At tonight’s first class we watched the YouTube video, “What do Christians have against Homosexuality? Tim Keller at Veritas.” Here is the video in case you missed class or want to watch it again.
I also took some notes during class tonight and posted them over on my Christian Blog, “Eyes Right.”
What are the main points that jumped out at or stuck with you after watching this video? I think this statement was the big one for me:
Heterosexuality doesn’t get you to heaven, so how could homosexuality send you to hell?
This statement doesn’t deny or contradict the view that homosexual behavior is a sin. It points out that the issue of salvation is far more than “just” sexual orientation. When we see alleged Christians demonstrating in the street against homosexuals with signs that read “Gays are going to hell” it’s safe to say those protesters are not thinking very deeply about what the Bible says on the topic of salvation. I thought this was a good point in the video.
It made me think about a previous session I served on. We were in conflict over to nominate a gay man for the session, but no one thought twice about nominating a man that was “living with” his girl friend. It makes me wonder where we will be in 20 years?
Good question. Sexual morals certainly have been a moving target for awhile, and may continue to be. For me, it raises questions about what changes are good and desirable for human thriving, and which ones are not. Where do we draw the line(s), and on what do we base our decisions? And what are the unintended consequences? I have a lot of sympathy for the plight of gays in our society and would dearly love to move in some ways to make their lives easier, to make it much easier for them to feel welcome in the church, and to make grace more accessible to them. I have little difficulty seeing that being in line with God’s will for us all. But exactly what kinds of sexual behaviors would that entail, and what would be on the table next? Would people then begin to argue that pedophilia is OK under certain circumstances, for example? I’m a little wary of the slippery slope.
Our class even after just 1 week definitely has me thinking about how and why as a society (and me as an individual) have become disproportionately focused on sexual sin. I know all sin in sin, but I was convicted last week in realizing I DO (or have) put sexual sin as it pertains to the LGBT community in a different “box” than other kinds of sexual sin. I think it’s important to highlight and recognize these kinds of double standards. I’ve been guilty of thinking this way but not really realized I was doing it.