent of their sins are accepted. Those who openly refuse to repent of their sins are not welcome -- at Kat's Bible quote points out.
What I don't understand is why the so-called "LGBT" people want to be accepted in the church. If any club says, "these are our rules," but you don't want to follow them, why would you join?
Posted by: Ogre | August 12, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Well, you know, Ogre - sinful people can be rather ornery that way... ;-)
Posted by: Kat | August 12, 2009 at 04:48 PM
Excellent post. I don't know that I can add much to that!
Posted by: Man of the West | August 12, 2009 at 09:45 PM
I would suggest, dear Kat, that you're confusing rationalizations with validation (and I assume that you're speaking in the nonspecific "we"). One may rationalize their sins without asking that they be declared something other than sin. That is a ... perversion, if you will, peculiar to the radical homosexual lobby, and others on the far Left.
Posted by: James Young | August 12, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Thank you, my friend! ;-)
Posted by: Kat | August 13, 2009 at 03:30 AM
I see your point, Jim, but I think I would still contend that there is at least an element of wanting to make our sin something other than what it is. Trying to rationalize sin is a roundabout way of attempting to avoid confronting that it is clearly against God's will. I would submit that when God says, "That's SIN!" and we say, "Well, not really; look at all my reasons and excuses!" that we're definitely trying to re-label it. And, of course, we tend to think that if we can get a whole bunch of other people to jump on board with our excuses it will bear more influence against God's Word.
Now, of course, I would also contend that because the Christian has been given a new heart and spirit, that those are not the deepest desires of their hearts. Per Romans 7, when we do the thing we do not wish to do (i.e., sin) it is sin that dwells in our flesh that tempts us to it - but in our hearts we desire to serve God. It is a matter of putting our old, sinful self to death by the power of the Spirit, and it's not an easy thing. Although He who lives in us is greater than he who lives in the world, old habits and thoughts really do like to rise up and try to drag us away from obedience to God.
But as Paul says in Ro 7:21-25 -
The only cure *I* know for it is to cling to God's power and mercy, be diligent and prayerful students of the Word, and
Posted by: Kat | August 13, 2009 at 03:45 AM