Christians Selling Out Hetero Celibacy By Defending Homosexual Behavior – Re: Jars of Clay Controversy

Christians Selling Out Hetero Celibacy By Defending Homosexual Behavior – Re: Jars of Clay Controversy

I forget exactly where I first saw this on Twitter, but here it is:
(Link): Gay Marriage What Does God Say Not Jars of Clay by Shane Idleman

I don’t like to post solely about homosexuality on my blog. Some of the only times I blog about the topic is how it reflects upon, or intersects with, issues pertaining to hetero celibacy, or how Christians today are dealing with discussing sexual sin.

As I’ve pointed out previously on this blog the last couple years, the vast majority of Christians – not just Non-Christians, but conservative Christians now – are now attacking sexual purity, celibacy, and virginity.

Some of them do this on the basis that teaching about those topics causes fornicators, that is, those who willingly had sex before marriage, to feel guilty, offended, or ashamed.

This page by Idleman points out that some of the same strategies being used to excuse or downplay heterosexual sex sins are also being used to excuse, condone, or downplay homosexual sexual sins.

Here are some excerpts:

Gay Marriage What Does God Say Not Jars of Clay by Shane Idleman

Dan Haseltine (singer for Jars of Clay) used Twitter recently to support gay-marriage; stating,

“Because most people read and interpret scripture wrong. I don’t think scripture ‘clearly’ states much of anything regarding morality.”

Many say that we cannot take a position on homosexuality because all positions will hurt someone.

Here’s my question: “Are those who defend homosexuality, or who say nothing, truly loving the homosexual, or are they simply seeking to avoid conflict?” If they are more worried about being liked than being truthful, do they really care for homosexuals more than the person who is willing to risk their reputation, and quite possibly their safety, in order to speak the truth in love?

The answer is obvious: Authentic Christians love the truth, and others, so much so that they are willing to risk the consequences of confrontation in order to help others. This is genuine love, not hatred.

Notice the similarities: we can’t argue against homosexual behavior, because it might hurt someone’s feelings. Additionally, the Bible (claims the rock singer) is so darn vague about morality, including homosexual marriage, that Christians should just shut up about the topic.

I’ve seen some of these same points brought up by liberal Christians, anti- sexual- purity culture Christians, emergents, and others, when they argue for a hedonistic, “anything goes”, or “let’s relax the sexual standards since people find them so hard or offensive” views regarding hetero sexuality.

When Christians sit about defending homosexuality, they are unknowingly weakening arguments against hetero sexual sin as well.

They are giving virginal Christian adults past 30 little reason to continue abstaining.

I think their arguments can also chip away at the foundation of other sexual limits, such as chastity in marriage (ie, when a married couple is apart, for example), so that married men won’t feel guilty sleeping around on their wives.

Here are some additional excerpts:

Dan’s words, “I don’t think scripture ‘clearly’ states much of anything regarding morality” simply reveals that he is not spending much time in God’s Word, but instead, may be reading liberal leaders such as Rob Bell and Brian McLaren. The implications of homosexuality are not hints here and there in the Bible, they are crystal clear.

I have nothing but compassion for those trapped in the homosexual lifestyle. Those who strongly believe in the Bible and God’s will regarding sexual behavior, also strongly believe in unconditional love and forgiveness.

…Unfortunately, Christians often embrace one of two extremes. At one extreme are those who insult, or who are violent toward, those trapped in this lifestyle; homosexuality appears at the top of their sin list; there is very little love or compassion. The other extreme excuses this sin and looks the other way. Both extremes are wrong and offer a false impression of genuine Christianity—we must extend compassion but without compromise.

Sounds similar to points I’ve raised on this blog before, in regards to hetero sexual sin, eg,

(Link): Biblical Balance in Teaching About Sexual Sin – don’t white wash and downplay sexual sin, but don’t continually beat people up over it

Another excerpt:

…. Would we say, “I believe that those who embrace pornography can live in harmony with biblical Christianity.” Or, “I believe that those who embrace adultery can live in harmony with biblical Christianity.” Of course not.

Unfortunately, one of the greatest mistakes in our culture today involves not being able to discern between right and wrong. The battle cry is focused on “individual rights,” instead of what does God’s Word say?

Similar to what I posted here:

(Link): Stop Rewarding People For Their Failure – Christians Speaking Out of Both Sides of Their Mouths About Sexual Sin – Choices and Actions and How You Teach This Stuff Has Consequences – Allowing (unrepentant) Sinners To Re-Define Biblical Terms and Standards

I would encourage you to (Link): click here and read the rest of the page by Shane Idleman.
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Related post, off site:

(Link): Same-Sex Marriage and the Single Christian – How marriage-happy churches are unwittingly fueling same-sex coupling—and leaving [HETERO] singles like me in the dust.
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Related posts, this blog:

(Link): Sometimes Shame Guilt and Hurt Feelings Over Sexual Sins Is a Good Thing – but – Emergents, Liberals Who Are Into Virgin and Celibate Shaming

(Link): Sometimes the Bible is Clear – Regarding Rachel Held Evan’s Post

(Link): Sex, Love & Celibacy by Christian Author Dan Navin

(Link): Nobody Bats An Eye at Condemnation of Hetero Sexual Sin – Observations from Duck Dynasty Controversy

(Link): Southern Baptists open to reaching out to LGBT – but still don’t give a flying leap about HETERO CELIBATE UNMARRIED ADULTS

(Link): Christian World Vision Charity Okay and Dandy With Homosexual Marriage But Not Okay With Singles Fornicating

(Link): Church Touts Homosexuality as a Gift, Not a Sin

(Link): The New Homophiles: A Closer Look (article) Re: Christian Homosexual Celibates and Christian Homosexual Virgins

(Link): Christian Double Standards on Celibacy – Hetero Singles Must Abstain from Sex but Not Homosexual Singles

(Link): The Activist Who Says Being Gay Is Not A Sin – double standards for homo singles vs hetero singles

(Link): Christians Who Attack Virginity Celibacy and Sexual Purity – and specifically Russell D. Moore and James M. Kushiner

(Link): Why So Much Fornication – Because Christians Have No Expectation of Sexual Purity

(Link): Why Do Christians Ask if Homosexuals Can Change Their Orientation – Why Not Explain that Celibacy is an Option?

(Link): Being Against Gay Marriage Doesn’t Make You a Homophobe (editorial by a homosexual man)