E-mail
Print
RSS
G-bookmarks
Live
TechnoratiChristians in America may be soon witnessing a larger push to reveal the love of God in their lives and to think twice about how they confront sin – especially after a recent Barna survey found that just 16 percent of non-Christians in their late teens and twenties said they have a “good impression” of Christianity.
More specifically, most young non-Christians who The Barna Group approached said they felt Christianity is judgmental (87 percent), hypocritical (85 percent), and too involved in politics (75 percent), among other negative perceptions.
Furthermore, 91 percent of young non-Christians and 80 percent of young churchgoers say present-day Christianity is "anti-homosexual."
"As the research probed this perception, non-Christians and Christians explained that beyond their recognition that Christians oppose homosexuality, they believe that Christians show excessive contempt and unloving attitudes towards gays and lesbians," the Barna report stated.
Young Christians largely criticize churches, saying they have made homosexuality a "bigger sin" than anything else and that churches have not helped them apply the biblical teaching on homosexuality to their friendships with gays and lesbians.
Amid news of the report, many Christian leaders are reminding believers of the greatest commandment given to them by God.
"Often Christians think that to love a homosexual is a compromise of their Christianity, that somehow their love would be misconstrued as condoning homosexuality," according to Christine Sneeringer, director of Worthy Creations, a ministry of Exodus International – one of the nation's largest organizations dealing with homosexuality.
But Christians are called to love their neighbor, she recalls, while also pointing out that a Christian's message must balance love and truth – the truth being that homosexuality is a sin.
Tim Wilkins, an ex-gay Baptist, also teaches congregations across the country that the Church has a responsibility to proclaim that homosexuality is a sin. At the same time, however, he tells them they have a responsibility to share the redemptive message of Christ.
"Homosexuality is a sin and freedom from same-sex attractions is available through Jesus Christ," he says.
Some more liberal Christians, however, in their push to embrace homosexual persons, have gone too far and have strayed from the foundation laid by the Bible.
Presbyterian theologian Jack Rogers, for example, is visiting several churches this fall refuting the common Christian interpretation of the Bible that Jesus and Scripture opposes homosexuality.
The professor of Theology Emeritus at San Francisco Theological Seminary is trying to get a positive word out in Christian churches about the gay and lesbian community and thinks churches should be leading the charge for their equal rights.
“I’m trying to help people understand that the Bible rightly interpreted, which I would think is through the lens of Jesus’ redemptive life and ministry ... does not condemn Christian people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered," said Rogers, according to The Lawrence Journal-World.
Rogers acknowledges in his book, “Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church,” that he has not specialized in the issue of homosexuality as a biblical scholar. Still, he says those who argue that the Bible condemns gays and lesbians are taking biblical literalism too far and feels there is excessively negative words in the religious community, according to the Journal-World.
Another Christian leader who is making a push for the equal rights of homosexuals is Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, whose denomination has riled the worldwide Anglican Communion with its unwavering support for sexually active gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex couples. Continue >>
Cameron »
Agree: 
Disagree: 
