This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

The Boy Scouts, DOMA and The Church

In the classic movie “Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy says to her little dog; “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.”  I feel like Dorothy.  With the Supreme Court ruling today and the changing tide of public opinion, “we aren’t in Kansas anymore” either, as a nation.

      Today, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that struck down the core of the Defense of Marriage Act.  According to CBS News, “In a 5-4 ruling in United States v. Windsor, the court struck down a provision of the 17-year-old Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that denies federal benefits — like Social Security benefits or the ability to file joint tax returns — to same-sex couples legally married.”

      This ruling comes in the wake of the decision made by the Boy Scouts of America recently to allow openly gay children to participate in scouting.  As a result of the Scouts decision, several churches in our general area have announced their churches will no longer allow scout troops to meet on their property.

Find out what's happening in Dallas-Hiramwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

      How should Christians respond to all this?  Or, someone might ask, “What do you make of this?’

      My “take” on this is based on what I believe the Bible to teach.  I am a conservative Christian who tries to form a world-view based on the teachings of Scripture.  So, what does the Bible say about this?

Find out what's happening in Dallas-Hiramwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

      It is my opinion that the Bible teaches that homosexuality and same-sex marriage are scripturally wrong.  In the book of Genesis, when God formed the home, God started with one man, Adam; and one woman, Eve.

      Romans 1:21-28 says, “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.”

     I  believe Jesus loves all people.  Does that mean Jesus condones homosexuality?  No.  Jesus told the woman caught in the act of adultery  to “go and sin no more.” Jesus didn’t condone adultery but he forgave the woman.

      So, I personally believe that homosexuality is wrong.  But, adultery is wrong and pre-marital sex is wrong and pornography is wrong.  So, let’s be careful and not just single out one sin.  But, while homosexuality is wrong, I believe Jesus wants me to love all people and try to minister to all people.

      I think the church must do the same.  We are most definitely living in different times.  And, it is my conviction that the church must take a stand on Biblical principles but do so lovingly.  So, my “take” on this is to try to “love the sinner but don’t like the sin.”

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Dallas-Hiram