Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 5/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a question concerning what makes a good Christian a good Christian. As a good Christian, which I am sure you are, you would say that homosexuality is wrong. Correct me if I am wrong in this assumption. However, one hundred years ago a good American Christian would say that being associated with an African-American was wrong and un-holy because African-Americans were considered Satin's work. So clearly the definition of a good Christian has changed. Is it not true than that perhaps it will change again over the course of several decades and become even more liberal than it is now, as it is now more liberal than it was in the past? And as a man who believes in God as a wise, kind spirit, how can you not believe that God wants us all to be who we want to be? Shouldn't we all love one another, regardless of sexual preference? Wouldn't NOT loving everyone regardless of who they are or what they believe in, be considered wrong in the eyes of a Christian?

ANSWER: Hi Matt,

Thanks for this great and interesting question.  You make an interesting assumption that what is right changes with society.  This is absolutely not correct.  Truth is... truth always has been!  It does not change with society.  God's word tells us what is true.

Malachi 3:6
6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

God's word never condemned black people... it actually condemned Moses' sister for being against his marriage to a black woman.

Numbers 12:1-10


And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.   2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
4 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

God has always stood against homosexuality.  It is a choice, not a presidposition.

Leviticus 18:22,24-28
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. 26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Romans 1:26-27
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Pastor...

first let me say that I appreciate your quick and respectful response to my question. I hope that you are in no way insulted by the manner in which I asked, and ask only out of curiosity and not to prove anyone wrong. It is with this same level of curiosity that I pose the following questions in response to your answer concerning homosexuality. First let us make it clear that I am not a homosexual. However, I must say that I knew a person for six years who recently revealed that he was one. For six years I had learned about how great of a man he was. He did things for his community. He was a loving son and brother. Great grades in school. He would never hurt a creature on this earth. So on the day that he told me he was a homosexual, what should I have done? Should I have immediately told him he was a sinner and referred him to the nearest church? Or should I keep in mind all his amazingly good characteristics and judge him as a whole?

Answer
Hi Matt

Thanks for this great question.  The revelation that your friend was a homosexual should not be a revelation that he is a sinner, because we are all sinners.  Sin has condemned us all to Hell.  Without Jesus Christ as Savior, we are all hopelessly lost.

Romans 3:10,23
10 As it is written,  There is none righteous, no, not one:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Our own righteous efforts will not make up for our sin, that is why Jesus had to die to pay the price for sin.

Galatians 2:21
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Romans 5:6-8
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Some of us are heterosexual sinners...some are homosexual sinners.  To be sure, homosexuality is a sin... so is heterosexual sex outside of marriage.... again,,, we all sin, we all need Jesus.  Do not reject your friend... love him and point Him to Jesus, just like you would any other human being.

Leviticus 18:22
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Romans 1:26-27
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

1 Timothy 1:15
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don