UNC Christian A-cappella Group Dismisses Homosexual Member
How should we think about this?
By Byron Peters, Pastor, Christ Community Church
This week “Psalm 100,” an a cappella singing group comprised of Christians on the UNC campus, voted to ask a member who claims he is gay to step down from the group. How should a Christian process this decision?
First of all, I need to be clear that I do not know all details of this decision. My assumption is that this young man was not merely tempted by same-sex attraction, but was practicing homosexual behavior. This article is predicated upon that assumption. Secondly, the issues of homosexuality and freedom of association involved in this action demand careful Christian thinking and gracious Christian love.
Several biblical principles inform a decision like this. Here are some that seem to be particularly important for us to consider.
1. Jesus is Lord over all—including our sexuality. He is able to guide us through all confusion and opposition by his Word and Spirit (Psalm 25:4-15; Jeremiah 23:28-29; John 5:25-30; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Addressing the beauty and complexity of Jesus’ lordship in the area of our sexuality, David Powlison puts our common struggle like this in his article on the struggle for sexual purity entitled Making All Things New: Restoring Pure Joy to the Sexually Broken”
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). What does that lifelong process look like? How do you get from here to there? How does dirt transform into beauty? What’s the battle like? You’re somewhere in the middle, but Christ has begun a good work in you. He has washed away true guilt. He has broken your willing bondage. Jesus knows his business well. He is looking out for you. He is working to clear away sin’s rot. Jesus is remaking you into a person who actually loves people, and who begins to consider their best interests. Your opinions and impulses no longer reign. What He has begun, He will complete. On the final day, He will entirely remove the instincts and energies of sin from you.” This is the hope that Christians like you and me who are broken sexually have in Christ Jesus.
2. God created mankind as male and female and ordained that the one flesh relationship would be between one man and one woman (Matt 19:4-6). God emblemizes the relationship between Christ and his church using the analogy of marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33; Revelation 19:6-8). As the apex of creation, the marriage relationship will always be the focus of the devil’s and the world’s most vicious attacks. Every Christian will struggle sexually, but the hope of the gospel is that Christ is redeeming us even in our tremendous brokenness in this area (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8). Any proper relationship between people is a gift of grace (Titus 2:11-12) to be celebrated and offered up to God in grateful praise (Song of Songs).
3. The group “Psalm 100” is a voluntary society, and as such has the right to formulate the bounds of its membership under biblical authority and under the authority of the law of the land as that does not conflict with God’s law. God’s law mandates we must follow his law above any human laws (Act 5.29). Currently, U.S. constitutional law establishes the right of freedom association and the right of the free exercise of religion. In particular, the U.S. Supreme Court established the right of a voluntary society to exclude those who do not act in accordance with the principles of that society (Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, 530 U.S. 640(2000)).
4. Homosexual activity is sin (Romans 1:26-27; Leviticus 18:22), even as is heterosexual activity outside the bonds of marriage (including the use of pornography; Ephesians 5:3). Even as there are Christians who struggle in these ways heterosexually, there are Christians who struggle in these ways in a same-sex manner. Simply being tempted toward homosexuality is not sinful, even as being tempted heterosexually is not sinful. The sin isn’t “out there” in the temptation (Jesus was tempted but didn’t sin, see Hebrews 2:18), it’s “in here”—in my response to the temptation. Sin is conceived when we “take the bait” of the temptation (James 1:13-15). So heterosexually tempted Christians can understand and empathize with those whose temptations are along same-sex lines. The gospel promises and responsibilities are the same for both—forgiveness for sins committed and repented of, help for today’s temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13), the importance of the body of Christ for support, accountability and encouragement, and a direction of life that is progressing by the power of the Spirit toward sexual purity in mind and body (Galatians 5:16-26).
5. The reasons for same-sex attraction are varied and complex, and Christians should treat those who are tempted in this way with compassion, empathy and love, seeking to assist them in their very difficult struggle for purity in this area (Colossians 3:12-14).
