Yesterday the American people heard from President Obama concerning the State of the Union.

This means, among other things, that its now time for the public to start thinking about the State of the Election. Time again for the flurry of debates about every topic from abortion to the economy to pipelines from Canada. Time again for the Facebook posts and the online debates; some thoughtful, others less so. And, of course, time again for politically active Christians to speak out about gay marriage. Ever since Jerry Falwell and his Moral Majority in the 1960s and 1970s, homosexuality has never been far from the minds of evangelical Christians. We discuss it in our churches and in our Bible studies. We hear about it from the mouths of televangelists and street preachers. We draft resolutions and statements concerning it. And, of course, we continuously lobby our political leaders to restrict, condemn, and outlaw homosexual practices at both the state and federal level. American Christianity has not just taken a stance on the issue of homosexuality; American Christianity has made homosexuality a fundamental characteristic of its identity. Ask any ten people on the street what they think of Christians Id be willing to bet that at least half would bring up something about gay rights. For all of this we have received harsh criticism from the world, so much so that we are quick to claim persecution and martyrdom at the hands of an ungodly political structure (Rick Perrys latest campaign ad is a particularly egregious example of this). In the midst of reproach and temptation we have stood firm or so wed like to think. But is this the case? Are we really as we see ourselves; bold crusaders against the advancing forces of secular evil? For years, we have answered with a resounding yes. But Im not so convinced. I think our critics have a point. I think we have been far too complacent for far too long. I think that our approach to

homosexuality reveals a serious and fundamental problem with American Christianity, and I think that its high time we sat down and questioned ourselves. Let me first make a few things clear. Im not suggesting that homosexuality is OK or morally permissible. Its not possible for me to take that position; Im afraid the biblical record is too clear for that. Scripture is very clear that true marriage is, in fact, between a man and a woman: For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5), Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexualswill enter the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10); Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due (Romans 1:27). Homosexuality is a sin. It is not any worse a sin than others, and its certainly not a sin that exceeds the grace of God. But it is wrong according to the Law. On this issue the Evangelical world is agreed, and I dont intend to belabor the point. Weve spent far too much time already focusing on the sins of others. Today I suggest that we take a moment or two to look at our own. First, Id like to consider whether our usual solution that is, political activism is at all the right way to approach the question of homosexuality. American Christians have called for and supported a flood of legislation attempting to make gay marriage illegal. Grassroots movements in every state petition for ordinances against same-sex marriage; meanwhile, highly visible pastors and political leaders call on the federal government to introduce an Amendment that would exclude all definitions of matrimony that dont conform to Judeo-Christian beliefs.

But where on earth is all of this in the Bible? How can we possibly arrive at the idea that Jesus intended us to use politics as a means of enforcing our moral values? After His resurrection, when Christ was instructing His disciples, He said nothing about trying to reform the culture or purify the government. What did He say? Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. When Christ delivered the Sermon the Mount, did He call for His followers to hold rallies against the Jewish or Roman authorities? Not at all! Instead, He instructed them to let their individual lives be their testimony to unbelievers, through which testimony they could bring people to faith. When He caught His disciples arguing about who would be greatest in the Kingdom, did He say: Yea, he who best transforms the culture shall be greatest. No, and again, no! What did He say? The kings of the Gentiles lord it over each other; it must not be so among you. He would be greatest among you must be the least, and the servant of all. We follow the Jesus who explicitly said, My kingdom is not of this world. We follow the Jesus whose greatest enemies were the religious-political leaders of His day, who rebuked His disciples for trying to accomplish their mission in the world by force. It is the height of injustice for us to deny civil liberties to homosexual Americans, and it the height of foolishness for us to try and justify our actions using the Bible. This, however, is hardly the worst that we have done. Our political suppression of gay and lesbian couples is bad enough but there is far worse to be told. Youve all heard the stories on the news. Perhaps some of you have lived them. Stories of gay children being bullied at school. Stories of harassment and discrimination towards gay employees in the workplace. Stories of pain and oppression, of intolerance and hatred. Stories that end in grief and scars stories that sometimes end in suicide, in death. In so many of these stories, evangelical

Christians stand prominent as the instigators and the ringleaders of this persecution. And yet we the American Church stand by and do nothing. When we talk about homosexuality we are always talking about them and their sins; seldom, if ever, do we consider the pain that we are inflicting when we treat members of the homosexual community as if they were less than people. How dare we? How dare we? We who are Christs body on Earth how dare we use that body as the instrument of injustice? We who are called to set the captive free and to defend the oppressed how dare we become oppressors ourselves, adding to the burdens of already burdened hearts? We whom God has forgiven and set free to love our neighbors how dare we use that freedom to indulge in hatred? Are they not people, as we are? Were they not made in the image of God, even as we were? Did Christ not die for them, just as He died for us? Are they not every bit as precious and loved in Gods eyes as the most pious Christian, the most zealous believer? It is an evil, evil thing that we do when we use our religion as a weapon of our own self-righteousness. Our pride and our animosity are more disgusting in the eyes of God than the most outspoken proponent of gay marriage. Our collective Pharisaism is a stink in the nostrils of the Lord, a wretched stench that makes His anger burn against us. Make no mistake; the pain of those whom we have oppressed is blood on our hands, and He will require it of us on Judgment Day. Nevertheless, there is Christ. Our deeds have been evil and inexcusable; they have also been atoned for by Jesus. If we seek Him, we shall find forgiveness. And that, ultimately, is the answer to the question of homosexuality: to proclaim Christ and Him crucified to those who practice sexual immorality. The Gospel is for all people at all times, and no less so for homosexuals than for those of us who are straight. In Christ is grace, free and pure let us encourage our friends in the gay community to seek it, to be freely justified by the God of

Heaven. Whats more, in Christ is the source and the model for the love we ought to show to our gay and lesbian neighbors. We ought to love them as we love any other people, to love them without even considering their sexual preference, to welcome them gladly as our friends, our colleagues, our family members; to make their burdens our burdens, to make their good our good, to see them as Christ sees them: human beings who (like us) are sinful and who (like us) need love, mercy, and grace. Should we approve of homosexuality? No, we shouldnt. Should we pretend as though its acceptable within the boundaries of Christian ethics? No, we shouldnt. But neither should we treat gays and lesbians as though they are inferior to us. Neither should we claim moral superiority, as though we were somehow better than they. Instead, let us take the straight and narrow road; on the one hand, confessing and preaching that homosexuality is sinful, on the other hand, allowing people to make their own choices without legal intervention, and loving them all the same, no matter what they do. It is time for the American Church to stop using the tools of the devil to bring about the Kingdom of God. It is time for us to repent of our self-righteousness. It is time to put down our hatred and to put on love, remembering that we have already been clothed with Christ in Baptism and living as though we were the ambassadors of the Lord. I end this essay on a personal note. I am not at all innocent of the things that I have been denouncing. I know that I have been guilty of all the sins which I have spoken out against here. Therefore, I make this appeal; to all of my gay and lesbian friends and acquaintances, if I have ever treated you poorly because of your sexuality, if I have ever been arrogant and condescending, if I have ever made you feel as though you were lesser or unworthy: Im sorry. Im so, so sorry. Please forgive me for the things I said and did in my ignorance. There is no excuse; I can only ask for your mercy. If you will have me, let us be friends. Let us study and

sing and work and play and talk and be silent together. And let us together seek the mercy and grace of Christ, knowing that we have a sure friend and Savior to cleanse us from all sin.