Why Are Christians Apologizing For The Truth?
So there's this article out about Christians going to a gay pride parade and holding up signs saying they are sorry for how they treated the LGBTQ-community.
It's one thing to apologize for making anyone feel unloved or unforgivable ... but it's another thing to apologize for sharing the truth. And that's what this "apology" sounds like. I think that it's not apologizing for mistreating LGBTQ-people; it's apologizing for the Bible. It's watering down the message of the Gospel to make other people feel good about their sins. It's denying our need to repent and seek righteousness.
It's denying God to please man.
Should we really be softening the Gospel so that it doesn't offend people in sin when the Gospel is meant to offend people in sin? When it's meant to cause people to reevaluate the way they are living and to change what's wrong so that they can get right with the Lord? When it's meant to bring eternal life to those who are perishing?
Yes, God loves sinners. All sinners. Of all kinds. But He does not go soft on sin.
Our sin cost Jesus His life!
Our sin is what He came here to redeem us from!
He did not come here to make us comfortable about our sin. He came to save us from our sin.
And this "apology" is meant to make the LGBTQ-people feel good about their lifestyles. But it doesn't bring them truth; it brings them falsehood which will lead to death.
How can that be "Christian"?
Some points to consider about this article:
1. Of course people "absolutely loved" the apology. Everyone loves it when a "Christian" tells them what they want to hear, when a so-called Christian says, "Don't worry. God loves you just the way you are. No need to change. The Bible doesn't say anything against how you are living." This will make any "Christian" popular with society.
But this isn't progress; it's compromising the Truth.
As a Christian ... if everyone feels good about everything you say or do, then you are probably doing it wrong! Christians offend those entrenched in sin because the Truth offends those entrenched in sin.
2. We Christians can apologize for the wrong and harsh ways we've treated gay people over the years - making them feel like God could never love them or forgive them, making them feel like they are nothing more than their sinful lifestyle, for preaching at them instead of talking with them. But we cannot apologize for the Bible that condemns sin and that warns of judgment for continuing to live in sin.
3. I, too, have studied the Bible. Thoroughly. For decades now. And nowhere in the Bible does it show any kind of positive view of or acceptance of homosexuality. It's always spoken of in a negative way. In a way that shows that God condemns homosexual behavior and will not tolerate it.
Yes, forgiveness is available for the homosexual, like it is for anyone, but it is incredibly irresponsible (dare I say "wicked"?) for any Christian to misrepresent the Bible just to make people feel good. You are making them feel good on their journey to hell! Shame on you! And you dare to call yourselves "Christian"!
4. The pastor in this article says that nowhere in the Bible does God discriminate against people based on gender. He's right in this. But ... this apology isn't about gender, about men or women. It's about lifestyle, about sexual behavior. This isn't an issue of gender. This pastor is stating a truth (God's view of gender) and then attaching that truth to an unrelated issue (God's view of sexual behavior) to confuse people and to mislead people. Yes, God didn't discriminate against people because of gender ... but He does have an awful lot to say about sin.
5. This pastor hopes that other Christians will not use the Bible to condemn the LGBTQ-community. What exactly is he saying here? He's saying to put God's Word aside in order to make people feel better about themselves.
Of course, the Bible shouldn't be used to destroy anyone. But it should be used to spread God's Truth, to help others find salvation and eternal life in Jesus.
But here's this "pastor" - this "Christian" - saying that Christians shouldn't offend people with the Truth of the Bible. That we should put people's feelings over God's Truth. That we should cut out any parts that offend others, that make them feel bad about their lifestyle, or that talk about their sins, their need for repentance, and the need to change their ways.
This article and that pastor's stance perfectly illustrate this verse: "For a time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 2:3-4)
6. This pastor also says that he hopes that more Christians will treat the LGBTQ-community the way Jesus would.
Do you know what I think Jesus would say to the LGBTQ-community? I think He would let them know how much He loved them, that He came and died so that they could live. He would extend forgiveness to them.
But ... unlike what this pastor is trying to do ... He would not make them feel okay with their sin. Instead, He would warn them about where they would end up if they continued to rebel against His Truth.
And then ultimately, He would leave the choice up to them: repent and find eternal life in Him ... or reject Him and continue in their own ways which lead to death.
Jesus wouldn't say, "Whatever you want is fine with Me because I just want you to be happy."
He would say what He says to all of us ... "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8)
7. And the author of this article says that this is an example of the church fulfilling its mission tenfold. Can I just ask ... is this author a Christian who understands what a Christian's mission is?
