{"id":585,"date":"2008-12-21T00:04:52","date_gmt":"2008-12-21T00:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/stevenwaldman\/2008\/12\/saddleback-homosexuals-not-wel.html"},"modified":"2008-12-21T00:04:52","modified_gmt":"2008-12-21T00:04:52","slug":"saddleback-homosexuals-not-wel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/stevenwaldman\/2008\/12\/saddleback-homosexuals-not-wel.html","title":{"rendered":"Saddleback: Homosexuals Not Welcome As Members"},"content":{"rendered":"

A statement on the Saddleback Church website declares, “someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted at a member at Saddleback Church.” The full statement on homosexuality:<\/a><\/p>\n

\nWhat does the Bible say about homosexuality?<\/strong>
\nThe Bible very clearly says that homosexuality is a sin.
\n“Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin.” (Lev. 18:22 TLB)
\n“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor 6:9-11 NIV)
\nWhile all sin is destructive, Romans 6 warns us of the great dangers in sexual sin when it says, “Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.” (1 Cor 6:18 NLT) This includes not only homosexuality, but all sexual immorality: adultery, sex without marriage, pornography. We must not act as if homosexuality is the only serious sexual sin, and we must not act as if homosexuality is not a serious sexual sin.
\nI’ve heard it asked, “Isn’t being homosexual something that a person is physically born with?” First of all, there are absolutely no facts to support this claim. From time to time studies have been reported in the news that seemed to indicate this, but every one of these studies has proven to be wrong. Secondly, even if some physical difference were discovered, it would be no excuse for sin. We know that some people can develop a stronger physical addiction to alcohol than others, but that’s obviously no excuse for living an alcoholic lifestyle.
\nFinally, a word about being judgmental. It’s not judgmental to say that what the Bible calls a sin is a sin, that’s just telling the truth. Not being willing to talk to someone caught up in sin, or not believing that they can be forgiven, or thinking that you are not just as much in need of Jesus as they are … that’s being judgmental.
\nBecause membership in a church is an outgrowth of accepting the Lordship and leadership of Jesus in one’s life, someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted at a member at Saddleback Church. That does not mean they cannot attend church – we hope they do! God’s Word has the power to change our lives.
\nIn equal desire to follow Jesus, we also would not accept a couple into membership at Saddleback who were not willing to repent of the sexual sin of living together before marriage. That does not mean this couple cannot attend church – we hope they do! God’s Word has the power to change our lives<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A statement on the Saddleback Church website declares, “someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted at a member at Saddleback Church.” The full statement on homosexuality: What does the Bible say about homosexuality? 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