Is homosexuality considered a sin in America?
According to the results of a recent poll conducted by Lifeway Research, fewer Americans have that view of such a lifestyle.
The results, published by Christianity Today, reveal that 37 percent of Americans find homosexual behavior to be a sin, down from 44 percent from the same poll conducted a year ago.
At the same time, 17 percent of the nearly 1,200 people surveyed indicate they still are unsure what they believe. That’s up 4 percent from results of the previous year’s survey.
The latest survey results also show that people identifying as born-again, evangelical or fundamentalist Christians (73 percent) and those who attend religious services at least once a week (61 percent) are most likely to indicate they believe homosexuality is a sin. Twenty-nine percent of those who do not attend services said homosexuality was a sin.
The survey came out just after Pastor Louie Giglio, founder of Passion City Church in Atlanta, withdrew last week from giving the benediction for President Barack Obama’s second inauguration on Jan. 21. The reason for Giglio’s decision to bow out as a speaker were his remarks regarding homosexuality in a sermon more than 15 years ago.
The Huffington Post reported that the sermon, “In Search of a Standard – Christian Response to Homosexuality,” is posted on Discipleship Library, a Christian web site that archives sermons. In it, Giglio tells listeners that being gay is a sinful choice and that gay people will be prevented from “entering the Kingdom of God.”
The “only way out of a homosexual lifestyle … is through the healing power of Jesus,” he says in the sermon. “We’ve got to say to the homosexuals, the same thing that I say to you and that you would say to me … it’s not easy to change, but it is possible to change.”
The Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC) indicated that Giglio was chosen to give the benediction based on his work to combat human trafficking.
Giglio addressed the issue when his comments from the sermon were reported by a liberal watchdog group. In a statement released to the White House and the PIC, Giglio said, “Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration. Clearly, speaking on the issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past 15 years. Instead, my aim has been to call people ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.”
In his blog (AlbertMohler.com), Dr. Albert Mohler reveals that the response from a spokesperson of the PIC indicates a desire from the White House to steer clear of a Christian pastor teaching Christian truth, and Mohler refers to the matter as a new “Moral McCarthyism.”
The PIC response reads, “We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection, and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of the country at this inaugural. Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part because of his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.”
The Bible addresses homosexual behavior through Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. In I Corinthians 6: 9-11 (NIV), Paul writes, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
God expects His followers to have high standards, and Paul encouraged the church at Corinth to refrain from participating in sin, condoning it in any way or being selective about what activities were condemned or excused.
In the case of a homosexual, or sexually immoral, lifestyle, Paul encouraged people to steer clear, reminding them that their bodies and lives were paid for by Jesus’ Christ’s sacrifice.
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (I Corinthians 6: 18-20 NIV).
By Nathan Key, The Layman, Posted Wednesday, January 16, 2013