1 Corinthians 6:1-12 states,
"1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
Verses 9 and 10 are often used to explain to people that homosexuality is a sin. The legalistic view is that if you endulge in homosexual behaviors, then you will not go to heaven.
I am going to go against the grain here and say that I don't believe PMS (pornography, masturbation, sex outside of marriage), drunkenness, drug abuse and greed (not tithing 10%) are sins. I know, this may seem shocking and most people would stop hearing my viewpoint right about now. Deep felt emotions surrounding life traumas and personal injuries will jump up so loud, my little voice will simply be drowned out.
Exodus 20 1-21 states,
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
I believe this simple list of ten sins is comprehensive. Now, my definition of sin is this: "Any action which distorts the relationship with God and other people." Love is "Any action which perfects the relationship with God and other people."
At this point, you might say, "Well, wait a minute. First you say, these things are not sins. Then, you give a definition which I could argue, these are sins." Keep reading.
Even ignoring the fact that alcohol, lust, greed, etc can be idolatrous, I take the stance that given this list alone, according to Ecclesiastes 7:19,
"Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins."
Judging my personal life by the ten commandments alone, I can fill endless chalkboards of personal sins that I have committed. Beyond the ten commandments, many personal actions that I have taken have been the grounds for frustration in my personal relationships. According to Paul, there is no way I would ever inherit the kingdom of God.
An inheritance comes from good standing. From doing the right things from the perspective of the person who is passing on the inheritance. Can we really be in good standing with God? Can we ever be worthy of all the things He has blessed us with? I don't feel worthy.
Is it possible that inheriting the kingdom of God is different from going to heaven? On the flip side, is it possible that being cast out into outer darkness is different from going to hell?
Mathew 8:5-13 mentions being cast out when a Centurion comes to Jesus believing his servant will be healed from paralysis and suffering. Could it be that being cast out represents a paralysis and suffering in our life where faith in Jesus may restore us?
Mathew 13:36-43 mentions the end of an age where there will be a weeping and gnashing of teeth as the kingdom is cleansed by the Son of Man of everything that causes sin and all who do evil. Could it be that our bodies are the kingdom where Jesus wishes to reside and He will take hold within us, cleansing us from the inside out and we will feel the pain and weight of our sin as we become purified?
Mathew 22:1-14 mentions a man being cast out with his hands and feet bound after he was discovered at a Wedding Banquet after choosing not to wear the ceremonial garments he was given. Could it be that God specifically chooses to bind the people He loves who know of His gifts but have refused them? Could it be that He patiently waits for their hearts to change so they may embrace His gifts?
Matthew 24:36-51 speaks of a master entrusting his possessions to his servant and returning at an unknown time discipline him, assigning him a place among hypocrites with a weeping and gnashing of teeth. Could it be that our bodies have been purchased by Jesus and he will come to purify us? Could it be that the Holy Spirit is like the wind, that we have no clue where it comes from, but at any moment it may overtake us?
Mathew 25:14-30 speaks of a master who gives gold to his servants only to return after a journey to find that one servant has hidden his gold for fear of wasting it. Again, the master casts the servant outside. Could it be that God is the actually mastermind behind all of our successes and when we waste our time, money, talents and other resources, He will take them away from us for a season? Could it be that this season of hardship is ultimately a gift so that we may embrace using these resources in the future and realize where they come from?
Luke 15:11-32 tells the story of the prodigal son. It talks about the rebellious younger brother, who is outside but makes a miraculous return. It ends with the father meeting the arrogant older brother outside, pleading with him to change his heart.
I believe being cast out is much different than a physical death. Binding hands and feet are different than cutting them off. Being paralyzed is different than an amputation. Our dream, struggle, victory is the beauty of life. Our life is meant to be a glorious restoration, in the midst of pain and brokenness.
Ephesians 2 1-10 states
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
So, in conclusion, I cannot look at homosexuality as a sin. I cannot be the judge, because as soon as I begin to try, I undoubtedly become blind to my sins. And when I become blind to my own sins, I forgot how glorious His gift is. It is the weight of my own sins and the tremendous debt I would have to carry that make His gift so glorious.
I know I will not inherit the kingdom of God. My works stack up to His standards like the tower of Babel stacks up to the stars in the galaxy. No, my only saving grace is His saving grace. My only ticket to heaven is a token of love.
