Homosexuality

I enjoy reading our paper’s “Letters to the Editor.” It provides a snapshot of what’s going on out there—a window into society’s soul. But one of this morning’s editorials (TNT, 2-29) provided a window into the soul of a local, mainline church. And I, for one, did not enjoy the view.

The editorial was entitled: “Religion: Not all Presbyterians unhappy.” It was in response to last Sunday’s front page article entitled “Dividing Point” (TNT, 2-26). That article chronicled some of the local Presbyterian Church (USA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America church’s response to their denomination’s ordaining of gay and lesbian pastors. The article mainly focused on a handful of congregations in the area who have either left their denominational affiliation or are in the process of doing so.

Which prompted this morning’s editorial from a Presbyterian minister who wanted Tacoma to know that he and the church he pastors feel much differently. He writes, “Several Presbyterian churches in Tacoma, including the one I serve, applaud the change which allows the ordination of GLBTQ folks called by God to ministry.” If you are not up on that acronym, it stands for “Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer.” I don’t recall the apostle Paul, when giving qualifications for an elder (pastor) in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, using that acronym. I do know that he insists in both passages that the pastor is “the husband of but one wife.” The Apostle Peter doesn’t list GLBTQ sexual “options” for a pastor in his list of qualifications (1 Peter 5:2-4), either.

It is an amazing thing to watch churches self-destruct. They are so proud to be inclusive, diverse, and welcoming. The pastor’s editorial ended this way: “[We have] experienced significant numerical growth over the past two years, in part due to our inclusive and welcoming attitude.” I remind the pastor that free beer and topless dancers probably would draw a crowd, too.

I wished to know more about their inclusive and growing “church.” Their website talks about fighting hunger, working for justice, and improving the environment. They say they are a place that “blends spirituality with thoughtful reflection on what tradition and experience mean.” I think that means “we have fun and are at liberty to come up with our own truth”—but I’m not sure. If you detect sarcasm, you are correct.

If anybody over at the “GLBTQ Hunger, Justice, and Environment Church” ever stumbles across this blog, I just want you to know that I’m not homophobic, nor am I a “hater,” or a cross-eyed fundamentalist. I’m just a pastor of a local church who believes the Bible, the Gospel, and loves His church; I’m a sinner who gets things wrong and not for a moment thinks he’s figured everything out.

But I’m pretty confident about this one. You might be happy about the direction of your “church”–but God isn’t.

Pastor Rich Hamlin

February 29, 2012  

I know why you speak of rights, fairness, and equality whenever you make your case for same-sex marriage. Just 20 years ago, your side was losing the debate. Then, like a struggling business or a losing sport’s team, you repackaged yourselves. Rather then portraying homosexuality as a deviant and promiscuous sexual minority, you began presenting yourselves as mainstream citizens in search of equal treatment. The outlandish “gay parades” were spectacle (still are), but they weren’t creating sympathy or generating votes—after all, cocky men in leather and drag queens aren’t very appealing.

You then changed the words, too. It was no longer an issue of “preference”—that implies a person making a choice to be gay. Now its labeled “orientation”—a word that communicates gays are born not made; that it is simply genetically who they are. The plan worked. The movement ceased being about sordid sexuality, it became one of rights—civil rights, actually. Just as women were denied the right to vote and blacks were deemed second-class in the previous century; the face of the movement became “normal” men and women who were treated unfairly and simply wanted the same rights as everyone else. And it’s hard to argue against someone’s civil rights—this is America. It is why same-sex proponents now enjoy the momentum.

I’ve also noticed you have sugared your position by saying you will provide “opt-outs” for churches; not forcing pastors to perform same-sex unions. But isn’t it against the law to arbitrarily opt-out of civil rights legislation? Regardless of one’s opinion, real civil rights are the law of the land. Skinheads have their opinion, but if they discriminate, they are breaking the law—period. You either don’t see the inconsistency in your “opt-out” logic or you do. I suspect you do. Just as denouncing homosexuality from the pulpit may soon be construed as “hate-speech”; you know the courts will eventually erase the “opt-outs” for Bible-believing pastors. You’re an attorney; maybe you even have a copy of your movement’s “play-book”—the one that lists the step-by-step strategies your side has employed to get to this point. I’m sure there are more chapters in it, too.

