Should churches have leaders who are homosexual?

Over the past several years, the subject of homosexuality has been surfacing in many churches and denominations – should churches allow gay and lesbian members and/or clergy?  The answer seems like it should be straight-forward and obvious.  However, once you delve deeper into the matter it tends to get a bit more complicated, especially since believers are to share God’s love with everyone.  Just look at all of the difficulties the Boy Scouts of America has encountered with people wanting to change its policy on whether to allow people who are gay into their ranks as scouts and/ or leaders, either within individual troops or as an organization overall.  The same issue has been impacting many churches and denominations, as many religious leaders feel pressured to examine their current policies and doctrines in determining whether or not they should make changes…to make their churches more relevant and embracing, or as others would say politically correct.

In regard to the Boy Scouts of America, this organization is only a small microcosm of the many deeply polarized issues of homosexuality impacting our churches, religions, and religiously based organizations.  The Boy Scouts of America has been traditionally sponsored by a wide array of churches, denominations and religions, since they claim to respect the deeply held religious beliefs of everyone within the organization.  However, as several churches and denominations have abandoned many of their original teachings against homosexuality and tried to become more inclusive –by condoning homosexual behavior – they have set a precarious precedent that is rapidly manifesting itself in religiously based organizations.  One great example of these negative repercussions is the Boy Scouts of America as many of its leaders have demonstrated an interest in pandering to special interest views on homosexuality, which seems to be a reflection of many of their respective churches and denominations abandoning the original church teachings against homosexuality.

As for churches and denominations, there are several that have strayed from their original teachings of considering homosexuality a sin.  Some churches and denominations have gone so far and accepted homosexual behavior as a completely legitimate lifestyle, even to the point of accepting people who are actively gay or lesbian into clergy positions as well as blessing and/or endorsing marriage between two people of the same sex.  For example, the United Church of Christ completely endorses homosexual marriage as well as advocates for supporting human rights against their claim of homosexual discrimination.  Similarly, many people are familiar with the teachings of the Episcopal Church over the past years as they continuously strive for gay and lesbian rights within the church, with their progressive goal of ultimately embracing same-sex nuptials.  Even the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been struggling with clergy within its ranks, who want to change its denominational policies to openly accept gay and lesbian clergy in lifelong monogamous relationships.

   

What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?  In the New Testament and Old Testament you will find various passages and laws teaching against homosexuality.  In like manner, the Word of God teaches against several sinful behaviors and that homosexuality was only one of many sinful behaviors, as well as a possible subset of other sins.  In other words, the Bible does not necessarily target people involved in homosexual behavior, but the sinful behavior is addressed with the rest of the sins nonetheless.

In the first book of the Old Testament you find the first standard for marriage – “…a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24 NIV)  As you progress to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, prior to the cities being destroyed for their grievous sin, you find sexuality being degenerated to savage behavior as several men from Gomorrah demanded that Lot release his two male houseguests (two angels) for their personal sexual gratification. (Genesis 18:20; 19:1-5)  In the book of Leviticus you find the Lord speaking through Moses to the Israelites, as well as to the Gentiles living in the land at the time, several laws about sexuality which included – “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” (Leviticus 18:22 NIV, italics added for emphasis)  Even the Prophet Ezekiel made mention of detestable things committed by the people of Sodom, indicating he likely referred to their homosexual behaviors. (Ezekiel 16:49-50)

 

The New Testament also includes several passages pertaining to homosexuality.  The Apostle Paul includes homosexuality among his lists of sins in two separate letters, one to the Romans and the other to the Corinthians.  Additionally, Jude mentioned how “…Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion…as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 7 NIV)  While addressing the Corinthians, Paul included homosexuality in his list of sinful behaviors that are not acceptable to God.  In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he spoke against the sinful homosexual behaviors of the men and women with the following words.

“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another…Because of this, God gave them over to their shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion…Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these things but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:24, 26-27, 31 NIV)

Simply stated, Scripture commands individuals to refrain from having intimate sexual relations with people of the same sex, as well as approving of those who practice it.  On the contrary, individuals should enjoy having friendships with others of the same sex.  For example, in the Old Testament, David and Jonathon had a close friendship with one another, and David was also liked and respected by various male leaders. (I Samuel 16:21, 18:1; I Kings 5:1)  As believers mature, they will understand the importance of remaining sexually pure, outside the context of a heterosexual monogamous marriage.

