Mohler-Homosexuality A Threat To The Church

[debrand]

The Christian church has faced no shortage of challenges in its 2,000-year history. But now it’s facing a challenge that is shaking its foundations: homosexuality

http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/08/10/ ... evolution/

Really? Gay people are a threat to the church? Of all the problems in the world, why is what consenting adults do a threat to Christianity?

In less than a single generation, homosexuality has gone from something almost universally understood to be sinful, to something now declared to be the moral equivalent of heterosexuality—and deserving of both legal protection and public encouragement. Theo Hobson, a British theologian, has argued that this is not just the waning of a taboo. Instead, it is a moral inversion that has left those holding the old morality now accused of nothing less than “moral deficiency

Thankfully, we no longer view slavery, spousal rape or abuse as something to accept either. We are entering an era when it is more difficult to justify a belief that other people are less worthy of equal treatment. We still have a long, long way to go, of course.

These churches debate the issue, with conservatives arguing to retain the older morality and liberals arguing that the church must adapt to the new one. Eventually, the liberals win and the conservatives lose. Next, the denomination ordains openly gay candidates or decides to bless same-sex unions.

Even if another church, liberal or not, decides to ordain homosexuals or conduct same sex marriages, his church is not required to do so. I don't get the problem.

This is a route that evangelical Christians committed to the full authority of the Bible cannot take. Since we believe that the Bible is God’s revealed word, we cannot accommodate ourselves to this new morality. We cannot pretend as if we do not know that the Bible clearly teaches that all homosexual acts are sinful, as is all human sexual behavior outside the covenant of marriage. We believe that God has revealed a pattern for human sexuality that not only points the way to holiness, but to true happiness.

The problem is that very good Christians disagree on the proper interpretation of scripture. Some people look at the historical and cultural context of the text and believe that Paul was not condemning homosexual monogamous marriages. They aren't going against what they believe that the bible states.

In this most awkward cultural predicament, evangelicals must be excruciatingly clear that we do not speak about the sinfulness of homosexuality as if we have no sin. As a matter of fact, it is precisely because we have come to know ourselves as sinners and of our need for a savior that we have come to faith in Jesus Christ

Yeah, but if he feels sorrow because of his own sins, he can still marry and have a family. That is not what he wants for the person who happens to be gay and Christian.

[Rachel333]

I actually am kind of amazed at how quickly attitudes about homosexuality are changing. I happen to think that's a good thing, though.

[mirele]

Al Mohler hates anything that isn't like the world as he imagines it should be. Therefore, he'd probably hate someone like me--a never-married middle-aged woman who has her own job and life, and isn't under the subjection of any man. And, Al, honey, my dad, he LIKES it that way. (I thanked him again just this afternoon for raising me the way he and my mom did.) Al can just bend over and kiss my fat white kiester if he doesn't like it.

I'm also amazed at the general speed of the acceptance of gay marriage. I do remember about 20 or so years ago, some people in the gay community saying that the fight shouldn't be for marriage, but start with something smaller. I don't believe the goal of gay marriage was chosen consciously, but very practically--marriage gets you a host of rights and privileges you don't get by merely living together.

[masagoroll]

I'm also amazed at the general speed of the acceptance of gay marriage. I do remember about 20 or so years ago, some people in the gay community saying that the fight shouldn't be for marriage, but start with something smaller. I don't believe the goal of gay marriage was chosen consciously, but very practically--marriage gets you a host of rights and privileges you don't get by merely living together.

It is also so affirming to have an official, recognized relationship (if you want one). It literally makes me cry when I see slideshows of people who got married in states where gay marriage has been legalized and so many of them are very old and have been together for years and haven't had a chance to have a recognized relationship. It's romantic, yet really heartbreaking.

[Joykins]

I think the fact that there's been enough gay people out of the closet and open means that now people KNOW they know gay people as friends and neighbors, and that they are normal people and not some weird freakish thing out to corrupt the children and scare the horses, has really driven social acceptance in the past generation.

The fact that the loudest religous male homophobes often seem to end up on vacation with rent boys probably has nothing to do with anything. But someone is going to owe me $5 if Mohler is found with one.

[Joykins]

In addition I don't think this is quite true:

The liberal churches and denominations have an easy way out of this predicament. They simply accommodate themselves to the new moral reality.

In reality, this conflict is actually controversial within many of the "liberal churches and denominations" (by which I assume he means mainline) and has led to various degrees of schism. For example, some Episcopalian churches in the US have put themselves under the authority of bishops in Africa who take their side on this; other churches (and depending on the denomination this may be a congregation-by-congregation thing) may lose all their conservative or liberal members depending on which group stays...so yeah, after all the people who disagree left, you often have a liberal congregation with a positive opinion on homosexuality, but it didn't necessarily start that way.

[doggie]

the biggest threat to the christian church is the christian church.

[Cran]

the biggest threat to the christian church is the christian church.

You could also say: The biggest threat to the christian church are the christians.

God and all is really fine with me, that guy never calls and lets me all alone, but his ground staff really irks me.

How Mohler would like it if someone pointed out to him that his views of homosexuality were congruent with the catholic church? The homophobia exhibited by the clergy is laughable and has quite an air of protesting loudly to cover up what is in plain view.

[Hane]

Al Mohler hates anything that isn't like the world as he imagines it should be. Therefore, he'd probably hate someone like me--a never-married middle-aged woman who has her own job and life, and isn't under the subjection of any man. And, Al, honey, my dad, he LIKES it that way.

Me three, here--except for my having wasted 22 years of my life having been married to some jamoke or other. The older I get as a single woman, the more of a radfem I become.

And, heh, homosexuality isn't a threat to MY church. Our Welcoming Congregation is doing just fine, thanks.

[debrand]

I'm also amazed at the general speed of the acceptance of gay marriage. I do remember about 20 or so years ago, some people in the gay community saying that the fight shouldn't be for marriage, but start with something smaller. I don't believe the goal of gay marriage was chosen consciously, but very practically--marriage gets you a host of rights and privileges you don't get by merely living together.

I'm amazed also. Twenty years ago,there was no discussion of gay marriage. It's pretty amazing when you think about it.

http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/02/24/ ... -marriage/

In the article Mohler tries to justify the Defense Against Marrage Act. I've never understand, how two men getting married hurts heterosexual marriage.

[AnnoDomini]

Stupid DOMA.