I have recently been a part of a number of conversations about why the church seems to focus so much on the sin of homosexuality right now. That is a very valid question in light of all the other sins we see listed in Scripture. However, I believe one of the main reasons this has become a focus of the church is due to the fact that the homosexual lifestyle has been promoted so strongly in the culture. In some respects, we are simply responding to the most evident pressure point in our culture. While homosexuality is certainly not the only–or greatest–sin addressed in the Bible, it seems to be the one that comes with the most cultural approval today.
For that reason, I am thankful to Dr. John Mark Caton and his staff at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church in Allen, TX, for producing this video resource addressing homosexuality and the church. I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Caton and participating in this interview back in October, and it is now available on YouTube. I pray you find it useful.
Ethics as Worship 
I find the video silly, saying nothing new, saying a lot which is obviously wrong. If you speak like this man, you will lose the argument. His straw men are nothing like the arguments against him.
The main reason that the church is so obsessed with homosexuality is that it is homophobic. If a gay actor or footballer comes out, you start to whine. When GLAAD pointed out the wickedness of that Duck bloke, great numbers of bloggers whined and moaned. If you were not homophobic and obsessed by gay people, you could ignore it. If you think gay sex is sinful, don’t do it yourself. Simple. That is all you need.
Clare, thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you didn’t realize it, I am one of the participants in the video. Would you like to elaborate on which particular arguments you consider to be straw man arguments? What are the arguments against me that you reference?
Your second paragraph builds a case on ad hominem, stating that the church is homophobic and obsessed with gay people. Can you provide documentation for those accusations rather than stating them without support? The pejorative use of the term “whine” in your comment is also an ad hominem argument.
I would welcome discussion of the content of the video, but claiming a logical fallacy while making another does not actually make an argument.
I don’t want to watch it again, but if you have a transcript I would glance through that.
Examples of whining: the disgraceful remarks of Phil Robertson, and the defence of him. No, it is not a free speech issue when people object to someone being offensive. He reduced women to “vaginas”- gay men are attracted to human beings, like most people.
No, homosexuality is nothing like bestiality.
I don’t think the video is worth engaging with. A small minority are talking to themselves.
I don’t think you ever saw/heard me make a free speech defense of Phil Robertson. He is free to say what he wants as are you and I. In a separate post (not this one or the video) I didn’t argue that A&E couldn’t suspend him for what he said either. They were within their rights as well. I still don’t see why you call that whining. It is disagreement, but not whining as I understand the term. I may not understand how you are defining the term “whining.” It would be helpful if you provided a definition.
It seems your comments are more directed at Phil Robertson than my blog or the video. The funny thing is that the video was recorded 2 months before the Duck Dynasty/Phil Robertson interview with GQ.
I am sorry you don’t feel the video is worth engaging. I thought that was what you wanted to do by coming to the blog and commenting. I don’t have a transcript at this time, but you have already said that you don’t think it is worth engaging. If you really want a transcript I can probably get you one.
A confession. I go round a lot of blogs. I clicked your video, saw you saying your piece on Genesis so calmly, and commented to mess with you. I wanted to say you are in a minority, talking to itself, increasingly irrelevant to others. I find it difficult to hear you. Have a look at Thornton Stringfellow, D.D. You remind me of him.
Then I found Josh Weed. I am interested in human possibility, the working out of God’s will as we pass down the Narrow Way, and this is a gay man who is married to a woman because his faith says that is God’s Will. Warning: he is Mormon, and LDS members have beliefs you and I would not think Christian- but for our purposes, his belief that God limits sex to opposite sex marriage puts him on your side. I would love to know what you think of him. Though I am completely derailing your post, so feel free to delete this comment.
I guess confession is good for the soul. Thanks for being honest, Clare. Your comment went into moderation due to the hyperlinks, and I just now got to it.
You keep saying that I am in a minority. On what basis do you make that claim? Do you have research to back it up or is it just anecdotal? Is it just a claim about the Western world or is it a global claim? I’m not certain your claim could even be proven true in the US. Feel free to provide some documented research.
Oops, another link. And this poll indicates where so many of the No group are: where people in the UK were offered three choices- gay civil unions, equal marriage, and no provision for gay people- only 14% said no legal recognition at all.
Different perceptions: I see the US as particularly backward in this regard, with Europe more supportive.
I find the growth in support particularly encouraging, as one of those “mainstream Protestants”.
Certainly attitudes have changed over time, but you are also offering a very Anglo-centric look at perspectives. If you look worldwide (not just UK and US), the acceptance of same-sex marriage is much lower. You may call that backwards if you wish, but that just demonstrates your own cultural bias that the UK is more advanced than the rest of the world.
Oh, come on Evan- do you really prefer the Nigerian answer? Or the Kenyan parliament- I know that Leviticus says stone us, and American bloggers often cite that book, but aren’t you glad, really, that President Museveni did not sign the Bill? Even Russia, where all those neo-nazis are hunting out gay people to beat up.
Really, Evan. Is that what you want?
Kenya, Nigeria, and Russia are just three countries in the world. There are a host of countries around the world that do not legalize same-sex marriage nor seek to stone homosexuals. I was merely pointing out your Anglo-centric bias.
I really want an honest discussion of the issue. Those who claim to be Christians need to examine the biblical text. No one was stoning homosexuals or adulterers in the New Testament, but those actions were still declared sinful. I also want an honest look at what same-sex marriage does to children and society. Undermining the institution of the family will not prove fruitful for future generations. Taking marriage out of the culture (which is what the long-term goal of same-sex marriage seems to be) will actually lead to more poverty and government dependence.