4/4/16
Whyarewetalkingaboutsexuality?
2Timothy3:16-17
AllScriptureisGod-breathedand
isusefulforteaching,rebuking,
correc9ngandtrainingin
righteousness,sothattheservant
ofGodmaybethoroughly
equippedforeverygoodwork.
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HowdoweunderstandtheBible?
Reason,tradiConand
experienceareimportant
inunderstandingScripture.
Yet,theyareallunder
authorityofScripture.
Whyarewetalkingaboutsexuality?
Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Transgender
Issueisaculturalreality…
ArewecalledtotaketheGospel
tothewholeworld,oronly
peoplewearecomfortablewith?
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Whyarewetalkingaboutsexuality?
Isthechurchcomposedofonly
peoplewhostrugglewiththe
sociallyacceptablesins?
Or,istheGoodNewsgoodfor
everyone,nomaRertheirsins?
Istheremorethanone
unforgivablesin?
Three“posiCons”onLGBTissue
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Three“posiCons”onLGBTissue:Whatissue?
I’massuming
thisisnotyour
posiCon!
We’llexaminetwoopposing“Scripts”
Thecondemningscript:
“Godhatesgays[sowedon’t
haveanythingtodowith
thosepeople]”
Isthisbiblical?
Theaffirmingscript:
“Godmademethisway[so
youshouldaffirmmy
lifestyle]”
Isthisbiblical?
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Thecondemningscript,somethinglikethis…
TheBibleteachesthathomosexualityisanabominaCon(read:
greatestoffenseapersoncancommitbeforeGod)and
perversion(significantdeparturefromGod’sdesign).
Lev18:22(KJV):
“Thoushaltnotliewithmankind,aswithwomankind:itis
abomina5on.”
20:13(KJV):
“Ifamanalsoliewithmankind,asheliethwithawoman,both
ofthemhavecommi<edanabomina5on:theyshallsurelybe
puttodeath;theirbloodshallbeuponthem.”
Thecondemningscript,somethinglikethis…
TheBibleteachesthathomosexualityisanabominaCon
(mostoffensiveapersoncanmaketoGod)andperversion
(significantdeparturefromGod’sdesign).
1Corinthians6:9-10(NIV)
Ordoyounotknowthatwrongdoerswillnotinheritthe
kingdomofGod?Donotbedeceived:Neitherthesexually
immoralnoridolatersnoradulterersnormenwhohavesex
withmen10northievesnorthegreedynordrunkardsnor
slanderersnorswindlerswillinheritthekingdomofGod.
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Thecondemningscript,somethinglikethis…
Therefore,Godhateshomosexuals!
Romans1:26-27(NIV):
26Becauseofthis,Godgavethemovertoshamefullusts.Even
theirwomenexchangednaturalsexualrela5onsforunnatural
ones.27Inthesamewaythemenalsoabandonednatural
rela5onswithwomenandwereinflamedwithlustforone
another.Mencommi<edshamefulactswithothermen,and
receivedinthemselvestheduepenaltyfortheirerror.
AssumpCon:people“choose”tobegay,lesbian,etc.justas
wechooseanyothersin:
Thecondemningscript…
Therefore,IhavenothingtodowithLGBTpeopleunlessthey
choosetobetotallydifferent.
ApplicaCon:mistreatment,condemnaCon,prejudice,
discriminaCon,evenabuseofLGBTpeopleisOK.
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CondemningscriptalaJonah,elderbrother
Isthecondemningscriptbiblical?
Homosexualityisdetestable(offensive,vile,repulsive,etc.)
Justasothersinfulbehaviors:1Corinthians6:9-10
Ordoyounotknowthatwrongdoerswillnotinheritthe
kingdomofGod?Donotbedeceived:Neitherthesexually
immoralnoridolatersnoradulterersnormenwhohavesex
withmen10northievesnorthegreedynordrunkardsnor
slanderersnorswindlerswillinheritthekingdomofGod.
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IsthecondemningscriptBiblical?
