Sin? What Sin?

Another news story was published the other day regarding homosexuals and Christians.  Except this one was slightly different.  It focused on a pastor in Colorado who had not only invited Homosexuals into the church, but allowed them to hold leadership positions.  He considered this a step beyond "love the sinner hate the sin," because he believes homosexuality is not a sin.  In a CNN interview (found here) he is quoted as saying

"There's times when we change how we approach scripture because we observe how God is making God's self known in creation.... We don't consider it a sin to be gay" -Rev. Mark Tidd

Now, that's a interesting statement.  It is a very bold statement.  I was curious as to what the Bible had to say regarding homosexuals in church.  The following is what I found, and it is by no means comprehensive.

In 1 Corinthians 6, we are told to not just avoid sexual immorality, but to flee from it, invoking the picture of Joseph and Potiphar's wife.  Included in that list is homosexual behaviour.  This is not to say that homosexuals can't find forgiveness and love in Christ, but it does say that without repentance they will not inherit God's kingdom.  But that goes for all sinners.  If I label myself a Christian and yet live a life of murder, or theft, etc. then I have continued to feed my sinful nature.

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^[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  -1 Corinthians 6

Later, in Colossians, Paul tells Christians to reform their lives, to take on the nature of Christ.  He doesn't say we won't slip, but he does say we should be denying our "earthly nature" and putting on a "new self":

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.  -Colossians 3

Pastor Tidd may be right by saying Christians should love all, including gays; but, perhaps his theology is missing something: the truth of scripture.  Where he goes wrong is not in loving sinners, but in changing the Bible so as to be more welcoming to a modern world.  Homosexuality is a sin, but not one for which forgiveness cannot be found.  However, a requirement for that forgiveness is a repentant heart.  Once found with grace, all sinners should live a new life clothed with "a new self."

Sinners, welcome to the church, now with the grace of Jesus, "leave your life of sin." -John 8:11

Blessings