Ah Hah Moment

I've been long frustrated with younger Christians dancing...or worse...with the issue of homosexuality.

I have wondered, "Why?"

Is it "just" because they now know friends, relatives etc who are "out-of-the-closet"? Is it "just" because the issue is no longer academic, but personal?

That's certainly a contributing factor (and not only for younger Christians; for instance the seminary prof who used to label homosexual behavior a sin, until his son "came out"...and then the professor wrote a book stating he was "wrong" and that such activity was now okay).

But something happened today that gave me pause, and perhaps is an "ah hah!" moment...

In another discussion a 20-something Christian rebutted an article I posted that linked premarital sex with a "loss" of faith by saying out-of-wedlock-sexually-active young people are not abandoning their faith, but don't want to come to church to be "shamed."

Hmmm.

Is it possible that, consciously or not, some Christians who have been involved in premarital sex are dancing with homosexuality because...golly gee, if homosexual behavior is okay than certainly premarital sex is okay? Not "just" in theory, but my premarital sexual activity?

I don't want to paint with a broad brush...but I think I'm on to something here.

And it's not good.

Because, among other reasons, if homosexuality...if premarital sex...is okay, than certainly extramarital sex must be okay also...

As far as "shame" is concerned; it should never be the goal of anyone to merely shame someone; but it is certainly okay to be ashamed...and if the Lord uses His Word to bring me to shame and repentance...thanks be to God.

As I told the young lady, if a preacher refuses to speak truth because it might make someone "ashamed" or "feel bad," he has become a motivational speaker; not a proclaimer of Go'ds truth.

Much of this brings to mind Jeremiah 6.15:

Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
    No, they were not at all ashamed;
    they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
    at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,”
says the Lord

"Did not know how to blush" reads the e.s.v.; some translations read "They have forgotten how to blush..."

If conviction leads to shame alone, mores the pity; but if conviction leads to shame which births repentance...thank You, Holy Spirit...