One of the dumbest things I’ve done in a sermon lately was say, “Jesus never mentioned homosexuality. Not one time.”
That’s second only to the time I decided to do a karaoke battle with my Associate Pastor in the middle of a sermon to make a point (I forget what that point was) and he schooled me in front of the entire church. I picked Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” forgetting the fact that he’s from Long Island – a classic karaoke blunder if there ever was one. New Yorkers love the Yankees, their pizza, Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, and Jesus, in that order. But I digress…
I’m pretty sure I was talked into the karaoke battle, or quite possibly someone slipped me some LSD in my communion elements, I’m not sure. It’s still under investigation.
But for the “Jesus never said anything about homosexuality” comment, I only wish there was some such excuse.
I regret saying that. I was wrong. Period.
The fact is Jesus talked A LOT about homosexuality.
He just did it THROUGH his disciples, after his ascension into heaven, instead of while he was here on earth.
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
The night before Jesus died he told his disciples in John 16:12-15:
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
From this passage we learn:
- Jesus promised that after his death and resurrection he would send the Holy Spirit, the non-physical presence of God, to live inside the Apostles. That happened in the second chapter of Acts. Those of us who are Christians are given this “gift” of the Holy Spirit when we become Christ followers.
- Unlike us, the Apostles were told that Jesus would continue to instruct them, just like he had been doing during his three-year earthly ministry. They would continue to “hear” things from Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, which they would in turn share with the rest of the church. The veracity of their message would be authenticated by the miracles they performed.
- What we have then in the New Testament is everything Jesus said both in his earthly ministry AND what he spoke to his Apostles after his resurrection through The Spirit of Truth.
WHY THIS MATTERS
What this means is when it comes to any issue, not just things like homosexuality, Christians cannot separate the “red letter sayings” of Jesus from the rest of the New Testament.
Every word of it, red or not, was spoken by Jesus.
Every word.
The letters of Paul are just as authoritative as the sayings of Jesus in The Gospel of Matthew because they both contain exactly what Jesus taught.
- One was his teaching rememberedby an Apostle and written down for posterity.
- The other was his teaching communicated throughan Apostle and written down for posterity.
Both carry equal weight and authority when determining our beliefs.
So while I can’t advise you to not jump into a karaoke battle, especially when someone hands you a microphone and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” starts playing. I mean who could resist? WHO COULD RESIST?
I can encourage you to stop saying that you base your beliefs on the red-letter sayings of Jesus alone.
Jesus spoke every word in the New Testament.
Even the ones we wish he hadn’t.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! (and while you’re at it your favorite karaoke song)
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