So-Called “Evangelical” Young People More Accepting of Homosexuality
A new article in the left-leaning publication The Christian Century chronicles the move by many “evangelical” Christian colleges to accept homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle. The article cites the growing number of younger Christians who “have little taste or patience for the political battles of their parents’ generation.”
Make no mistake, any so-called “evangelical” Christian college that rejects the authority of Scripture on sexual morality can no longer be seen as faithfully Christian, much less evangelical. The same goes for those students who support such a retreat from orthodoxy.
Sadly, this generation’s growing apathy toward homosexuality is becoming a trend. Many younger “evangelicals,” if they can be called such anymore, have no stomach for controversy. Statistics show that many seem far more interested in advocating for social issues with which the unbelieving world would gladly help (e.g., genocide, sex trafficking, global warming, etc.) rather than fighting on the unpopular side of social battles like abortion and homosexuality.
When it comes to fighting for Scriptural truth on the issues where the unbelieving world overwhelmingly opposes the Christian position, many of these younger Christians are AWOL.
It is the Christian’s duty to fight against injustices like genocide and sex trafficking. That same duty also compels every Christian to take a firm Biblical (and Gospel-oriented) stand on cultural issues like abortion and homosexuality. Yet sadly, many younger Christians have been convinced by our post-modern culture that such stands on God’s truth don’t have authority outside of one’s own life. In other words, they’ve bought into the lie that truth can be different for everyone, which often means they become unwilling to tell their homosexual friend that his behavior is sinful, or their young pregnant friend that abortion is murder.
Many young “evangelical” Christians now reject such a truthful approach as too insensitive, but saturating these hard messages in the grace of the Gospel is what makes Christians the “fragrance of life” to some unbelievers (2 Cor. 2:16). The modern tendency to offer grace apart from conviction of sin is an incomplete Gospel.
These “rumblings of gay acceptance” are indicative of a coming earthquake in Christianity. One day soon, these young Christians will fill the positions of leadership in America’s churches. Many of them will seek to openly question and even undermine Scriptural truths on issues like sexual morality precisely because they were afforded that theological “freedom” in their youth.
While God’s truth will never change and will never be in any real danger, Scripture predicts that many will be led astray (2 Tim. 4:3). Biblical Christians, young and old, must continue to stand on God’s unchanging Word in the culture, no matter how unpopular it may be.
After all, Christ and the Gospel are an offense to the unbelieving world (1 Cor. 1:23). Much of the time, His followers will be perceived as no different.
RELATED INFORMATION
On evangelical campuses, rumblings of gay acceptance
The Christian Century
Late last week, the provost of Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., announced that the school officially had recognized its first gay student organization.
The announcement came barely a month after the Christian school changed its anti-discrimination policy to include homosexuals, after a popular women’s soccer coach was forced out last December because her lesbian partner was expecting a child.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.