Overall, the Word of God holds church leaders to a higher standard of character and conduct.  In the Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy, he described how the overseer or pastor of the church must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife and self-controlled, along with a long list of other personal characteristics. (I Timothy 3:2)  The Apostle Paul even dedicated an entire chapter of one his letters to the Corinthians, in addressing sexual immoral issues within the church. (I Corinthians 5)

In summary, Scripture teaches against pastors or leaders serving in a church while they are in an openly gay or lesbian lifestyle.  Likewise, church leaders should remember the example they set for others within their sphere of influence, as they are ultimately held to a higher standard of accountability.  The author of Hebrews summarizes the importance of why leaders should take heed with their personal actions, since church members are instructed to follow their examples.  “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.  Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7 NIV)   

Should Christians avoid using profanity?

One of the amazing, universal things about people is our ability to communicate with one another through words.  However, the choice of words that people use tends to identify who they are as a group or pigeonhole them into a certain category.  Just look around and you will find various examples.  Where do terms like “straight-laced as an attorney” or “swear like a construction worker” originate?  Are Christians expected to follow white-collar worker standards of professionalism, even if they are blue-collar construction workers…or vice versa?  Or does the Bible have a higher standard?

     

For example, as a general statement, contrast the extremes between the white-collar and blue-collar world.  In the upper echelons of the white-collar business world, most companies often have policies implementing higher standards of professional conduct for their employees, usually centering on the use of proper English and avoiding profanity in the workplace.  On the other extreme, in the blue-collar world you often have construction companies who hire people for projects on their ability to perform hard manual labor outdoors in all sorts of extreme conditions, not on their proficiency in using proper English or avoiding profanity since they often do not interact much with the end-customer.  Yet you still have many exceptions to these generalized statements, such as a large corporation having leaders that condone swearing in the workplace or a mining company that will fire employees for not complying with a “no swearing policy” due to possible safety issues.

What about pastors who cuss from the pulpit in their churches?  Traditionally, most people would have never even considered swearing in church a possible issue, let alone pastors publicly swearing, since it was generally understood that this type of behavior was not accepted in churches.  However, over the past few years, there have been a few pastors and church leaders who have actually started condoning the use of public profanity, even swearing from the pulpit.  As the repercussions of this practice trickles down, you are finding many believers who actually see nothing wrong with using profanity in the presence of others.  Does this mean that the Biblical teaching against the use of profanity was actually only one of the many man-made rules that are finally falling to the wayside, as many churches try to purge legalism from their teachings?

As followers of Jesus Christ, are Christians held to a higher standard when it comes to the words they use for communicating with others?  The Bible does teach freewill, so does this mean believers have the liberty to use profanity?  Or does the possibility exist that the Word of God may not even teach against the use of profanity, since it may only be a legalistic rule added as a part of church tradition?  Or should believers use caution with their choice of words, to include things such as avoiding the use of profanity, as part of their personal testimony to others?

In Apostle Paul's letter to the Colossians, he instructed the people to avoid using vile language from their past lives and set their minds on holiness.  The Apostle Paul later instructed the Colossians to choose their words wisely, especially in the presence of outsiders, in that their personal testimonies may have a positive impact on others.

“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things…Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:  sexual immorality, impurity, lust evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  You used to walk in these ways, in the live you once lived.  But now you must rid yourselves of such things as these:  anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Colossians 3:2, 5-8 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:5-6 NIV)

The Apostle Paul also gave instructions to Titus about encouraging the young men to be self-controlled and set an example by doing what is good, to include having sound speech so that those who oppose their work may be shamed by having nothing bad to say about their personal testimonies.

“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.  In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because that have nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

Overall, Scriptures teaches believers to use speech that is becoming of righteousness and to refrain from using obscene speech, or speech that is unbecoming to the acceptable standards of decency.  Obviously, believers have the personal freedom to do many things, but that freedom comes with a big responsibility too…by glorifying God in everything. (I Corinthians 10:23-24, 31-32)  In other words, believers do not need to conform to the world by using profanity and devaluing their personal testimonies of faith…just because their friends, families, employers and churches may condone such practices.  Rather, believers should choose their words wisely, regardless of the situation, in ensuring that their personal testimonies of faith do not cause others to stumble or become alienated away from the church and/or God.