Who Is Not Allowed in the Church
Sure, nobody likes to read negative articles, but occasionally some truths, eagerly discarded by most of society (and most religions) must be brought to the forefront once again. On television a few weeks ago were broadcast some sound bites from the pope, in which he affirmed that he thought there was a place in the Catholic Church for those in the LGBTQ community. What the Roman Catholic Church does is their business, but it is noticeable to outsiders and insiders alike that they have been drifting toward liberal positions on moral issues for some time. If Frances continues to head the group, one wonders if in the future they will take a stance on anything, including abortion.
Many religious denominations fare no better. The Methodist Church in Denton, Texas once had the city’s leading abortionist as a member. John Shelby Spong, the well-known Episcopalian, has written books defending fornication, divorce, and homosexuality. He is willing to endorse just about anyone—so long as he doesn’t believe that the Bible means what it says.
But is the church described in the New Testament as “tolerant” as today’s theologians and “leaders” are? Did Paul and Peter welcome LGBTQ individuals into the congregations of the first century? Did they say anything about these matters—one way or another? As a matter of fact, they did. But before looking at what they taught, let’s notice what emphasis undergirded what they said and did.
“Be Holy, For…”
God intended that Israel be different than the nations around them; He intends for Christians to be different than the people around them. God made it clear to Israel that they were to be His special people. He told Moses to tell them: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2). That commandment means that Israel was to be separate from the nations around them; they were not to worship idols or engage in immoral activities. Both adultery and homosexuality were punishable by death (Lev. 20:10, 13).
“But what about Christianity?” someone might wonder. “Doesn’t God forgive people of their sins?” Sure He does—when they quit practicing them. Repentance plays a critical role in receiving the forgiveness of God. No less than Jesus Himself said that, “unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). This simply means that anyone who is guilty of practicing a sin must give it up. Peter quotes from Leviticus 19:2 in the New Testament:
As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-16).
Notice the teachings that can be gleaned from this passage.
1. God’s children are expected to obey Him.
2. Most who became Christians were accustomed to walking in various lusts of the flesh.
3. They walked in those lusts out of ignorance.
4. God is holy—free from all corruptions.
5. His obedient children are to be like Him.
6. All Christian’s conduct is to be holy.
7. The reason for that holiness is repeated—that His followers are to be like Him.
Some, however, may wonder what that means. Paul writes a passage that explains thoroughly what holiness is (1 Thess. 4:1-7). At the outset, he says he will be discussing how Christians ought to walk and to please God (1). These ways were commandments previously given (2). God’s will for His children involves their sanctification—specifically that they abstain from sexual immorality (3). One’s body is to be holy and treated honorably (4)—not in lustful passions like the Gentiles (5). Defrauding one’s brother would be taking what rightly belongs to him—his wife or fiancé (6). Fornication and adultery constitute uncleanness—not holiness (7).
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 that the only legitimate sexual relationship is the one between a husband and wife in marriage. All other physical liaisons are unauthorized and unholy.
The Need for Repentance
What did John preach as he prepared the way for the Messiah? His message began with one word—repent. The reason for that word is that people needed to change their behavior. The reason for repentance was that the kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matt. 3:2). This kingdom would consist of God’s holy people. Thus, even the Jews needed to repent. Some of them were keeping to forms, but their heart was not necessarily in it (Matt. 15:8-9). Some of them had a fondness for religious discussion but not genuine devotion (Luke 10:30-37). Their leaders coveted power more than spirituality (Matt. 23). They had their own problems with morality as well (Matt. 19:3-12).
The Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven, however, was designed for those who wanted to be like God; therefore, they needed to repent of all sins and strive to live in a holy manner. Isn’t it remarkable that so many “sinner’s prayers” omit repentance altogether? When the multitude on the Day of Pentecost asked Peter what they should do, his first word was also, “Repent.” The church is designed to be holy.
Who Cannot Get Into the Kingdom?
