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Christus
Rex
Letter to An Editor
Marcus Rench
To: The Vermilion
CC: President of USL, Dr. Ray Authement
12-9-96
Dear Editor,
I recently read your editorial column in your December 6, issue. And as a Pastor I would like to respond to View Point and the letter by Mr. Bennett. When the Gay-display was brought to my attention I was not surprised given the state of higher education since the 1960’s. One thing you can be certain of on a University campus — relativity. This religion of relativity is intolerant to any other rival faith as demonstrated in your paper in the case of the honorable Mr. McGowen and the rude treatment given him.
First, the Bible is clear regarding homosexuality. It is sin. The Creation account is clear; male and female is the paradigm (Gen. 1:27-28). God created mankind as male and female with the obvious physical capacities to couple within the bounds of marriage for the pleasure of one another (1 Cor. 7:3-4) and to procreate.
The Genesis account of Sodom in chapter 19 is, once again, a clear condemnation of a city given over to this sin. It was judged and destroyed in the wrath of God. God’s holy law also condemns the practice of homosexuality, whether between males or females, in Leviticus 18:22; 20:13 (Cf. Ex. 20:14; Rom. 1:26). In fact, anyone who disobeys the Law of God is under His curse (Deut. 28). Thus the necessity of redemption so that men may be saved and delivered from wrath and judgment!
The New Testament also condemns the sin of homosexuality in many places. Most prominent is the passage in Rom. 1:28-32 (Cf. 1 Tim. 1:10). The Bible is clear - homosexuality is sin. Sin is defined in the Bible as the breaking of God’s Law. 1 John 3:4 (Cf. Rom. 3:20) says, "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." But, I don’t expect this to be received amongst University folks who claim to be pluralistic. In their feigned ‘openness’ they are adamantly opposed to the Biblical faith. They are willing to consider anything but that which rejects their own position. As a result, a University campus can be a most intolerant environment.
Anticipating the shallow slogan that is often spoken in opposition to the Biblical faith and, indeed, was given by Mr. Bennett in his letter — “it is all about love”. Let me define what true love is. Again the Bible is clear when the Christian community is confused over this issue. Rom. 13:10 (Cf. Gal. 5:13-14) says after quoting several of the Ten Commandments, "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Yes, Biblical/Christian love is to fulfill the Law of God. So, Mr. McGowen is acting in a lawful manner (therefore most loving) in prophetically calling USL and the ‘Gay’ community to repentance and faith in
Jesus Christ. The Christian community ought to be opposed to all that opposes God’s Word. Unfortunately, the Church today is without strength and is failing in its proper function to call society to conform to God’s absolute standard. The Church should also use the language of the Bible when it refers to sin. Words that retain immoral connotations such as: abomination, perversion, vile, shameful and debase are appropriate. Rather than the words that are chosen because they are devoid of immoral connotation such as the word ‘Gay’.
I also want to address something that Mr. McGowen wrote in expressing his lack of malice to anyone personally. He wrote “Our Lord loves the sinner but hates the sin — so do I.” Although, this really is a peripheral matter in his letter it is pertinent to Mr. Bennett’s condition. The God of the Bible hates sin and also hates the sinner. Psalm 5:5 is clear, "The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity." (Also, Hos. 9:15; Mal. 1:3; Rom. 9:13; Psa. 11:5; Cf. Isa. 61:8; Jer. 44:4; Rev. 2:6, 15). That is why all men need to be saved from the wrath of God (Jn. 3:36). For if God loves them, then redemption, salvation, deliverance would not be necessary.
Not only does God abhor evil, but He teaches us to do the same. Mr. Bennett mentioned King David, yet David writes in Psalm 139:22, "I hate them with perfect hatred" (Cf. Psa. 45:7; 97:10; 101:3; 119:104; 119:113, 128; Prov. 8:13; Amos 5:15). But that doesn’t mean Christians are to treat reprobate and vile sinners improperly,rather we demonstrate godly hate by denouncing their sinful behavior and true love by treating them lawfully
(Matt. 5:44).
Let me offer to those at USL who read this letter my sincere help in explaining the way of salvation, thereby averting the wrath of God, and exhorting them in overcoming this despicable sin.
In conclusion I commend Mr. McGowen in his effort to confront sin. Finally, I would ask those who claim to be in the Gay (read reprobate) community refrain from hateful, disgusting communication with me, as you have done to Mr. McGowen. But then, how can I ask the dishonorable to do the honorable thing!
Sincerely,
Pastor Marcus Rench, B.A., MDiv.
St. John Chrysostom on Sodomy
"Yet if you say 'they found pleasure in it,' you tell me what adds to the vengeance. For suppose I were to see a person running naked, with his body all besmeared with mire, and yet not covering himself, but exulting in it, I should not rejoice with him, but should rather bewail that he did not even perceive that he was doing shamefully ... For the murderer dissevers the soul from the body, but this man ruins the soul with the body ...For I should not only say that thou hast become a woman, but that thou hast lost thy manhood ... How many hells shall be enough for such? But if thou scoffest at hearing of hell and believest not that fire, remember Sodom ... For since many would utterly disbelieve the things to come after the resurrection, hearing now of an unquenchable fire, God brings them to a right mind by things present. For such is the burning of Sodom, and that conflagration! ... Consider how great is that sin, to have forced hell to appear even before its time! ... For that rain was unwonted, for that the intercourse was contrary to nature, and it deluged the land, since lust had done so with their souls. Wherefore also the rain was the opposite of the customary rain. Now not only did it fail to stir up the womb of the earth to the production of fruits, but made it even useless for the reception of seed. For such was also the intercourse of the men, making a body of this sort more worthless than the very land of Sodom." (Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans)
Volume One - Issue Two
Literature: Thoreau & the Dust of Death - Gregory Soderberg
Theology: Historic Creationism on Trial - Maurice Hagar
Aesthetics: Hours - Maurice Hagar
Culture: Manhunt - Maurice Hagar
Sodomy: Letter to an Editor - Marcus Rench
Skeletal Thoughts and Emaciated Musings - Gregory Soderberg
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