The last decade has witnessed a seemingly exponential growth in the moral and political divide in America. There doesn’t seem to be an issue that doesn’t excite strong opinions and emotions: Trump, immigration, Black Lives Matter, climate change, LGBTQ, etc. This cultural tension appears to be a religious struggle between conservative and liberal visions for the world. Interestingly, you find these two camps in the church, evangelical or otherwise. But as our society continues to march in a more progressive direction, conservative Christians are experiencing an increasing pressure to conform to the broader ideas and morals of the cultural majority. This is especially true on the topic of sexuality.
As Pride month rolled around with its expected fanfare, Christians have struggled knowing how to respond. Some speak out against the moral standard the culture is celebrating. Some boycott. Others retreat into a holy huddle. Still others wonder if they are wrong and should finally acquiesce to the cultural push. One thing is certain, you can’t not respond.
I want to humbly offer a response for Christians to consider, particularly those who take the Bible seriously. Radically love and speak the truth.
Radically Love
Christ’s love compels us. This is the message of the New Testament, even the whole of Scripture. The Mosaic law did nothing to change the hearts of men. As the Apostle Paul says, it only increased the trespass. The love and mercy of God reaches down and does what the law could not do. Our hope, our motivation, our source of strength, and the root of our transformation is because God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. External conformity to rules and laws only creates prideful, ugly people – clean on the outside, but inwardly whitewashed tombs. But love, that can change a person from the inside out. I’m not talking about an emotional or romantic love, but a self-sacrificial love, a love that gives up oneself for the benefit of another. This love disarms us, makes us wonder where it came from, and ponder how we might have it ourselves.
If you want to win over your LGBTQ friend or neighbor, love them with a self-sacrificial love. If you desire them to listen to your words and value your perspective, demonstrate your willingness to selflessly seek their best interest. Care for them as persons God made, as the intrinsically valuable beings they are. Let the love of Christ compel you. Love them as he loves them. Serve them as he served those around him. This sort of love is both radical and rare, but it captures the heart and opens the mind. If you hope to change the minds and hearts of those with opposing views of the world, begin with a radical, self-sacrificial love.
Speak the Truth (Law & Gospel)
A curious bit of reasoning has crept into our current culture’s way of thinking. To speak out against the actions or beliefs of certain groups, even just expressing moral disapproval, is seen as hateful, unkind, and oppressive. The logic of this moral grandstanding won’t stand for a moment. An ounce of reflection reveals it to be hopelessly self-refuting. To morally disapprove of my moral disapproval is the ultimate “pot calling the kettle black.” In fact, speaking the truth is a very loving action. Setting this fallacious objection aside, let’s move on to the Christian method of speaking truth.
The Bible is filled with two types of content: law and gospel. The moral law, given in places like the Ten Commandments, Proverbs, and the Sermon on the Mount, describe how man should live, what God defines for righteous living. This law is good and right and human beings flourish when they obey it. The Gospel, on the other hand, is the good news that Christ came to save law breakers, to freely give them the righteousness they did not earn and the forgiveness they did not deserve. The Christian should speak both law and gospel. He should herald the righteous standard and the good news of salvation for sinners.
If the Christian only spoke law, it would be a message centered on condemnation to those celebrating Pride month. But this is not our only message. We offer hope to broken people, ourselves included. We humbly speak the truth of the law, including the parts about homosexuality and sexual sin, fully recognizing we have failed to meet its demands ourselves. However, we joyfully offer the Gospel to those guilty of violating God’s commands, including ourselves. This is often hard truth. Proclaiming the law calls the person to face the possibility of a reality opposed to their current beliefs. It places an obligation upon the individual. They must either repent, live in guilt, or reject the law altogether. Only the offer of the Gospel can truly compel a man embrace the law, repent, and live in hope.
Love radically and boldly proclaim the truth. These are not opposing actions. Rather, they perfectly complement one another and offer the only hope for a very sexually and morally confused culture.
Jordan D. Tong 
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