After my most recent article, The LGBT Moral Framework in Light of Scripture, there were numerous comments, some positive and some negative. I appreciate each person’s heart to engage on this issue and while I can’t answer every comment at length, I wanted to briefly respond to some of the consistent objections I saw articulated.
Some objected to the style of the article being a cold, academic treatise on a very live, personal issue. While I meant this article to be helpful to Christians, I also wanted to engage those people like my friend who was formerly Mormon who denounced the Church’s stance on sexuality, yet supported it with non-Biblical moral arguments. The tone of my article came from a sincere desire to respectfully and fairly grapple with what I thought were the most compelling moral arguments for the LGBT affirming worldview rather than set up my view against a secular straw man.
Several objected that the article was hateful and harmful to those in the LGBT community. I respond in the article to the objection that these thoughts are harmful to people in the LGBT community in the section entitled “Follow your heart’s desires as long as it isn’t harming someone.” Though numerous times in the article I condemn violence done to those in the LGBT community or even harshness toward them, I’ll reiterate here that it is heartbreaking to see such behavior from Christians.
Some insightfully questioned the validity of my argument after assuming the orthodox biblical teaching on sexuality. I made this comment simply because every article must establish a limited scope. I didn’t have room in this article to engage in the debate of whether or not the Bible does in fact condemn homosexual practice. Several other books and articles have tackled that and so I referenced them in the article. But this leads to the fourth objection which was that by assuming the orthodox biblical teaching on sexuality, I precluded the possibility that the LGBT worldview could be correct. In other words, that was circular reasoning. I would agree, but would say that all arguments are circular when it comes to arguing first things. For example, assuming our sexual preferences and heart’s desires are morally infallible would preclude the possibility that Scripture could condemn them. This is why in the section “The Core Issue” I say that this issue boils down to an issue of authority. What a person claims as their highest moral authority will dictate where they land on this issue. My article attempts to show problems and inconsistencies with establishing any system of ethics or ultimate moral authority besides the Bible, while also trying to show the superiority of the Bible as an ultimate moral authority. If the biblical perspective represented in my article is “narrow,” the LGBT affirming perspective is not a broader perspective but just an equally narrow perspective on the other side. However, I do not believe it is based on as rational grounds as the biblical perspective.
Others argued that it’s nobody’s business to comment on or criticize the sexual behavior of others. This is an understandable objection and I completely agree that my personal opinion on an issue isn’t morally authoritative. However, Christians believe that God has revealed himself and his will for our lives through his Word. Most amazing of all, the Word became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect life, confirmed the authority of his written Word, died on the cross for the sins of all and rose again so that anyone who believes in him is reconciled to God. There is more freedom and joy in a relationship this incredibly loving God and submission to his Word than anything this world could offer us. So, Christians are accountable to God’s Word, and responsible to hold other Christians accountable, but all people are accountable to God since he is the creator and judge of all.
To be clear, a Christian holding others morally accountable means doing so in grace and love. For example, the Westboro Baptists oppose LGBT, yet also hypocritically oppose commands in Scripture to love your enemy as yourself (Matt. 5:44), and be kind and gentle even in disagreement (2 Tim. 2:23-25). But even non-Christians believe in holding people accountable for their actions (evidenced by their vehement objections to Christian’s objections to the LGBT worldview) and so it seems odd that sexual behavior would be exempt from that accountability. Of course, as a Christian I believe that God’s Word is the ultimate moral authority and the blueprint for life given to us by the author of life and therefore obeying it leads to human flourishing. This has been the case throughout history when it’s been understood rightly and obeyed.
Lastly, some pointed to the sad reality of many people being hurt by the church as a result of their sexuality. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to hear of people who are same-sex attracted or experiencing gender dysphoria who have been wronged by the church. As the conclusion of my article shows, I believe the church on the whole has much growing to do in loving and caring for people on this issue. However, there have also been many from the LGBT community who have testified to the love and care they found in Christian community as well as the joy and freedom in submitting their lives and their sexual desires to Christ. Some examples of these stories are Rosaria Butterfield’s “Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert,” Rachel Gilson’s “Born Again This Way,” Jackie Hill-Perry’s “Gay Girl Good God,” Sam Allberry’s “Is God anti-Gay?” or Becket Cook’s article From Gay to Gospel.
Though Scripture has preeminently shaped my view on this, I’m incredibly indebted to close friends who experience same-sex attraction and are faithful Christians to God’s Word. They have grown me immensely in my understanding of this issue and one in particular gave me extensive feedback on the article.
I hope the article and these thoughts, and especially the books I listed above are helpful resources to help us consider how we can trust the Bible and God’s will over our lives.
Mike McGregor
Mike McGregor (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is Director of College Ministry at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. You can follow him on Twitter at @m5mcgregor.
