These are the specific verses relating to homosexuality: Leviticus 18: 22 – 30; 20: 13; Romans 1:26 – 27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; and 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
Yes, homosexuality is a sin, but what does that mean for us business people who are faced with the possibility of providing services for same-sex weddings?
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — not at all meaning the sexual immoral of the world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler — not even to eat with such a one. (1 Corinthians 5:9-11)
In Chapter 5 of 1 Corinthians, Paul deals with what the church should do about a sexually immoral member in the Corinthian Church, but he specifically gives an exception to people who are outside the church. His words imply that we can associate with sexually immoral people, which has to mean that we can do business with them, right?
Now, maybe you consider gay couples who are planning to be married as enemies of Christianity. If so, what about these scriptures?
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45)
If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. (Romans 12:20)
I can find no scriptures that justify Christian business people denying services to gay couples for their weddings.
You see, our businesses are in the world and have to participate as members of the world system. We are called to be witnesses in the world of the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord to all people, not squishy, wishy-washy wimps who hide behind statements like, “It’s against my religious beliefs.”
Get a clue!
Jesus came to save the world, not condemn it and we are called to be like Him.
So, who is really behind the Christian businesses versus same-sex weddings wars?
(Continued in Part 5)
THAT may be one of the ways God has planned to transfer the wealth of the wicked into the hands of the just. Just a thought.
tigerpac3,
That’s really funny. I’m glad my mouth was empty when I read it. God bless you.
Thank you, Mr. Larry, for telling it like it is. 🙂 God bless you as you teach us!
Debbie,
Thanks. God bless you today.
Larry, I love these challenging thoughts. You always make me think! OK, what about the verse that says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people”? I agree we want to love the people, conduct business, but God didn’t exactly create flower arrangements in Sodom and Gomorrah. He did business His way. Due to Abraham’s intercession, He pulled Lot out of the city and then destroyed it.
Lift the Cross of Jesus,
I agree with Proverbs 14:34, but remember this is a business transaction. It’s not about agreeing with same-sex weddings or homosexuality, it’s about selling goods or services for weddings. And interesting enough, of the articles I read, every business that ended up being sued or defamed, including Memories Pizza, stated they would sell their goods or services to homosexuals, but would not do gay weddings.
Okay, how about this?
What if a physician owns a medical clinic and answers an emergency phone call at a home. The physician shows up and discovers a man lying in front of a makeshift altar, suffering from cardiac arrest. The sick man has just said, “I do,” to his longtime boyfriend. Should the physician/businessman help the suffering man or tell them to call another physician?
I know. This sounds extreme.
But as I wrote in Part 2, if your business is not going to handle gay weddings, what about weddings between liars, adulterers, fornicators, blasphemers, gossipers, slanderers, idolaters, and so forth? Where do you draw the line?
This is not a battle that we Christians should be fighting or can win.
Love the dialogue, Larry. Okay, what about Ephesians which says do not participate in the deeds of darkness but instead even expose them?