The current, and ongoing, controversy surrounding the issue of whether the Boy Scouts of America should or should not allow gay boys to join is again in the news. Many are calling the Boy Scouts ‘intolerant’ and ‘hateful’ because of its policy of not allowing gay membership in its ranks. But is this really the case?
The Bible is clear about God’s assessment of homosexuality: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (I Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV). There is no doubt that the Bible says that those who willfully and habitually commit these kinds of acts will not be forgiven by God nor will they be part of His kingdom.
It is apparent that homosexuality is not the only sin listed in this passage. This passage, and others, include homosexuality in with other sins that prevent one from having a right relationship with God. All of these sins are merely symptoms of a much larger problem; man is in rebellion towards God. Man has decided that God’s rules are not right for men, so mankind has decided to modify, adjust, or completely ignore God’s rules altogether. The only reason the Boy Scouts have made a public statement concerning homosexuality is that those advocating the other sins (adultery, sexual immorality, thievery, etc.) have not made a public spectacle of attempting to gain acceptance into the Boy Scouts. If groups advocating those other sins were to start demanding admission into the Boy Scouts, then the Boy Scouts would have to speak out against that group also.
Those promoting homosexual acceptance claim that their opponents ‘hate’ homosexuals. The reality is that those promoting homosexuality are the ones promoting hate, whether they realize it or not. This is because they are actively promoting a lifestyle that is contrary to God’s will. Therefore, they are encouraging people to continue in a lifestyle that will ensure that they end up missing eternal life and end up suffering eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46). Is it loving to help someone reject a loving God in order to serve one’s selfish lusts and desires? Those who promote the homosexual agenda are actually the ones promoting the ‘hate’.
Love is found in the following verse, “And such were some of you. 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” (I Corinthians 6:11 ESV). This verse assures the sinner that he or she is not trapped in a sinful lifestyle. Through faith in Jesus Christ, there is freedom from bondage, forgiveness of sin, and life forever in the loving presence of God. This is the message of love that the homosexual (drunk, thief, liar, etc.) needs to hear. This is the message that leads to real life.
Those who seek to force others to accept homosexuality as normal and good, are actually doing a terrible disservice to the homosexual, as well as the public at large. They are trying to convince others that sinful behavior should be accepted as the norm, when God has said that it is sin. If a doctor told a terminally ill patient that he or she was fine, that doctor would be sued for malpractice; not to mention his behavior would be morally reprehensible. Telling a sinner that he or she is not sinning is the same thing, or worse.
The Boy Scouts should be supported in their stand on morality. They are not perfect, no one is, but they should not be forced to accept blatant immorality as acceptable behavior. According to God’s Word, it is not.
