The Commentary

The Daily Telegraph| called it ‘the most sweeping social reform for 40 years’. It was speaking of the first gay ‘weddings’ celebrated in Britain recently, and referring back to the legalisation of homosexual acts between consenting adults brought in during the 1960s.

Among those getting ‘married’ were rock star Sir Elton John and his partner and actor Sir Antony Sher and his partner. With high profile celebrities like these involved and the Prime Minister welcoming these civil partnerships as a ‘modern and progressive step’, Christians who believe the witness of Scripture that God views homosexual acts as sinful, will no doubt be branded intolerant, antediluvian bigots, upon whom it is already open season for the liberal establishment to pour its self-righteous scorn. Truly our cup overflows!

Pull out of schools?

Actually we are not intolerant bigots. We recognise that we too are sinners, and that is why we have fled to Jesus for salvation. We are really those who love our fellow human beings and fear God giving our nation up to judgement (Romans 1). The current chaos in the Church of England was soon obvious following the first civil partnership celebrations. Though the bishops banned clergy from holding formal blessing services, the former Bishop of Durham, David Jenkins, immediately went ahead and blessed a homosexual union in Newcastle.

Up till now, while admiring Christian schools and home-schoolers, I have felt that if possible it is good for Christian families to send their children to state schools, that we might definitely be part of our communities. However, with this new step in recognising homosexual ‘marriage’ it surely will not be long before homosexuality will be more positively promoted under ‘citizenship’ classes in state schools. If I still had youngsters at school, I would have now to think again. This could well be the time for Christians to pull out of state education.

Heroes and heroines

A cool head and great courage will be needed to stand firm for Christian standards with charity and clarity in coming days as many in the church will fall silent or back off on the issue. In Scripture reading I was reminded recently of Eleazer, one of King David’s mighty men. ‘The men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazer, but only to strip the dead’ (2 Samuel 23.9,10). Our sword is Scripture and we battle for truth. But let us not be surprised or downhearted by having to take a lonely stand. The Lord Jesus said, ‘Blessed are you when men hate you …and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man…Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets’ (Luke 6).

This latest ‘reform’ is not only a moral disaster, but GPs generally are clear that homosexual activity is medically dangerous (see e.g. www.cmf.org.uk/literature/content.asp?context=article&id=895). Make no mistake, this is not a progressive move, but a desperately retrograde step away from true civilisation. Un-popular as we may have to be, we need to stick to our guns. If we want to make a real impact for Christ in this generation it is worth reminding ourselves of the words of George Bernard Shaw: ‘Reasonable men adapt to the world around them. Unreasonable men expect the world to adapt to them. Therefore, all progress depends on unreasonable men.’ Being unreasonable in the world’s eyes has always been the way forward.

John Benton

© Evangelicals Now - February 2006
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