For anyone following this blog, there has been an absence lately. I have not posted since April 6, 2024, a post about the role of Christians in society today. In particular, that post entitled “Can We Be The Balm That Can Heal?” was a retread from 2016 about how Christians get involved in politics in a very negative way, adding fuel to the fire that unbelievers already feel about our faith. In essence we don’t act like Christians; we act in a hateful manner.

I did post on April 4, about Dr. Preston Sprinkle’s ideas on Jesus’ beliefs about homosexuality. Jesus did not really address this issue but Sprinkle believes that many affirming* Christians feel His lack of words bolster their position that homosexuality is ok within the church. Non-affirming Christians use Jesus’ silence for their position; He was a devout Jew and would have followed the hard line about homosexuality. Why would He talk about something that was obviously a grievous sin? That post was entitled “Neither Do I Condemn Thee.” Sprinkle tries to find common ground between the affirming Christians and non-affirming Christians.

It is now time to get back to the issue of homosexuality in the Christian church.

I have been away on a relaxing vacation. It is the first time I have gone away with no telephone and no computer. I got some very needed perspective.

It is good to be back.

Now it is time to return to the topic at hand, and the timing could not be any better. I am at Chapter 8 in Peter Gomes’ book. Gomes is the most affirming of the three authors that I have been discussing. I started with his book when I began this project on February 2, 2023. His chapter is entitled “The Bible and Homosexuality, the Last Prejudice.”

That sounds serious.

I venture to say that is his key discussion on the issue I am trying to discuss.

Remember (any reader who is following this blog), I will go from Gomes to DeYoung** to Sprinkle***, trying to find a balanced discussion of this topic.

But for now, we look at “The Last Prejudice.”

*an “affirming” position on this issue means that Christians have no problem with homosexuality in the church

**Kevin DeYoung, a “non-affirming” Christian author on homosexuality

***Dr. Preston Sprinkle, an author who tries to bridge the gap between the affirming and non-affirming position.