Some politicians say this is personally such a hard issue for them to decide—something about seeing the arguments of both sides. When argued as a civil right, it is difficult to oppose same-sex marriage. But it’s not about rights. It’s ultimately about the right of God to define His institution. Which He has done clearly: marriage is between one man and one woman. It is why same-sex marriage has nothing in common with women’s suffrage or blacks sitting in the back of the bus. It’s all about whether we believe God gets to decide the matter or politicians do.

Pastor Rich Hamlin

January 12, 2012

Our governor has “flipped,” as they say in politics. I don’t think so, though. She’s a lame-duck so she’s probably just doing what she has wanted to do since she was first elected back in 2004. But what she says is that she’s taken a “personal journey” concerning the matter. I’d like a follow-up, “From where to where, governor?” Here are her words from her press conference on January 4, 2012: “This was all about my personal faith,” said Governor Chris Gregoire, a professing Roman Catholic, “I came to understand my religion is one thing, but as governor of the state and as a human being, I believe in equality. And I don’t respect a state who discriminates.” It was difficult to type her quote; it’s such a ridiculous one, so full of illogic.

But let’s back up. We are talking about Olympia’s push to make Washington the seventh state in the union to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. And Gregoire is excited to be the proposed legislation’s torch-bearer.

In 2004, she supported legal rights for same-sex couples. In 2007, she signed a domestic partnership law toward that end. In 2009, she supported the passage of Referendum 71, the so-called “everything but marriage” law; the law where same-sex couples were granted all rights enjoyed by married couples except the one they coveted most—the ability to marry. And it’s this last one they so desperately want because their deviancy will then possess the language of normalcy.

But back to our governor’s carefully crafted quote from above. Parsing through it, here is what I find behind her words: “My faith really isn’t that important to me; certainly not enough for it to impact the way I govern. I know the Bible defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman. I also know it calls homosexuality a sin. But that’s so judgmental and not fair. And I don’t want to be associated with a state that listens to God concerning such things.”

That was some “personal journey”! She discarded whatever semblance of faith she had, declaring God’s way archaic and discriminatory; and happy to have arrived upon the shores of progress, acceptance, and enlightenment.

But if I may; could someone let her know her office is subordinate to the Throne of God? She needs to take another “personal journey”; this time, one that arrives upon the shores of God’s never-ending truth.

Pastor Rich Hamlin

The homosexual machine is well-funded and relentless. Washington DC and Hollywood are allies. Academia and culture are, as well. It is important, however, to oppose the “machine”—to lovingly assert truth. We do so for the honor of God and for the good of those deceived.

Last Sunday (August 7), the News Tribune ran what will no-doubt be a long line of continuous articles pushing for same-sex marriage. How should the church communicate our opposition? If you are a regular reader of our blog, you will recognize my attempt in a letter written to the editor on August 10. Within an hour of its posting, the responses began coming in—almost exclusively against my position.

I want those pushing for same-sex marriage to know they don’t have the authority to redefine marriage—which is God’s word. As such, He has clearly defined it between a man and a woman. In addition, I want it known why God set the parameters He did; doing so because through marriage, God communicates His bridegroom/bride and husband/wife relationship He has with His people and church. Because this is so, any other combination other than a man and woman communicates a lie.

So instead of staying safe in my foxhole; I decided to stick my head out. It’s getting shot at. That’s OK. Follow the link below and note their tact and reasoning. May it be helpful for us in our proclamation of God’s Word and Gospel—and our desire to engage our neighbors and world for the cause of Christ.

Letters to the Editor, The News Tribune, “MARRIAGE: Gay marriage is an oxymoron”