A
Short Biblical Outline Against Gay Ordination
According to a 2006 report
by the Presbyterian USA titled, "A Season for Discernment",
in regards to ordination of Gays the report stated, "Sexual
Orientation is, in itself no barrier to ordination" (Page 20).
It was, according to the Task Force which released the report, "emerged
during our theological and biblical studies"(That study by
the way, can be accessed here: http://www.pcusa.org/peaceunitypurity/resources/fullfinalreport.pdf
). The issue of Gays and Lesbians being ordained as ministers of
the Gospel is not going to go away anytime soon. A short biblical
outline against Gay Ordination may serve to inform the Bible-believing
Christian.
Why Homosexuals are
excluded from the Pastoral Ministry
I. Pastors/Elders can
not be in open continuous sin
Living a high moral
life is a serious calling for the leaders of God's church, as
the Word of God demonstrates.
We see this in Titus
1:7 with these words,
"Since an
overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless-not
overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not
violent, not pursuing dishonest gain."
Notice that in the
above verse that the overseer (an elder, or traditionally, a bishop)
being entrusted with God's work, must live a life that is blameless.
Further reinforcing
this, 1Timothy 3:2 qualification of an elder states,
"Now the
overseer must be above reproach,"
A Pastor/Elder of any
church ought to be holy and upright in their life, as Titus 1:8
goes on to say,
"Rather he
must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled,
upright, holy and disciplined."
As we see from the
above verse, it describes how one of a man's qualifications towards
church leadership ought to be living upright and holy. One who
is "self-controlled" and "disciplined" would
not live a lifestyle of continuous sin.
II. Homosexuality is
a Sin
Since pastors/elders
are not to be in continuous sin, the next question would be if
homosexuality is regarded as a sin.
From the Old Testament
we see:
"Do not lie
with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable."
(Leviticus 18:22)
Notice that man must
not engage sexually ("lie with") with a man as if he
was a woman (see also Leviticus 20:13).
The Bible does not
only condemn male homosexuality. In the context of Romans Chapter
one which talks about sin, we find in verse twenty six:
"Because
of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women
exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones."
Other verses that condemning
homosexuality include 1Chorinthians 6:9, Genesis 19 and Jude 7.
There are those who
would pervert what Scripture has clearly revealed.
Hence the following
resources below might further deal with the biblical text and
counter argument against the Biblical doctrine that homosexuality
is a sin.
Further Resources:
- Wai Szeto's article
"Does
the Bible Condemn Homosexuality?"
- Alex D. Montoya's
article, "Homosexuality and the Church" in the Fall
2000 edition of The Master's Seminary Journal, Volume 11, No.
2 pages 155-168
- Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen's
"Dialogs Over the Bible and Homosexuality" with a debate
between Dr. Bahnsen and Paul Johnson, and Bahnsen debating Jim
Mitulski, pastor of the homosexual Metropolitan Community Church
III. Conclusion: Homosexuals
can not be Ministers
Homosexuality is a lifestyle
as any pro-homosexual advocate would admit. It is as we have sought
to demonstrate, a sinful lifestyle in the sight of God. Leaders
in the church and especially Pastor/Elder are called to live a life
above reproach and self-control from sin, which are contrary to
the homosexual lifestyle. Thus, those who desire to honor God's
Word and have a high view of the Church as Christ's ordained institution
would disapprove of the idea of Gay and Lesbian ordination within
their church or their denomination. May God lead all those involved
in such wickedness the ability to repent and turn from their erroneous
way.
--Jimmy Li
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