John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Billy Graham was asked what he would do if he had a son who was gay and he said, “I would love him all the more”.
We see clearly how we should love people… We also see in 1 John 4 where love comes from… and it tells us how our relationship is affected if we DO NOT LOVE.
1 John 4:7-9 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. …..”
Q: How has God loved us?
A: Unconditionally! God's love is without conditions. It is not contingent upon being nice or heterosexual. God is love.
The Old Catholic Church in Swindon, along with numerous other Old Catholic communities across the United Kingdom, is committed to being an equal opportunity church. It seeks to provide the hope of salvation to all individuals in search of truth, irrespective of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other criteria that are spiritually irrelevant.
Initially, I must address a question posed to me following the announcement of this message's title. The question, which might have been humorous if not somewhat disheartening, was: "Are we going to become a gay church?" I must admit, I'm uncertain about what constitutes a "gay church" or how one might become such. When I discussed this with some of my gay friends during interviews for this message, they responded with laughter and remarked, "I certainly hope not—gay churches can be a bit peculiar!"
To clarify, this sermon is not intended to be political. My sole objective is to promote an unconditional love for all individuals within our community.
We are a diverse community of Christ followers. At our core, we are a church centered on people and, ultimately, a church centered on Jesus.
We are an inclusive church that welcomes all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, race, economic status, physical appearance, or hair color. Everyone is welcome here.
I am confident that no one here would suggest that God's love is limited to heterosexual individuals.
This presentation addresses the concept of God's universal love and serves as a reminder that the role of judgment is reserved for God alone.
If you attended today's talk expecting a 30-minute critique of homosexuality, you might find yourself disappointed. Similarly, if you anticipated an endorsement or promotion of the homosexual lifestyle, this session may not meet those expectations either.
I believe some individuals seek for me to declare either "Homosexuality is a sin" or "Homosexuality is not a sin" primarily to affirm their personal views on the matter, which align with their religious upbringing. This is essentially an attempt to justify their pre-existing beliefs or the teachings they have received.
I would surmise that only a small number of you lack an opinion on the subject.
It is a genuine indication of maturity when individuals can maintain their friendships despite having differing viewpoints.
Unity not conformity!
In my opinion, any church that insists on uniformity of belief among its members can be considered a cult. Similarly, a church that claims exclusive possession of the truth is fundamentally mistaken.
Despite dedicating over 100 hours to studying the topic of homosexuality, I acknowledge that I do not have all the answers. Likewise, my understanding of love is not complete. I am continually striving to follow Jesus' command to "love my enemies."
Once more, my purpose today is not to delve extensively into the topic of homosexuality. Instead, I aim to encourage us all to embody love.
However, I would like to mention this: please listen attentively and consider the entire message within its context. I believe it will enrich and challenge you, fostering growth in your relationship with Christ.
What concerns me about the Christian community, in general, is the tendency to disproportionately elevate homosexuality as a sin above others. This often leads to overlooking the fact that greed, envy, gluttony, heterosexual lust, hate, and adultery are also considered sins. It is important to remember that, according to Jesus, adultery includes lusting after someone to whom we are not married, which encompasses viewing pornography.
In our religious pride, we often overlook the fact that we are all sinners. We are all guilty of sins such as judging others, harboring unforgiveness, lying, cheating, and gossiping. In the Christian community, we sometimes disguise gossip as "sharing our prayer concerns," which can mask our true intentions. Gossip, in particular, is profoundly damaging and harmful, akin to committing murder with words. It is one of the transgressions addressed in the Ten Commandments, alongside slander.
I am attempting to put all sins on an even playing field... let me continue here…
Idolatry is often overlooked as a sin, yet it occurs when we prioritize anything above our relationship with God, such as career advancement, relationships, hobbies, fears, entertainment, pleasure, sleep, money, or even ourselves. This is a common struggle many face.
Please consider this perspective thoughtfully, as it speaks to an important truth.
And most all of us here today know someone who is gay – a family member, a close friend, a classmate, or a co-worker.
Imagine a world where 97% of society is homosexual, and as a heterosexual, you're ostracized for your natural feelings towards the opposite sex, a situation you never chose.
Matthew 7:2-4 “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”.....
I will conclude for this week. Kindly reflect on this message, and the second part will be shared during our next service next week.
Father Paris Haines.
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