Reflections for Homophobic Christians

A British Broadcasting Corporation news article, including a video address by Gene Robinson can be found by clicking here. When Gene Robinson was elected as the Episcopalian bishop of New Hampshire he received hate mail and death threats. Those people who are threatening God's servants are actively serving the devil, not God. Making death threats is an illegal sin!

When people who claim to be church people, people of God act in such hate-filled ways, Christians need to check their theology to see if there is a problem with commonly Christian views that could cause people to act in such an evil manner.

A sure sign a person has a very weak religious belief system is intense insecurity in one's beliefs and one's salvation. Spiritual wimps fear anybody and everybody who is different than they are. They are unable to rely on God to be the source of their salvation. In effect, they have a very small concept of God.

To the homophobic Christian, God is weak, impotent and incompetent. While much of Christianity worships a powerful, strong, capable God, Christians who find their belief system is deeply challenged and threatened by gay people worship a god that reflects themselves. The god of their creation is a wimp. Instead of singing "What a Mighty God we Serve," the homophobic Chistian could be singing "What a Sissy God we Serve."

Viewing God as a weak and powerless God, who is not able to protect His people and to keep His children safe, is not Scriptural and igores Biblical history. The Lord chose a small nation, Israel to be His people. He did not choose Israel, because Israel was a mighty nation. God chose one of the weakest of all nations. Through the centuries, God did for the children of Israel what they were not able to do for themselves. He freed them from the powerful military forces of an oppressive government in Egypt. In the desert, he gave His people food and water. When the Lord lead His people into the promised land, God defeated their enemies.

The early Christian church was the most successful at evangelism when it was the smallest. Under intense opposition, the early Christian church won converts by the thousands. The persecution would have resulted in the death of the early Christian church had God not been protecting the church. Hatred did not stop God from touching Paul's heart and turning him into a very strong Christian leader.

God's people have often been in a minority. That did not stop God from moving and the Spirit from doing powerful things. Today, Christians are a minority in the world. This minority status does not need to threaten Christians. Seeing alternative belief systems does not have to be frightening. God-fearing gay Christians are not able to take away one's salvation.

The Bible is gives Christians an assurance of salvation. Christians who are threatened by gay people obviously do not take God at His word. They are scared somebody will take away what God has given them. Being wrong about the interpretation of a Bible passage or two does not revoke one's salvation. God is much bigger than our interpretations of His word.

Ephesians 1:4 to 5 (KJV) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Christians were chosen by God before the world was created. God chose you before you were born, before the world existed. You do not have to worry that some gay person will come along and take away what God decided to give you before the world was created.

Ephesians 1:10 to 14 (KJV) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Those Christians who are threatened by gay people need to spend a lot of time reflecting on this text. Christians are predestined by God. Their salvation is sealed by the Holy Spirit. God's seal is not a seal that is faulty. The seal does not fall off. Gay people cannot take away the salvation God gives people. Only God can take back the gift He has given and He will not do that.

John 10:27 to 29 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

Homophobic Christians can benefit from reflecting on Jesus'words. They are in Christ's hands. No gay person will be able to pluck them out of Jesus' hand. Salvation and eternal life are not in perile, because the church of Jesus Christ has gay people in it.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God. We are saved by grace. Our salvation is a gift. The gift of salvation does not depend on us knowing or understanding all of the Bible. Trying to make sure we have not made a mistake with our theology regarding homosexuality, so we can be saved, is a work of the flesh. Trying to fight off gay people, to keep the church "pure" is works too. The Bible clearly indicates we are not saved by works.

Even if one were to make the mistake of thinking that gay people are a threat to the church and should not be part of the Christian church, one has no business trying to throw them out of the church. Jesus Christ indicates we are not do try to remove the weeds from the church. Read the story of the wheat and the tares.

Matthew 13:25 to 30 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.

Relax. Let God be God. He is capable of protecting you and your salvation, protecting the church and keeping the church pure. God does not need your help. Just enjoy the salvation God has given you and share Him with others. There is no need to crusade against gay people.