By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
If Christianity and culture were wrestlers, Christianity would be picking itself up off the mat. We (Christians) are being slammed by culture.
Nowhere is that more evident than views on the LGBTQ movement and same-sex marriage.
The biblical view of marriage as a union of one man and one woman is fading fast.
The Pew Research Center recently released a study that indicates homosexual marriage is accepted by 47 percent of younger white evangelicals today. That is especially shocking when just one year ago, only 29 percent favored homosexual unions.
Lonnie Wilkey
According to a Baptist Press report, support for same-sex marriage was tabulated at its highest in over 20 years of Pew polling, with 62 percent of Americans in favor and only 32 percent opposed. Republicans, Baby Boomers, and African-Americans joined young white evangelicals in driving the growing approval of the practice, Pew said.
“Views on same-sex marriage have shifted dramatically in recent years,” the Pew report continued. “As recently as 2010, more Americans opposed than favored allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally.”
According to the Baptist Press article, Baby Boomers are leading the way in acceptance, with 56 percent in favor of gay marriage and 39 percent opposed. Last year, 48 percent opposed same-sex marriage, while 46 percent favored the practice.
Could it be that Baby Boomers (the group to which I belong) are changing their views because they are now seeing children and grandchildren acknowledge that they are gay? I don’t know but it’s certainly a possibility. If that’s true, then this segment of society is doing their children and grandchildren a disservice. Sin is sin regardless of who is committing that sin.
Baptist News Global reported last week that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is getting increased pressure from Baptists within their ranks who identify as LGBTQ to drop its policy against hiring staff or missionaries who are openly gay. Whether the CBF succumbs to the pressure remains to be seen.
Why are so many people changing their views? I daresay that many of these Baby Boomers who have changed their positions were reared in churches that preached homosexuality is a sin. If it was a sin then, it’s still a sin today. The version of the Bible I have says, without a shadow of a doubt, that marriage is between a man and a woman. It also says that homosexuality is an “abomination.” Do people view the Bible now as just another book instead of God’s infallible word?
Culture can change. Man can change the rules. But, God’s Word does not change. It appears, however, that some who still read the Bible are “cherry-picking” the verses that support their beliefs and ignoring the other verses or taking them out of context.
And, yes, some people will accuse me of doing just that. God’s Word, however, is clear on those two issues.
What culture is apparently teaching today is that it’s not a sin if enough people are doing it. What is disheartening is that so many Christians, especially the younger generation, are falling into the trap. Many in that age group have friends who have fallen into a homosexual lifestyle so they find it easier to condone.
And, let’s face it, it’s not just homosexuality that’s getting a free pass when it comes to sin. There are other sins that Christians aren’t as quick to mention as much as in years past.
Therein lies the problem for many churches and ministers. They don’t want to offend people or appear judgmental so they just ignore the sin. We, as Christians, should not judge. That’s not our job. But, Christians and the church, should not be hesitant to point out what Scripture says on sin in general. Then, let the Holy Spirit work and do the convicting.
That great theologian Barney Fife of fictional Mayberry said it well: “That’s one subject you just can’t talk about enough — sin.”
Culture is slamming Christians. The question is, “Are we going to pick ourselves up off that mat and fight back or will we continue to be silent?”