I think not! Because the mission of a Christian is to share the truth of the Gospel with others, to help them find eternal life in Jesus. Not to make them feel warm and cozy about their sin and their rebellion against God.
This article is so wrong for so many reasons.
Jesus doesn't condemn individual people, but He does condemn sin and the sinful lifestyles of certain groups of people. He offers every person grace and forgiveness, like He did to the adulterous woman, but He requires that we repent and turn from our sinful ways.
And do not be deceived ... While Jesus came to save people and not to condemn people, we condemn ourselves to eternal damnation if we choose to cling to our sin instead of turning to Him, if we reject the forgiveness and salvation that He offers, if we choose to live our way instead of His way.
Jesus says ... "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:24)
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:18)
"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done... Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:28,32)
"but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:14-15)
"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." (Romans 2:7-8)
That is the Gospel Truth, contrary to what that "pastor" says.
[And just so you know, Christians don't - shouldn't - just go around pointing out sins in other people. We also address our own sins. And this is something we should do first, before being concerned with anyone else's sins. If we are doing it right, we are always seeking to be more like Jesus, to follow His ways and submit our lives to Him, to right the wrongs in our lives, and to humble ourselves before Him. Christians are not perfect; we are just admit that we aren't perfect. And we ask forgiveness for our sins and try to grow to be more and more like the Lord.
Yes, I admit that there are many Christians who are more than happy to point fingers at others, who consider themselves better than other sinners out there. And that is wrong! That is what many people find repulsive, and it turns people off to the Gospel. And for that, I apologize on behalf of the believers who haven't matured enough to realize that we are all on the same level ground at the foot of the Cross and that we all need forgiveness for our broken conditions. No one person is better than another or more loved by Jesus than another. He died for all of us, for anyone who would reach out and grab ahold of the salvation He offers us.
But we have to accept it! It isn't about deserving God's love or mercy or grace or forgiveness or eternal life or whatever. It's simply about accepting it. And it's available for all people. Those of us who are believers have already grabbed ahold of it. And we are trying, in our imperfect ways, to help others grab ahold of it too. Our goal is not to shame others, but to save others - so that they might experience the healing and hope and eternal life that we have. Sorry if it doesn't always seem like it. We are human and we do things wrong sometimes.]
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:16-18)
"Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." (John 3:19-20)
"No one who lives in him will keep on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." (1 John 3:6)
It's one thing to apologize for making anyone feel unloved or unforgivable ... but it's another thing to apologize for sharing the truth. And that's what this "apology" sounds like. I think that it's not apologizing for mistreating LGBTQ-people; it's apologizing for the Bible. It's watering down the message of the Gospel to make other people feel good about their sins. It's denying our need to repent and seek righteousness.
It's denying God to please man.
Should we really be softening the Gospel so that it doesn't offend people in sin when the Gospel is meant to offend people in sin? When it's meant to cause people to reevaluate the way they are living and to change what's wrong so that they can get right with the Lord? When it's meant to bring eternal life to those who are perishing?
Yes, God loves sinners. All sinners. Of all kinds. But He does not go soft on sin.
Our sin cost Jesus His life!
Our sin is what He came here to redeem us from!
He did not come here to make us comfortable about our sin. He came to save us from our sin.
And this "apology" is meant to make the LGBTQ-people feel good about their lifestyles. But it doesn't bring them truth; it brings them falsehood which will lead to death.
How can that be "Christian"?
Some points to consider about this article:
1. Of course people "absolutely loved" the apology. Everyone loves it when a "Christian" tells them what they want to hear, when a so-called Christian says, "Don't worry. God loves you just the way you are. No need to change. The Bible doesn't say anything against how you are living." This will make any "Christian" popular with society.
But this isn't progress; it's compromising the Truth.
As a Christian ... if everyone feels good about everything you say or do, then you are probably doing it wrong! Christians offend those entrenched in sin because the Truth offends those entrenched in sin.
2. We Christians can apologize for the wrong and harsh ways we've treated gay people over the years - making them feel like God could never love them or forgive them, making them feel like they are nothing more than their sinful lifestyle, for preaching at them instead of talking with them. But we cannot apologize for the Bible that condemns sin and that warns of judgment for continuing to live in sin.
3. I, too, have studied the Bible. Thoroughly. For decades now. And nowhere in the Bible does it show any kind of positive view of or acceptance of homosexuality. It's always spoken of in a negative way. In a way that shows that God condemns homosexual behavior and will not tolerate it.