6. The Gospel is for sinners of all sorts (Romans 4:5). It is a call to repent and believe in Jesus as Lord, and to live in covenant with him (John 14:21). Where we as the church have harbored the sin of viewing same-sex attraction as a special category of sin, we must repent of that. We are called to love those who struggle with any sort of temptation, and welcome as brothers and sisters all who flee to Jesus for forgiveness and the power to resist sin’s pull (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) and who covenant to live as becomes a follower of Christ in the context of the body of Christ, his church (Matthew 16:17-19, 24-28; 1 Timothy 3:15).
7. The proper biblical reason for the member’s exclusion must not ultimately be his samesex attraction, but that he refuses to repent of his homosexual practice while claiming to be a follower of Jesus (Luke 6:46). To remain consistent under Scripture, “Psalm 100” would apply the same principles to other members who are sinfully unrepentant in any area. The principles found in Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 5 and Gal 6:1 should guide a decision like this.
8. “Psalm 100” is not a church, so no definitive judgment on the credibility of this young man’s Christian faith is attached to this judgment. He would be wise to consult his home church as he processes this decision (Proverbs 9:8). If his home church does not proclaim Jesus as Lord and hold a high view of Scripture as God’s Word, it may not be a true church and so it may not give him good advice (Galatians 1:6-9). How important is one’s church!
9. Though it is right to confront, in a loving manner, particular and egregious sins, the most common and fundamental sin is our self-justifying condemnation of others. Whenever we have to deal with sin in others, it is always a great temptation to selfrighteousness (Matt 7:2-4). Paul’s point in Rom 1:18-2:16 is not that homosexual practice is uniquely terrible. His point is that our natural reaction to overt sin in others is a selfrighteousness that puts us in as bad a position as any overt sin: “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Rom 2:1) That is, all of us sinners are putting ourselves in God’s place when we judge.
10. The world will probably read this decision as hateful Christian homophobia. Where their perspective on this decision (or others like it) is justified by our sinful attitudes and actions, we need to humbly repent, ask forgiveness, and make restitution. But ultimately we cannot help what the world thinks of our motives (John 8:48). “To our own master we stand…for the Lord is able to make us stand” (slight paraphrase of Romans 14:4). We should be clear that the offer of the gospel is for all who will repent and believe in Jesus, no matter their sin. Indeed, each of us may want to pick a fight with Paul over his claim to be “the worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15), knowing the depravity of our own hearts. The one sin that will send us to hell is the sin of not repenting of our sin and trusting Christ as our Savior and Lord (1 John 5:13-17).
So, what if you are struggling with same-sex attraction? I’ll close with some helpful advice gleaned from a friend of mine, Pastor Stephen Crotts.
1) Set about breaking off old relationships. Say "No" quickly and up front. Tell why. Refuse to go to their apartments, the bars, the beach houses and such. Like Joseph in Genesis 39, Flee the proximity of temptations and be willing to pay the price. As Paul said in Romans 13:14, "Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."
2) Envision the consequences of homosexual behavior. Detection. Disease. Death. Such a vista of pain will give you incentive.
3) Talk with your pastor or elder. CCC will treat as confidential your request for help. Our commitment is to connect the riches of Christ to this reality in truth and love.
4) Join a small support group where honesty, prayer, caring, teaching and accountability prevail. The Bible says, "Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together...," (Hebrews 10:24-25). Again, we can help you find a group.
5) Internalize the Word. The process of turning away must begin where the process of turning toward homosexual behavior began--in the mind. It means starting to think of yourself and your sexuality as God does. So, fill your mind with Scripture. As Paul said in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind."
6) Sexual sanctification is not an event but a process. Sanctification begins with the grace of God and involves a clear choice: "I want out. I want to change in Christ." The first sixteen months are the hardest. The next two to three years are still a constant struggle. And the next three to five years are one of growing new and wholesome relationships built upon God's Word.
7) Read David Powlison’s excellent article I quoted from above: “Making All Things New: Restoring Pure Joy to the Sexually Broken.”
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