For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
-- Romans 7:18-19
Though some say Romans 7 reflects Paul's testimony before he was converted to Christianity, the context clearly identifies him as a Christian still struggling with sin. This is the battle we call sanctification, that stage of salvation when we are led by the Spirit, learning from the word, and longing to obey all of God's good commandments. But the flesh, or sinful nature, keeps getting in the way.
We cannot be certain of which sins Paul was struggling with. Like most human beings, I suppose his struggle was with pride, lust, greed, envy, and the like. We know of no particular scandal he was involved in as a Christian, although he had been an accomplice to murder in his former life as a Pharisee.
His Old Testament counterpart is King David, who did step into scandal. There is no doubt David was a true believer, nor is there any denying his adulterous tryst with Bathsheba and the consummate conspiracy to murder her husband, Uriah. His confessional loathing is captured in Psalms 32 and 51.
Christians are still sinners, until we step into the realm of glorification through death or rapture. Until then, Christians are capable of committing just about any sin in the book. Until then, diverse Christians will struggle with different sins. Until then, some Christians can have a blind spot to certain sins, not fully realizing they are sins at all.
One of the most frequent questions I get asked as a pastor in this current age is, "Can a homosexual be a Christian?" Based on the formula above my answer is always an emphatic, "Yes." And this answer applies not only to homosexuality.
Homosexuality is a sin according to Scripture, and there is no way to explain it away. However, it is no worse than murder, adultery, or other such sins committed by Paul, David, and other stalwart believers. I am convinced some people are predisposed to homosexuality, just as others are to alcoholism, rage, and sometimes theft. A person can be a Christian and still struggle with certain sins.
Then there is the blind spot factor. There were church members in my early life as a Christian who were exemplary to me. They modeled true worship, discipleship, and outreach to others. Others, however, did not include Black people. They were abject racists, and there was no talking to them about it. It was generational with them, and they did not seem to realize what a heinous sin indwelled in them.
Homosexuals in our culture have been conditioned by the world and many parts of the church to believe homosexuality is not a sin. They are blind to any notion otherwise. Some believe the Gospel, are active in church, praise the Lord, read their Bibles, and engage in same-sex marriages sanctioned by a church. And, yes, it is possible if not probable they truly do belong to the Lord.
I will tell you what is not possible, though. It is not possible to be a Christian without repentance and faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, though neither the repentance nor the faith will be perfected until the end. It is not possible to be a Christian and have no desire to worship Jesus Christ in public services and private prayer. It is not possible to be a Christian without reverence for and general obedience to the word of God, the Bible. And it is not possible to be a Christian without loving God, your fellow Christians, and lost people in the world.
I believe I am going to Heaven by grace through faith in Jesus. When I get there I will meet fellow sinners like Paul, David, and the thief on the cross. Also, there will be a whole host of other murderers, thieves, adulterers, racists, homosexuals, cohabitaters, and people who had abortions.
The Gospel is the only way to Heaven, this is true. The road is narrow, and few find it, that's for sure. But a few of the few who find Heaven will have had some pretty serious flaws on earth.
Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church. Call him at 501-525-8339 or email [email protected].