Yes, forgiveness is available for the homosexual, like it is for anyone, but it is incredibly irresponsible (dare I say "wicked"?) for any Christian to misrepresent the Bible just to make people feel good. You are making them feel good on their journey to hell! Shame on you! And you dare to call yourselves "Christian"!
4. The pastor in this article says that nowhere in the Bible does God discriminate against people based on gender. He's right in this. But ... this apology isn't about gender, about men or women. It's about lifestyle, about sexual behavior. This isn't an issue of gender. This pastor is stating a truth (God's view of gender) and then attaching that truth to an unrelated issue (God's view of sexual behavior) to confuse people and to mislead people. Yes, God didn't discriminate against people because of gender ... but He does have an awful lot to say about sin.
5. This pastor hopes that other Christians will not use the Bible to condemn the LGBTQ-community. What exactly is he saying here? He's saying to put God's Word aside in order to make people feel better about themselves.
Of course, the Bible shouldn't be used to destroy anyone. But it should be used to spread God's Truth, to help others find salvation and eternal life in Jesus.
But here's this "pastor" - this "Christian" - saying that Christians shouldn't offend people with the Truth of the Bible. That we should put people's feelings over God's Truth. That we should cut out any parts that offend others, that make them feel bad about their lifestyle, or that talk about their sins, their need for repentance, and the need to change their ways.
This article and that pastor's stance perfectly illustrate this verse: "For a time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 2:3-4)
6. This pastor also says that he hopes that more Christians will treat the LGBTQ-community the way Jesus would.
Do you know what I think Jesus would say to the LGBTQ-community? I think He would let them know how much He loved them, that He came and died so that they could live. He would extend forgiveness to them.
But ... unlike what this pastor is trying to do ... He would not make them feel okay with their sin. Instead, He would warn them about where they would end up if they continued to rebel against His Truth.
And then ultimately, He would leave the choice up to them: repent and find eternal life in Him ... or reject Him and continue in their own ways which lead to death.
Jesus wouldn't say, "Whatever you want is fine with Me because I just want you to be happy."
He would say what He says to all of us ... "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8)
7. And the author of this article says that this is an example of the church fulfilling its mission tenfold. Can I just ask ... is this author a Christian who understands what a Christian's mission is?
I think not! Because the mission of a Christian is to share the truth of the Gospel with others, to help them find eternal life in Jesus. Not to make them feel warm and cozy about their sin and their rebellion against God.
This article is so wrong for so many reasons.
Jesus doesn't condemn individual people, but He does condemn sin and the sinful lifestyles of certain groups of people. He offers every person grace and forgiveness, like He did to the adulterous woman, but He requires that we repent and turn from our sinful ways.
And do not be deceived ... While Jesus came to save people and not to condemn people, we condemn ourselves to eternal damnation if we choose to cling to our sin instead of turning to Him, if we reject the forgiveness and salvation that He offers, if we choose to live our way instead of His way.
Jesus says ... "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:24)
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:18)
"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done... Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:28,32)
"but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:14-15)
"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." (Romans 2:7-8)
That is the Gospel Truth, contrary to what that "pastor" says.
[And just so you know, Christians don't - shouldn't - just go around pointing out sins in other people. We also address our own sins. And this is something we should do first, before being concerned with anyone else's sins. If we are doing it right, we are always seeking to be more like Jesus, to follow His ways and submit our lives to Him, to right the wrongs in our lives, and to humble ourselves before Him. Christians are not perfect; we are just admit that we aren't perfect. And we ask forgiveness for our sins and try to grow to be more and more like the Lord.
Yes, I admit that there are many Christians who are more than happy to point fingers at others, who consider themselves better than other sinners out there. And that is wrong! That is what many people find repulsive, and it turns people off to the Gospel. And for that, I apologize on behalf of the believers who haven't matured enough to realize that we are all on the same level ground at the foot of the Cross and that we all need forgiveness for our broken conditions. No one person is better than another or more loved by Jesus than another. He died for all of us, for anyone who would reach out and grab ahold of the salvation He offers us.
But we have to accept it! It isn't about deserving God's love or mercy or grace or forgiveness or eternal life or whatever. It's simply about accepting it. And it's available for all people. Those of us who are believers have already grabbed ahold of it. And we are trying, in our imperfect ways, to help others grab ahold of it too. Our goal is not to shame others, but to save others - so that they might experience the healing and hope and eternal life that we have. Sorry if it doesn't always seem like it. We are human and we do things wrong sometimes.]
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:16-18)
"Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." (John 3:19-20)
"No one who lives in him will keep on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." (1 John 3:6)
"Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:11)
