My Response to Another Pro-Homosexual Viewer

The following is by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org and was written a number of weeks ago.  Follow Pastor Brock on Facebook (here) and twitter (here.)

This week our TV show was on America's desperate need for repentance. I then received the below email from a viewer with whom I've gone back and forth. If I remember right, he attends a liberal ELCA church--and it shows. He writes:

Contrary to what you say, the reason there is homosexual marriage in ...Minnesota is because numerous respected theologians - including numerous academic theologians - including numerous theologians of all/most Christian and Jewish faiths (Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, UCC, etc) - interpret the Bible differently than you do.

In an earlier email to me, you acknowledged that you are human and subject to error - yet you continue to preach that you're 100% correct on your interpretation of the Bible regarding homosexual marriage. I leave it to God to judge.

…on any given Biblical interpretation subject, I read available literature by respected theologians - and then I go with those who are most compassionate - and I'm comfortable that Jesus would too.

What did Jesus Christ say about homosexual marriage? My search reveals nothing.

Even Pope Francis is coming around - acknowledging that judging homosexuals and their behavior is not his role - it's God's role.

MY RESPONSE:

Thanks for writing,

Yes, I believe I am right on this issue, as you believe you are. Jesus said that false prophets would arise, so it is understandable that one can find “respected scholars” who deny the Scriptures. In liberal circles, retired Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong and Marcus Borg are “respected scholars”. They both deny that Jesus physically rose from the dead, something the Bible says one must believe to be saved (Romans 10:9). The question is: Which scholars are faithful to the plain meaning of Scripture and uphold the way Christians have believed the Scriptures for 2000 years? I think it is important to point out that is not compassionate nor loving to affirm someone in a behavior which will exclude them from heaven (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

Even if the Pope were to affirm homosexual behavior, which he has not done, that would change nothing. For a Christian, the Bible, not the Pope, is the highest authority.

Jesus did indeed refer to marriage as between a man and a woman (Matthew 19). Because Jesus did not specifically mention homosexuality, rape, incest, bestiality, wife-beating, etc. does not mean He is in favor of those things. Jesus was a Jew who believed in the Old Testament teachings on these issues.

My hope and prayer for you is that if you are attending a church which has gone astray on these issues, you will find a good church which upholds the historic teachings of the Bible as the Church has believed for 2000 years.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Tom Brock