For years, a steady drumbeat of Christian pastors, musicians, and authors
have announced they’ve “evolved” on the issue of homosexuality. Authors like
Matthew Vines and more recently, Jen Hatmaker, musician Nicole Nordeman and Yale
philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff argue that the Bible doesn’t actually condemn
same-sex “marriage.” Christians, they say, should bless such unions as
“holy.”
Many of them have said that even if we don’t agree, we shouldn’t make it
a big deal. We can “agree to disagree,” they say. Typically, they offer one of
three reasons.
First, this issue, they say, is like the mode of baptism, or worship
styles, or wine versus grape juice in the Lord’s Supper. In other words,
homosexuality is a matter of preference, an area where believers can respect one
another’s differences.
But this doesn’t make sense for either side. Advocates of same-sex “marriage” say
it’s a human right. If that’s true, the traditional view is not just mistaken,
it’s dangerous! Opponents say that acts of homosexuality are sinful. If that’s
true, then Christians can’t agree to disagree either.
Second, we often hear that the Church is evolving on this issue,
especially every time a Christian celebrity changes their minds. But the vast
majority of evangelicals still hold to the traditional view, and they’re not
changing their minds anytime soon. As my “BreakPoint This Week” cohost, Ed
Stetzer, points out in Christianity Today, “Evangelical organizations across the
spectrum are making clear where they stand on marriage.” Groups like the Council
for Christian Colleges and Universities, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship,
Christianity Today, and even more progressive social-justice-minded
organizations like World Vision and Fuller Seminary, have all unambiguously
committed to hold the line on this issue.
As have denominations. Virtually every evangelical
communion has reaffirmed God’s design for sex and marriage. Even in the United
Methodist Church, long considered a stronghold of liberal theology, and in the
worldwide Anglican communion, the marriage debate has taken a conservative turn
as traditional members in Africa and elsewhere exert their
influence.
But, some will reply, “If Christians don’t all agree on what marriage is,
you can’t say there’s such a thing as ‘the Christian position.’” But Christian
truth isn’t made of what people who call themselves Christians say. It’s
revealed truth, made known through creation, through Scripture, ultimately
through Christ—each of which are quite clear about what makes us male and
female, what marriage is, and about sexual morality.
Which is why Christians never questioned marriage until culturally
yesterday. A post-sexual revolution claim just a few years old does nothing to
negate the consistent Christian witness about marriage throughout all of
history.
Which brings up the final argument, “If marriage is a core part of
Christian teaching,” we hear, “why isn’t it in the creeds or the councils? Why
did no one talk about it until now?” The answer is, because no one questioned
what marriage is until now—anywhere, much less in the
Church.
Throughout history, the need to clarify certain Christian doctrines has
almost always arisen because of challenges. No one thought we needed a canon,
until Marcion suggested some books weren’t Scripture. No one thought we needed
to clarify Jesus’ place in the Godhead, until the Arian heresy. In each case,
what was upheld wasn’t a theological innovation, but a clarification of the
consistent Christian teaching.
So next time someone says, let’s just agree to disagree about this issue,
say, “No. Instead, let’s agree to love each other and to pursue the truth
together.” That’s a much better way forward. (This
column originally aired November 21, 2016.)
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