Homosexuality Is Sin!

Your article on the conference on homosexuality held recently at Orangefield Presbyterian Church, Belfast, raises a few critically important but apparently forgotten issues.

First, homosexuality is a sin like any other sin, and must be properly named as such.  It is a perversion of God's plan for marriage and the relationship between a man and a woman for life.

Second, homosexuality, when properly named as a sin, can be forgiven by our most gracious God. 

Third, divine forgiveness must be offered to those involved in this sin with the promise that everyone who repents of his/her sin and trusts Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation, will be pardoned.  Does the church today believe in forgiveness for sin, this sin? Or is this a 'preference' that needs no repentance and therefore no forgiveness? 

The church of Jesus Christ must exhibit simultaneously God's holiness and God's love.  She must maintain His standards and display His compassion.  But the church has no right whatever to even suggest that homosexuality is but another acceptable sexual orientation that is on a par with a proper relationship between a man and a woman for life.  If the Church believes that Paul got it all wrong in Rom. 1, then let her come out and say so.  But if she believes he got it right on this issue, then she is duty bound and honour bound to uphold the biblical standards despite all opposition.

I think the real problem is that the churches no longer know what a Christian is, how a sinner becomes a Christian, or how a Christian is to be defined.  The only thing they seem to be interested in are 'professions of faith.'  They do not see that entry into the Christian life is via a 'narrow gate,' according to Jesus Christ, and continues until death along this 'narrow road.'  It starts 'narrow' and it stays 'narrow.'  That 'narrow gate' is repentance toward God for sin, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, the church ought to be evangelising all those who got themselves caught up in the sin of homosexuality, and seeking to win them for Christ.  But she cannot water down our faith by saying that the 'profession of faith' of those who hold on tenaciously to what the Scriptures describe as an abomination, is acceptable for church membership.  That would be like saying that a man can use the foulist of language, including blaspheming the precious and holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and still be regarded as a Christian and church member.  There is forgiveness for that man if he repents of his sin and turns in faith to Christ, but not otherwise. 

Sadly, the church has been fatally infiltrated and negatively affected by 'the world,' to such an extent that she no longer knows what she believes.