Posted by GCA student "C.S."
President
Obama has officially declared that his position of homosexual rights has
“evolved” to the point that he now believes homosexual couples should have the
right to marry. This has put the American church in a unique situation. How
should the church respond? Should we make signs that read along the lines of
“Pray Away the Gay” or “God Created Adam and Eve, not Steve” and protest
outside the White House and Capitol Building? Should we obey the call for
tolerance from this culture and just let them be “happy?” Should our pulpits be
silent on the issue? Should they only preach God’s love for homosexuals? God
forbid. In all four possibilities, Christ would not be glorified and the church
would not be preparing the world for His soon-coming return. So, what do we do?
First,
we must speak out in defense of the Bible’s position on homosexuality. To
summarize our “Response to Homosexuality and Gay Adoption,” the Bible is clear
that homosexuality is a sin. It does this by directly addressing it in 1
Corinthians 6 and Romans 1. It also does this by showing God’s plan for the
family before sin entered into the world. In Genesis, God created man and woman
to work the garden and multiply to fill the earth. There is no doubt about the clarity
of Scripture regarding homosexual sin. We, the bride of Christ, must defend the
truth He has revealed to us in Scripture. We must be willing to step into
academia and defend the logic of God. Silence can no longer be our response.
Second,
we must reach out to homosexuals with the Gospel of Christ. We have the
life-changing news that Jesus has come to this world to redeem us from our sin!
We cannot afford to be labeled as homophobic when we are called to be salt and
light. Christ has called us to be friends to homosexuals. We cannot condone
their sin, but we must show them the love of Christ. Do not be quick to forget
about our state before Christ changed us. We were enemies of the cross who were
slaves to sin. We were hopeless. The same Jesus that died for us, died for them
as well. Let us reach out to the homosexual community like never before in the
history of the church!
Third,
we must honor and respect President Obama. Although, as the church, we should
not agree with his position, we cannot think of him in hate or wish terrible
things upon him. Romans 13:1 reads, “Let every person be subject to the
governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that
exist have been instituted by God.” Scripture makes it clear that God has
placed President Obama in authority. Romans 13 continues to say that whoever
rebels against authorities rebels against what God has instituted and is
bringing judgment on himself. We respond to the President the same way we do
homosexuals- with love. We are called to obey the government as long as it is
not forcing us to do something that is against God’s commands. Can we show our
disapproval of the President’s decision? Of course we can and should, but our
response must be seasoned with the love of Christ.
President Obama clearly does
not hold the conservative views of an orthodox Christian, and he has done many
things that hinder the church. Why is this? I believe Romans 13:3-4 holds that
answer. “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you
have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will
receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do
wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant
of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” As a nation,
we have clearly done wrong in the eyes of God. We watch millions of lives be
murdered year after year in the horrid act of abortion. We watch doctors end
the lives of our elderly and helpless with an injection. We silently watch men
take advantage of women in ways unthinkable through sex trade. We buy luxurious
items just to play with while millions of people die of starvation and unclean
drinking water around the world. Need I go any further? President Obama is
being sovereignly used by God to give us as a people what we deserve. He is
clearly one of God’s avengers who carry out His wrath.
The American church must
lead our nation to fall to her knees in desperate repentance to the holy God if
we want this judgment to end. We must have a voice and it must be loud. We must
have hands that serve the oppressed and helpless. We must have feet that run to
the lost with the Gospel. We must teach children to seek God instead of the
American dream. We must lead in the repentance of our dear country. President
Obama is leading our country farther away from biblical principles, and it
might just be our fault.
Although
our situation might seem hopeless, we know God hears our prayers. Our hope must
be in Christ and Christ alone. He can heal our nation. As we speak up about the
Bible’s stance on homosexuality, share the Gospel with homosexuals, respect our
President, and repent of our sin, God will be faithful to us. He will not
forsake His church in America. We must draw near unto God, and He will draw
near unto us. Church, let us make a difference. Church, let us respond
powerfully in love! Praise be to God for preserving this nation thus far, and
may He continue to do so with His providential power.
