Are evangelicals changing their minds about same-sex relationships?

Christian Post ^ | 08/15/2020 | Jim Denison

[SeekAndFind]

Two reports caught my eye this week.

One: In 2007, 90 percent of evangelicals said their church forbid (63 percent) or strongly discouraged (27 percent) “homosexual behaviors.” In 2020, that figure has dropped to 65 percent (33.7 percent forbid, while 31.4 percent strongly discourage).

Two: In 2008, 34.4 percent of evangelicals between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five supported same-sex marriage. In 2018, that figure had risen to 56.1 percent.

Could this data be related? Are evangelical churches changing their position on same-sex marriage to align with and attract younger adults? Are younger evangelicals changing their position on same-sex marriage because their churches are? Or are both happening?

When perception is reality

For twenty centuries, orthodox Christians have known that the Bible forbids same-sex sexual relations. (For more, see my website paper, “What does the Bible say about homosexuality?”)

However, as we noted yesterday, we currently live in a “post-truth” culture that is convinced perception is reality and truth is whatever you believe it to be. Tolerance is the cardinal value of our day, while intolerance is the cardinal sin.

This insistence on relative truth and subjective morality directly contradicts the fact that all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) through the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) as unchanging truth (Matthew 24:35). Jesus was clear when he told his Father, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

Nonetheless, the “perception is reality” approach to truth is applied today to moral issues across the spectrum of life, from abortion to euthanasia. It flies in the face of logic (to claim there are no absolute truths is to make an absolute truth claim). And it is applied subjectively to behavior we wish to tolerate rather than objectively to all of life. (Otherwise, 9/11 would be Osama bin Laden’s “truth” and racial sin would be the racist’s “truth.”)

But there’s another dimension to the story, one that evangelicals who affirm biblical morality may not always consider.

“Acceptances precedes obedience”

Dr. Preston Sprinkle, president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, notes that we are most likely to vilify the sins we are least likely to commit. He writes, “In many ways, Christians have treated LGBT+ people the same way the Pharisees treated tax collectors. And so Jesus’ approach to tax collectors gives us a good model for how we are to embody the gospel toward LGBT+ people.”

How did our Lord treat them? His example shows us that, as Sprinkle notes, “acceptance doesn’t equal affirmation.” Rather, “acceptance precedes obedience.”

Matthew and Zacchaeus were both tax collectors when Jesus called them. His acceptance of them did not imply affirmation of their sins. Rather, it led to a relationship that produced obedience and transformation in their lives.

Sprinkle adds that even if we could convince people to live by biblical morality, “We’re saved by faith, not sexual purity” (his emphasis). Our job is to stand for biblical truth but to do so with biblical grace.

Why we must not “self-censor our gospel witness”

I am glad that two-thirds of evangelicals say their churches still affirm biblical morality with regard to same-sex marriage. I grieve for those churches who do not and wonder how many of their members are missing the truth they need on this and other crucial issues.

For our sake and those we influence, we must not waver in our commitment to biblical truth. It has been noted that we don’t break the commands of God—we break ourselves on them. A man who jumps from the tenth story of a building doesn’t break the law of gravity—he illustrates it.

Nor should we withdraw from the declaration of unpopular truth. As Janet Denison notes in her latest blog, “When the faithful self-censor our gospel witness, we give up the power to lead others to faith.”

Here’s our best response: affirm and share biblical truth with biblical grace. “Speaking the truth in love” is our mandate and should be our mantra (Ephesians 4:15). People need to know what God says about sexuality and other areas of life, but they also need to know that we are sharing his truth out of gratitude for his grace.

Why “grace is given”

We are all broken sexually and in every other dimension of our lives. We were sinners when Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8) and we are still sinners today (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10). We are all in need of Jesus’ acceptance and transformation.

When we give others what we have received in a spirit of compassion and gratitude, we glorify our Lord and invite others to join his family.

As St. Augustine noted, “Grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.”

What grace will you pay forward today?

[olivia3boys]

I’m an evangelical Christian and have had a homosexual boss (for 10 years!), pediatrician, coworkers, direct reports, and friends. (I live in the SF Bay Area—can you tell?)

My mission is to show all of them that evangelical Christians can hate the sin and love the sinner.

[Flaming Conservative]

I am a fundamentalist evangelical Christian. I believe as the Bible teaches, that same sex sex is sin. However, we would not turn away such people from attending our church. We would not allow them to teach, preach, or become a member, but we would treat them with Christian love. I do not hate the homosexual; I pity them, because they believe a lie and have been led astray. I believe some same sex couples genuinely love each other, but that doesn’t make it all right, any more than 2 adulterers who genuinely love each other are all right. ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and we all sin in varying degrees, daily. But repentance is the key. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1John 1: 5-10

[Cottonpatch]

It’s all about the money. Big churches make big money. It is so wrong.
But if you look closely the ‘Church’ has left the building. There is a structure standing but there is no church in it.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Unfortunately for many, which are going to be in for a big surprise of judgement day, God law doesn’t change just because a majority of Christians wanted to “get with the times and be liked by their liberal friends”.

