# 49: Giving The Drowning Man an Anvil

What is it that the homosexual person needs most from Christians right now?


Our society is on a trend toward indulgence and meaninglessness. Hedonism is one of our unofficial religions.
The homosexual community, in particular that segment represented by the Gay and Lesbian Mardis Gras, is at the decadent edge of this trend.

So Christians who are struggling with homosexuality, and homosexuals who are struggling with Christianity are being told by the world things like:

* Homosexuality is normal.
* Sexual indulgence is the key to happiness.
* Sex is the only thing that matters.
* No one can tell you what to do.
* Your feelings are the best guide to moral truth.

The Bible tells us plainly, again and again that homosexual behaviour is a sin.
The Bible tells us people who continue to practice homosexuality will come under God's judgement.

So what is it that we really need to tell the struggling person?

Sorry?

It's OK?

Giving a blanket sorry to the homosexual community is as helpful to the struggling Christian as giving an anvil to a drowning man.

For the love of God, haven't we got anything to throw him that will help lift him out of the mess?

If you throw a drowing man a stick or a branch, sure it might sting a bit if it hits him hard, but it's what he needs to climb out of the quicksand.

# 27: Another Apology

As ministers of various churches and denominations we recognise that the churches we belong to, and the church in general, is rapidly becoming a place of no support for Christians struggling with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) issues. Indeed the church is becoming profoundly unhelpful in transforming GLBT to godliness. For these things we apologise, whatever the distinctive of our Christian position on the role of man in his sanctification – to which we remain committed. We are deeply sorry and ask for the forgiveness of those with GLBT issues. We long that the church would be a place of faithfulness for all people and commit ourselves to pursuing and teaching godliness in all aspects of life.

We ARE a group of Christian ministers who voluntarily and individually bring this apology.

We ARE NOT official representatives of our churches or denominations.

We ARE NOT making a statement on the biblical relation between justification and sanctification.

We ARE recognising the lack of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness that the churches have offered the gay and lesbian community in recent times.

# 26: Another Apology

As ministers of various churches and denominations we recognise that the churches we belong to, and the church in general, are not in agreement with our statement. Indeed the church has always held profoundly different views to our own. For these things we apologise, whatever the pastoral concerns that led to this colossal blunder – to which pastoral concerns we remain committed. We are deeply sorry and ask for the forgiveness of the church community. We long that the church would be a place of robust thought by all Christians and commit ourselves to eliminating feel-good statements that compromise the church's holiness.

We ARE a group of Christian ministers who voluntarily and individually bring this apology.

We ARE NOT official representatives of our churches or denominations.

We ARE NOT making a statement on the biblical position on church discipline.

We ARE recognising the lack of forethought, Biblical responsibility, and Christian orthodoxy that went into the apology to the gay and lesbian community.

# 25: An Apology

As ministers of various churches and denominations we recognise that the churches we belong to, and the church in general, have not always been places of welcome for the word of God (Bible). Indeed the church has often been profoundly hardhearted to the Bible's message. For these things we apologise, whatever the distinctive of our Christian position on human responsibility – to which we remain committed. We are deeply sorry and ask for the forgiveness of God himself. We long that the church would be a place of welcome for God's word and commit ourselves to pursuing faithful obedience.

We ARE a group of Christian ministers who voluntarily and individually bring this apology.

We ARE NOT official representatives of our churches or denominations.

We ARE NOT making a statement on the biblical position on biblical authority.

We ARE recognising the lack of honesty, integrity and obedience with which the churches have handled the revealed word of God.