Hedgerow
Chicago Theological Seminary, an affiliate of the United Church of Christ (UCC), distributed condoms to attendees at the 2015 Wild Goose Festival. The packages were designed with a colored image of a rainbow flame, an apparent LGBT variation of the UCC’s logo.
Printed above the flame are instructions: “Chicago Theological Seminary, Take Two (For the second coming!)”. The text refers to the second coming of Jesus to one needing two condoms for multiple partners or multiple orgasms.
In other words, a “Christian” seminary is likening the Second Coming of Christ to gay sex.
Are the seminary’s claims blasphemous, heretical, and an expression of hatred towards God and the Bible?
Throughout the New Testament Jesus’s apostles specifically addressed sexual behavior, identifying specific acts as immoral, evil, against one’s human nature, and against God. They witnessed it and repeatedly warned new Christians to stop; (“[of which] I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past (ἅ προλέγω ὑμῖν καθὼς [Receptus, καθὼς καὶ] προεῖπον); even as I did forewarn you.”)
Speaking directly to churches from Asia, to Bithynia, Cappadocia, Colossi, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Pontus, Rome, and Thessalonica, Jesus Christ’s apostles clearly admonished new Christians to stop participating in sexual depravity, specifically gay sex and orgies, because it was not of God.
To the Corinthians Paul urged, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” (1 Cor. 6:18)
To the Colossians, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Col. 3:5) “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.” (2 Cor. 5:1)
To the Ephesians, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” (Eph. 5:3)
The apostles knew what Matthew Henry clarifies:
“A man cannot be brought to greater slavery than to be given up to his own lusts. As the Gentiles did not like to keep God in their knowledge, they committed crimes wholly against reason and their own welfare.” (Commentary on Romans 1:26-32)
Yet the apostles’ admonition extended beyond prohibition, but to righteous living through the grace of Jesus Christ. They repeatedly called for self-examination, which hopefully would lead to remorseful conviction of sin and the realization for the need of deliverance, healing, and renewal.
To the Thessalonians Paul encouraged, “Walk worthily of God who called you into his own kingdom and glory.” (1 Thess. 2:12)
To the Ephesians, “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Eph. 4:1)
To celebrate or encourage gay sex or orgies is anti-Christ and anti-biblical, or apostasy.
Apostasy promotes lies and causes individual and societal harm. Revelation 9 and 21 make clear the consequence of sexual depravity (all sorts of uncleanness; not only simple fornication, but adultery, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts) at the time of Christ’s return: death.
The outworking of the gospel and salvation is healing, restoration, and renewal in all areas of life; a desire to cultivate life-giving behavior and positively contribute to the flourishing of society.
Jesus Christ’s return is infinitely more important and incomparable to a joke printed on condom package. Genuine Christians, who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, joyfully and anxiously await his return, also join with Paul in exclaming, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain!” (Phil. 1:21).
Christians also are instructed to warn others (Ezek. 33), knowing Jesus Christ’s return is no laughing matter.
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