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I think this is a big part of it. Some people don’t want to see as “judgemental” or “bigoted” about homosexuality, now that homosexuality has become respected and accepted and “cool”, in the popular culture.

Some Christians have a fear of being perceived as not “with it” or “sticks in the mud”. They want to be perceived as up to date with modern popular culture so they “fit in”.

[Cottonpatch]

If you let your children or grandchildren socialize and join in activities with these people then you have lost the next generation for Christ.
Gods reasons for Sodom and Gomorrah haven’t changed. Lot was the only one who was saved.
From Sodom and Gomorrah we have the Moabites and Ammonites, which were Lots children from his own daughters. Tough love is also Christian love.

[Texas_Guy]

That’s wrong and disgusting.

And I guess you’ve forgotten all of the televangelists and big name Protestant preachers that have diddled someone besides for their spouse.

[TBP]

The simplest solution is to get the government out of the marriage business.

Marriage licenses started as a way to prevent interracial marriages. They’ve become a contentious issue with the advent of “same sex marriage.” Remember Kim Davis?

Why should I need the state’s permission to get married?

Now that the Supreme Court has rammed same-sex marriage down everyone’s throats (on spurious Fourteenth Amendment grounds), the Kim Davises of the world and the Melissa’s Sweet Cakes of the world shouldn’t be forced to lend their support.

Just leave people alone.

[PeterPrinciple]

What does God say on the matter?

[Mr. Lucky]

Well played.

[Philsworld]

There will be NO HOMOSEXUALS ( NOT ONE ) in the afterlife.

---

I certainly agree with you. So does the bible...

Revelation 21: 27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

As professed Christians we set our lives apart for holy use. We are to be holy because God is holy. Those found in the Lamb’s book of life will have kept God’s law and commandments.

If it’s an abomination in the old testament, it’s an abomination in the new testament as well.

And something for all to think about: Eating unclean meat is also an abomination and that hasn’t changed in the new testament either, no matter how many people try to say it has or justify it. Eating unclean meat makes you unclean. No difference between that and homosexuality?

Isaiah 65:
3A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

4Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

5Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

Isaiah 66:
15For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

16For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

17They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

[HangnJudge]

Both sodomy and adultery prevent one from entering into the Kingdom of God, pointing fingers does not help, y’all

[MurphsLaw]

Both sodomy and adultery prevent one from entering into the Kingdom of God, pointing fingers does not help

Now hold on their Hoss.... just a minute....

Are you saying....I can lose my salvation by committing a sin ? For the record, I have been born again by the saving waters of baptism, I have been saved by asking Jesus into my heart.... and I proclaim Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior... and so I.am.saved..... and maybe because I am tempted and partake in a sexual impropriety that because of that, I DON’T get my eternal reward?? Who does? Once saved always saved is how I learned it. Who’s got it right here?

[HangnJudge]

Gods Words, I just work here...
Is there a difference between being saved and entering into Gods Kingdom? I’ve often wondered, but the scripture is clear.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Once saved always saved is how I learned it.”

Yes. “The security of the believer” is the thing. I’m not sure about leanings of current “evangelicals”, but Christians cannot lose their salvation.

In John 3:16, when he said, “EVERLASTING life”, he meant everlasting, i.e., forever. No “unless” in there.

[baclava]

Pope on gay priests: “Who am I to judge”white

Yeah, just don’t get caught diddling little boys in public

‘The Living Church’ just reflects society, it doesn’t lead, do as you please

[MurphsLaw]

Gods Words, I just work here...

Not helpful....really need an answer......Not evasiveness......
Do you believe then One can be saved... and then lose Heaven?

[Philsworld]

“but Christians cannot lose their salvation”

---

Those who claim to be Christians and to follow Christ “do His commandments (obey). Those who don’t (unrepentant) will be “without.”

Revelation 21:
7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelation 22:
14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

If you receive the Mark of the Beast are you still saved? The bible says no.

[Gamecock]

What grace will you pay forward today?

Grace involves repentance. If a gay person repents praise God.

I have several gay patients and I treat them with dignity. But I will not accept nor celebrate their lifestyle any more than I would celebrate adultery, alcoholism or other sins.

[redgolum]

From what I have seen, they mostly already have. Once the older generation of leaders start dying off, it will happen.

Evangelicals have few hard and fast doctrines when it comes to sex. Considering that divorce is now accepted almost universally, and most Evangelicals under 40 are just fine with extra marital sex and are “loving” to gay couples, it won’t take long.

[redgolum]

Wrong.
Government is interested in marriage (and has been for recorded history) for two main reasons.
1. The raising of the next generation
2. Disposition of property after the death of the parent.

Look at history before you start repeating the Big Lie, though that is a great example of the slope evangelicals are heading down.