Photo Credit: World Magazine
You might be a pharisee if you are puzzled by this question or immediately dismiss is it because you think you aren’t guilty of committing at least one. Let me help you out by assuring you that you have indeed committed an abomination if you have ever taken a breath. No one’s exempt. Anyone yelling at me through the computer screen yet? You can get as red-faced as you want, but be careful because you might commit an abomination in the process.
If I had even a penny for every time someone has objected to my “sin is sin” comment I wouldn’t need to take a salary at Exodus. It seems that Christians are obsessed with continuing to promote the myth that there are sin levels. Under this hierarchy sins like homosexuality and other impolite maladies are classified as abominations or the most offensive. To be biblically accurate, in the original text homosexuality is used in conjunction with the Hebrew word for abomination which is toeva. You won’t get an argument from me about the fact that homosexuality is definitely listed in the BIble as an abomination. However, let’s just for a moment take a look at the most quoted verses on the topic of abominations:
Proverbs 6:16-19: 16 There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness {who} utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers. (NAS)
So, again, what’s your abomination? We’ve all committed them multiple times. I mean come on, how many church splits happen in the course of a day? Hundreds? How many of us are guilty of devising wicked plans to oust this leader or oppose that program? How many of us are quick to run into evil gossip sessions about those in the church (not to mention those outside of the church) with whom we find fault? Haughty eyes? Um, according to a now ancient statistic from Promise Keepers upwards of 65% of Christian men were addicted to porn in the year 2002—the statistic today must be staggering. Any liars out there?
Crickets. Do you hear them?
So, this morning when I read a blog post on a conservative blog boasting disgust over the abomination of homosexuality and those involved in it I thought I’d level the playing field a bit. You won’t find me condoning sexual sin of any sort but I am sick and tired of hearing it singled out by the religiously proud who are content to wallow in their own abominable practices of demonizing people that Christ actively loves and died to have a relationship with.
Sick of the anger and bitterness from gay activists? Well then cool your tongue and quit giving them more fuel for their fire. Some of their bitterness and anger is rooted in how some Christians and churches have treated them—some rooted in circumstances beyond our control (sin hates truth). But, there is no denying that we in the Church have often cared more about being morally right and winning politically than being loving and winning people into the Kingdom. Do you feel badly about that and want to know how to live by your convictions and yet love people in a way that is undeniable? Think of how God forgave you once and for all when you gave your heart to Him. It’s called grace! We could stand to give out of the abundance of which we’ve been given.
