Welcoming Gays and Lesbians
In recent years some congregations and synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have been burdened to express their concern for the welfare of homosexuals by joining a movement called, "Reconciling in Christ." This is a planned strategy, sponsored by Lutherans Concerned, a homosexual advocacy group. It wants to indicate publicly in all possible ways that the congregation or synod involved raises no objection or barrier to full participation of homosexuals in the affairs of the organization that makes such a welcoming affirmation. Pastor Culver looks at the issues involved in belonging to "Reconciling in Christ." His observations follow:
At my synod assembly a resolution was offered this year to make the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the ELCA a "Reconciling in Christ" synod. This parallels the attempt to enroll congregations of the ELCA into making a similar declaration. The purpose of the "Reconciling in Christ Affirmation of Welcome," sponsored by the movement called Lutherans Concerned, is to extend a welcome to gays and lesbians. Immediately this raises some questions about what it means to "welcome" gays and lesbians.
Most of us recognize that faithfulness to Christ's teaching requires us to welcome all people to hear the gospel and to worship. On the other hand welcoming all people does not mean approving all behavior and affirming every kind of lifestyle. The gospel calls people to repent of their sins and invites them to a new life in Christ. The gospel is not to be confused with the pop-psychology message of "I'm okay, you're okay." The gospel is about forgiveness of sins--not about encouraging people to continue in behavior that is contrary to the will of God.
Where does homosexuality fit in?
With regard to homosexuality, many Christians recognize a distinction between homosexual "orientation" and behavior. Whatever the reason why some people are attracted toward persons of the same sex, many of us recognize that it is something that can be difficult to change. Those of us who believe that Scripture teaches that homosexual behavior is unacceptable because the Bible names it to be sinful, want to affirm that we care about the people who struggle with this temptation. We believe that God's Word calls us to resist temptation, not to indulge our sinful desires nor try to justify our disobedience, whatever the particular temptation that we find most appealing. We recognize that Christians who struggle with homosexual desires have a difficult struggle in attempting to live a chaste celibate life, and we support them with our prayers and encouragement. In this regard they are not different from any other member of the church who struggles with temptation in some form every day.What we find objectionable is the attempt to excuse sinful behavior by denying that it is sinful. In that way the gospel's call to repentance is silenced for those who want to practice this particular sinful behavior.
When are we approving sin?
The problem with the "Reconciling in Christ" proposal and its "Affirmation of Welcome" is that it does not make clear whether we are inviting people to worship and Christian fellowship or are affirming behavior that Scripture calls sin. This ambiguity, which I believe is intentional, leads to serious problems. The Lutherans Concerned website suggests that "Reconciling in Christ" is a first step on the way to approving the blessing of same-sex unions and ordaining practicing homosexuals. The intention of "Reconciling in Christ" strongly appears to be an attempt to make a statement that homosexual behavior is not sinful and that church members who engage in that behavior are not to be held accountable for their sexual conduct.
This looks suspiciously like the false gospel of "cheap grace" that does not expect repentance from people involved in sinful behavior. The New Testament, by contrast, tells us that God's baptized children are to turn away from sin and resist temptation. The Apostle Paul asks, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:1-4 NIV)
In First Corinthians 6 Paul tells us that homosexual behavior is unacceptable for God's baptized children: "Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. . . . Flee from sexual immorality. . . . Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (I Corinthians 6:9-11,18-20 TNIVersion)
All people ought to be welcome to worship and to hear the gospel. All people are also called to repentance and new life in Christ. But to say that people who are living in open unrepentant sin are "welcome to full participation in the life of the church" raises troubling questions.
Leadership questions
Scripture says that those who serve in leadership positions in a Christian congregation are to be "above reproach" in their life and conduct, and that they are to set a good example for the congregation. (1 Timothy 3:2; 4:12) Scripture indicates that some forms of sinful behavior disqualify a person from holding office in the church and may even require disciplinary action to confront the behavior. Most of us can think of examples of sinful behavior that would be harmful or even destructive to a congregation and that should not be approved by the congregation. Sexual sins are not the only sins for which the church needs to hold people accountable.
