Editor's note: "Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson's recent suspension from A&E for his comments about homosexual practice threw Christianity into the media spotlight. In Part 1, we've explored what happened and the Christian responses. The following is the biblical look at the issue:
In light of this controversy, what should a Christian's stance be on the issue of homosexual practice? We must uphold the word of God as righteous, good, and true. We must also express His heart to woo people unto Christ through the message and lens of the Gospel.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God - there is no one righteous, not even one (see Romans 3:23 and Romans 3:10). A Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA) resource reminds Christians that "[Homosexual behavior] is not to be singled out as a ‘special sin,' especially offensive to God beyond any other sin. God deals with all sin through the cross. On the other hand, however, homosexual behavior should not be singled out for special leniency either. It is only as we are willing to confess our sin that God is able to deal with it.'"
Romans 6:23 says that "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." The Bible clearly states that homosexual practice is sinful (see Romans 1:24-27, 1 Timothy 1:10-11, Genesis 18-19, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) - but is it any more sinful than getting drunk? Or being jealous over what someone else has? Should a heterosexual having pre-marital sex or an extra-marital affair be considered less sinful? No - these are all grievous sins, and anyone who partakes in these and any other offense against a good and just God deserves condemnation. The good news is that this is exactly why Jesus came: to seek and to save the lost (see Luke 19:10) - those in rebellion to His commands - and to make a bridge back to God which those who come to the end of themselves can take.
You and I will be held accountable for whether or not we have trusted in Christ for salvation or have chosen to bear the wrath of God on our own. Our sin was paid for by God Himself, when Jesus was nailed to the cross at Calvary; we are given the opportunity to receive this grace when we humble ourselves before Him, repent of our sin, and believe on Christ for salvation. Those who admit to their need for God's forgiveness and Jesus' atoning death on the cross in our place will have eternal, joyful life with Him.
Followers of Christ must be willing to submit to God's authority as we turn from our sin and place our trust in Him for our salvation. Though we won't ever be perfectly obedient, we will strive to honor the Lord - Whose will is revealed in the Bible - and we will repent and try again when we fail. The Holy Spirit, Who is given to those who are born again, will sanctify the children of God so that we are more and more submitted to His word. We will mourn over the sin that we see in ourselves as we grow in Christ.
As Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14:
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
