I read an interview of Michael Coren, titled, ‘I felt a hypocrite': Author
Michael Coren on why he left the Catholic Church for Anglicanism.
I was most compelled to respond by this quote:
“I couldn’t look people in the eye and make the argument
that is still so central to the Catholic Church, that same-sex attraction is
acceptable but to act on it is sinful.
I felt that the circle of love had to be
broadened, not reduced.”
The Gospel is the foundation of Christianity. It is the
news that Jesus died to save us from a life and an eternity separated from God.
Without belief in Jesus, we are sinners doomed to hell. Jesus died because He
loves us so much that He was willing to take our place, to die instead of us. A
Christian is born when a sinner recognizes that they have sinned, believes that
Jesus took their punishment, asks for and accepts God’s forgiveness and then
goes on to live a life with (the risen) Jesus as their Lord. Their life is then
marked by a continual pursue of God; reading and study of the Bible, prayer and
obedience to what he or she reads in the Bible and what God speak to them. Their
life is fueled by the awesome power of the God that created it. Their's is a
life full of grace and hope and love and peace.
One of the commands of Jesus is to LOVE others. True love
tells the truth. A Christian who loves others is compelled to warn unbelievers
what is coming. That after death, there is a reckoning before the God of the
universe and if a person has not believed in Jesus on earth, they will have NO
defence and will be cast out into hell. Although redefining what the Bible
defines as sin appears to be “expanding the circle of love”, it is in fact the
exact opposite. No sin will be acceptable on the day each of us stand before
God. Real love is the attempt to save; to tell the truth so that on the day
there are no more chances to get right with God, none will be needed.
Mr. Coren is saying is that its love to accept a sin. Wrong.
That is to be a part of a lie that will see many lost. True love is to desire to save. Let me be clear. Love is NOT to
ostracize and be cruel. Jesus is never cruel. He is gentle and kind, full of
compassion and healing, without ever compromising the truth. I am not angry at
men and women who identify according to their sexual practises. My heart desperately
wants to see everyone meet and know the love that I know in Jesus. I am angry
at anyone who takes part in a lie that would keep anyone from knowing Christ.
Jesus Christ is the Truth. The Bible is the Truth. The Bible defines sin as
anything outside of the very nature of God. We have ALL sinned, and no sin will
be less offensive when we stand before God. But Jesus died so that we may live!
Sin is death. Love is not covering that up.
This is not an argument about whether it’s ok to sleep
with X. This is an excellent opportunity for Christians to speak the glorious
truth that there is more to life than what we see AND that the life we do see
can be deeper and richer and more fulfilling than ANYTHING we can ask for, or
even imagine! A true believer sees everyone in two camps, not gay or straight,
but as Believers and UnBelievers. We are
called to love both.
Mr. Coren says he felt like a hypocrite. It seems to me
that he was. He does not understand the Gospel and he was masquerading as one
who does. Christianity is not a lifestyle, it is a new species. It is to be as different
as life and death. Mr. Coren's “love” is not love at all, it is a salve that will dull
the senses until it is too late for remedy. It is not the Gospel. It is not
Christianity.
That’s it folks. We may not like it but Jesus is
offensive. The battle lines are being drawn, not by us but by the times. As the
culture drifts farther from the principals and norms shaped by the Bible, we
become more and more visible as we live them. It is becoming more and more
difficult to be a “nice Christian.” But Praise God! As we are more different we
are more visible to those we are called to save.
“Rescue those being led away to death.” Proverbs 24:11
NOW is the time to live our faith. Because if in living
it, we face more and more opposition, we will need the practice and the strength
and skill that comes with that practice OR all of us shining bright will chase
back the darkness and like a rudder we will steer our culture back to calmer,
gentler waters. It’s not complicated. Put down your smart phone and pick up the
Bible. The actually Bible, not a twitter feed that spits out verses. Give up
some activities so you can sit with the Lord alone.
Repent.
Return.
And live.