Weo.enassumethatthea6tudeswegrewupwithorheard
fromotherChris?ansrepresentBiblicalvalues.
Nega?ve/condemninga6tudetowardhomosexualsoriginate
primarilyfromdeeplyrootedculturalprejudices,fearsand
misconcep?onsratherthanfromtheBibleorChris?an
teaching.
IfwethinkwearebeMerormoreholythanthoseweconsider
tobe"sinners,"thenweourselvesareguiltyofthesinofselfrighteousness(Luke18:9-14).
IsthecondemningscriptBiblical?
HomosexualityisaradicaldeparturefromGod’sdesignfor
sexuality;itisaperversion.
Including…
thesexuallyimmoralnoridolatersnoradulterersnormenwho
havesexwithmen10northievesnorthegreedynordrunkards
norslanderersnorswindlerswillinheritthekingdomofGod.
Godhatesthebehavior;con?nuallylivingalifeinradical
departurefromGod’sdesign.
Why?Hisdesignislovingandbestforhumanity.
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IsthecondemningscriptBiblical?
Therefore,GodDOESNOThategays!Anymorethanhehates
thesexuallyimmoral,idolators,thegreedy,swindlers,
adulterers,thoseinaddic?onstodrugs,alcohol,pornography,
oranyothersinyoucanname.
Thatisasloganusedbysomehategroups,butitdoesnot
comefromtheBibleanditisnotconsistentwithBible
teachings(Genesis1:31,Psalms145:9,MaRhew5:43-45,John
3:16,Romans5:8).
HelovesLesbian,Gay,Bi-sexual,Transgenderpeople.
HedesiresthattheycometosalvaConinJesusChrist.
IsthecondemningscriptBiblical?
DopeoplechoosetobeLGBT?
Isitnatureornurture;geneCcorenvironment?
Thestudiesarenotconclusiveeitherway(Yarhouse).
Wemustbecarefultonot“onlyone-ism”
Thereisnotonlyonereasonpeoplearegay.
MulCplefactors,probablydifferentforeachperson.
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IsthecondemningscriptBiblical?
Weshoulduselanguagethatismoreaccurate:
Same-sexaMrac?on:experience,feelings…
Same-sexorienta?on:repeatedexperience,feelings
Gayiden?ty:havechosentoself-iden?fyasLGBT
What’smostimportant?Oursexualityorouriden?tyin
Christ?Youngergenera?onsarebeingtaughtthatit’s
sexuality.Wemustdemonstratethatitisouriden?tyin
Christ.Wewon’tdothatbycondemningothers.
IsthecondemningscriptBiblical?
Therefore,havingnothingtodowithLGBTpeopleunless
theychoosetobetotallydifferentisunloving,unbiblical.
Again,ifwethinkwearebeMerormoreholythanthosewe
considertobe"sinners,"thenweourselvesareguiltyofthe
sinofself-righteousness(PhariseeinLuke18:9-14).
Jesustaughtbywordandexamplenottobeself-righteousor
shunthoseweconsidertobe"sinners"(MaRhew
9:10-13,Luke7:36-48).
“Jesussaid,“Itisnotthehealthywhoneedadoctor,butthe
sick.13Butgoandlearnwhatthismeans:‘Idesiremercy,not
sacrifice.’ForIhavenotcometocalltherighteous,but
sinners.”(MaR.9:12-13)
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IsthecondemningscriptBiblical?
ApplicaCon:mistreatment,condemnaCon,prejudice,
discriminaCon,evenabuseofLGBTpeopleisNOTOK.
PromoCng,condoningitisunbiblical,un-Christlike.
RemembertheGoodSamaritan?Who’smyneighbor?The
personinneed—evenifculturally,tradi?onallythatpersonis
anenemyoratoddswithourreligion.(Luke10:25-37)
Nextweek:TheAffirmingScript
IsitBiblical?
Isitreasonable?
SCllhavequesCons?
Pleasejoinusforadiscussionfollowingtheservicein
AcCvityRooms3-4.
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