Articles
Challenged Convictions
Challenged Convictions
Tragedy challenges our convictions. For decades the religious world in America labelled homosexuality the worst sin of all. I’ve tried to ensure we don’t believe that here at Palm Springs Drive. While homosexual behavior is sinful, it’s no worse in God’s eyes than any other sin. In the New Testament, we find homosexuality listed alongside much more socially acceptable sins like covetousness and lying (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:10).
We may claim to believe homosexuality isn’t the worst sin, but did the recent massacre at the gay night club challenge that conviction? Did we catch ourselves thinking, “Maybe God was punishing them for their ultra-wicked lifestyle. Maybe they deserved it for being so openly sinful.”? If so, you’re not alone. From the standpoint of sin, it just makes more sense to see a gay night club shot up than a hospital or a church, right? This killing proves homosexuality is way worse than all the other sins, right? Wrong. Listen to Jesus’ response to the tragedy when Pilate massacred Galilean Jews at the temple: “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:2-3). Certainly God can punish wickedness here on the earth if He chooses, but if God is sending shooters down here to punish us for our sin, I deserve the first bullet, you deserve the second. If we’re talking about who deserves death for their sin, Romans 6:23a assures us we all do. “For the wages of sin is death…”.
Since homosexuals are sinners like the rest of us, we’re not to look down on them as if superior. We’re to love them as our neighbor and try to bring them to Christ. Yet even that conviction was challenged! After the shooting, we were asked to give blood to help homosexuals live. We may have thought, “What? Won’t they misuse our blood and the life it gives for more sin? Won’t I be condoning the gay lifestyle if I give blood?” It challenged our conviction to love! It’s one thing to say we love the souls of homosexuals just like we love everyone else’s souls, but it’s another to take from our own blood and give it to them that they may have life! But then it reminded me of something Jesus would do. Actually, it reminded me of something Jesus did do. “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28). The wages of sin is death, but because Jesus gave His blood for homosexuals and all the rest of us sinners, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23b). When tragedy challenges our convictions, may God’s truth re-fortify and prevail.
