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Open and Accepting
Is it wrong to be open and accepting to all things, even things considered “wicked”? I’m currently taking an online class on Christian Education and every week we have discussion forums where we answer questions and share our thoughts, etc. This week, one of the questions was to:
List and briefly explain some of the challenges Christian educators are now facing when it comes to audience awareness.
One of my fellow students wrote this:
I think the biggest challenge that Christian educators face today is staying true to the Bible. We are constantly having to be more “open and accepting” of immoral behavior and this requires educators to stray from the true word.
Another fellow student replied with this:
I agree with you 100%. It is horrible that churches have become “open and accepting” especially to things that are stated in the Word of God as being immoral.
Example: 1 Corinthian 6:9-10 says: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexual immoral nor idolators nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homesexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Homosexuality is something that is just wrong and is against the Word of God. How can anyone be homosexual and expect to be judged honorably by Jesus Christ. Doing this is laughing right in the face of Jesus Christ.
This is a touchy subject for me and it relates to what I’m writing about right now in Tuna Casserole. I just don’t agree. I mean, I do agree with what the Bible says, there’s no way around it, but is the church supposed to turn their back on the ‘wicked’?
Here’s what I wrote in response to my fellow students:
I think you’re right, As the verse says, the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God. However, do you think shunning the ‘wicked’ and turning a cold shoulder to them is right? I think it’s a good thing that churches are open and accepting, wasn’t Jesus? If churches are teaching that wickedness is ok, then that is wrong, but if a church is opening its doors to the wicked, how is that wrong? If anything I hope that the wicked do go to church and hear the word of God, so that they can change their wickedness. If we shun them and turn our back from them and hold our noses up in the air we will only breed more wickedness.
I use wicked as the Bible uses wicked in the verse above. I think many times Christians have a tendency to look down their nose at people who partake in things that are “wrong” and that just bothers me. It is just like the Pharisees in the Bible who can’t believe that Jesus would help a prostitute.
I’m not saying that God doesn’t condemn this stuff, He does, just as He condemns the bad words that come out of my mouth every once in a while…so how am I any better? Luckily, I’m saved by the grace of God. If anything, I think Christians should be more open and accepting of ‘the wicked’ and invite them to church, love them, and show them what a life with Christ is all about…don’t condemn them!
If I didn’t have anybody to love me and show me what God was all about when I was ‘wicked’, I would have never found the love of God. I hope I can do the same for somebody else. That being said, it’s important to recognize the difference between one who is not a Christian and one who is but still partakes in ‘wicked’ things.
As my friend says:
Those who knowingly sin without repenting and seek acceptance abuse God’s mercy. All Christians should have a big problem with an openly gay priest and legalized homosexual marriage, as much so as a priest who is an alcoholic or a man who cheats on his wife. Legitimizing does nothing to lessen its severity in the eyes of God. It is our duty as Christians to hold each other accountable and keep each other on the straight and narrow, hopefully in a way that is loving and not condescending or judgmental. We should remember and emulate what Jesus did for the prostitute, but we should not discount his parting words to her. Go, and sin no more.
Grace is indeed what it’s all about. We need to be living examples of God’s word because our actions are what people will see and emulate.
Love the blog. I separated from the Air Force last year after a four-year stint as a broadcaster myself…I saw a few of your reports on AFN when I was in Iraq. I found your site through Chris Vadnais’ blog.
God bless and take care!
Chris Brewer