November 2, 2008 Jon Mair

1. Confessions of a Sinful Church November 2, 2008 Jon Mair

2. Mistreatment • Considering homosexuality worse than other sins • Claiming there is no salvation for homosexuals • Ignoring the needs & suffering of AIDS patients especially when they are homosexual • Denying homosexuals basic human rights • Condoning the use of gay-bashing jokes

3. Areas of Apology • Insensitivity in not treating homosexuals as people • Our lack of response to the AIDS crisis • Offering a false gospel which affirms homosexual activity

4. Questions to Ponder • What do you think caused your heterosexuality? • When and how did you decide you were heterosexual? • Is it possible that heterosexuality is a phase you will grow out of? • To whom have you disclosed your heterosexuality? How did they react? • Heterosexuality isn’t offensive as long as you leave others alone. Why, however, do so many heterosexuals try to seduce others into their orientation? • Many child molesters are heterosexuals. Do you consider it safe to expose your children to heterosexuals? Heterosexual teachers particularly? • Why are heterosexuals so blatant, always making a spectacle of their heterosexuality? Why can’t they just be who they are and not flaunt their sexuality by kissing in public, wearing wedding rings, and so on? • Given the problems heterosexuals face, would you want your children to be heterosexual? Would you consider reparative therapy to try to change them? Chad Thompson, Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach (Brazos Press, Grand Rapids, MI), 50-51.

5. Romans 1:16-2:11 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

6. Romans 1:16-2:11 20 Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; 21 for though they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools; 23 and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

7. Romans 1:16-2:11 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.

8. Romans 1:16-2:11 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done. 29 They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 They know God’s decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die—yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.

9. Romans 1:16-2:11 2 Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. 2 You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” 3 Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

10. Romans 1:16-2:11 5 But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: 7 to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honour and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

11. Biblical View • We are all responsible for our sinful behaviour • Judging others does not remove our own sin • God has revealed Himself to us through all of creation • We are without excuse when we deny God

12. Other Biblical Passages • Genesis 9:20-27 – Ham and Noah • Genesis 19:4-11 – Sodom and Gomorrah • Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13 – Levitical Laws • Judges 19:22-25 – Levite and his concubine • 1 Samuel 20:41 & 2 Samuel 1:26 – David & Jonathan • 1 Corinthians 6:9 & 1 Timothy 1:10 – Vice Lists

13. Jesus & Homosexuality • Jesus routinely broke religious and cultural boundaries. • Jesus began His interaction with sinners by loving them first. • Jesus physically touched people. • Jesus offered people something better than their sin. Mike Goeke“First Things First” in God’s Grace and the Homosexual Next Door edited by Alan Chambers (Harvest House Publishers: Eugene, OR) 110-111.

14. Pro-Gay Theology Discuss basic Christianity with a member of the gay Christian movement and you will be in agreement on many points: the Godhead, the work of Christ, the inerrancy of the Bible, the final judgment, and so forth. This is one reason the pro-gay theology is so seductive. Like many errors, it contains major portions of truth. Joe Dallas, The Gay Gospel?: How Pro-Gay Advocates Misread the Bible. (Harvest House Publishers: Eugene, OR), 102.

15. Genetic Link? • Three Major Scientific Studies • Simon LeVay – Hypothalamus • J. Michael Bailey and Richard Pillard – Twins Study • Dean Hamer – Xq28 marker on the X chromosome • No definitive proof of genetics was found in any of these studies • Genetics does not trump God’s intention for human sexuality

16. Psychology’s View • American Psychological Association (APA) • Removal of homosexuality as a disorder in 1973 from the DSM III • Disagreement surrounding the ability to treat homosexuality • Psychology does not dictate Christian morality

17. Environmental Factors • The role of the father or male substitute • The role of the mother • Peer bonding with the same gender • Personality characteristics

18. Is Change Possible? • Change is possible and it is not harmful to those seeking change • Evidenced by Jones’ & Yarhouse’s Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change • Dr. Robert Spitzer of the APA also found evidence of change in same gender attracted people • Biblical Evidence? • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

19. AIDS • AIDS is not God’s judgment against homosexuals • Many people suffer alone • The church is missing an opportunity to share God’s love

20. How Do We Respond? • Relationally • Trust the Holy Spirit to do His work • Do not demand/expect change to occur • Create a safe place for people • With Prayer • Be vulnerable • Seek education • Speaking Truth in Love