The Presbyterian Church (USA) has ordained the first openly gay man into ministry (CLICK HERE).  From the article…

Scott Anderson left his Presbyterian ministry in California more than 20 years ago after  telling his congregation that he is gay

Anderson was closeted when he served as a minister  in Sacramento, Calif., from 1983 until 1990. When a couple threatened to reveal  his sexual orientation, he came out to his congregation and resigned because the  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) barred homosexuals from serving as ministers.

But things changed last year when the church’s national  assembly voted to remove the ban, clearing the way for Anderson’s  ordination.

I’m not sure which causes me more grief… that so many affirm Mr. Anderson’s ordination or that a “church” ordained him OR that many Christians view homosexuals as different somehow and therefore a worse sinner.  This may or may not be a salient point to the reader, but I have extended family who live in the lifestyle under discussion (Point being this is not a hypothetical excercise for me, but one I’ve had to deal with personally).  Therefore let us consider the Scripture…

Romans 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man… 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie…  26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Galatians 5:19 The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Note: These conducts are evidences of a lost condition)

1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,  10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you.

God through Paul is clear… when people reject the Truth (Salvation through Jesus Christ alone), they will believe lies.  When people reject God… Jehovah God and His Son Jesus… He eventually gives them over to their sin with many consequences that follow.  One of which (Pertinent to this discussion) is homosexuality.  Those who live lives of rebellion are characterized by more than just homosexuality… some are adulterers, thieves, greedy, drunks, people who argue constantly, and cheat people out of money (To name a few).  Those people are not saved according to the Scripture.

But when God saves a person, those lifestyle habits end… thus, “Such WERE some of you.”  A person cannot be a Christian AND an adulterer, thief, drunkard… etc… or homosexual.  Why Christians don’t understand that adultery is the same as homosexuality as drunkenness as thievery as those who are greedy as those who use abusive language (Revilers) as those who cheat others (Swindlers)… I don’t know.  It’s probably because of a sentimental attachment to a person who is a family or friend versus believing God’s Word as ultimate truth.

As I read Scripture, when a person lives a life described as in rebellion in Scripture, there is the strong possibility that God has given them over to their sin.  Sadly, this is as true for a denomination as it is for individuals.  Only God through Jesus can deliver anyone from sin… whether it is drunkenness, adultery, homosexuality, or greed.