Homosexuality – It’s not a question about love

Yesterday evening I had a very interesting chat with a brother during our Theology class at Wycliffe. We’ve been asked to write an essay on the topic of ethics. The choice of questions range from abortion, economic justice, scriptures and homosexuality.

In a brief chat over coffee, this brother said something very interesting. He had decided to write on the topic of homosexuality. I asked him where he stood on the issue after reading up on the topic and forming his theological opinion. He instantly refered to Jesus and what He said in Mark 12. In his theological essay he was going to defend the right of a homosexual lifestyle by quoting from Mark 12.

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29)

He said something along these lines, “look, I’ve come to the opinion that we just need to love them because Mark 12 says so and that’s what we Christians need to do. Jesus said in Mark 12 that we must love our neighbours and must accept them.”

In other words what he was saying was that the problem lies with the Christian who is simply not loving them and we just need to accept their lifestyle because Mark 12 says so. He was suggesting that perhaps the Christian is biased and prejudiced. Now that may be the case for some, not all.

Now that sounds very spiritual and noble but I couldn’t help but challenge him in what he was saying. What a foolish argument. Love is not the problem here. It is not even an issue of love here. A true Christian doesn’t hate homosexuals, he couldn’t. To use Mark 12 and say we need to love them is not what the true Christians is having to defend. It is not that the Christian is not loving them, but not agreeing. It is wrong to use Mark 12 in this issue as a theological argument and support. He was Biblicaly and theologically side stepping the issue which is absolutely the reason why the Church has very little power today.

Love is not at question here. It’s whether homosexuality is right or wrong which the Christian is debating. If a Christian doesn’t love a homosexual as Christ loves Him, then he too will stand before the judgement seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10).

What does Systematic theology teach about God, Gods created order, marriage, relationships, man and woman and their relationship to God. To simply revert to Mark 12 is cowardice and perhaps suggests why the so-called Church is at the mercy of men. This brother was going to base most of his theological argument from Mark 12 on the basis that we must love.

Christian, think before you make foolish arguments and use the words of Christ to justify something.

Tags: bias, DBTS, Homosexuality, prejudice, Theology, Wycliffe

Category: Latest Article