In this midweek podcast, Pastor Tim addresses some questions he received on the previous sermon, Isn’t Christianity Homophobic?
Timeline:
00:00 Update on two previous missing sermons
01:40 Missed application from the sermon regarding singleness on 1 Corinthians 7
11:06 Expansion on the fifth point on the sermon about the eternal state and the sacrifice that SSA persons make
17:00 Teaching from Matthew 19 regarding the phrase “eunuchs for the kingdom”
23:44 Addressing follow-up questions: Yeah, but isn’t Christianity sill homophobic?
25:00 Defining homophobic
27:56 Distinguishing the Civitas and the Ecclessia, the State and the Church
30:20 Theocracy vs. Religious Pluralism
34:30 Biblical teaching on homosexuality from Leviticus 18 and 20, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, and 1 Timothy 1
35:01 Recommending the PCA Study Paper on Homosexuality
36:00 The Bible prohibits immoral sexual activity, not people with certain temptations or orientations
36:15 Leviticus 18 and 20
38:20 What about menstruation and uncleanness?
39:47 Uncleanness and the Torah: a metaphor for internal corruption
41:10 Why is menstruation mentioned in Lev 18 and 20?
43:45 Prohibition against same-sex sexual activity in Lev 18 and 20
44:30 How can we take Leviticus seriously when it forbids eating pork and shrimp (among other things)?
45:00 Christian theology parsing the Old Testament Law into moral, ceremonial, and civil
47:00 The purpose of the NT is to tell us the story of Jesus and tell us what has changed from the Old Testament
48:00 Some passages and even verses have to be parsed out as to what no longer applies, including Lev 18 and 20
49:00 the Moral Law still applies
50:30 Laws concerning sexual immorality still apply in the NT (Acts 15)
53:30 Prohibitions against same-sex sexual activity also still apply (Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Timothy 1)
55:30 Some early Christians were same-sex attracted (1 Corinthians 6:11: Such were some of you)
56:00 Paul forbids sexual activity, not persons who are SSA
57:55 Same-sex sexual activity is not included in the uncleanness laws, it is a part of the Moral Law
58:45 OT death penalty analogous to excommunication
1:00:05 Excommunication is for refusal to repent, not for struggling with sin
1:01:45 Teaching on 1 Corinthians 5 and shunning LGBT people
1:03:15 Does Christianity discriminate against LGBT people? Homophobia vs. discrimination
1:05:00 The Bible offends every culture, including ours
Quotes:
At the resurrection, no one who has chosen Jesus over sexual fulfillment will have missed out. Compared with that relationship, human marriage will seem like a toy car next to a Tesla, or a kiss on an envelope versus a lover’s embrace.
-Rebecca McLaughlin, Confronting Christianity
The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth. He needs his brother man as a bearer and proclaimer of the divine word of salvation. He needs his brother solely because of Jesus Christ. The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; his own heart is uncertain, his brother’s is sure.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
-Jesus Christ
Links:
PCA Study Paper on Homosexuality: https://pcahistory.org/pca/digest/studies/2021_human_sexuality_report.pdf
Pastor Steve’s sermon on Church Hurt: https://newlifeithaca.org/sermons/how-can-i-be-in-the-church-when-it-has-hurt-me-and-so-many-others-hard-questions-real-answers-part-8/
The intro and outro music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. Please visit her website at www.sandramccracken.com.
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