The Rev. Mr. Paul
McCain, a Confessional Lutheran Churchman (LCMS), offers sage, balanced,
thoughtful, and important counsel for all reformational (three streams),
catholic, Biblical and historic Christians.
How should one deal with a loved one, a friend, or any discussion about
the matter in re: homosexuality? Rev.
McCain notes, “You will desire to keep both them [a
family member, friend, etc.] and your beliefs [Biblical, Confessional commitments]
close.” These twin desires will be a
challenge.
Rev. McCain’s blog is
recommended to Confessional Anglicans.
Here is Rev. McCain’s
blog-site and post.
How President Obama Became Pro-Gay Marriage
Excellent blog post
by Pastor Philip Hoppe.
Listen to his own words:
“I have to tell you that over the
course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors,
when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed
monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids
together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who
are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that
‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves
in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it
is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should
be able to get married,” Obama told Roberts in an interview to appear on ABC’s “Good
Morning America” Thursday.
Obama become Pro-Gay marriage
relationally. He knew people who were gay and wanted no longer to offend those
people by denying them the rights other couples have.
He did not come to this position
through biological reflection. No one discovered a hereunto unknown gene which
shows that people are born genetically gay. Every male and female born today
are still born with private parts that suggest the only biologically compatible
relationship is that between man and woman. It remains the only relationship
which can propagate the species. Nothing has changed there.
He did not come to this position
after re-examining the Scriptures Christianity holds as sacred. For again,
those scriptures still testify from the first book to the last that marriage
and sexuality are given only to men and women. Those wish to argue otherwise
are required to come to the scriptures with a Jeffersonian love for excising
troublesome parts of the Book at their own discretion.
He did not come to this position
historically or sociologically. The research all shows that homosexuality is
not a practice that prospers societies.
Obama become Pro-Gay marriage
relationally. And he is not alone. I would suggest that everyone who does not
come to this position by virtue of personally embracing homosexuality as their
own sexual identity comes to this position relationally. They know someone who
claims homosexuality as their identity and cannot bear to stand in opposition
to them.
And I do not wish to minimize this
struggle for a moment. It is a dark and torturous place for anyone to be. I
have experienced it personally though not as closely as many of you may have.
But the fact that it is hard to stand in opposition to those we love does not
make it okay to not do so.
Matthew
10:37-39 Whoever loves father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than
me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is
not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his
life for my sake will find it.
If you have not felt the heat of
this crucible yet, you surely will. You will know someone and love someone who
will choose homosexuality as their way of life. You will desire to keep both
them and your beliefs close.
When it happens, do not melt away.
Do the truly loving thing, stand firm, and speak the truth in love. Keep a
close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing
you may save both yourself and them.
And yet be prepared for the
opposite also. For if that person does not turn after much loving counsel, the
intensity of the heat will grow. Eventually it may dissolve the connection
between you and them. And while that is never the intention, it is far more
important that you remain connected to Christ. You must remain relationally
connected to Christ. It is your life.
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