It’s not just homosexuality that needs to be confronted. It’s an entire mindset. The gospel directly confronts these “virtues” and defines them as the vices they really are. What we need in our day is a robust gospel. One that has God at the center instead of man. One that is willing to suffer for the sake of Christ. One that has it’s identity grounded in Christ and His work and not our own innate awesomeness. One that believes our greatest virtue is conformity to Christ and not some “being true to myself” hogwash.

I completely agree with Dr. Russell Moore’s response to the recent non-action by the Supreme Court which all but legalized gay-marriage in five states. Dr. Moore closed with this:

Let’s hold fast to what the gospel reveals about the meaning of marriage and the gospel behind it. Let’s articulate a Christian vision of what marriage should be, and let’s embody that vision in our churches. Let’s love our gay and lesbian neighbors. Let’s move forward with persuasion and with confidence. This is no time for retreat or for resentment. This is a time for mission.

That first sentence is key. My contention is that we’ve all but lost the gay marriage debate because years ago we lost the gospel. Instead of the heralding the biblical gospel of a holy God redeeming unworthy sinners the church has tried to Christianize our cultural narcissism.

At this point, to many, opposing same sex marriage feels like opposing the gospel. In our culture the good news of Jesus is that God primarily exists to make me happy. God has a wonderful and prosperous plan for my life, every thing He does is aimed at accomplishing this goal.

When this “gospel” confronts homosexuality it is powerless.

If this is your gospel try arguing against this: “Being gay is how God made me. Loving my partner is the most natural and joyful thing to me. It makes me happy. And doesn’t God want us all to be happy?”

Our narcissistic “gospel” believes that opposing personal happiness is opposing God. This is why in our cultural climate it feels like you are opposing the gospel by opposing same-sex marriage. And this is why many professing believers are accepting the above argument.

If it feels anti-gospel to oppose same-sex marriage my guess is that your gospel has a little too much culture in it.

Confronting the cultural gospel

This is less about homosexuality and more about the gospel. While our culture scoffs at these truths, homosexuality is but the natural outgrowth. And when our churches begin to give and twist these truths—they too will bow a knee to Uncle Sam’s gospel.

1. God is radically dedicated to your joy…in Him.

Forget that last part and you miss the gospel. God is the most glorious and joyful being in the universe. He is radically dedicated to our finding joy. But he is the fountain of joy, not us. Therefore, he defines joy and happiness. Not us. The biblical gospel tells us that what you believe is happiness in a homosexual union is but a sham. And it is a sham because…

2. God is holy and really does forbid certain actions.

There is more joy found in holiness than in sin. Sin really is met with God’s wrath. He cannot tolerate it because it destroys His kingdom and His people. He created us and he defines for us what is right and what is wrong. You and I do not. And as Creator…

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