Beyond the Homosexuality

I have been studying the book of John, and I’ve finally arrived at chapter 9 where John writes about the time when Jesus healed the man born blind. Interestingly, I read that even though there are other instances of Jesus healing blind people, this is the only time he heals a man born blind.

That really has nothing to do with my point, but I thought it was neat. I love little facts like that.

Anyway, Jesus spots this blind man as he’s walking along, and his disciples ask him, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Now this was a pretty popular idea; the Jews of the day believed that sin brought divine punishment. I love what I read in Dr. Constable’s notes: “The disciples did not look at the man as an object of mercy but rather as a subject for a theological discussion. It is much easier to discuss an abstract subject like ’sin’ than it is to minister to a concrete need in the life of a person.”

Ouch. That one hits home. I’m particularly convicted about my attitude and behavior in  regards to the issue of homosexuality. The issue is a hot topic these days, and most people have a pretty clear stance on it. But I find myself guilty of discussing and debating the morality of homosexuality without ever caring about the people who are living a homosexual lifestyle. Homosexuality has become a political issue to be discussed, and we are choosing to ignore the fact that there are people practicing homosexuality that need to know their Savior, that are hungering for the love of their God, whether they know it or not. To be honest, I have forgotten that these people are in need of Jesus just as much as I am. Their homosexuality makes them no less a person, no less a man or woman in need of a Savior. Their sin is no worse than my own, and that one sin is no worse than any other sin. I have to ask myself: Have I allowed myself to become so caught up in the fight against homosexuality that I have forgotten about the people caught in the crossfire? People who practice the homosexual lifestyle that I preach about and fight against are real people who need to experience the forgiveness that comes from Jesus, not just because they practice a homosexual lifestyle, but because they were born as sinful humans just as I was. They are people who need to know about the Almighty God who knows their name and loves them personally and deeply. They are people who are suffering, people with pain in their hearts just like I have. They’re people that Jesus died to save, people Jesus longs to call his own. Have I chosen to discuss theology in lieu of loving my neighbor?

Reality Check – It’s much easier to discuss theology than it is to love my neighbor and be a vehicle of God’s redeeming love. But think of where we’d be if God had decided to just sit around and discuss theology instead of doing something about our sin.