I can understand differing opinions about things such as the authorship of Hebrews, or David’s age when he wrote Psalm 62. However, I’m having a hard time understanding self-professing Christians who are so at odds with each other about whether Jesus would bake a cake to celebrate a gay wedding. Even worse, it frightens me that so many people don’t see the danger in getting the answer to this question wrong. On the surface, it may not seem like a big deal but consider this: How you answer this question speaks volumes about who you think Jesus is and who you think you are in relationship to him. Which Jesus you worship matters for eternity. Is it the one of the Bible or the one who has been fashioned in your image? The Jesus of the Bible bled holy blood, died on a cross as the atonement for your sins, and offers you entrance into Glory. The Jesus you fashion in your image did NOT.
Who was Jesus referring to in Matthew 7:21-23 when he tells us that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’…Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” ? From the text, Jesus makes it clear that it is possible to use Jesus’ name, thinking you “know” him and you can be terribly wrong. Those who know Jesus, do his will. The one Jesus knows is the one who obeys him.Jesus always did the will of his father, so how can we discover what the real Jesus would do in this situation? There isn’t one verse that speaks directly to this question, however God has absolutely revealed throughout Scripture enough of himself in order for us to rightly judge things that are not plainly revealed.
Here’s what I’ve considered on the subject of whether Jesus would bake a cake and join in the festivities of a gay wedding:
1.
God created marriage to be
between a man and a woman in Gen 2:24 “a man shall leave his father and his
mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife and they shall become one
flesh”. They were not identical, they
complimented each other and it was through this union they were to be “fruitful
and multiply”.
2.
God, unchanging in his character, has graciously given us his list of “do
not’s” in Exodus 20 and Leviticus 19. While the sacrificial practices changed
in the New Testament due to the Perfect Lamb’s sacrifice, the call to holiness
has not. The call to keep his commands
is woven throughout Scripture, Old and New Testament. In these “do-not’s” ALL sexual immorality,
including homosexuality is considered despicable, detestable and an abomination
to the LORD. This does not change in the N.T.
3.
1 Corinthians 5 describes how not only committing sexual immorality but boasting in it should not be tolerated
within the church. While Paul refrains
from passing judgment on the non-Christian who is proud of such sin, he still calls it sin and does judge the Christian who “should have been filled with grief”.
4.
1 Corinthians 10:6-11 warns us not to celebrate in what God considers
sinful. Do not “[sit] down to eat and
drink and …indulge in pagan revelry”… We should not test the Lord, as some did
and were killed… These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us…”
5.
I find many places in Scripture where God punished sin (i.e., The Flood,
Sodom & Gomorrah, Pharaoh & the Egyptians, his own children in the
Wilderness, etc…). I have yet to
discover a place where he celebrated with
people in the codification of their sin (i.e. wedding ceremony for any other
than a man or woman).
6.
Marriage is God’s earthly picture of the love and intimacy between Christ,
the bridegroom and the Church, his bride. It is a mysterious and holy union,
not to be mocked. (Eph 5:25-32)
7.
Jesus left the glory of the heavenly realm to be spat upon, beaten,
mocked and tortured to death to save us from our sins. For thousands of years the saints have
marveled at such a love that our Lord must have for us to suffer so. How much more unthinkable is it that he would
do such a thing only to join us in a celebration of sin?!
8.
Even when he rescues us, just as the woman caught in adultery, he does
so with the command, “now go and sin no
more”. (John 8:1-11)
9.
Hebrews 6:6 describes those who, at one time, shared in the Holy Spirit,
but turned away from the “goodness of the word of God” as “crucifying the Son
of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace”. If we humans would be subjecting Christ to
public disgrace by turning from the goodness of the word of God, how much more ludicrous
is it suggest he would do the same to himself?!
Why leave glory to be flogged beyond recognition and die on a cross if he’s
just going to kick up his heels with the sinners in the midst of what he
defines as their wickedness?
10. In the book of Revelation, Jesus has praise
for the Church in Ephesus in that they “cannot tolerate wicked men” and
delivers harsh words for the Church at Pergamum for “committing sexual
immorality”. I translate this to mean that grace is not a “get out of jail free”
card. Up through the last book of the Bible, I’m still held accountable by a
holy God.
This is just a short list for why I would not be able to
bake a cake or be the photographer of a gay wedding. I am confident that to claim that Jesus would
not participate in celebrating a homosexual wedding is in line with who God
reveals himself to be in Scripture. I am
convinced that if I were to celebrate a gay wedding, it would be tantamount to
crucifying my sweet Jesus all over again.
Are we so disconnected with the cost of our sin that we could believe
Jesus would find joy in celebrating it with us?
Is it possible that
we are actually worshiping a Jesus made in our own image?
Christian, my plea to you is this- don’t take my word for
it. Spend
time searching the Scriptures and see what you find. Not because it’s a hot topic in our culture
but because which Jesus you worship is the difference between death and life
everlasting.
No comments:
Post a Comment