France’s first same-sex wedding was held this week. The latest New Yorker’s Mother’s Day cover pictures a lesbian couple reading a card from their three children in their kitchen. Since last March, when the Supreme Court heard arguments over same-sex marriage, three more states have legalized gay marriage.
Yesterday, Dr. Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, stated that “no issue defines our current cultural crisis as clearly as homosexuality.” He adds: “Within a few short years, a major dividing line has become evident—with those churches endorsing homosexuality on one side, and those stubbornly resisting the cultural tide on the other.” I agree.
I could write a Cultural Commentary every day on topics related to homosexuality—that’s how pervasive this issue has become. If I did, would you soon tire of reading what I wrote? Have you grown weary of this subject, as important as it is?
I’m grateful for every believer who is willing to take a biblical stand in this debate and defend Scripture by “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). At the same time, I fear that we are in danger of allowing this controversy to distract us from the larger issue. In 1973, psychiatrist Karl Menninger wrote a book titled, “Whatever became of sin?” Let’s consider what was happening in our culture 40 years ago that might have prompted his question.
In 1973, The Exorcist was released; many felt that it glorified Satan and demons. That same year, the film Jesus Christ Superstar was widely criticized for blasphemy. Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned in disgrace. The Watergate scandal dominated headlines and would lead to President Nixon’s resignation the next year. The Yom Kippur War erupted in the Middle East. And in 1973 the Supreme Court issued its ruling on Roe v. Wade. Since that time, 56 million abortions have been performed in this country.
Here’s my point: Human nature doesn’t change. We are broken, for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Every problem we’ve discussed this morning is a symptom of the underlying disease. The only cure for sin is the forgiveness of God and transforming work of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17).
David Platt was right: When Jesus set out to take the gospel to the world, “all He wanted was a few men who would think as He did, love as He did, see as He did, teach as He did and serve as He did. All He needed was to revolutionize the hearts of a few, and they would impact the world.”
Has he revolutionized your heart today?
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