“Jesus didn’t turn anyone away… Neither Do We.”
This is the catch phrase from the Pro-homosexual United Church of Christ’s controversial ad the networks are refusing to air. The ad features two men holding hands being turned away from night-club style bouncers outside a church. The ad also shows two women (a couple you can presume) arm in arm as part of the people welcomed by the UCC.
While it’s a true statement on it’s own, Jesus did not turn anyone away, there is a huge difference between what Jesus taught and what the UCC is teaching. In a word, repentance. As a church we should welcome everyone to the church and to follow Christ. But that requires you Repent. Matthew sites Jesus’ first sermon as “Repent! For the Kingdom on God is near.” Same for John the Baptist. Luke has Peter calling for repentance as part of his first sermon at Pentecost as well.
Back to Christ. Look at how he treated the rich man in Luke 18:18-24
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
While Christ, didn’t turn him a way, he sure made it clear he must be willing to repent of his sin (in this case love of money) before he could be welcomed.
If we were really concerned with the souls of men, rather than gaining their approval, we the church would be clearly stating that message. It’s not hatred that puts us at odds with homosexuality. It’s love.
I truly love my fellow human beings and get incredible joy out of seeing someone realize they don’t have to go to Hell. They can be saved. It grieves me and should grieve us all, as it did Paul:
…and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. (2 Cor 12:21)
There is a judgement to come. And you (gay or straight) will have to give an account for what you did or did not do. So, I pray that all will repent of their sin, no matter how small you think your sin might be. Repent. To not do so, and to teach others that it’s okay to live in your sin in horrific to me.
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb 10:26-31
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I am a straight UCC member and feel that my Christianity is well-represented in this Ad. I can understand that it feels offensive to Christians who believe that homosexuality is a sin, and I respect that. I hope you will grant the same respect to me and many other Christians who do not share this belief and feel that the message of a challenging acceptance of people is far more central to scripture. Not all Christians agree that homosexuality is a sin to be repented therefore we do not consider it “horrific†or condoning and welcoming sin when we invite homosexuals to join us. Rather, we understand that historically and currently, homosexuals and other groups have been rejected from our churches. Therefore, we need to be specific and clear about what our invitation means. This is not intended as a gesture of defiance to those who disdain homosexuality, but a modest effort to reach out to those who do not consider Christianity as open to them.
Christ never discussed homosexuality in the Bible but he always welcomed those who were shunned by the predominant culture. e.g. Samaritans.
As a member of an homogenous mostly straight white UCC church, I feel challenged by this Ad to be more accepting in an active way to welcome others who might not think they have a place at the table ofChrist. I am not sure how well my church can truly communicate this but I will try.
Who am I to deny people access to God through worship? I imagine that many Christians will feel uneasy about this ad. Jesus also had a real knack for making us feel uncomfortable!
If we are truly to evangelize, why not welcome all of God’s children? Even if people sincerely believe that an active homosexual is a “sinner†and should repent before being welcomed to our churches I think we lose an opportunity to share the good news. My sense is that we have a much better chance of truly helping people to explore a life in Christ by welcoming them into the life of the church rather than rejecting them. Let me be clear that I do not doubt the love that you hold for all Christians, I differ on how that love is expressed and that seems to be based on our interpretation of faith.
As I consider the scriptural reference to the rich man scripture it is could be argued that what the bouncers in the ad should really be checking bank balances and rejecting those who are too rich. Now THAT would be a controversial Ad and a lot more clearly Christian. Peace
Thanks for your thoughts, Paul.
I have a couple (or more) thoughts and questions, if you don’t mind.
Why don’t you think homosexuality is a sin?
What other biblical sins do you think are not really sins?
Is lying a sin?
Is theft?
Also without repentance (of any sin), what do you think you are welcoming folks to?
Can one become a member in good standing in your church if he is an unrepentant practicing adulterer?
Is the Bible true?
If not, how do you know which parts to follow?
Respectfully,
Ron
Funny how just about everyone can and does ‘take what they want’ from the Bible, and ‘leave the rest’….
Taking a lot of Scripture ‘out-of-context’ has been the big problem with ‘mainstream’ Churches….
N.
As I remember the ad, which I must say was aired rather widely here in New York, it was not simply the two “couples” that you mentioned who were “turned away”. If I remember correctly, there was a person in a wheel chair who was not admitted, I believe a black person and possibly an Asian person as well. The bouncers did, however, let a, pardon the phrase, WASPy sterotype of a couple in ahead of everyone. It was a cheap shot and a sad commentary on the state of affairs in whatever that denomination was who paid money to boost an apparently apathetic membership. You don’t get nailed to a cross for being “an agreeable fellow”. “What would Jesus do?” I care more about what Jesus did. And what he did was let people walk away on their own. Remeber how many could not stomach the “Real Presence” language about the Eucharist? Jesus, by his very words, turned countless people “away”.
“WASPy?” No offence taken. But if I had my choice, I’d prefer “Honky Lips.”