Saturday, August 22, 2009

What The Heck Are They Thinking?

Someone please help me understand. More and more I'm seeing people (and now whole "religious" organizations and denominations) invent ways to keep from calling people engaged in certain behaviors "sinners" and telling them that their behavior is wrong. The latest perfect example is the ELCA's vote on gay clergy. Read more HERE

In the past that would have been considered an oxymoron: gay + clergy = incompatible. But apparently we would rather have people feel good about themselves in their sin, than feel good about themselves because they've struggled with and avoided sinful behavior.

But it's not just homosexuality.

We often do the same with divorce, pre-marital and extra-marital sex and even gossip. I know few people that would argue that God's ideal is for any of those kinds of behavior. (I'm sure they're out there, but I don't know many) Yet when these kinds of sinful behaviors happen, we not only ignore it, now people are starting to embrace it!

Wake up people! There is no right way to incorporate a wrong thing. If homosexual behavior is wrong - don't try to figure out a way to make it right because some people struggle with it. If pornography, pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, gossip, lying or even gluttony is wrong - don't try to make that kind of behavior acceptable and moral just because a bunch of people struggle with it (or flat out embrace it). There's nothing wrong with the struggle. We're all sinful people so we should expect to struggle (and fight against whatever temptations we encounter).

When people choose sin, I'm saddened. When people celebrate their sin, I get pissed. Not at them, but at the attitude that says, "God wants me to be happy and this is how I plan on doing it." If that's you, what the heck are you thinking?

3 comments:

George said...

Well said. I saw this on the news and thought "What now..." If all "Christians" valued Scripture over our own preferences and people pleasing, perhaps we wouldn't be willing to BEND it so much. That kind of attempt at social peace neglects what Christ came to accomplish. Jesus says himself that that peace wasn't his goal.

Jenn said...

I agree with what you are saying.

We do need to love the person, and hate the sin. We definitely do NOT need to condone the sin or teach it as being OK. We all struggle with sin, but should point one another toward the truth.

I appreciate your stand against sin, and continuing to point us to God's word and truth.

Good post!

e said...

totally agree Jason.
I saw that on the news and thought the same thing....
We definitely live in a "feel good" society.

What a week it's been!
Hope yours is improving ;)