Courage and compassion on homosexuality

BPNews ^ | Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004 | R. Albert Mohler Jr.

[scripter]

True compassion demands speaking the truth in love -- and there is the problem. Far too often, our courage is more evident than our compassion.

The above is one of the reasons I took a break from this issue. It's too easy to get caught up in the facts surrounding homosexuality and appear to show less compassion towards homosexuals.

[scripter]

Borrowing lj's ping list.

[lilylangtree]

This reminds me of the beautiful hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers"!

[scripter]

Thanks. Now I'm going to look up the words as I can't remember 'em all.

[King Black Robe]

I have compassion for their disorder but not for their agressiveness. Should we have compassion for adulterers? How about rapists or murderers? Bigamists? Drunks? I don't know, most of my compassion is reserved for those whose rights are being trampled by the immoral left (homosexual and otherwise). God is not tolerant of sin. He offers forgiveness to those who repent. I have no compassion for those who want to peddle their immorality to children. Nope. And I feel completely consistent with Scripture on that point.

Perhaps it all depends on how you define compassion. Too many people want to define it as the act of justifying immoral behavior. I would define it as the act of helping someone overcome immoral behavior.

[FourPeas]

Why is it that we have been so ineffective in reaching persons trapped in this particular pattern of sin?

First, I think it's because homosexual is so taboo. Many other sins are easier to understand. I've felt the temptation to lie or cheat or steal or gossip or hate. I can't understand the temptation toward a homosexual act.

Second, it's too easy to start believing that "my" sin isn't as bad as "that" sin and start creating a hierarchy.

Third, once culture accepts something, it becomes increasingly more difficult proclaim it as sin and minister to those who engage in it. I see the same thing happening with premarital sex, unmarried couples living together, abortion, even drug use. Once it becomes accepted, that it is sin becomes increasing irrelevant to those engaged in it.

[trebb]

Hate the sin; Love the sinner.

It's that simple - nothing there to indicate a duty to encourage the sin, or the sinner in perpetuating it. In fact, we may very well condemn a lot of them to hell by that encouragement.

[apackof2]

Far too often, our courage is more evident than our compassion.

Thanks for this article, I repent that too often I am in this category

[Eala]

ping

[scripter]

I would define it as the act of helping someone overcome immoral behavior.

I concur. I know a few folks who claim to be Christian, accept homosexuality as just some alternative lifestyle yet cannot respond in context to what the Bible says about homosexuality.

[Cultural Jihad]

Exactly. Allowing people to go hurt themselves is not an act of compassion. Telling someone to "go to hell-in-a-handbasket for all I care" is not being compassionate.

[scripter]

Well said.

[scripter]

Allowing people to go hurt themselves is not an act of compassion. Telling someone to "go to hell-in-a-handbasket for all I care" is not being compassionate.

That reminds me of this article: Compassionate Society Should Discourage Deadly Homosexual Behavior

[BibChr]

Good essay.

[grellis]

Second, it's too easy to start believing that "my" sin isn't as bad as "that" sin and start creating a hierarchy.

I think it should really be a question of repentance for one's sins. Suppose one is a kleptomaniac, compulsive gambler, or someone who happens to swear like a sailor (guilty!). Say this person comes to realize the immorality of their actions, repents, and tries their very best to reform themself of this behavior. Isn't that what we are called to do?

How often do you think this scenario takes place when the sin is homosexuality?

[joesnuffy]

How about compassion for their victims and those they aim to victimize....

How about our right to defend ourselves against their intentions.....as we must any others
whose aims are the destruction of the family....and the result...the destruction of our nation
and everything God intended it to be...

Sodomites arent victims ...they are perps...responsible for their own behavior.....
and their agenda
IMO

[JimRed]

Compassion for their illness and prayers for their recovery, yes. Acceptance of their behavior, no.

[Dataman]

Our churches must teach the basics of biblical morality to Christians who will otherwise never know that the Bible prescribes a model for sexual relationships.

Unfortunately, the Willowback and Saddlecreek models are distinctly anti-intellectual. Why else would they rely so heavily on The Message for proof-texting? I met recently with an EFCA pastor who, though a PhD candidate, wants nothing more stimulating than discussion groups to exist in his church. Sigh.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - CHURCH and SODOMITES