February 05, 2008 Romans 1:25

02/05/2008

Romans 1:25 - 29 (HCSB)

²⁵They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural. ²⁷The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty for their perversion.

²⁸And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. ²⁹They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, disputes, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,

Romans 1:32 (HCSB)

³²Although they know full well God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

There is a church in Dallas that claims to be the largest gay/lesbian Christian church in the nation. The Church is located in a part of town that has long been associated with sexual immorality. The Episcopalian church has condoned the ordination of openly gay/lesbian clergy – as have many other denominations. Our society, which used to be appalled at the idea of open homosexuality, now treats it as something noble. Companies are extending spousal privileges to “domestic partners.” Insurance companies are covering homosexual partners as married members. Theme parks feature gay/lesbian days, television shows glorify the homosexual lifestyle and ridicule those who find it distasteful.

It is now considered socially unacceptable to speak against homosexuality. Those churches that accept homosexuality as a valid lifestyle wash over the fact that Romans chapter 1 is unmistakable in the fact that this is a sin.

Let me put this in perspective. Do you think any church would accept a pastor who was openly pedophile? Of course not. Why, because pedophilia is clearly a sin against God and children. Why then, do churches accept pastors that are openly gay?

It is because they have bowed to the social pressure of the ungodly. What a shame. Even the churches cannot stand up to the ungodly.

Now let me draw a distinction between accepting a homosexual as a person worthy of God’s grace and our love, and accepting homosexuality as a valid lifestyle for our clergy. As the saying goes: “love the sinner, hate the sin.” Just as we would accept an alcoholic, pedophile, murderer, or other person as a sinner worthy of forgiveness, we should also accept homosexuals. But we should never excuse the sin. Everyone, whether the worst serial murderer or a child who has lied about breaking a vase is guilty of sin and in need of forgiveness. Love the sinner, hate the sin. God calls us to love everyone. When they repent (turn from) their sin and seek forgiveness, then it is gone and they become a new person.

We should never forget that sin is detestable to God. Pastors and clergy are to be examples beyond reproach to the body of believers. If the clergy cannot be an example then the flock has nothing to strive for in proper behavior and attitude.

Finally, what happens to people who rationalize away sin rather than repent? Romans is also clear that those who rationalize away sin, are given up to depravity – even those who claim to be Christian. They become so depraved that not only do they continue in their sin, they applaud others who do.

Is this not what has happened in our world?

I submit that when we allow one sin to become not only acceptable but honorable, that we have stepped onto the slippery slope of moral depravity as a society. I submit that soon, pedophilia will become more and more acceptable. Case in point: several years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that “virtual child pörnögraphy”* was permissible because it was not an actual child being exploited. What’s next?

Guard your life from all forms of sin. Never rationalize away sin. God is clear in what He cannot tolerate and even if we rationalize away even one tiny sin, we build a barrier between us and God that He will not cross. We must acknowledge what is sin, confess it, repent, and seek forgiveness.

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