Church should halt debate on sexuality

Thursday, August 2, 2001

By GREGORY RUMMO

This summer, Protestants of many denominations are holding conventions to elect leaders and make policy.

A recent USA Today front-page story titled "Protestants Face Annual Sexual Divide" was dedicated to this tradition. Reporter Cathy Lynn Grossman observed: "American Protestantism can be a free-for-all when supposedly like-minded believers get together. And this summer, as Presbyterians, Lutherans, American Baptists, and others meet . . . touchy topics may dominate -- or derail -- their agendas. Should gay clergy be ordained? Are same-sex unions blessed before God the same as the marriage of a man and a woman?"

It is a waste of time to debate these questions -- long ago settled in the Bible. And by doing so, the Church ignores Jesus' instructions on the mission of all believers: evangelism and discipleship. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).

This endless debate over sexual morality shows that liberals in these denominations have lost touch with Christianity's biblical roots and exposes the false teaching that has crept into the Church.

Jesus warned that a time would come when the truth of God's Word would be so diluted by the opinions of men that the two would merge in some circles, becoming indistinguishable to those less discerning, deceiving even "the elect" in some cases (Matthew 24:24).

Matthew 13 is replete with illustrations of the results of false teachings. Jesus described "the kingdom of heaven" -- his phrase for Christendom -- as a field sown with both good seed and weeds (verses 25-30), a mustard seed that sprouted into a huge tree into which all types of birds came and perched (31-32), and a lump of yeast (leaven) that was hidden in "a large amount of flour" (33).

In the parable of the good seed, a man sowed wheat in his field. "But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away" (Matthew 13:25). The wheat sprouted along with the weeds, but it was impossible to tell the two apart until it came time for harvest. Only the wheat bore fruit. The barren weeds ultimately were thrown into the fire.

Jesus said that true Christians can be identified by the fruit they bear: "Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. . . . Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:17-20). The fruits of the Holy Spirit, as described by the apostle Paul, are "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

In bearing the fruit of self-control, true Christians will show a desire to live godly lives: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24). They will not try to justify sexual immorality in the name of Christianity or some new definition of "tolerance."

The parable of the tiny mustard seed was a prophecy about the Church. The Church began as a small group of committed followers of Jesus Christ, described in the book of Acts as willing to die for their faith. But it sprouted into something large and grotesque, harboring many heresies.

This parable of the mustard seed growing into a tree where every bird would feel comfortable perched together is a warning against false teachings. The first-century Church offered love, healing, and acceptance, but it also preached the Gospel unapologetically.

Throughout the New Testament, Paul spoke out boldly against sexual sin. He condemned homosexuality, writing: "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion" (Romans 1:26-27).

He also spoke out against other forms of immorality. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

Liberals who ignore biblical morality and impose their own preferences under the guise of Christianity would have had difficulty justifying their positions to Paul.

The parable of the yeast is a warning of the insidious nature of sin. In this parable, a small amount of yeast quickly influenced the entire quantity of flour. In like manner, once sin is introduced and ultimately tolerated in the Church, it will not be long before God's power leaves, the message of the Gospel disappears, and the truth can no longer be found. Jesus warns that those who mingle man's traditions with the true teachings of the Almighty "nullify the word of God" (Mark 7:13).

In a related USA Today article, the Rev. Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals said, "Denominational meetings shouldn't be controversial fights over the essentials of the faith. People should go and be trained and equipped to carry on their evangelism of the world. We don't fight about sex. The Bible is clear on these matters."

The apostle Paul told Timothy, his son in the faith, about his duties as a church leader: "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage -- with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. . . . But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:2-5).

Christians of all denominations would do well to heed Cizik and the apostle Paul.

Gregory Rummo is a business executive who belongs to Madison Avenue Baptist Church in Paterson, where he also serves as choir director. You may e-mail him at GregoryJRummo@aol.com

You can e-mail his editor, Lisa Haddock at Haddock@northjersey.com
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