I sometimes hear Christians say it's not our business how others behave sexually. We can have our values but should keep them to ourselves.
Of course, this argument quickly breaks down when you bring up the subject of pedophilia. Most Christians and non-Christians still think this moral choice should be disapproved, banned, and legislated against.
Fifty years ago, you'd have found the same consensus regarding homosexuality. Seventy-five years ago, you'd have found the same consensus regarding premarital sex.
So what does that mean? Have we advanced in our thinking?
God says not. Our world is spiraling into darkness, and Christians must not be ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God to transform lives (Romans 1:16-32).(1)
Certain behaviors are unhealthy for a society as a whole as well as unhealthy for the individuals who practice them.
We can't force our views on an unwilling public, but it's still our business to warn people of sins that damage men's and women's hearts and souls.
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(1) It is no surprise that this passage describing immorality, homosexuality, paganism, and humanism begins with the verse: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes ... For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" Read the full passage below.
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Romans 1:16-32:
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Bible Love Notes
This is all very true. Unfortunately you can't legislate for goodness and people cannot follow God whom they don't know. We ought to be introducing people to our God of love and mercy. He alone can change people's thoughts and actions.
ReplyDeleteKath,
DeleteYou're right that there is a time and place for sharing things with unbelievers. But one important element of the Gospel is that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. If we consider that an unimportant truth to share, then we are misleading people. Just as there are appropriate times to address lying and stealing with an unbeliever, there are appropriate times to address sexual sins. If we shy away from culturally acceptable sins, we are not following God's Word.
Yes, only God can change people's thoughts and actions. And our part is to share His truths unashamedly, honestly, and fully, even the parts that aren't popular.