“Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Cor. 10:32-33). “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10). The Indiana and Arkansas Laws on Religious Discrimination bring up a pivotal practice point for Christians in a progressively pro-homosexual culture -- how do we avoid personal discrimination without avoiding godly discernment? Paul says, seek to please all in order to save all -- but don’t please all in order to favor all. Knowing which is which is the difference between running the race to win (1 Cor. 9:19-27) and simply running for exercise. Three considerations on knowing the difference between gospel offense and needless offense:
First, know the difference between engaging in an activity that celebrates sin and an activity that celebrates the person. If my homosexual neighbor invites me to his birthday party, then I go to show support to my neighbor (the 1 Cor. 10:32 principle). But if that same neighbor invites me to a “coming out” party with his lover, then I must decline and give my reason (the Gal. 1:10 principle). The same would be true if a gay couple came to your church, or if your lesbian daughter brought home her lover to meet you. Know the difference between personal acceptance and sinful approval. We separate from homosexuality, not homosexuals.
Second, know the difference between showing respect with labels and compromising truth. I show respect when I use the term “gay” in referring to a homosexual, because that’s how they refer to themselves. But I compromise truth if I use the term “wife” when referring to his lover. The bible calls him effeminate (1 Cor. 6:9). The bible is gender-specific as to what a wife is, just like it’s gender-specific as to what a mother or father is -- and mate-specific as to what a marriage is. We should never use derogatory terms toward anyone, but neither should we agree to use unbiblical ones either. Not speaking according to a fool’s folly includes not using the folly of their labels and terms (Prov. 26:4).
Third, know the difference between your own prejudice and godly disapproval. Prejudice makes the sinner the object of our own disgust, godly rebuke makes it the sin. While it takes both to make both (sin and sinner), and both will ultimately be condemned together (Rev. 21:8), separate them out in wisdom for the purpose of gospel reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:29; Jude 22). Truth-speaking and love-giving are a set (Eph. 4:15). Sinners don’t need you piling on once they have stumbled over the rock of offense (1 Pet. 2:8).
Expect to be misunderstood, criticized as a homophobe, ridiculed as narrow-minded. But as ambassadors of a sovereign Christ with an eternal message, we run our race to bring as many people as possible with us to heaven -- always accepting sinners, but never approving sin.
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