The proud cannot enter in; the kingdom belongs to the humble (the poor in spirit) (Matt. 5:3). Someone who proclaims, “I am a sinner; I am proud to be a sinner; and I am going to remain a sinner,” can never enter the kingdom of heaven. Someone might say, “Well, who would be that brazen?” Homosexuals would. What is the purpose of a Gay Pride Parade if not to do that very thing? Are they not saying they are proud to be homosexuals? That they are going to remain homosexuals? And that you’re going to like it? They do not have these public displays to confess their sins.
That homosexuality is a sin is taught in all three Bible eras. In the age in which God spoke to the patriarchs, He destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah along with Admah and Zeboiim (Gen. 18:20; 19:1-29; Deut. 29:23). Under the Law of Moses, homosexuals were to be put to death (Lev. 20:13). In the Christian system, Paul clearly condemns homosexuality as sin (Rom. 1:24-28); Jude mentions that the inhabitants of those afore-mentioned cities gave “themselves over to sexual immorality,” having “gone after strange flesh.” They are, therefore, “set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7).
These individuals cannot become Christians, and they cannot be regarded as Christians. It would be unthinkable for Paul or Peter to have said, “There’s a place in the Lord’s church for homosexuals”! Neither they nor anyone else can enter the kingdom of the Lord without first repenting. And if such a person repented and was baptized to have his sins removed but then chose to return to the darkness where he formerly dwelt, he could not remain a member of the church, either, but members would withdraw fellowship from him, returning him to Satan’s domain from which he came.
Withdrawing of Fellowship
The sin of homosexuality, however, is not the only reason someone cannot be a member of the Lord’s church. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and told them to refuse to keep company with a member (withdraw their fellowship from him). This “brother” was so immoral that he had his father’s wife. We assume he was not in this arrangement at the time he became a Christian, but that somewhere down the road he took her. Presumably, the woman was his stepmother—not his own mother, which would be even worse yet (1 Cor. 5:1-3). No one could misunderstand Paul’s instructions; he wrote:
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 5:4-5).
The church carried out this command; he repented.
Other Exclusions
Paul later explains that the command not to keep company with the immoral did not include those in the world. If Christians could not associate with sinners, how would we ever convert anyone? He continues to explain:
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person (1 Cor. 5:11).
The church does not fellowship those guilty of these sins. The sexually immoral included those living together outside of marriage, those unscripturally married, other adulterers, and homosexuals. Can anyone imagine a church leader saying, “I think we have a place for adulterers in our church,” or “I don’t think we should exclude alcoholics and drug addicts from the church”? Then why all the applause when homosexuals are invited into various religious groups?
“So, you only have people who have never sinned in your church?” Where would someone get such an idea? In the first place, the church is not ours; it belongs to Jesus (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28). But, second, all who are members have committed sins; why else would everyone be told, “Repent!” Those who are in the church have committed themselves to doing the best they can to live holy lives.
Paul said that some at Corinth had been fornicators, adulterers, and homosexuals, but they were not any longer. As long as people persist in their sins, they cannot “inherit the kingdom of heaven” (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Only when they give up the sin can the blood of Christ wash away their sins (Rev. 1:5) in baptism (Acts 22:16). No Christian in the first century would have participated in an Adultery Pride week or paraded around the town wearing a sign that said, “Proud to be an Idolater.” Those things had to be repented of—not glorified—when someone obeyed the gospel.
Invitation
It must be strange to be a member of a religious group that will not stand alongside of John the Baptizer, Jesus, Peter, or Paul and speak the truth to people about the holiness of Christians and the church. Especially for older individuals who grew up being taught to be moral, it would have to be confusing to see one’s religious affiliation give way to immorality of every type.
If the church has room for LGBTQs, fornicators, adulterers, and drunkards, then what’s the attraction? The world embraces all of these. If the church is not different than the world, who needs it? Someone needs to stand up and say, “Sin is not acceptable to God.” He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins, but forgiveness only comes to those who repent, leave the world of sin behind, and embrace the holy kingdom of heaven.