Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Is This Justice?

A friend sent me a link to the following youtube video featuring two ELCA "pastors" rejoicing over their reinstatement to the "ministry."  The two fellas are in a homosexual relationship with one another and, evidently, were both under some form of discipline which has now been lifted, since, well, the ELCA decided last summer to further ignore God's Word (which it had long ago abandoned) and allow for homosexuals in "a life-long, committed relationship" to serve as "pastors."

What struck me as I watched the video was the oft-mentioned word "justice."  For these two delusional men, justice has been served with their reinstatement to the "ministry."  Justice based on what?  Surely not God's Word.  They don't really want the kind of justice they deserve and will receive from God should they continue in their impenitence.  So, whence this justice of which they speak?  It is a worldly justice; a sinful justice - which is no justice at all!

But, this is what happens when you abandon God's Word.  You get to do as you please.  You get to make the rules.  You get to define what is right and wrong.  And, hey, when you are in charge and making all the rules, you get to define what justice is, too.

Of course, opposing homosexuality makes me a gay-bashing, homophobic, intolerant promoter of hatred and unfairness (injustice), right?  Wrong.  I don't hate these men.  I have no desire to bash them.  I don't wish violence upon them.  If they want to abandon God's Word, that's their business.  They just don't get to be Christians in the process.  They can call themselves Christians.  They can even dress up like pastors and pretend to be serving in Christ's stead and by His command.  But, it's all a facade, and nothing more.  You simply cannot be a Christian, let alone a Christian pastor, if you are an active homosexual.  Call it hatred and intolerant, if you wish.  Cry "Unjust!" all you want.  I don't make the rules.  Neither do you.  God does.  And He could not be any clearer in His Word on this subject.  This is not one of those mysteries beyond our understanding.  He tells us exactly what His position is on this many times in His Word, this example from Romans being just one occurrence:
"For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions.  For their women exchanged natural relationships for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done." (Rom. 1:26-28) 
And so, as a Christian pastor, and specifically as a Lutheran pastor, I am greatly offended by what I see in this video.  That offense does not come from seeing two homosexual men; it comes from seeing two homosexual men masquerading as Christians, which they cannot be.  And that offense is heightened by the fact that they are further masquerading as Lutheran pastors, which they cannot be.  I am offended not only by their obvious disdain for God's Word, but also by the thought of how many people they are guilty of leading astray from the truth of that Word.  They may be the most lovable guys in the world.  They may have a great love for people and may be doing great things for the poor and disenfranchised in their communities.  But, all of that is trumped by the fact that they thumb their noses at the Lord and His Holy Word, and thus remain outside of His Kingdom.

Of course, what do I know?  I'm one of those old-fashioned, crazy people who still believes the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God.  We're becoming fewer and fewer by the day, it seems.  So be it!  Here I stand.  Amen.    

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