Five Dangers when Preaching on Homosexuality
by Perry Hall
- One danger is to ignore this sin. If we preach on Christ's birth in December and Christ's resurrection in the Spring "because it is on people's minds", then we should be willing to preach against homosexuality during "Pride Month" since it is on people's minds.
- Another danger is to use a partial truth to promote an error (Satan did this in the Garden). "All sins are equal". Maybe that is true (although Jesus said the Jews' sin was greater than Pilate's). This "truth" can be used to soften the sin of homosexuality. Are other sins equally bad? Yes. Preaching "all sins are equal" must result in preaching against sin, whatever it is, equally, yet without anyone leaving with the view that homosexuality isn't that bad. Sin leads to hell regardless of the type.
- A third danger is to assume our children know God's sexual ethics. When the world constantly promotes one view, peer pressure to conform is powerful. Both parents (mainly parents), churches, and friends must be willing to stand for the truth. This gives our children strength.
- A fourth danger is not fully to grapple with texts. For example, what happened in Sodom is "worse" (if all sins are not equal) than homosexuality. It is more akin to what happens in prisons. Other passages are more effective (Romans 1).
- A last danger is giving no hope to those struggling with SSA (Same Sex Attraction). One can argue over the cause without making any progress (anecdotally, all those I personally have had a connection with were abused). We can also hurt those who are hurting by being more disgusted with their sins than with our own. When we teach against it as sin, we must offer the same solution to sin that we believe saved us. God's love, mercy, and grace are given, and we have faith in God's healing power spiritually, if not physically.
I hope these five points will help us assist others more effectively.
