I work with a lot of homosexuals. I am also personal friends with a few. But I’m also a Christian. So my question is: why is there so much tension between the two groups?
I’ve thought about this for a long while and have come to the conclusion that it is basically a simple case of unrealistic expectations on both parts.
If you think about it (taken at face value) all the homosexual community really wants is to be “accepted” by Christians generally and the Bible specifically. All Christians want is to be able to practice their faith without the intrusion of outside forces. Are either of these things really that difficult to overcome? Can’t we all just get along? (sorry, I had to say that)
So, here is what I consider to be the unrealistic expectations.
CHRISTIANS - I think Christians often, mistakenly, require the homosexual individual to adhere to the same biblical standards that they do (or claim to). And they are shocked when the gay person refuses to do that. From my understanding, this is not a biblical approach, not realistic, and not a proper understanding of the point of the gospel. The way I read it, according to the Bible, being homosexual is merely a symptom of a bigger problem, not the problem itself. Really, the much bigger pervasive problem is having been born into the human race in the first place. That issue needs to be fixed for every individual first, gay or not, before expecting the person to take on the standards required of a Christian.
HOMOSEXUALS – I believe the homosexual community unrealistically expects Christians to modify the text and meaning in the Bible to keep from offending them. They regularly add and delete passages and change stories in an attempt to legitimize the gay lifestyle for themselves. But really, that isn’t how it works. In Christianity, we all (humans) are obligated to mold our theology around our growing understanding of what the Bible says, not the other way around. When we discover any truth in the Bible that contradicts our current lifestyle or philosophy, it is our responsibility as Christians to change ourselves – not change the Bible.
Bottom line – Do I expect anyone to change their lifestyle to become a Christian? Actually NO. You can become a Christian anytime / anywhere. No problem. The doctor is there for the sick, not the well. Christ came for the broken, not the flawless. But this is not optional… once you become a Christian, you must give up your hard headed, self indulgence (in any area of life) and strive to conform to the Biblical model for the Christian. And really that is a life long process. But the point is, the Bible clearly outlines that Homosexuality in any form (along with other self-destructive behaviors) is forbidden as a Christian. Once you understand this, you are responsible to change yourself. If you outright refuse to change, you don’t really have an understanding of what it is to be a Christian and therefore can’t really call yourself one.
From a Christian perspective, homosexuality is no different than any other sin: prostitution, adultery, drug dealing, stealing, murder, embezzlement, cheating on your taxes, or telling a little white lie. They are all just symptoms of being human, nothing else. Not shocking. Not unexpected. Not abnormal. Just “broken” and needing fixed.
The Solution
I believe that if Christians stopped harassing non-believing homosexuals to change their behavior, and gays would stop trying to arbitrarily change the Bible, there would be far less tension between the groups.
What are your thoughts? Am I missing a piece of the puzzle here? Comment below and let me know your view. (Please: Real intelligent comments only. Everything else will be deleted.)
Footnote: The article above is a rather simplistic depiction of the bigger problem. In fact, there are many, many other factors involved in the current attack on Christianity. My “can’t we all just get along” type suggestions are somewhat unrealistic because, in my view, the true desire of the homosexual community at large is not to simply “get along”, but rather to infiltrate and destroy all societal innocence, the Christian church, and by extension all sense personal conviction (God). But that’s another post for another day.
sending...