Conflicts Between Church and Gay Relationships Research Paper

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Homosexual Relationships Prohibited

In recent years a tide of change has swept across America. Gay marriage has been the focal point of many court battles and legislations. As a result, public opinions has shifted majorly towards a more lenient and accepting view of same-sex relationships. This change poses significant challenges towards Christian individuals who remain steadfast in conservative values. Churches, believers, and ministers all over the nation now face serious conflicts and questions with their beliefs and the public around them (1).

Christians are currently feeling overwhelming pressure to make changes in their own churches that will allow for homosexual couples to practice in their facilities. They are already being labeled socially as hateful, prejudiced, and ignorant, which is a trial to the Christian who seeks to follow the council of Christ and love all. On top of that, ministers are being asked to perform marriages against their personal beliefs, churches are being targeted by unions and same-sex organizations, and Sunday school classes are being challenged by youth groups who shout discrimination. Free-churches still hold the freedom to hire as they wish, but for other religious organizations, tax statuses and anti-discrimination laws are forcing homosexuals into their ministry. So how are Christians supposed to act in response to this overwhelming pressure? It may feel as if it is no longer possible to live by the biblical standards that have defined our society for so many years. Dallas Jones asks the big question whether or not we are still able to adhere to God's counsel on Sexual matters in today's world. It is an excellent question and one that should be examined by all modern Christians. How can we live in today's world and not jeopardize our Biblical standards (1)?

Same-Sex Marriage and Today's Church: Statistics

Biblical standards used to be the moral guide for all of American society. Throughout our history, whether or not people were believers, they adhered to the moral code and values that was preached over the pulpit. Sunday school lessons were affirmed by parents in the home, and all of the people at work shared the same set of values. The church was the culture. Theology was not he question since people were free to believe or not, but still all people agreed on what was right and what was wrong, what was natural, and what was unnatural. People rarely challenged these morals and it lasted well into the 21st century (1).

Due to this long history of cohesion between the church and the state, many Christians are not accustomed to having to defend their faith like they are required to do today. For the first time in American history, public opinion is starting to sway against the Christian believers. Basic doctrines are being challenges and criticized and many people do not know how to respond without sounded bigoted or prejudiced. The sexual values of the Christian religion are on top of the list of values being challenged by society. Sexuality has never before been questioned like this due to the previously symbiotic relationship between church and culture (1).

People are describing the advent of gay marriage as "inevitable" (2) whether they support it or not. This represents the change that is happening in America in an excellent way. A June poll by the Pew Research Center discovered an incredibly slim majority being in favor of gay-marriage. 51% is the number of people in favor and those results are consistent with all other polls done. The results for those in favor of ratifying gay-marriage are always in the low 50's which mean that the nation is split almost in half on this issue (2). Gallup performed a similar poll and NBC did one as well. All of the results were unanimous with a slim 51 or 52% majority (3).

Something that is important to consider is the change of public opinion that has been documented over the last decade. According to a study performed in 2003, only 37% of the population actually held a positive image of homosexual men. Contrast that with the 2013 version of the same study that had that number jump to 55%, which makes it a huge change (4).

Almost one out seven people has claimed to flip their opinions on this issue. Most often the change occurs when a friend or family member of theirs 'comes out' as a homosexual.

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Gallup learned though that devout religious people that attend church regularly still disapprove since the approval rate is only at 23% (5).

Another interesting fact is the schism between old and young believers. A large portion of evangelicals that were below 29 years of age are actually in support of gay-marriage. However, even though they support homosexual's right to marry, many of them reported feelings of disapproval in regards to homosexual practice itself (6). It seems as if the resistance to new legislation and the tide of change is held mostly by the conservative and aging Christians. It is clear that there is a wide division between generations in the church (1).

Homosexuality condemned in Holy Scripture

The example of Catholic adoption services nearly losing their license in Massachusetts due to being unwilling to adapt to gay couples demonstrates the conflicts that already exist between gay-rights laws and religious organizations. It is easy for charities to be punished by the government for upholding their own beliefs which in turn steps on anti-discrimination laws. The refusal of service is one of the more common reasons why religious non-profit organizations become penalized and suffer consequences of the law (18). Another example of this would be a religious college refusing their married housing to same-sex couples. The examples are widely numerous and all demonstrate the principle that religious organizations performing charity are at risk of penalties from upholding their beliefs and values (7).

Even an objective observer would have a difficult time reading the scriptures without noticing the clear doctrine of homosexuality. The Bible always describes homosexuality as a sin, as something unnatural, and a violation of God's commandments. The references are numerous and include but are not limited to: Rom 1:18-32; 1 Cor 6:9; Lev 18:22; 2 Pet 2:7; 1 Tim 1:10; Genesis 19; and the entire 7th chapter of Jude. Of course it is possible to interpret these scriptures in various ways, but the underlying message is clear. Pro-homosexual scholars have switched the meaning of these verses in order to support their own arguments. This doesn't support the remaining scriptures and a more literal interpretation is much more likely to be true (8).

Leviticus 18:22; 20:13

There are two clear prohibitions laid forth by Moses in the Book of Leviticus:

You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination (18:22).

If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness is upon them (20:13).

These scriptures are clear as day in their message, and so naturally several explanations have been given by pro-homosexual scholars as to why they do not apply to us (9). Some say that it is a contamination of the original text and that the truth has been lost in the thousands of reprints and translations (10). Other people claim this to be a poke at the Canaanites and their vile practices (11). Another explanation is that the scriptures are discussing the waste of semen by humans who sleep around.

The biblical authors did not divide the law into moral and ceremonial sections. The law was a theological law and through it men were made holy (12). In continuation, the New Testament holiness was likewise found through the Old Testament laws. Examples that show this are written in 1 Cor 5:1 which relates to Lev 20:11 and Lev 18:18. 1 Cor 6:9-11 condemns the same vices that are condemned in the 19th and 20 thchapters of Leviticus. That the Christian should be separated from the heathen, or the world, is Biblical doctrine. Jesus admonished all people to be holy like him, and the moral codes set forth in scripture is the guideline to meet that commandment (8).

A scholar named Wold puts to rest this issue of misinterpretation as he argues that even the terms for same-sex sexual relations are prohibited by Hebrew law. He calls the language emphatic (13).

Romans 1:18-32

Paul, in Romans 1:18-32, lays out the most thorough and extensive sermon on homosexuality found in the Bible. He condemns it as a sin and the partakers as people who need the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The sermon covers both God's labeling of homosexuality as sinful,.....

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