Can You be Both Gay and Christian?
Update: Dr. Mohler’s column was actually part of a Southern Baptist Theological Seminary e-book published the same day as, and as a response to, Vines’ book. The 100-page SBTS e-book is available for free here (PDF).
The other contributors are: James M. Hamilton Jr., professor of biblical theology; Denny Burk, professor of biblical studies; Owen Strachan, assistant professor of Christian theology and church history; and Heath Lambert, assistant professor of biblical counseling.
Mohler’s chapter provides an overview critique of Vines’ argument, while Hamilton primarily addresses Old Testament claims, Burk deals with New Testament claims, Strachan looks at the church history assertions and Lambert answers the question whether there is such a thing as a “gay Christian.”
As human sexuality has become a more commonplace topic in the recent few years, a substantial part of the conversation has covered the nexus between Christianity and homosexuality.
At its root, Can one be a homosexual and a Christian?
Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine caused a firestorm when he tweeted statements that were interpreted as either ambivalent about or supportive of homosexual marriage. The topic gained more steam with the recent publication of a book by self-described homosexual Christian Matthew Vines.
Dr. Al Mohler of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary responded, noting foremost that there are many who describe themselves as Christians who are yearning for a way to rationalize their faith and an endorsement of homosexuality:
There are a great host of people, considered to be within the larger evangelical movement, who are desperately seeking a way to make peace with the moral revolution and endorse the acceptance of openly-gay individuals and couples within the life of the church.
In the lengthy piece, Mohler deconstructs Vines’ argument and ultimately communicates the gravity of Vines’ spiritual view: In order to twist scripture to support homosexuality, one has to twist out of scripture the very Gospel itself [emphasis added]:
Matthew Vines’s argument does not merely relativize the Bible’s authority, it leaves us without any authoritative revelation of what sin is. And without an authoritative (and clearly understandable) revelation of human sin, we cannot know why we need a Savior, or why Christ died.
Furthermore, to tell someone that what the Bible reveals as sin is not sin, we tell them that they do not need Christ for that. Is that not exactly what Paul was determined not to do when he wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11? Could the stakes be any higher than that? This controversy is not merely about sex, it is about salvation.
Dr. Mohler’s piece is an astounding and articulate read on a Christian perspective on those who try to endorse homosexuality within the Christian faith. For those who need the conclusion, Mohler minces no words:
Biblical Christianity cannot endorse same-sex marriage nor accept the claim that a believer can be obedient to Christ and remain or persist in same-sex behaviors. The church is the assembly of the redeemed, saved from our sins and learning obedience in the School of Christ.
Every single one of us is a sexual sinner in need of redemption, but we are called to holiness, to obedience, and to honoring marriage as one of God’s most precious gifts and as a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church.
As some know more than others, the topic of simultaneously claiming Christianity and unrepentant sin in homosexuality is obviously a religious topic — but it does have a nexus with the military. Army Reserve Chaplain Megan Hodge, who describes herself as homosexual, broached this subject just recently while blogging at the homosexual advocacy group American Military Partner Association.
Chaplain Hodge highlighted a story about a Soldier she said was driven nearly to suicide because of the Soldier’s inability to rationalize her homosexuality and her faith. Rather than encouraging her in her faith, Chaplain Hodge’s response was to reassure the Soldier that she could be both “gay and Christian.” One wonders how Chaplain Hodge would counsel other Christian Soldiers who sought Christian guidance on other sins.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
– Romans 6:1-2
Can one be a Christian and yet live an unrepentant life as a homosexual? The answer seems fairly clear.
Also discussed at the Baptist Press (and again). The debate continues at The Christian Post (and again), with a response by Vines to Mohler.
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