Christ Wasn't a Street Corner Preacher
I’m approaching today’s blog very carefully, praying I have the skill to effectively convey my exact feelings on this subject. First, the facts:
You may already have heard about the Christians who were arrested at a homosexual event called “Outfest” in Philadelphia this past December. According to this press release, a group calling themselves the Philadelphia 11 was protesting the event when another group of homosexuals tried to shut them up. All the Christians -- and no homosexuals -- were arrested.
According to other news sources, the Christians, with the aid of a megaphone, were reading scriptures on what the Bible has to say about homosexuality while others were holding signs with Biblical messages. A homosexual group called the Pink Angels blew loud whistles to drown out the Christians, while others held up pink angel signs to cover up the Christians’ signs. The Christians were arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy, ethnic intimidation and riot. The heaviest sentence carries up to 47 years of prison time.
Says the press release, “Early last week the Center for Law & Policy (CLP) filed papers in the federal court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania seeking a temporary restraining order that would prevent the City of Philadelphia from prosecuting the case against the Philadelphia 11. Judge Petrese Tucker heard the case and denied the Philadelphia 11’s request. The CLP immediately appealed Judge Tucker’s decision to the Third Circuit and that Court denied the Philadelphia 11’s request for emergency relief.”
Today the plot thickened when an anonymous source from the U.S. Justice Department revealed that some homosexuals may have been on the conspiring end instead. According to today’s press release, several judges in the Department of Justice attended Outfest and may have advised policemen to arrest the Christians. Because of their involvement and the obvious bias of the DOJ, the Christians may not be able to expect any justice from that quarter.
Now: focus your attention halfway around the world to a man I blogged about several months ago, the Swedish pastor jailed for publishing an article against homosexuality where he specifically called homosexuality, “a cancerous tumor on society.”
Obviously, the persecution of Christians for speaking against homosexuality is nothing new, despite its increasing aggression in the US. I believe that standing against sin is one of a Christian’s God-given duties. It is true and right and part of loving sinners as we are commanded to do. I also believe that although there are many decent homosexuals who are just as shocked and outraged at such travesties of justice as we are, there are also many homosexuals who use unethical, illegal and dirty methods to advance their agendas.
However, today’s blog is not about what the homosexuals are doing wrong; it is about what Christians are doing wrong. When I first wrote about pastor Ake Green, asking you to pray for him, my primary feeling was one of deep regret for the suffering of a good man for a righteous act. As time went on, my feelings changed. Although I feel that the pastor and the Philadelphia 11 were wrongly arrested, and I hope true justice will be served to them and anyone in similar situations, I believe the methods these Christians used should be examined carefully. Please understand that I do not wish to criticize (didn't I make a New Year's resolution about that?), but I do wish to point out that some messages are better delivered with different methods from those employed here.
First of all, what is the point of telling homosexuals what the Bible has to say about their lifestyle when most of them do not profess to be Christians and couldn’t care less about what the Bible says? That such methods would cause someone to repent and turn to God – especially in a carnival-type atmosphere – is highly unlikely. Yelling scriptures at a crowd of people that tell them God hates what they’re doing or calling them names in a newspaper is foolhardy and highly ineffective in any situation, In fact, these things may do more to turn people off in the long run. Does such behavior exhibit the love we’re supposed to show everyone? I wonder if the Christians and the pastor were also telling the homosexuals of God’s infinite capacity to extend grace and hope to them as well? No sermon condemning sin should ever lack the message of the gospel. If we emphasize sin, we must emphasize grace all the more. (Romans 5:20)
Words are cheap: tell me you love me, and I’m skeptical. Show me you love me, and I’m convinced. In order to gain a more sympathetic hearing for the gospel, we must first demonstrate love for the sinner. The key word here is demonstrate. I ask you, who is a homosexual more likely to listen to? A pastor closeted in a study? A small group of people yelling on a sidewalk? Or a volunteer laboring in an AIDs clinic? It’s hard to not like someone who is helping you or serving you in some way. It’s even harder not to listen to what they have to say at that point. Love seems so much more real when the person speaking of it is demonstrating that love at that very moment.
I hope that as we Christians continue to stand up for our rights in the public arena, we will remember that God's interests are best served when we practice what we preach. If we haven’t demonstrated God’s love, I don't believe we have a right to speak of God’s hatred for sin.
Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.
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