Late Sunday afternoon I came across an article in the online version of the Baptist Press that aroused a strong reaction in me. The article recounted the events of a particular church that had led it to the place of asking the pastor to resign because he thought homosexual couples should be allowed to have their photo in the church directory. I'm really not sure what all the fuss is about since the church, several years ago, began admitting homosexuals as members of their congregation. Truly, does it not seem inconsistent to you to refuse homosexual couples the privilege of having their photo published in the directory if they are members of the church? It seems to me, for consistency's sake, that if a church is going to permit homosexuals membership they should have the courtesy to publish their photos.
Of course, the problem these guys are dealing with really isn't about homosexuals having their photo in the directory. The problem this church is dealing with is an authority issue. I think most Christians acknowledge Jesus as Lord and the Bible as His Holy Word. Certainly, there are those who profess to be Christians who do not beleive this, but they are most definitely in the minority. What has happened in this church is nothing more or less than a classic power struggle. Since they disregarded the proper authority, namely the Lord of the church and his Holy Word, they are divided and vying for position and power to assert themselves on the particular issue of homosexuality.
I believe that Jesus is the head of the church and that he really has all authority in heaven and on earth. I also believe that the Bible is God's Word and as such is our sole authority for faith and practice. In other words, we can only know what God wants us to know and the primary way in which he enlightens our minds is through His Word. Now God speaks through other means, i.e., the Holy Spirit; Christian people; circumstance; etc... Truthfully, God can speak to us any way he wants, but he has chosen to speak to us through His Word. The Word is not silent on homsexuality. From beginning to end, the Bible condemns homosexuality as an abomination. There really is no question as to whether or not homosexuality is a sin - it clearly is a sin! Why? Because the Bible says so.
The problem this church is having is the same problem any church or any Christian has when the Bible is traded from some other authority source. If we make a man, say a pastor or another, our authority source, then we have to live according to what he says. If we make a family or political system our source of authority, then we have to live according to what they / it says. You have to give this pastor kudos for consistency. For those in the church who are ok with homosexuals as members of the church we have to ask the question, "Why the problem with allowing them in the directory?" I'd venture to say, that someone stepped on someone else's toes and challenged the authority source. Now those poor folks are fighting among themselves for control and authority and the Gospel is being tarnished.
When we honor the Bible as God's Word and submit to its teaching as the final authority in matters of faith and practice, then we can eliminate all lot of the contests for power. You'll never have to call for a vote about your pastor's position concerning homosexuals in the church directory because you'll never allow homosexuals to become members in your church! The Bible settles those issues for us. All we need to do is read it and live according to it. Let me encourage you to read your Bible, today. Blessings!