When people are involved in behavior that creates a scandal or causes division in the church or sets a bad example for others, you would welcome such people to worship. But surely you would also try to help them overcome their problems and bring their lives into harmony with the teachings of God's Word. While their problems are unresolved, you would probably not ask them to hold any leadership position in the church where they could have a negative influence on others in the congregation. Rather, in an evangelical spirit you would hold them accountable for their attitudes and behavior. You certainly would not make a public pronouncement to the effect that what they are doing is okay or doesn't matter, even if such a statement might make them feel more comfortable. You would hope for repentance and amendment of life.
Doing no favor
Why then should homosexual behavior be treated as virtuous and commendable (a "gift from God"), or as a matter of indifference? Isn't the purpose of the church's ministry toward all us sinners, to help us overcome our sinful inclinations and to live a life of obedience to God? It does this by calling all people to repentance and offering forgiveness through faith in Christ, We are not doing a favor to anybody when we tell people that sinful behavior is okay, that it isn't really sin, that they can continue to indulge in it with a clear conscience. Giving that kind of encouragement to continue in sinful behavior is properly called "enabling." Jesus gladly forgave sinners of all kinds, but he also told them to "go and sin no more," to leave their life of sin. As one pastor observed, there is a significant difference between welcoming repentant sinners who are looking for forgiveness and welcoming proud sinners who feel no need of forgiveness.
It has to be admitted that the church does not have a good track record in the last few decades in how it has dealt with sexual sins--also heterosexual sins. The church needs to recognize that the gospel does not cancel out any moral requirements for the Christian life, and it needs to be more consistent in holding all of us sinners accountable for sinful behavior that does harm to the Body of Christ.
How would adopting a "Reconciling in Christ" policy affect the many people in our churches, both lay people and pastors, who have struggled with homosexual inclinations but seek by the grace of God to live a chaste celibate life? Does the RIC policy encourage them to give up the struggle and give in to their impulses? Friends I know who have struggled with homosexuality do not favor weakening the church's moral teaching in this way. They do not appreciate giving permission to do what they have tried so hard to resist.
What behaviors are to be approved?
Another troubling question raised by the "Reconciling in Christ" agenda is how much we are being asked to approve. Sometimes the discussion implies that we are talking about enduring committed relationships between two people. But is that only the beginning? Many gay activists believe that monogamy is unnatural, and the evidence seems to indicate that a majority of practicing homosexuals have had multiple partners. Are we being asked, by implication, to approve of homosexual promiscuity, anonymous sex, or relationships of more than two people? The currently preferred language now is to refer to "gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered" (GLBT). Are we expected to approve those who understand themselves as bisexual? One partner of each sex? Or more than one partner of each sex?
Others now speak of "sexual minorities." How many lifestyles and behaviors does that cover? Pedophilia? Bestiality? Is there any kind of sexual behavior or relationship that would be regarded as sinful or immoral? Lutherans Concerned implies an expansive nature for their agenda when in a footnote to the "Affirmation of Welcome," it says, "You may substitute the more inclusive phrase 'people of all sexual orientations' for 'gay and lesbian people' if you desire." The result would seem to be sexual lawlessness (antinomianism--opposition to the law) where anything goes and nothing is disapproved. Is that really what we as a church ought to say about sexuality?
I fear that "Reconciling in Christ" is a counterfeit gospel, a false gospel of cheap grace that does not reconcile sinners to a holy God but gives them permission to continue in sin. Any church which accepts such a distortion of the gospel is sadly misguided. Even worse, unfaithful. A much better approach to how the church should welcome those who struggle with homosexuality is offered in "A Pastoral Statement of Conviction and Concern" that was presented at the Conference on Christian Sexuality in Kansas City in October, 2002: "We understand the genuine suffering and challenge that our homosexual brothers and sisters face. We repudiate all forms of prejudice and hatred, but we believe that Christian love requires the clear proclamation of God's truth, which alone can free and reconcile us. Sensitive pastoral care for homosexual persons will include compassion, encouragement and the same call to repentance and chastity that God continually places before us all."
by James Culver, Jr.
Pastor, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Stendal, IN
