Is America the new Sodom and Gomorrah?

Over the last twenty-four hours the mainstream media (MSM) has covered Saipov “allegedly” mowing down dozens of innocent people in New York, the Astros’ game seven win of the World Series, former First Lady Michelle Obama telling girls when not to tweet and how not to empower white men, Papa John’s complaint to the NFL over falling profits related to protests, and Kevin Spacey’s announcement that he is gay – and he may have drunkenly assaulted a teen boy several decades ago. Whew, I’m out of breath.

There are literally dozens of stories covered by the MSM every day. On a “slow” news day we get to hear about fires and floods and the impact of an eventual Fed rate change. But on a “busy” news day we have dozens if not hundreds of stories to choose from. Case in point, CNN commentator Tim Holbrook – a professor of law at Emory University School of Law and frequent LGBTQ commentator, wrote an article titled “It’s not about you, Kevin Spacey.”

The crux of the first half of his article is that Spacey’s “coming out” in conjunction with his quasi-apology for deeply inappropriate drunken behavior with a 14-year-old Anthony Rapp is “destructive” to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer (LGBTQ) community. He further explains such predatory actions help defend discrimination against biological men who want to use the women’s bathroom. (Note: my language, Holbrook uses the term “gender identity.”) The second half of his article criticizes MSM for focusing on Spacey rather than giving due time to Rapp whose own courage was bolstered by the #metoo movement. For what it’s worth, Holbrook slips into the article that he too was sexually assaulted.

Here’s the point – it’s all wrong. Sexual assault is wrong. The transgender movement is wrong. The entire LGBTQ movement is wrong. Disagree with me?

Two words: Sodom and Gomorrah?

If ever the Bible is clear about a sin, it’s how God reacts to homosexuality. God heard the cry of the victims and He sent two angels to destroy the wickedness of those cities. “For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” (Gen 19:13, NKJV)

So how do we, as Christians, love and support our friends in the LGBTQ community? How do we respond when the Tim Holbrooks of America criticize the Kevin Spaceys for using their sexual preferences to distract from other sins or crimes? How do we vote when we’re asked to approve legislation allowing people to use the bathrooms of their choice? How do we, as Christians, love the sinner yet hate the sin?

It’s not easy. It used to be called “tough love.” Now it’s called intolerance or hate speech. But if you truly love someone, love his/her soul, then be firm and faithful. Jesus himself said it in red letters in my bible.

“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell” (Matt 5:29-30, NIV)

Love that person enough to reject his/her sin. Be very clear where you stand and give no quarter for doubt. Don’t be the enabler that gives him/her power to continue sinning – to boast in his/her LGBTQ membership card – to walk into the bathroom of his/her choice rather than his/her gender. Call a spade a spade, but love that person enough to pick him/her up for church, open the door, and listen – don’t preach. God’s Holy Spirit will convict of sin. True compassion for the LGBTQ community doesn’t judge them in their sin – it loves them out of it.