Why Gay Marriage is Good for the Church
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. - Jesus
In the last decade, or since the beginning of the sexual revolution in America, Evangelicals have fought for a definition of marriage they believe is historically rooted in the Christian tradition dating back to the Apostles.
This became a culture war.
A social and political war that would define a Christian.
As states defined marriage, courts overruled them, states approved of gay marriage, and the Supreme Court then made a national law, the Church felt like it lost a war for what true marriage was.
As someone who grew up in the Church, went to Biola, and goes to an evangelical Church, 90% of the topics of homosexuality revolved around how sinful gay sex is, how it went against scripture, how gays are gross, how God hated fags, how marriage is between a man and a woman, how great straight marriage was, how great straight sex was, how great and intimate sex is, and how "God will judge our country for all the fags out there having sex."
How they are wrong, and we are right.
The 10% was if you struggle with homosexuality, you should trust in God, pray, be faithful to his word, fight your temptation, and learn how to be single for life, because it is better to cut your hand off than for your whole body to be thrown into the lake of fire, really how it is better to cut your penis off so your entire body doesn't get thrown into the lake of fire.
Because one of the worse sins is gay sex.
And embrace this lonely struggle because that is your cross, and God will reward you if you make it.
That was how the topic of homosexuality has been talked about in the Church.
That is how Christians gave a tenth of their spices, mint, dill, and cumin.
That is how they followed the law.
That is how they loved their brothers and sisters who struggled with homosexuality.
And that is STILL how they love their brothers and sisters who struggle with homosexuality.
And this is precisely why many Christians who struggle with homosexuality become gay affirming and live a "gay lifestyle" or really find a place to get their human needs met. However, I am also arguing that sexual needs or not human needs. Those are wants.
The Church has not given justice or mercy. It hasn't been faithful or given fidelity to Christians who struggle with homosexuality.
Christians have only been giving their spices,
not justice, mercy, and faithfulness
And so, why is Gay marriage good for the Church?
Because if we really want to save people from this sinful life that will lead them to hell, then we have to do way more than what we are doing now.
We must redefine "our family" into the biblical New Covenant Christ-like definition of family.
If we want to fulfill the commands of Jesus and the Apostles, we must follow the Scriptures.
The same scriptures that say homosexual sex is a sin say the family isn't as important anymore.
The Church family is more important.
The same scriptures that say sin leads to death
are those that say, "You are the hands and feet of Christ."
The same scriptures that say stand up for truth,
are the same scriptures that say, "it is more blessed to give than to receive."
The same scriptures record Jesus saying, "Let no man separate what God has put together (referencing man and women)
are the same scriptures that record Jesus saying,
"You can't be a follower of mine if you don't hate your mother, father, wife, husband, sister, or even your own life."
"My brothers and sisters are those that do the Father's will"
"You will be like the angels in Heaven who are not married."
and from the Apostle Paul - "It is better for the sake of the Kingdom you are not married…..live as if you are no longer married."
Gay marriage is good for the Church because it makes us rethink, reread, and question our hearts, agendas, and willingness to sacrifice and walk with our brothers and sisters who struggle with this.
This may mean we need more single men and women in the Church.
This may mean more families need to open their homes and ask other Christians to live with them.
We need to value friendship and keep friendships in holy covenants.
This may mean we need to start valuing, teaching, and creating a space for the gift of celibacy for straight Christians so this gift can finally demonstrate the power and resurrection of our God and how it benefits the Church.
This may mean those dating must be more aware of how that changes their friendships and community.
Have we been too concerned about being right and following parts of the letters of the scripture over helping and meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters who struggle with homosexuality in PRACTICAL REAL LIFE WAYS?
I created the 4TS and the Church so Christians can meet the needs of those struggling with homosexuality.
I want to keep talking about touch, time, transparency, and teamwork because that is what we need.
So to my family,
To the Church,
To married Christians,
To those I am in an eternal covenant with,
A covenant more profound than your marriage,
A heavenly and earthly union we are in that surpasses your temporary earthly marriage,
Can you be one of these teachers of the law or Pharisees that Jesus is addressing?
Can you be partially fulfilling the law but missing the more critical parts of the law?
The parts of the law of Christ that say bring justice - standing up for Christians in need of love and care from same-sex friends in the Church, these Christians that are being ignored.
The parts of the law of Christ that say have mercy - giving mercy to Christians will require you to step out of your comfort zone to meet their deep needs of touch, time, transparency, and teamwork.
The parts that say show faithfulness - being faithful to those that struggle with homosexuality in friendship, in being there for them, letting them be there for you, investing in deeper community and fidelity with them. Remembering that they deserve committed brotherhood and sisterhood. They are essential, too, just as your spouse and children are.
As Jesus told the religious community,
"Can you practice the latter of meeting the needs in practical ways of those that struggle with homosexuality without neglecting the latter of standing up for the truth?
To my family, let's stop talking about how gay marriage is sinful if we are not living sacrificially for Christians who struggle with homosexuality.
If the Church is going to make defending the definition of marriage the main priority and if it is going to make marriage into an idol,
the Church will lose the war of loving and meeting the needs of Christians that struggle with homosexuality.
So, Gay marriage is good for the Church because it will make the Church focus on what is more important in its mission, being the hands and feet of Jesus, who meets the needs of humans.
Besides, the Church is here to stay on earth until the return of Christ, so it will eventually meet the needs of Christians that struggle with homosexuality.
The question is, will we be the age of the Church that doesn't meet the needs and just stands for truth, or will your children or their children finally solve this issue?
And if they solve it, then be ready to answer Jesus on why we didn't care for the critical parts of his message.
Let's give touch, time, transparency, and teamwork to Christians that struggle with homosexuality.
Let's show the world what true intimacy is. Let's show them that Church intimacy in the New Covenant of Christ is more intimate and pleasurable than sexual relationships.