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 Answer:
No, the church is not being judgmental on homosexuality, but rather is
reporting and confirming what God has communicated to us in Holy Scripture.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans that, "Because of this, God gave them
over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for
unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with
women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent
acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their
perversion." This penalty also has eternal consequences as 1 Cor. 6:9-10 states: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” Also see Lev. 18:22, Rev 21:8, and Jude 1:7. It is God that is being judgmental on homosexuality and a true church will submit to the authority of God rather than submit to worldly opinion.
About judging others Jesus in Matthew 7 warns us about having a judgmental
attitude concerning all kinds of minor points in others while ignoring major
flaws in ourselves. He then tells us in verse 5 to ."first take the plank
out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from
your brother's eye." Concerning the judgment of others, God's word teaches us that we are to judge one another (in a helpful/constructive way) within the church, but it is not our role to judge those outside the church, for that judgment is left up to God. However, that
is not to say we condone their sin, nor welcome it as though it were not
sinful, but we are to note God's judgment upon the sin of unbelievers and
seek to lead them to Christ where they might find forgiveness as well as a
new life thru receiving a new heart, being transformed according to their
minds, and begin exercising their wills in conformity with God's standard of
righteousness and holiness. It is wrong for a believer to judge an unbeliever (though the time will come in the future when God will give this
responsibility to believers); however, it is not wrong for a believer to
judge the sinful practice of a homosexual to be sin. That's why God's word
says in 1 Cor 2:15 "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but
he himself is not subject to any mans judgment..."
As for judging in a broader sense, Scripture clearly tells us to set ourselves in opposition to evil and to love good which of
course requires a discernment or judgment on our part. As Romans 12:9 puts
it, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Also
see Psa. 97:10, Psa. 101:3-4, Prov. 8:13, Jude 1:23, 2 Tim 3:16. God's laws,
precepts, commands, and standards for good and evil are spelled out in his
Holy Word and we should strive to obey them through prayer and God's grace.
We are not called upon in Holy Scripture to ignore God's laws simply to achieve a stance of being
non-judgmental. Yes, we are to forgive sinful behavior, but not validate it by condoning it.
The freedom to do as we want will result in our sinful nature taking control
which will inevitably make us a slave to sin and not free. Jesus said, .. "I
tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. As the Apostle
Peter puts in 2 Peter, "They promise them freedom, while they themselves are
slaves of depravity-for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." Sin
will make you a slave while true freedom comes through Jesus Christ as stated
in Rom. 8:2 "because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set
me free from the law of sin and death." Eternal life and freedom through
Jesus Christ or bondage and spiritual death through sin are our two choices.
We should choose wisely.
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