LifeWay Research (LWR) recently released research on the issue of homosexuality. I will share it in two parts. This is the first and we released it in early June. The second part was released in Indianapolis on Tuesday-- that will be part of a forthcoming post.
Lifeway recently conducted a survey that focused on Americans' view of homosexuality. The results present our churches with a serious cultural challenge. "A telephone survey of 1,201 American adults, conducted in April 2008, revealed that 48 percent of all Americans believe homosexual behavior is sinful, while 45 percent believe it is not sinful, almost a statistical tie when considering the margin of error." The country seems to divided on the issue, but the result is an impact on who may be unwilling to give you and your church a hearing.
"Thirty-two percent of Americans - almost one in three - said their decision to visit or join a church would be negatively affected if that congregation taught homosexual behavior is sinful." This means that about a third of the people we are seeking to share the gospel may be unwilling to give our message a chance based on our theological convictions. The challenge will be to demonstrate both compassion and truth; to love unconditionally while pointing to the life transformation that God offers to all who believe. This requires a robust theology, and a compassionate heart.
Check out the article from Lifeway and be prepared to engage this issue in your city with love for the lost that compels you to speak and practice the truth for their good and God's glory.
The cultural trajectory is toward greater acceptance of homosexuality. Recent books like unChristian, They Like Jesus but not the Church, and my own forthcoming Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and Churches that Reach Them have all pointed to this challenge among younger generations. Simply put, the younger you are, the more accepting you are of homosexuality.
It is an important issue and Christians will need to walk a difficult line-- to speak the truth, but also to do so in love.
Posted on June 12, 2008 at 10:46 AM ~ 4 Comments
Tagged with: culture, homosexuality, truth
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4 Comments
06/12/08 @ 4:47 PM
A good place to start might be to talk to Christian Homosexuals (I know, in many minds that is an oxymoron, but there are many who view themselves this way.) who have chosen not to act on their orientation.
"What?!" you say, "there are people who do that?" Yes there are, though I'm told not many. So why not listen to guys out there who have an orthodox view of the Bible, but ALSO look at their life and cannot deny their homosexuality? They probably understand the struggle from both sides better than anyone else. Unfortunately, they are usually quickly told they cannot be a Christian and be homosexual and so their voice is squelched.
So if we are uncomfortable welcoming practicing homosexuals into our churches and into the discussion how about non-practicing homosexuals? After all, I was a non-practicing heterosexual for most of my life. What's the difference?
06/12/08 @ 5:31 PM
I must confess that this issue keeps me up at night. I am extremely concious of so many people's perception that if you teach that practicing homosexualiaty is sin you're painted as unloving, intolerant and basically narrow minded. The reason this stresses me out so much is because next year I begin work on a church plant in an area of Cape Town, South Africa that after San Fransisco and Sydney is one of the homosexual capitals of the world.
I must agree with Bennet (comment #1) - it helps being able to speak with Christian's who struggle with homosexual desires and I happen to know one or two. But beyond that it looks like an absolute mine field to me as a gospel worker. Any practical tips or ideas?
06/12/08 @ 7:10 PM
A non-practicing heterosexual and a non-practicing self-titled homosexual is that the first is refraining from sexual immorality with someone not their spouse though tempted according to the original design of attraction between male & female. The second is refraining from engaging in sexual immorality that is against nature (Rom.1).
06/13/08 @ 10:41 AM
Gentlemen,
The survey at least indicates the effectiveness of teaching sound doctrine. If a fundamental, gospel believing, born again Christian is the poster child for right doctrine, then the survey is a tell tell sign that Paul has taught Timothy real truth.
Most people tend to gravitate toward the first part of these following verses….but Paul brings into the mix in the later lines the benefit of true and right doctrine.
1 Timothy 6:3-6 "If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, (4) he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, (5) and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. (6) But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment."
….godliness actually is a means of great gain. If we are able to teach someone sound doctrine even if they are engaging in homosexual behavior, especially if they profess to be a Christian….it should be abundantly clear…that to turn from such behavior is “great gain and contentment”.
Part of the problem with addressing the behavior of homosexuality is the confusion to put it into the same category as heterosexual activity. The reality is that God has created and defined heterosexual as good and in a separate category homosexual activity is certainly evil. The survey clearly indicates that the American culture is truly confused about what God has created….even the fundamentalists have been deceived into categorizing the good with the evil.
The remedy is to preach the gospel, so that the power of God is able to bring sight to a blind eye and is able to bring hearing to a deaf ear. The gospel leads the adopted one away from homosexual urges and lifestyles and provides unhindered worship to anyone that may still be deceived into claiming the title. Homosexuality is sin,…and as any sin, it is impossible to break the power of sin for any human without Christ.
Blessings,
Chris