The "Christian" church has made some drastic changes in theology over the past decade. As the political climate has changed, so too have denominations on several pivital issues but none has been more contentious than the role of homosexuals in the church.
A 2009 Public Religion Research1 survey of american, protestant pastors found that:
29% of clergy support gay and lesbian "rights" and dont believe that homosexuality is a sin.
41% of clergy support some gay and lesbian "rights, " while bing uncertain about others.
30% of clergy strongly oppose gay and lesbian "rights" and view homosexuality as a sin.
45% of, so called mainline protestant clergy support the ordination of homosexuality, including those actively living the homosexual lifestyle.
51% of clergy believe that we should not oppose efforts to make homosexuality acceptable in society.
So, with the clergy so split on the issue, where do we find the truth? Naturally, the best and only source for correct doctrine is the Bible.
Leviticus 20:13 states "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination"
1 Cor 6:9-10 states "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
Romans 1:26-28 states ""For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.2
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."
While there is no doubt that we should show love for homosexuals, teach them the Word of God and even invite them to church, the Bible makes it clear that it is not acceptable behavior. According to Gods word, they will not inherit the Kingdom of God (which is heaven). All people will go either to heaven or hell. If Gods word states that they will not enter heaven, they will surely enter hell. As Christians this should be a heart wrentching fact, causing us to strive even harder for the salvation of their souls.
The statistics should cause us great concern. What could lead our own clergy, by such large percentages, to set themselves against Gods Word? The answer is found in how we look to the Bible. So called Mainline Protestant churches have, by and large declared the Word of God to be merely a guide; no more inerrant an Aesop's Fables.
Proverbs 3:5 states "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
In Matthew 4:4, Jesus says "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." That mouth, or word is the only Word of God, the Holy Bible. We must put our trust in His word and not in the words of pastors, denominations or even the inclinations of our heart.
1. Public Religion Research survey of 2,658 clergy members, titled "Views on Theology and Gay and Lesbian Issues." Graph also thanks to Public Religion Research. http://www.publicreligion.org/research/published/?id=208
2. Scripture opposing homosexuality thanks to Matt Slick of Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry. http://www.carm.org/christianity-and-homosexuality