In the Bible, God tells us: “If anyone knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:17)
But how can we know what is good and bad?—what is right and wrong?—what is and isn’t sin?
Fortunately God does not leave such important questions to be answered on an individual basis. That would be far too subjective, for under that standard, nothing would ever be right or wrong so long as a person personally claimed it was okay for him or her to do.
The objective standard is found in the Bible and applies to all cultures in all ages, regardless of demographics such as language, ethnicity, or gender. Each of us is individually and personally responsible for knowing the measurements of right and wrong that God set forth in the Scriptures.
If someone applies a standard different than that which God has established, they are wrong, regardless of who they are. Sadly, many church leaders today are setting forth measurements opposite to what God explicitly states, especially concerning LGBTQ issues.
Some parts of the Scripture may seem unclear, but God’s stand on homosexuality is not one of them. In both the Old and New Testaments it is openly condemned as wrong. Yet despite the Bible’s clarity on this issue, the Archbishop of York recently said that to hold a Biblical view on homosexuality is wrong because it “can legitimize homophobia in others.”[1]
One of the core stabilizing components of Christianity is the authority of Scripture. When we begin to cherry-pick which Bible doctrines we do or don’t like, we make it possible to reject all Biblical teachings, which destabilizes the Church and polarizes Christians, driving them apart.
A recent example of this is seen within the Episcopalian Church:
“Episcopalians in North Texas have cast opposing votes in the denomination's national assembly on issues regarding homosexuality. [As a result, a] large parish in the Diocese of Dallas left the denomination. The Diocese of Fort Worth fractured, and some of the separated parts chose to affiliate with an Anglican Diocese in South America.”[2]
Fractures like this will continue to occur until both church members and church leaders recognize that God’s authority is higher than their own, therefore placing His truth above their opinions. To do otherwise weakens the legitimacy of the Church, reduces its effectiveness, and causes the entire culture to suffer. Whenever the Church and its leaders do not pursue genuine Biblical teaching, the integrity of the Church is lost.
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[1] “New Archbishop of York: ‘Bible has to fit the current culture’,” The Christian Institute (December 18, 2019), christian.org.uk/news/new-archbishop-of-york-bible-has-to-fit-the-current-culture/
[2] William B. Lawrence, “The biggest schism in American church life is homosexuality, and North Texas is at the epicenter,” Dallas News (February 26, 2019), https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2019/02/26/the-biggest-schism-in-american-church-life-is-homosexuality-and-north-texas-is-at-the-epicenter/
