Mohler in the Middle

We have another unfortunate situation.

The president of the leading Southern Baptist seminary has incurred sharp attacks from both the left and right by suggesting that a biological basis for homosexuality may be proven, and that prenatal treatment to reverse gay orientation would be biblically justified.

I feel for this guy. He, like me, offends people on both sides of the extreme issues. According to the right, Rev. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. made the audacious mistake of following the genetic science. According to the left, Mohler is wrong for claiming that homosexuality is wrong by any standard, choice or biology.

Here’s the deal folks: If its choice, its a choice that is inconsistent with Scripture. If its biology, it is still inconsistent with Scripture.

I can’t believe that we’re arguing that it might be somehow acceptable if homosexuality can somehow be proven to be genetic. There are plenty of genetically determined traits that are incompatible with our culture and several which are incompatible with Scripture.

Are those people in possession of those traits to be hated? Absolutely not. Are they to be accepted as beloved children of God? You bet.

 Are we supposed to help them to overcome their current state in order to embrace God’s will as revealed in Scripture. Unequivocally, yes.

In this Lenten season, it is ALL about giving our will to God. It is all about submitting to God’s authority. That includes the homosexual, the liar, the theif, the sexually promiscuous, the blasphemer, and the gossip. If your congregation is like mine, then that just about covers the field.

Sin is always with us. To summarize the main points of the tenth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: 

The same thing could happen to us.

We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did.

We must never try to get Christ to serve us instead of us serving him.

Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

God will always be there to help you come through it.
Eugene Peterson’s The Message