Once again another leader who has the influence to shape the minds and theology of this next generation has drastically compromised the truth of the Gospel.  Tony Jones is an author and leader in the Emergent Village movement, which in my opinion, is one of the most dangerous movements facing the church today.  Tony has finally stated that he believes “‘gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and queer’ individuals can and should live out their sexuality in – and blessed by – the Christian church.”  Emergent authors such as Tony have been saturating the publishing world with books that are marketed to the teenage to twenty-something demographic.  Their message is clear, today’s Christianity needs to be redefined for a more relevant generation and its theology reframed for current culture.   

In this article, Jones states “all the time I could feel myself drifting toward acceptance that gay persons are fully human persons and should be afforded all of the cultural and ecclesial benefits that I am.”  Here is the key; of course homosexuals are fully human people that should be treated with the basic respect that is afforded to everyone.  The Church, unfortunately, has missed this mark dramatically in the past and we are now reaping the consequences of our actions.  However, this is not an excuse to throw away 2 millennia of sound church doctrine and the unmistakably clear statements of scripture on this issue because of the Church’s irresponsibility to display the love of Christ in all situations.  The point is that the perception of homosexuals being anything less than fully human is tragically false and this is where Jones made his first mistake.  Had he initially seen them as creations of the Heavenly Father who are intended for a divine purpose and loved unconditionally, he would have been able to navigate and interpret Scripture without the compromise of “his experiences and feelings leading him toward a different conclusion.”  

Many have made the mistake of seeing those impacted by homosexuality as something less.  This perception instantly removes us from a Biblical foundation and misrepresents the heart of God.  We are, therefore, left with no alternative than to be led by experience and emotion in order to find our way.  If we initially see each person as a divinely created being intended for relationship with the Father, then we have our compass to guide us in the correct interpretation of Scripture that leads to a Biblical response of mercy and truth to all who will hear.  

via Emergent church leader says gay can be biblical lifestyle

Ravi Zacharias Video Link

Ravi Zacharias is one of my favorite teachers.  While his response did not directly address the question “is it possible for a man or a woman to live a sincere Christian life as a homosexual?”, he makes several excellent points.   I would love to hear him present an extended teaching on the issue.  In his remarks about Henry Nouwen, he stated that in his final book, Nouwen revealed that he was dispositionally homosexual.  While I understand the intent behind the term “dispositionally homosexual,” I’m not comfortable with the inferred label.  I appreciated his turn on the question by asking “Can a person live a sincere Christian life as a polygamist?”  Websters defines “sincere” as “free from dissumulation or free from adulteration.”  The question is; can a person live a sincere Christian life practicing (actively engaged in a specified way of life) anything that is contrary to the heart of God and the obedience to His Word?

I found this post on Mark Driscoll’s blog talking about his meeting with J.I. Packer.  Packer speaks to the current Anglican crisis and his view of gay Christianity as a heresy.  I thought some of his comments were insightful.  

J.I. Packer on Homosexuality
Author: Mark Driscoll
POSTED ON: 07.18.08

Sitting Down with J.I. Packer
Perhaps my favorite time in Orlando was spent in a small group with Dr. J. I. Packer. It is hard to overestimate Packer’s impact on evangelical Christianity. The graciousness he afforded me to sit on a couch and ask him questions for more than an hour was humbling and helpful. He is very clear minded at age eighty-two and he remains incredibly conversant, insightful, and witty. Impressively, his words are impeccably precise.

On Homosexuality
As we sat on the couch together, he explained that Anglicanism is patterned after the ancient Roman governmental system so that a bishop has jurisdiction over a geographic area. However, this long-established ecclesiological pattern has been breached because Anglicanism is suffering from “heretical bishops.” By “heretical bishops,” Packer was referring to those bishops who sanction homosexual activity. He explained that the “heretical bishops” won support for their position following much lobbying. This sadly required Bible-believing Anglican churches to come under the authority of other orthodox bishops outside of their geographic area rather than remain under “heretical bishops.”

Homosexuality: A Heretical Issue
When asked about calling those who support homosexuality and profess to be Christian “heretical,” Packer very carefully and insightfully explained what he meant. He began by saying that as Christians we are tempted to sin in many ways, including homosexuality. However, because God has saved us through Jesus and empowered us with the Holy Spirit, we are to practice ongoing repentance of sin and rejection of sinful desires. He explained in great detail that he perceives the approval of homosexuality to be “heretical” because it denies a fundamental aspect of the gospel-namely repentance. Packer explained how for six years he called his Anglican Diocese to repent of their sinful support of unrepentant homosexual activity, to no avail. Eventually, his own archbishop sought to pull his license (essentially his ordination or credentials) as a punitive measure. In the end, Packer, along with roughly thirty Anglican churches, came out from under their “heretical” leadership to form a new Anglican alliance.
Returning to the issue of denying a fundamental aspect of the gospel (repentance), he explained that 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says,

“Or 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, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Packer was clear that those who do not call Christians to repent of homosexual activity are, as Scripture says, “deceived.” He told me that the first of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses was that the whole of a Christian’s life is to be one of repentance of sin. Any Christian who does not practice and promote repentance is denying an aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I asked how the denial of repentance merited the label of “heretical,” Packer said, ” “‘Heresy’ ought to be used when an aspect of the gospel is being denied.” He further explained that because God through Paul warns the Corinthians that those who practice homosexuality unrepentantly will be damned to hell, “Souls are put at risk every time homosexuality is tolerated.”

Starting a New Religion?
In keeping with Packer’s line of reasoning, I asked him if those who are “heretical” in promoting homosexual activity while declaring themselves to be Christian are in effect promoting a new religion based upon a false gospel, like Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. He said, “You could describe it that way and it’s what they are doing.”

http://theresurgence.com/node/1080