Sin in the Church

    When I write, I am usually found writing the things that weigh heavy on my heart with a weighty burden.  I am a pastor of a small church, I began this journey about 4 months ago.  One of the visions that I have for my church is to grow.  I want to see souls saved.  I want to see more people walk through the doors.  I want to see pews full.  I will go so far as to say I want to see us move into a bigger sanctuary so we can grow even more.  Over the years as I have delved deeper into the Word of God I have come to grips with many things.  Many of my convictions have “mellowed” out.  I used the term because I have been accused of compromising.  I use to be a hymns and Southern Gospel only, anything else is absolute worldly (I was taught this way) but I like a little Chris Tomlin every now and then, although Christian rock or rap will never be played on my radio (I have some major issues with them that needs a whole other lecture to see where I come from).  Women should not wear pants (again, another teaching) and on and on, the list could go.  There is one thing though that remains constant.  I can’t change it, because God hasn’t changed it.  It is clear in His word.  There in black and white, maybe even red if you have the words of Christ in the red letter edition.  Sin is sin!  We have become too accepting of it in our churches.  There is no level of sin.  There is no sin more acceptable in the eyes of God compared to another.  If it is considered sin in the eyes of God, it is sin.  We cannot change that TRUTH.  We can have opinions but opinions are bound to be wrong, Truth is fact.  It should be the foundation of every Christian belief.  God’s word is truth.  I am seeing churches and hearing stories of supposed Christians that misconstrue the Scriptures to validate their opinions.  Homosexuality is a big hit today.  It frightens me to hear people who acknowledge their “Christian” faith and uses the words of Jesus to their benefit.  Folks, homosexuality is a sin.  A close examination of Genesis 19 identifies one of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah as homosexuality.  These other verses also help to identify homosexuality as sin: Romans 1:26-27, 32; I Timothy 1:8-10; Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13.  I once heard a well-known preacher with hundreds and thousands of followers say, “Homosexuality is a sin, but homosexuals will go to Heaven.”  This is contrary to I Corinthians 6:9-10.  So often I hear, “But Jesus teaches us to love one another”.  Yes He did, but nowhere in the Scriptures did He teach us to accept the sin.  In fact, He teaches us to rebuke it, especially in the church. “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” (Luke 17:3)  Repentance today is also different than the teachings of Christ.  More people are repentant simply because they got caught, not because they are living contrary to the Gospel. 

     To compare the wines and alcohol of today to the wine that Jesus made is to ignore a dynamic truth.  The drinks of today leads to drunkenness, the wine Jesus made actually cured those at the party of drunkenness.  I still cling to the truth that alcohol should not darken the lips of a Christian. A dear friend of mine named Van Mitchell, Jr. writes a wonderful commentary concerning this issue in which I whole heartedly agree with.

      Sin is sin.  That is not my truth, it is God’s truth.  That is a fact that will not change.  Simply because God will not change.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)  For the sake of growth and popularity, churches are becoming more accepting of what is considered morally wrong in the Scriptures.  It is not only morally wrong….it is sin.  I can’t compromise, change or mellow on that truth.  To do so is to ignore the responsibility God has given to me.  Paul expresses that responsibility in his letter to Timothy.  “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,  realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.” (I Timothy 1:8-11)  What is my responsibility?  God has entrusted me with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  All of it!  Oh the heavy weight on this pastor’s shoulder as I have been entrusted with the Gospel truth.  I can’t accept sin.  Salvation is not just salvation from hell; it is a salvation from sin.  I am not building up a church for the sake of numbers; I am building up a church for the sake of the Gospel truth and for the Kingdom of God.  As I look at the Bible lying next to the laptop, I realize this sobering truth – I will be judged by it.  In closing I leave you with these words from James

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. (James 2:10-12)