There is a subject that I have been wanting to write about for some time, but haven't found the right words or have been rather hesitant because it is such a big deal right now. This is only the third blog I have written, and, if you know me (Josh), you know that I really like to think and plan out what I am going to say before I talk about it and especially if I am going to write about it. So here goes…
It has come to my attention in the last couple of days that our city of Springfield, MO City Council is meeting on Monday, August 13, to vote to add homosexuals to the list of those under the nondiscrimination policy. If I read it right, it is basically saying that Employers, landlords, and schools, among a few others, cannot discriminate against people of different sexual orientation or preference than those they hold to. I have also noted that there are many Christians who are wanting to attend that council meeting to protest this! This actually breaks my heart! The Church of Jesus Christ has poorly represented itself where homosexuals are concerned. I can understand in a way the fear that these Christians may feel in allowing this to pass, because if you are a Christian business owner or Landlord, you may have to give a job to or rent to a homosexual. To this, I would like to say two things:
1). If you are Christian and own a business and are afraid that you would possibly have to give a homosexual a job, let me just say that the odds of someone who is homosexual even applying for a job at your place of business is really low. Mostly they know how much Christians "hate" them (to our utter shame I might add), and wouldn't ever consider your business for employment anyway.
2). Even if you did have to rent to or give a job to a homosexual, and this is the big one:
JUST BECAUSE YOU GIVE A JOB TO SOMEONE, RENT TO THEM, LOVE THEM, SUPPORT THEM, BEFRIEND THEM OR WHATEVER YOU DO, DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO AGREE WITH THEM OR CONDONE THEIR ACTIVITIES OR ACTIONS!!!
Did you catch that? Read it again please!
Our Lord, hung out with prostitutes, adulterers, cheaters, liars, sinners of all kinds, but do you know who He really didn't hang out with all that much? Religious people! He didn't love with a divisive love, but He had an equal love for ALL sinners! He loved and forgave all the losers that seemed to have no hope, and He even forgave all the religious people who beat Him and hung Him on the cross!
The Church has spent way too much time and energy focusing on standing up against the homosexual community when they should be a part of the group of people that we love on, care for and pray for! The Church should instead be more focused and heartbroken over the rampant divorce and adultery within its very walls! Paul drives home an excellent point in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13:
"9I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-10NOT AT ALL meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now i am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13GOD will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you. (Bold and italics added for emphasis)
If you are reading this and you happen to be one of those that is considering going and standing up against this, I ask you for the sake of Jesus and His love to reconsider. You have the right to do as you please and I do not condemn anyone who does go, but I feel that in going, it solidifies the hate that the Church has for these, the people that are created in God's image just as we are. Once again I remind you, that to stand up for homosexuals and to love them and befreind them is not to condone or approve of their lifestyle, it is merely to obey our Lord's command to love those we disagree with, to love the "unloveable" and to spread Christ's love to them even if they do not accept it.
