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9.09.04 Dr. Robert A.J.Gagnon Scholar discusses Bible and homosexuality A noted professor and author spoke to Erskine College students, faculty and staff Thursday about homosexuality and opposition to that behavior in the Bible. Gagnon said it “scares” him to hear someone say they support same-sex relationships even though the Bible teaches against them. “We are supporting a position that would have appalled every Scripture author and the Lord Jesus Christ,” Gagnon said. He said it is important to remember that God does not conform to the will of those he created. “God will be God and God determines what is beneficial to God’s creation,” Gagnon said. But even if we support a position or proceed with behavior that is contrary to the Bible, if we change that behavior, God does forgive. Jesus sought out those who were opposed to him and his teachings during his ministry on earth. “Jesus reached out to tax collectors,” Gagnon said. “He was opposed to economic exploitation, but he ministered to the biggest exploiters.” He consistently reached out to those who were the most sinful “because he was about recovering the lost” and changing the hearts of people. Gagnon said the parable of the prodigal son, provides a vivid picture of God’s love for us and how He will receive us even when we disobey him or shame him. The prodigal in Luke 15 spent half of his inheritance, most on prostitutes and other sinful activity before crawling back to his father in a humbled state. His father forgave him and returned him to his place in the household. The older brother was not as forgiving, harboring resentment against his younger brother because of the pain he had caused their father. Gagnon had a personal testimony to share on that point. He said his younger sister rebelled and ran away during her teenage years and his response was “Good riddance.” Thereafter, he heard his father weep daily. “I had never heard my father cry in all my life,” Gagnon said. When his sister returned, she was welcomed back by his parents but did not get the same reception from her siblings. Gagnon said he was not yet a Christian and “I hated her even more because I saw what she had done to my parents.” Later, however, Gagnon said he had to come to a deeper understanding of grace — not only for his sister, but also for himself. That is the good news for those who engage in homosexual behavior or support the homosexual lifestyle, he said. “At the end of the day, if you repent, you are forgiven,” Gagnon said. When Jesus spared the life of the adulteress by saying to the mob that was about to stone her to death, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” he was not only warning against being judgmental. Jesus evaluated her behavior, forgave her and admonished her to “go and sin no more.” Gagnon said Genesis 1:26-27 clearly establishes the creation of man and woman by God in the image of God. He referred to Ephesians 4:17-19, where the Apostle Paul writes that no sexually unclean person can inherit the kingdom of God. “What part of that do you not understand?” Gagnon asked rhetorically. Gagnon also referred to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers and swindlers — none of these will have a share in the kingdom of God.” He said men and women are “sexual other halves.” Gagnon also pointed out that nearly every New Testament book “presupposes the man-woman relationship.” “Same-sex relationships are viewed as inappropriate and demean what a person is created to be,” he said. |
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