This week I had an interesting encounter. A middle aged man came into the church to get some food. He had been in before, and this time he also said that he was wanting to meet with me.
He had some things that he wanted to share with me. He had some various personal struggles that were giving him a lot of anxiety. He was out of work, and he had always worked before (as an engineer salesman). He had some struggles with some of his family relationships and some health issues in his family. And he wanted to know about the Church of Christ and some of our beliefs--what set us apart from some other churches.
So I talked about us being autonomous and about our emphasis upon baptism and the Lord's Supper. In particular, I stressed what baptism is. He related some about his church background. He had not gone much at all growing up, but his sister was a devout Baptist. He then shared how he had believed in God but had never been baptized. And then he talked about how he felt that God had led him to this church. He said that he had been praying to God while driving, and his car just found its way to our church building. He had been touched by those who prayed for him and who had given him food.
I told him that I wanted to pray for him about his job situation, anxiety, and family situation, and then I asked him what he thought God wanted him to do in regards to baptism and his spiritual walk. He seemed so open and wanting direction, wanting someone to help direct him spiritually.
He then told me that the reason that he had never been baptized was that he was gay. And he wanted to know what I believed about this. I told him that we wanted to take people where they were and reach out to them with love and kindness, because this is what Jesus did with people and that is what God had done with us. I told him that it could be that there is a genetic predisposition towards homosexuality in some people. I have seen research that has shown differences in brain composition, though studies usually show some kind of environmental factor as well. There are people that have a predisposition towards alcoholism, and are hooked after one drink, while others never get addicted. While this would make resisting the sin of alcoholism harder, it was not be right to just give yourself over to it. Would not homosexuality be the same? And that as a guy, I find many women attractive (but none as attractive as my wife, Becki!!)--but that it would not be right for me to go after these impulses. Just because one has sexual impulses, if they are wrong before God, should they be acted upon? The issue does not seem to be "orientation"--what one is inclined or tempted to do--but behavior.
I asked him to be able to share some of these thoughts, and I apologized for some of the hatred he had had directed at him in the past. He was very emotional in talking about this. Then I asked him if he would like to study some of the Bible passages on this subject next week and see what God's word said about this. He said that he would. He still believes that God sent him our way for a reason. We then had a prayer together.
Throughout our conversation, I tried to treat him with love and kindness, hear the pains and struggles and anxieties that he had, and treat him as a human being. Also throughout the conversation, my mind was racing through various scenarios, as it was clear that he would have been baptized if it had not been for his homosexuality. Right now he is celibate, but has not concluded that it is wrong. But he is open to study. This made me think, o boy, when would it be okay to baptize him?
To the first question, I think most Bible believing Christians would clear say no. But what about the other questions above? What do you think?
Comment
James, the work you are doing is phenomenal and so encouraging to me as a Christian who is striving to be more dedicated and reaching out to people. I love to talk to my fellow workers at Toyota about Jesus and His "good news" gospel! I agree that the first question/scenario is a definite "no" because the person must be repentant and aware that he is lost in his present condition. I think our responsibility is to preach/teach others about Jesus which of course includes being baptized "into Christ" and continue to teach the new babe in Christ more of what God's will is for them as Christians. We have no way of knowing if the person will remain "in Christ" over the years. Trying to determine who will and will not remain faithful to the end is beyond us and as long as the person believes the gospel, repents, confesses Jesus as his Lord and Savior and is baptized "into Christ", we are obligated by the great commission to baptize the person and not forget about them but to continue to teach them as babes in Christ. Too many people have been baptized into Christ over the years and then basically left on their own in a world full of "wolves" ready to devour them! You have really helped me see this "gay" issue from a different perspective and with more love for the individual. I've always been resentful about homosexuality because of what Paul said in his letter to the Romans and the fear of the deterioration of our world because of their open sin/rebellion to God. I was concerned God would destroy our country over such abominations as this.
There were some in the Corinthian church just like him, but they were washed!
1 Cor 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 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.
NIV
We are all born sinners. Through God's grace and mercy via the Holy Spirit, God guides and directs us to walk in the light and obey his laws. God's forgiveness is vast and ongoing, not to say we are not held accountable for our sins. Being gay is a sin. So is jealousy, greed, stealing, gossiping, etc. Have you not baptized others who have committed these sins? I'm sure everyone that has been baptized has the constant challenge of denying the devil and keeping their heart in God's hands. But isn't this easier to do when you have the Holy Spirit to guide and help you? God is the only and final judge. He relieves us of that task, and I am so glad. He tells us to love one another and forgive, and not to judge.
I say consult and study with him, then baptize him, allowing the help of God's Spirit in him for guidance and mercy.
I can only feel that God would rather have us as his believers, sinners that we are, with faith in him and growing spiritually, than out there, never being baptized, and thus never been given the opportunity of repenting.
Bill, excellent thoughts here. Yes, many do see 1 Peter as a baptismal sermon or teaching section, which is interesting. How do you think that all that you mentioned applies to the questions above?
John, my thoughts are along the lines that you have. Surprise, surprise. We always did think a lot alike.
However, I do understand Hope's point. If we believe that the Spirit comes into one's life at baptism, then are we denying a person the power to change? Does one have to be fully obedient at baptism?
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