Recently I’ve been asked what to do about the Target transgender bathroom issue. What kind of stand do I take? What is my role as a Christian? It is a very interesting and thought provoking question. One of my mentors when dealing with a hard situation within the church said “God’s Word often tells us what to do but often it doesn’t tell us how to do it.” How do I talk to someone about Target, transgender, bathrooms, homosexuality, gay marriage? I have given 3 important reminders when we are discussing these issues.
- It is way more effective to talk about the Gospel and Jesus Christ than to argue why sin is sin. John Macarthur was asked to speak one time at a Jewish seminary with college students and was asked to speak on the Christian view of morality. He challenged the students by telling them that they all would disagree, not believe, and think it was ludicrous what he was about to tell them on the Christian view of morals. He told them that until someone knows Jesus Christ they cannot accept the Christian view of morality. One young man raised his hand and said, “What does it mean to know Christ?” And they talked about that for most of the time. The same is true for us, we cannot expect others to understand our viewpoint on these issues without knowing Christ. Move the conversation away from bathrooms and shopping at Target to knowing Christ and the grace that God has given us.
- Stand for truth. Don’t be silent about false truths and lies from the world. It is not ok for us to condone what is against God’s Word. Stand for truth in your home in your church, in your school, in your work, in your country, with your government. Stand for the truth but make sure your argument is based upon scripture and not your own agenda. Homosexuality is a sin, but so is fornication, and adultery. They are sexual sins and thus we should stand for truth in all scenarios not just the ones we feel as more significant than others. The church is the body of Christ not only here to project God’s truth to a lost and dying world, but also to show them the love that God has for them. When you do stand for truth do it in love. Ephesians 4:15 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” I believe speaking the truth in love to unbelievers is bringing them to the wonderful mystery of the gospel and this God who loves a rebellious people.
- Remember who the enemy is. I think when you are talking through these hot button issues we have to remember that the person we are talking to is created in the image of God. We have to remember that we are in no way superior to the person we are talking to. We too are sinful human beings saved by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus. God in his unfathomable grace and mercy has opened our eyes to see the truth of the Word of God. But we are not fighting the person we are fighting the deception of the great deceiver. 2 Cor 4:4-5 says “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” We don’t proclaim our ideas or our superiority but Christ as Lord.
So next time you are in a sticky conversation like this remind yourself to go back to the gospel, stand for truth, and remember who the enemy is.
Sit Down and Learn from the Master 