Barneyisfat

Dr. Dan Doriani brought us a lesson on Acts 8, the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunich. I don't know why, but this particular story in Acts has always jumped out at me. The story is one of redemption and reconciliation. Philip sees a man, obviously of great wealth and power, riding in a chariot - the equivalent of a private jet. He feels led to begin hoofing along beside the rich man and soon sees that he is reading the holy scriptures. Now, it just so happens that the man had traveled thousands of miles to go to the temple and had been rejected from all but the crowded, noisy outer courts. He was not allowed inside because he was a eunich. He was sexually disfigured and was not fit to enter the temple. It also just so happens, that he is reading the "suffering servant" passage of prophecy in Isaiah.

This man experienced money and power and found it wanting. He tried the route of showy, religious experiences and found that it wanted nothing to do with him. This man was seeking truth at any cost and had been rejected for a physical defect, sexual mutilation, that he probably had exercised no control over.

Money didn't give him joy.
Power didn't give him peace.
The institutional church didn't accept him.

Philip knew that this man needed Jesus.

I think this story speaks volumes into how the church should treat the LGB&T community. Churches all over America refuse to accept people into their fellowship based on their readings of obscure old testament references.

The scriptures were clear that the Eunich was not to enter the sanctuary, no matter how many hours he had traveled. Homosexuality is a sin. In both situations those in authority follow the law to the letter. And following the law would be good if it was all we have, but we have the completion of the law in Jesus Christ. Philip recognized that the law had its place, but that we are under a new law. That day the Eunich was told that in the Christian faith he would not only be allowed entrance to the sanctuary, but his body - broken and damaged may it be - would become the sanctuary that Christ Jesus will endwell.

We as a church need to extend the offering of Christ Jesus to the LGB&T community. When the institution says, "hold it, the law clearly states ..." we as Christians need to stand up and say, I know the law says that, but we live under a new law - "come and be the sanctuary to which you were refused entrance."

The eunich didn't re-gain his lost manhood. The eunich became whole because of a restoration of the heart. He was still a eunich, he would still be a eunich when he died; but Christ had entered his life and Christianity would spread throughout Northern Africa because of his witness. He was still a eunich, the old testament still forbid him entrance to the Jewish temple. But, Christ lived inside of him.

I think there is major application to the LGB&T community. I think that Christians need to openly admit that the sin that plagued them before salvation still sticks around after salvation. If we allow the gay community into our churches, giving them the same freedom offered to us - that our sins make Jesus sad, not mad; that he still loves us with his whole heart; and that he forgives graciously, repeatedly, and unfailingly - I believe that many of them would take their repentance to the next level and actively fight against their sin. ... I think if we tell them they need to drop their sins at the door before entrance they will never enter at all.

What would be the greater sin? That some would never be free of their sin or that none would even hear the good news of salvation for fear that they would fail as Christians?