Commentaries
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 No Longer Surprised Prepare to Give an AnswerTopics: Colson_Links, Freedom of Religion/Speech, Gender Issues, Homosexuality, Marriage & Family, Media, Sexual Ethics We now know what to expect, so we must be ready to not only speak out, but speak out winsomely. Listen Now | Download
Kirk Cameron was once the most popular teen actor on television as the lovable Mike Seaver on “Growing Pains.” But no longer. As most of you know by now, after a recent appearance on “Piers Morgan Tonight,” he’s been accused of intolerance, hatred, and even of being an “accomplice to murder.” His sin? He expressed his personal opinion on homosexual behavior and same-sex marriage. He gave his opinion calmly and coolly, and only when asked for it by Piers Morgan for it. In fact, the question was what Kirk teaches his own children about homosexuality and gay marriage. Cameron even said that he would never single out homosexual behavior as being worse than anything else Scripture considers to be sin. In fact, many of those who commented on the video on websites like E! Online and the Huffington Post noted that Cameron was just stating his own opinion, and he has a right to that. Even Piers Morgan, while disagreeing with his comments, said Cameron was pretty brave to stick to his guns on national television. But for the tweeters and organizations like the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, there was no room on public airwaves for his opinion, or for anyone else who expresses such an opinion. I know, I’ve been put on their hit list. So what can we learn from this? First, we know we will be asked what we think of homosexuality and so-called gay “marriage.” So we need to prepare now for what we’ll say then. If we are caught off-guard without knowing what to say, shame on us. Second, we can’t let others frame the issue for us. We've got to be able to define terms and the parameters of the debate. For example, supporters of gay-rights insist that sexual orientation and sexual behavior are considered to be inseparable. Letting that go unchallenged is a huge mistake, because it makes opposing a certain behavior the same thing as being against a group of people. Absolutely not so! Christians believe every person is made in the image of God, and therefore has a free will. So, we ought to be against any behavior that is ultimately destructive to people. Sexual brokenness dehumanizes those whom God made and loves. As my colleague John Stonestreet pointed out recently on “The Point,” the real victims of a culture that says your identity is determined by your sexual behavior are the thousands who desire to escape from it, and yet are told they can’t. We need to help them know they can, and that in Christ they’ll find their true identity. Which brings up another point. It isn’t completely true to say same sex “marriage” will destroy civilization. Sexual brokenness and the collapse of marriage in any form destroy civilization. No-fault divorce, cohabitation, sexual addictions all undermine marriage. Heterosexual brokenness is just as dehumanizing as homosexual brokenness. As the old saying goes, “there are many ways to fall down, but only way to stand straight.” We Christians can't be selective in our moral standards and make it easier for others to accuse us of homophobia. Folks, this is just a start. In a culture that fundamentally disagrees with Christian values, we've got to be wise and present our case prudently.Further Reading and Information
Kirk Cameron and Tolerance Making the List 'Brave and honest': Piers Morgan defends Kirk Cameron's right to an opinion after former child star called homosexuality 'detrimental and destructive' on national TV GLAAD Launches Commentator Accountability Project The Good of Marriage |
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Comments:
A certain amount of defensiveness regarding the gay rights movement is not unreasonable, considering how aggressive they and their allies are and how quickly things are going downhill. Kirk Cameron bent over backward trying to make it clear that he's against the behavior but not a hater, and that wasn't good enough. It's very troubling indeed.
My previous post wasn't meant to paint all anti-homosexuality talk among Christians with a broad brush. What Cameron did was perfectly legitimate: pointing out, with Christian love, that homosexual behavior is sinful and unhealthy.
What I have a problem with is people hypocritically treating homosexuality as if it's in a higher level of sinfulness. I'm afraid some of that stems from actual bigotry. Whereas Cameron addressed the issue with comments that were both compassionate and honest, others are driven to disgusting words and acts, and that's not coming from the love of Christ.
Gay people need to repent of their sins. So do thieves, liars, lazy people, greedy people, etc. And so do I. When I get a little too judgmental about what someone else is doing, God has a knack for reminding me of the gigantic oak tree in my own eye.
Let's be straightforward and firm in speaking the truth about gay behavior, but without the attitude that gay people are a special kind of bad compared to us. If there's a ranking system to be applied to sin, we probably should leave that up to God.
This hypocrisy has been on full display for too long now, and don't think it goes unnoticed. Our credibility has taken a real hit because of it.
"If you can't tell the difference between disagreement and hate, then perhaps I should be afraid of you."
And not just because I coined it.
This, I think clearly sums up the Church's struggle first of all in standing firm against all sin, and in particular in this case, all sexual sin, and then, being able to properly address and deal with this form of sexual sin in a way that honors God, recognizes every human being's value as created in the Image of God, ultimately then, 'giving an answer' that the Holy Spirit can and will use with the full integrity of His Word and as disciples under His Lordship!
Thanks again and God bless in Christ!
I must say I do not recall hearing this from many Christian commentators....the teaching of Jesus applies: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
According to most polls I read, we in the evangelical community are not doing so well with marriage....
Mike Moyer