BISHOP’S PASTORAL         

December 2008

Homosexuality

My dear people of God,

The Church proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This Gospel leads us to know Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as our Lord and Savior, to know God’s great love for us, find forgiveness of our sins, and come to eternal life.   

The Church, and everyone who forms the Body of Christ, is responsible to always proclaim the full Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is that Gospel and not political correctness, that leads us through the confusion and trials of this world to the eternal life won for us through the blood of Jesus. 

The church proclaims clearly that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and possesses the dignity of being a child of God.  The Church teaches that everyone is to be respected.  This means everyone, no matter their race, sexual orientation, economic productivity to society, their crimes, their legal status, their physical appearance, advanced age, nearness to death, and the unborn still in the womb. We are all children of God.  We are called to love one another, to respect one another, to care for one another.    

This is all part of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus.  But if the church is to be faithful to the full Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to Holy Scripture, it must also speak clearly of the existence of sin, the evil of sin, and the power of God to forgive our sins, no matter what they are.  We are all sinful people, and need God’s forgiveness, often time and time again in our lives. But it is important to acknowledge and recognize sin and struggle to overcome sin if we are to follow the way of the Lord and bear witness to His Truth and Love. 

Despite the messages we get on TV, movies, billboards, songs, and the Internet, it IS possible to live a chaste life, whether one is heterosexual or homosexual.  With God all things are possible.  It is hard for many to believe this, as they may not know personally the Lord Jesus and the power of prayer and His love in their lives.   Jesus died for you, me and everyone no matter what sexual orientation one may have, and is present with us to help us to overcome sin and live chaste lives according to His will.         

In both the Old Testament and New Testament, it is clear that homosexual activity is sinful, just as they state that adultery, fornication, greed, and hatred are sinful.  The Church never speaks against someone being homosexual, anymore than it speaks against someone being heterosexual.  The Church does proclaim as evil what the Holy Scripture proclaims as evil, so people may know God’s will in a world that draws so many to selfishness and to the denial of sin itself.   The Church must proclaim the full Gospel of Jesus Christ.  If people choose not to follow that Gospel, it is their decision, but the Church can never be quiet, nor can the Word of God be silenced.

Many condemn the Church and those in accord with Holy Scripture, as being filled with hatred, as being bigots and guilty of discrimination for speaking against homosexual marriage.  To legalize homosexual marriage would make sodomy a civil right.   It would then only be a matter of time that anyone who cites the Sacred Scripture that homosexual behavior is sinful, would be sued for hate speech, bigotry and discrimination.  Christian Institutions and Organizations will be subject to lawsuits demanding that active homosexuals have the same rights as any minority as regarding participation and employment.  And with time, homosexual marriage being equal to heterosexual marriage WILL be taught in our public schools.  We are called liars for saying this, but it is a fact now in Massachusetts, where parents have no say so at all in this.  It WILL become a fact in California.

Already we have been called liars, hate mongers, bigots, guilty of denying human rights, and of unjust discrimination.   Let us pray for those who say this, and seek to continue to respect, show compassion and love for them, by presenting always the truth of Jesus in a respectful way.   Jesus died for them, Jesus loves them, and they need to hear the full Gospel of Jesus.  Let us also remember well the very last beatitude that Jesus gives us in the Gospel of Matthew:  “Blest are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of slander against you because of me.  Be glad and rejoice for your reward is great in heaven; they persecuted the prophets before you in the very same way.”   God bless you all very, very much.