Writing for the Associate Press, Nicole Winfield posted a report in which Pope Francis says gay, and others, marginalized by the church, deserve an apology.
As a conservative, non-Catholic, Christian, I do not value or support the liberal policies of the reigning Pontiff. Unlike his predecessors, Francis has strayed, not only from Catholic orthodoxy, but from Biblical orthodoxy on many issues. He is more of a politically correct social commentator than a faithful communicate of the Word of God. It seems that Francis has missed his calling. He should trade the pulpit for a political office in a socialist government.
While Francis has a right to speak on any issue he sees fit, he does not have the right to mislead faithful Christians concerning the homosexual agenda, and what the position of the Christian church should be.
Like Christ, the church wants to be as open, and as gracious as the Lord Jesus. The church offers hope to the hopeless, comfort to those in need, and Christ to every heart that is burdened with sin. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
Like Christ, every faithful born again believer wants to be firm in the faith and battle, as a good soldier of the Cross, against every destructive ideology, and person, that would destroy the Christian faith. The homosexual agenda, and their militant advocates, from Harvey Milk, to Hillary Clinton, are determined to destroy the Christian faith and practice. Their incredible success in intimidating church officials of the highest order, is reflected in the recent remarks of Pope Francis.
On Sunday, June 26, 2016, en route home from Armenia, Francis was asked “if he agreed with one of his top advisers, German Cardinal Karl Marx, who told a conference in Dublin, in the days after the deadly Orlando gay club attack, that the church owes an apology to gays, for having marginalized them.
Francis responded with a variation of his famous “Who am I to judge?” comment and a repetition of church teaching, that gays must not be discriminated against, but treated with respect.
He said some politicized behaviors of the homosexual community can be condemned for being “a bit offensive for others.” But he said: “Someone who has this condition, who has good will and is searching for God, who are we to judge?”
That is an incredible statement, if accurately reported, coming from the current Bishop of Rome in light of the command of Christ to “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Why should the church apologize to homosexuals for telling them the truth? God has commanded them to repent of this sin. “Flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:18). The word for fornication is porneia in the Greek, and refers to various forms of sexual perversion, including those sexual acts which are against nature (Rom. 1:26-27). A distorted view of “marriage,” based on an illogical definition of that term, will not cover this sexual transgression in the sight of God.
Why should the church apologize for standing firm for the historic gospel message? The Bible teaches that salvation is designed to deliver people from sin. Salvation does not leave people confirmed in their sin.
No pontiff, and no local Christian church, has the right to affirm the homosexual lifestyle. The church has no right to abandon its primary role in society, which is to render a righteous judgment on every issue.
Jesus said that Christians are the true salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13). Salt is used to prevent decay. The purpose of the church is to stop moral decay. The church is to arrest the decadent displaying of the dark passions of the heart, which are sometimes disguised with traditional words, such as a “loving relationship”, or a “caring community,” or, “marriage.” Sin is sin, no matter how cleverly it is disguised, or passionately advocated. Therefore Christian, “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10). Tell the truth. Though the stars fall from the heavens, tell the truth.
The church does not owe a single homosexual any apology, but the church does owe our righteous and holy God an apology for succumbing to the homosexual agenda, laughing at TV programs that advance their lifestyle, and supporting the movies that force their proclivities on society. The church owes God an apology for not protesting more vigorously the deviant behaviour of the homosexual. The church has succumbed to political correctness, reflected in the words of Francis. “Francis uttered his “Who am I to judge?” comment during his first airborne press conference in 2013, signaling a new era of acceptance, and welcome for gays in the church.”
Many Christians fear being labeled as a homophobic. It is the homosexual community which is Christophobic. It is the homosexual who owes the church an apology for infiltrating it, apart from repentance.
Francis, apparently, has neglected to remember, basic Christian theology. The Bible says there are none that, by nature, seek after God. “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:2).
Homosexuals are seeking the God of their imagination, not the God of revelation. Religiously inclined homosexuals want God to affirm His children, no matter what their behaviour is. However, God will not affirm what He has condemned. There is only one way to become a child of God. That is to repent of sin, be born of the Holy Spirit, believe in Christ, and follow Him as Lord of your life. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Christ was manifested to take away our sins (1 John 3:2). That is the glorious message of the gospel. That is what the church needs to tell the homosexual. Come to Christ. Be part of his confessing church on Biblical and gospel terms. Lay down your burden at the cross.
