Most evangelicals read Paul's words against homosexuality in Romans 1 approvingly, automatically assuming a clearly cut black and white distinction between "us" and "them." But a closer reading of his words imply a rebuke toward Christians. In fact, Paul implicates the Church in the rise of homosexuality every bit as much as the secular culture. How? Two ways...
First, remember that Paul has already established that homosexual behavior is the result of God giving people over to sexual impurity because of their idolatry. Right away we should understand that homosexuality is not a physiological or psychological problem but a spiritual one. It is not so much a social issue but a theological one. The cause of homosexuality is idolatry - bad theology leading to bad worship.
Now if idolatry is bad worship resulting from bad theology we've got to ask ourselves "How did theology go bad? Who's supposed to be watching out for theology anyway?" Do I have to answer? It's the Church! Paul calls us "stewards of the mysteries of God" (1Corinthians 4:1); "Christ's ambassadors" (2Corinthians 5:20); and the Church he calls "the pillar and foundation of the Truth" (1Timothy 3:15).
Though this is a matter of general agreement it's also recognized that over the last 50 years Biblical literacy has declined sharply and preaching of any theological substance has all but disappeared in the Church. Much of older evangelicalism is driven by the emotional and sentimental ("Let's just love Jesus"). The so-called seeker driven movement of evangelicalism runs on a watery blend of consumer and entertainment culture. The new emergent congregations jettison theology altogether as a hindrance to the postmodern follower of Christ in favor of relationships and feelings. And of course mainline liberal churches continue to dish up the world seasoned with a dash of religion and garnished with a sprig of social action.
The problem is spirituality, like nature, abhors a vacuum. The Church emptied of theological substance of the gospel becomes filled with the idols at hand. What idols? Predominantly the idol of Self - insisting that all of life revolve around Me - an idol which is set up in multitudes of evangelical churches where I - the religious consumer - get it my way. Our churches have become shrines to our personal tastes - the music is what I like; the decor pleases me; and the teaching is about how I can attain fulfillment in this life.
The impact (more properly, the lack of impact) of the American Church on our culture has been astounding. In spite of billions of ministry dollars raised and spent by the Church in the last half century our nation has sunk to depths of violence, discord, and perversion we associate only with the most debased societies. And, to our point, homosexuality has become more pervasive, influential, and public than ever before.
The second way the Church has given rise to homosexuality, besides its abandonment of theological truth, is its abandonment of holiness. In the conservative and Christian rhetoric of the culture wars, particularly that surrounding the various marriage amendments there is the thought that if we loose this fight against homosexuality the institution of marriage and family will be destroyed. The implications are that we are the guardians of marriage and family, they are the destroyers.
I don't deny the latter point, but that we're the guardians? Give me a break! Let's admit it - evangelicals have done as much to destroy marriage and family in the last 50 years as homosexuals could ever hope to do.
As we've gotten away from the Bible, as we've tolerated bad theology and bad worship in the Church the divorce rate among evangelicals has sky-rocketed to nearly the same as that of the culture. How did we get here? Just follow the wreckage: divorce has increased as we grew soft on adultery. Adultery in turn grew in the fertile soil of our toleration of lust. We have sown to the wind and are reaping the whirlwind.
If the Church hopes to confront homosexuality successfully neither politics nor medicine will suffice. Only whent we return to deep theologically base preaching, to a worship of God in Spirit and Truth, and to genuine holiness of life will God turn the tide.
