The Courage to Act by the Truth
A controversial matter arose recently in the city of
Arlington, Texas. According to a report in the Dallas Morning News, Cecil
Sinclair, a 46-years old veteran of the Desert Storm campaign, died suddenly of
complications from a heart condition. The deceased did not belong to any
church, but his brother was a member of the High Point Church and was also an
employee there. During the deceasedˇ¦s 6-year long illness, church members had
continuously prayed for him. So the church agreed to hold a funeral service for
him there. Then they discovered that he was an active homosexual from some of
the photographs presented by his family members, who also wanted to invite a
famous gay band to sign hymns during the service. The pastor of High Points
Church, Gary Simons finally had to decline holding the funeral service at the
churchˇ¦s premises. Based on Biblical teachings and the principles of the
church, he and his congregation could not allow the life style of homosexuals
to be on display at the church, and certainly could not allow a gay band to
perform there. He did not oppose holding a funeral service for a homosexual,
but rejected any silent acknowledgement of the gay lifestyle within the church.
He gave the example of a church member losing someone in the family who was a
murderer. The church would surely volunteer to hold his funeral service, but
photos of his act of murder could not be exhibited at the church. Although the
church could not conduct the service within its walls based on moral
principles, out of their own love and concern, the brothers and sisters were
willing to cover all the expenses of the funeral and also deliver food to the
final venue.
The decision of the High Point Church brought strong
criticism from the deceasedˇ¦s family members, friends, and gay-rights groups
from all over the country. They believe that homosexuals should enjoy the
freedom of sexual preference, just as the church enjoys its religious freedom.
The church should respect the personal dignity of the deceased and his past
contribution to the country, especially at this time when family members
require comfort and support from losing a loved one. The spokesperson for the
gay band declared that the church had cast them as sexually immoral, and their
comparison by Pastor Simons to murderers was way overboard.
This writer believes that the pastor of the High Point
Church made the appropriate decision when he refused to allow photos contrary
to his belief to be exhibited or permit the participation of a gay band at the
service.
The critics of the church believe that it is unacceptable
for the church to consider Cecil Sinclair a sinner and to compare a person who
had made a contribution to the country to a murderer. Yet, the Bible has this
characterization of people (including dead people) ˇV ˇ§For all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God.ˇ¨ (Romans 3:23); ˇ§You were dead in your
transgressions and sins.ˇ¨ (Ephesians 2:1)
If man does not admit that he is a sinner and refuses to receive the
salvation of the Creator, he is like a terminal patient who does not admit that
he is sick and rejects the diagnosis and treatment of the doctor. All the good
things that a person can do in his life cannot make up for the blemish on the
glory of God, much less the rejection of the Son of God. Paul also viewed the
sin of homosexuality as wickedness. Man will lose eternal life if he does not
repent of it. ˇ§Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor
drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.ˇ¨ (1
Corinthians 6:9-10)
Although Jesus did not directly talk about the sin of
homosexuality in His teachings, that does not mean that the loving Lord will
forsake the principles of holiness and righteousness. Jesus Christ is the Lord
God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come; the God who never changes; the
God who has authority over all time and space in the Old and New Testaments. In
the Old Testament, God clearly indicated that He detests such a sin (Leviticus
20:13). How can Jesus Christ, who has fulfilled the law and the prophets,
change His view of this sin of debauchery? The Church emulates Christ in loving
sinners, but it must never distort Biblical Truth to gain the favor of earthly
humans. Like the High Point Church, the Church should have the courage to act
by the Truth.
By: Daniel To