Whitewell guest speaker's acceptance of homosexuals

From 22nd to 29th September Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in Belfast in holding its 'Alive Belfast' mission. The guest speaker at this event will be Jay Lowder of Jay Lowder Harvest Ministries in Texas, USA. Several Christian websites have made reference to the fact that during this mission he will be addressing the issue of suicide and how he suffered with the same feelings himself yet found a reason to live through Jesus Christ. Considering the high suicide rate in the Belfast area, and amongst young people in particular, no fault can be found with Whitewell for undertaking such a venture. Where there is cause for concern however is in their guest speaker's views on homosexuality, and how he believes the church should react to it. 

In January 2012 the Dallas Voice carried an article on how Jay Lowder was making waves by preaching 'acceptance of gays'. In that interview, which centred around his relationship with, and reaction towards his gay sister, Jay described the 'love the sinner, hate the sin' approach as hypocritical. His view was that rather than focusing on the sins of others we should focus on our own sin, quoting Matthew 7:5 to justify his argument. Jay Lowder makes it clear that as regards his sister's homosexuality, and also that of others that he is not going to be judgemental about it.

The problem with this approach is that the bible teaches that we are to judge righteous judgement. Where scripture teaches that a lifestyle or action is sinful, as it does with homosexuality, then such a sin should be denounced according to the teaching of scripture. If Jay Lowder were only advocating that we show compassion towards those involved in the sin of homosexuality, then we could have no dispute with him, for the Christian is indeed to be compassionate towards all sinners, yet where is the true compassion in being silent about sin? In another interview with ABC News Jay Lowder says that we should 'love and accept people regardless' and that 'you have no reason to hate someone else's sin'. Yes it is true that we are to love sinners, whatever their sin may be, but to simply accept them as they are, no. We must seek to make people realise their sinful condition before God, even where they may claim that it is not sin, but simply the way they were born.

To say that we should not concern ourselves with the sin of others, and have no reason to hate someone else's sin may sound pious, yet how can we not be grieved and concerned with the sin of others. If we do not concern ourselves with the sin of those around us, how will we be motivated to witness to them of their need of repentance? When Christ spoke with the Samarian woman at the well in John 4 he said 'thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband'. Her immoral lifestyle was brought to her attention and so must we do likewise as we seek in love to evangelise the lost. To say that all sins are the same is contrary to the teaching of Matthew 11:22 'But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgement, than for you'. Some sins ARE more heinous in the sight of God than others and will receive a greater condemnation, those of gross immorality being among them. 

Whilst Jay Lowder has never condoned the homosexual lifestyle or stated that it is not sinful he appears unwilling to take any public stand against it. That Belfast's largest church has seen fit to invite a speaker who takes such a loose approach to the great sin of sodomy is disappointing and we would pray that he does not influence others in our province with these views.