What do we do with this?  There are so many points that this passage brings to the front and so many different positions that can be taken… but I suppose to keep this entry to under a page, I’ll touch on the place that God spoke to me.  Before I begin, I should be honest that this is directed at Christians – specifically those who don’t share my position on the rights and acceptance of GLBT persons within the church.

Earlier in this chapter, Paul begins this dialogue by citing the incident of a man who slept with his father’s wife (possibly his mother?) and the inaction of the church that allowed this man to stay within membership.  It can be assumed that this man was unrepentant as verse 5 makes mention of the sinful nature that still needs to be destroyed in this man.

The knee-jerk reaction to this passage seems to indicate that Paul is advocating for the persecution and exile of those who are sexually immoral – across the board.  I think this is how those who are trying to limit GLBT rights are able to justify their position.  However…

Paul makes a distinction between the church and the world when he commands the church to expel the sexually immoral from within the church but leave the sexually immoral outside the church for God’s judgment.

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “ – 1 Corinthians 5: 12-13a

We cannot judge the unbeliever!  

Too often the church will focus on the idea of not associating with the “sexually immoral” (and here I’m referring to GLBT folks despite the fact that I don’t think they’re sexually immoral… but I recognize that the church often does) but we neglect to notice it’s referring only to those that call themselves a brother.  What I’m pointing out is the idea that it’s okay for the church to come after me for my sexuality because I profess to be a believer – and incidentally, as a believer I’m not worried about what others say because I trust God through this – but it’s not okay to go after those who are not within the church… many of whom are specifically adverse to the church because of the close-minded thinking that they’ve known to be there.

I recognize that as a Christian I’m held to the same law that these persecutors are and I also fall under the same grace.  It’s this commonality that allows me to respond to attacks and formulate responses that are also centered in Christ… it’s something that many people in the world don’t have or desire to have and it’s unfair for them to be expected to respond to.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that whether you believe homosexuality to be right or wrong, those within the church cannot condemn or persecute those in the GLBT community who are not also Christian… and they’re spoiling a potential witness when they do.

Let me know if you think I’m wrong…