Michael Nazir-Ali, the Church of England’s Bishop of Rochester, is under increasing pressure from homosexual activists, after he expressed a view the Church should “welcome homosexuals” but “we want them to repent and be changed”.

His critics have said that homophobes, like Bishop Nazie-Ali,  ‘have turned their back on the love and compassion that is central to the Christian Gospel … and, are not representative of Christians generally.’

It’s my view that those people who believe that they have a legitimate view of what’s written in Scripture, should be allowed to do so; applying labels like ‘homophobes’ is a type of dialogue that has run out of sound arguments to present. 

Yet, I also think a lot of problems have occurred because many Christian teachers have failed to address the general nature of sin. Fornication (sex outside of marriage is wrong); adultery (and lust) is wrong; taking what is not yours, another person’s life, property or money (e.g., with-holding taxes from a legitimate government) is wrong; slander and false attacks on another character are wrong, not having a right relationship with your parents is wrong; lacking respect for God (& His name) is wrong; and, most important of all, putting anything or anyone before God is wrong. In all that, there is a principle- that says – sex, outside of God’s ‘natural order’ – is wrong (and genetics or environment have no bearing on the morality of such actions -yet, they may have a huge bearing on culpability).

Now, that’s my belief – I honestly think it’s supported by Scripture. Why can’t the other camp – accept that’s my honest view, a view that has struggled to the surface after a lot of prayer. A view – stripped of all fears – that seeks only God’s love. A view, which understands that Jesus’ love can be seen in the death of two people who lied about the amount of money they give to their church (Acts 5:1-10).

Jesus represents both love and judgment – the critics of Bishop Nazir-Ali, don’t seem to understand that Jesus – is the Judge of all judges, and critics.

What’s your view?

Posted on July 9th, 2009 by Shayne
Filed under: General