THE DIVIDING LINE

 

 

What makes Christians differ? I think that our opposing views highlight the predominate difference:

 

The Christian Reformed Church voted to formalize its opposition to homosexual sex. One supporter stated:

 

• “The church must warn its members that those who refuse to repent of these sins — as well as of idolatry, greed, and other such sins — will not inherit the kingdom of God,” the report says. “It must discipline those who refuse to repent of such sins for the sake of their souls.”https://ministrywatch.com/christian-reformed-church-codifies-homosexual-sex-as-sin-in-its-declaration-of-faith/

 

However, the opposition argued:

 

• that passage of the so-called Human Sexuality Report and elevating its teachings to the status of confession would alienate LGBTQ people as well as younger generations of CRC members who have a different understanding of sexuality.

 

The prevailing side argued for pleasing God through fidelity to His Word, while the other was more concerned about pleasing LGBTQs. One side was more concerned about alienating God, while the other was more concerned about alienating those who would be repulsed by this proclamation. But is loving God and loving our neighbor opposed? No:

 

• By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:2-3)

 

These two principle are not opposed but complimentary. Why then the dispute? According to Scripture, we do not love the sinner by affirming their sin but by affirming the Word of God! How? By maintaining that the sinner must repent, the very thing that Jesus required:

 

• And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:2-5)

 

Therefore, to honor God and to insist on turning from sin is also to love our neighbor!