History’s Judgment
On 24th October 2005, American civil rights icon Rosa Parks died. This diminutive lady took a giant stand against racism in the United States. On December 1st, 1955, Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. The Montgomery City ordinance stated that it was illegal for a black person to be seated if a white person didn't have a seat.
It is amazing to think this happened just a few decades ago. This wasn't just an isolated incident but rather it was broadly canonized and, in effect, government-sponsored racism. I was born well after this incident but it's still hard to believe that such a society existed not too long ago.
Historical commentators suggest that future generations will have the same response to the Christian society's treatment of homosexuals. They suggest that our grandchildren will abhor our views on the issue. We are already seeing anti-discrimination laws that protect sexual-orientation along with race, gender, religion, etc. Christians will be thought of as practicing the same kind of racism.
Barring a God-given cultural revival, we can do little to affect how future history books reflect upon the Christian stance against homosexuality. However, we can have a great influence in how we are documented to treat homosexuals.
The gospel trains us to sacrifice ourselves for others, despite our views of their lifestyles. Our Savior Jesus gave of himself to the point of death for those who were against Him. What better testimony could there be than for those who are now for Him to go out of their way to love and care for those who are still against Him?
History will never like the Christian condemnation of homosexuality. However, what would happen if we all went out of our way to sacrifice all things for the sake of those who haven't put their trust in the gospel? What if we gave up our comforts for those who are at odds with Christianity? If we lived up to this task, I would suggest that history would have quite a different opinion of Christianity than my opinion of the racist society of the 1950s.