(Part 4) Answering the Toughest Questions About Homosexuality with Alan Shlemon
Our Blog series with Alan continues. This week's challenge: “You can’t
have gay friends if you think homosexual behavior is a sin.”
A youth leader wrote me: “I would say that the issue of homosexuality is THE #1 BARRIER for teenagers…that keeps them from believing the gospel.” I can see why he said that. It’s a simple cost-benefit analysis. You can keep your faith or you can keep your friends and family. You pick. Well, the answer for many people is obvious: relationships are more important than a theological idiosyncrasy. So, they either compromise on the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality or they ditch their faith altogether. Part of the problem stems from the belief that if you keep your convictions about homosexuality, then you can’t stay in relationship with your friends and family who say they’re gay. But this isn’t the biblical view.
A youth leader wrote me: “I would say that the issue of homosexuality is THE #1 BARRIER for teenagers…that keeps them from believing the gospel.” I can see why he said that. It’s a simple cost-benefit analysis. You can keep your faith or you can keep your friends and family. You pick. Well, the answer for many people is obvious: relationships are more important than a theological idiosyncrasy. So, they either compromise on the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality or they ditch their faith altogether. Part of the problem stems from the belief that if you keep your convictions about homosexuality, then you can’t stay in relationship with your friends and family who say they’re gay. But this isn’t the biblical view.
The New Testament doesn’t prohibit Christians from friending
(I know, I know…that’s so Facebook-ish) homosexuals. Paul, writing about a
sexually immoral man in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, tells Christians that they are “not
to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of
this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In
that case you would have to leave this world.” Notice how Paul clarifies that we
don’t have to avoid relationships with non-believers (who he calls “people of
this world”). After all, we can’t influence them if we’re not involved at all.
There is a group of
people that Paul warns Christians to avoid. Continuing his discussion on sexual
immorality in 1 Corinthians 5:11, Paul explains, “But now I am writing to you
not to associate with anyone who bears the name of a brother if he is guilty of
sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or
swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” The people Paul warns us to avoid
are Christians who engage in sexual
immorality. Why? Because sin left unchecked within a body of believers is like
cancer. It spreads and harms those around them (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).
That doesn’t mean we are to end all relationships with
Christians who have committed sexual sin. Paul is talking about unrepentant Christians. People who know
the biblical standard but thumb their nose at it and continue in the illicit behavior.
That’s the context of 1 Corinthians 5.
It does mean that people who claim to be Christian and engage
in willful, unrepentant homosexual behavior fall under the jurisdiction of this
command. Friends like that can influence us and other believers in negative
ways. But this rule applies to any sexual sin, not just homosexuality.
In all other circumstances, there’s no reason to choose
between your faith and your friends. Keep them both so you have a chance to be
a positive influence in your relationships. That’s the point of being an
ambassador for Christ.
Alan Shlemon is a speaker, trainer, and author for Stand to Reason. You’ll find more
articles on clear-thinking Christianity at www.str.org and www.strplace.org.
Think Christianly with Jonathan Morrow
Labels: Apologetics, Bible, same sex marriage, Tough Questions - Homosexuality
posted by Jonathan Morrow at
9:30 AM
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