new church life: march/april 2015
If we choose to allow
and affirm such
relationships we need
to be honest with
ourselves that we are
going aside from all
the indications of
God's Word in the Old
and New Testaments
and are being guided
by other not very
reliable things, such
as human reason,
experience and
tradition.
both from their study of language and of
history that the term “dogs” may especially
refer to people indulging in various kinds
of sexual disorders, including homosexual
practices. For a similar use of the term “dog”:
You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the price
of a dog to the house of the Lord your God for any
vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination
to the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 23:18)
The point is to invite the inquiring
person to consider seriously what the
broader testimony of Scripture is in respect
to “marriage.” One husband with one wife is
what the Lord taught and everywhere affirms,
encourages and blesses. Same-sex sexual
relationships, whenever they are referred
to, either directly or indirectly, are always
prohibited and condemned.
If we choose to allow and affirm such
relationships we need to be honest with
ourselves that we are going aside from all the
indications of God’s Word in the Old and New
Testaments and are being guided by other not
very reliable things, such as human reason, experience and tradition.
When the Lord in the world was confronted with a person caught in the
act of “adultery” (whatever form that adultery might have taken, and we are
not told what form it was), He, out of His Divine mercy, did not condemn her
to hell, (for she was still living in this world and could still repent), but He did
say: “Go and sin no more.”
Should we not seek to do likewise whenever we are confronted with
adultery in any of its perverse forms, including homosexual practices in socalled same-sex relationships or unions?
The Rev. Willard L. D. Heinrichs is retired and lives with his
wife, Vanessa (van Rij), in Longmont, Colorado. During his active
ministry he served in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada,
as Superintendent of the South African Mission, and as teacher of
religion in Bryn Athyn College and Theological School. Contact:
[email protected]
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