It seems like Christians (like me) are constantly focusing on a narrow set of issues like abortion and homosexual behavior. It might seem as if we think that's all there is. So it may prompt someone, either in complaint or in confusion, to ask, "Why so much attention here? Aren't there other issues, like adultery or gluttony or gossip?"
I get it. I do. On one hand, I suppose there is even some truth to the accusation. There is a tendency in everyone (not just the religious) to say, "What you're doing is wrong, but what I'm doing isn't so bad." So we might point fingers at the adulterer and ignore the fact that we're fornicating or complain about the thief while we hate our parents when, in fact, all of these are sins.
A second factor is the matter of degrees. All sin deserves judgment, but it can't be avoided that some sin is worth than others. So being dishonest is a sin, but it doesn't rank as high as, say, murder. So we think that perhaps the issue we're addressing is worse than the issues we're not.
For me (because not all of us who address issues are the same), it is neither of these factors. I know I'm a sinner and hate my own sin. Given. I'm not absolved. I'm trusting only in the blood of Christ. And I'm working on it. And I don't necessarily think that abortion and homosexual behavior top the list of worst sins. No, not at all. But let me give you an illustration to explain my thinking.
The other day I watched the news. Another big fire, you know. Some forest was burning. Homes were threatened. The same thing we've heard a lot of this year. The commentator was saying that the forest was very dry, that the entire area was in a drought. So, there I am, watching this conflagration, and they're showing me aircraft flying in and dropping water on the fire and fire fighters hosing down the edges of the flames to beat them back and what did not occur to me was that question we started with. "Hey, the whole forest is dry! Why are they only pouring water on the fire??!"
Why do I spend so much time on the sin of homosexual behavior? Because that's the current hotspot. That's where the fire is. That's where the most damage is being done. And as it leaves behind scorched areas like marriage, sexual purity, and more, the after affects will be serious erosion of the ground left without cover and it's going to be bad. Is the rest of the "forest" dry? Is there sin elsewhere that is a problem? Well, sure! Starting in my own life. And I'm working on that, but that's not where the "fire" is. So that's not where I'm focusing most of the "water". And that's why I do it.
10 comments:
Both of these issues are also unique from other sins in that they are being put forth as, at worst, morally benign, and judged legally so. That this won't mean some impact on society and the culture is naive, and I've no doubt, based on simply observing the culture, that impact is negative, thereby affecting everyone to one degree or another. THAT is worth concentrating on these sins with more vigor than on some others.
I, too, deal with my own compulsions. But I haven not failed to recognize which ones are sinful, or would be if I acted upon them. I do not seek to have their status as sinful behaviors altered for my convenience and satisfaction. Homosexuality and abortion have that support for their legitimacy legally and morally.
As a response to this post and the first comment. Greed, adultery, gluttony, gossip, and pornography (to name a few) are all seen by a large portion of society as morally benign and judged as legally so. Also, many of these are much more pervasive in the church. I have seen adultery rip more Christian marriages apart than, homosexuality. I have seen the desire for material goods, put peoples faith in themselves rather than in God. left. I have seen the gossip culture in the name of "prayer requests", destroy true Christian community at an alarming rate. To say that homosexuality and abortion are "hotspots", is to deny the seriousness and pervasiveness of the rest of these "lesser" sins.
I suppose this means that you didn't get the illustration I offered (about pouring water on the entire forest rather than on the fire). Or you are opposed to pointing out that homosexuality is a sin? Or you're in favor of spending large amounts of time and effort opposing greed, gluttony, and adultery as well as abortion and homosexuality? Not clear.
To be clear, homosexuality and abortion are not "hotspots". I am fine calling them sins, but I am not fine stating that they are as you stated "worth"(worse)than others. It seems that Christian pastors (and bloggers), spend an inordinate amount of time on two issues, when in reality these are the two issues that their flock or readership deal with the least. Maybe ruffle some feathers and hit people closer to home with a poignant piece on idolatry or gossip. These are sins many Christians and many of your readers deal with personally.
I've hit those. But I'd suggest 1) that the Bible disagrees that sexual sin is less important than, say, gossip and 2) the damage these up-and-coming popular sins will cause is massive. It is, as a matter of fact, the underlying problems demonstrated by these sins that are at the root of a whole bunch of moral issues. The value of life (abortion) and God's view of sexuality, its purpose, and its use are two huge issues in the pages of Scripture as well as our public domain. And the damage will not be limited to the perpetrators.
The reason we address homosexuality so much is that no other sexual sin is being forced upon us, with the demands that we sanction it.
Abortion, like homosexuality, is also being forced upon us with demands for sanction.
No one is trying to get us to sanction adultery, greed, gossip, etc. So homosexual behavior and abortion are indeed "hot spots" because those are the ones which we are being demanded to sanction, and in regard to homosexual behavior we are being punished with forced re-education courses, loss of income, loss of business, etc simply for refusing to sanction it.
Paul even points out that sexual sin is worse when he says, "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body." 1 Cor.6:18-20
Glen,
When you say "we are being asked to sanction", who is the "we" that you are talking about?
You're kidding, right, Josh? "We" is everyone who believes that the Bible calls homosexual behavior "sin". "We" is the Christian photographer who doesn't feel she can support a homosexual union or the Christian baker who doesn't feel he can help celebrate a lesbian union. "We" is everyone in places like Tempe, Arizona where it is illegal to speak out loud anything that might make a gay person feel uncomfortable or this nation where, if you want to do business with the government, there is no such thing as a "religious exemption". "We" is everyone who disagrees with the lifestyle and, when speaking openly about it, is threatened. "We" is everyone.
The "We" is everyone. We as Christians especially, but "we" is all of society who find homosexual behavior to be abhorrent and perverse.
We are being forced to give it sanction or else suffer the consequences.
Thanks Glen,
I wasn't sure if you were talking about, the Church, Americans, or everyone.
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