Tags
controversy, Denny Burk, gay marriage, homosexuality, intolerance, intolerant tolerance, Kirk Cameron, Piers Morgan
It was on Twitter that I first encountered this story. Kirk Cameron’s name was trending. I’ve reached the point where anytime I see an outspoken Christian’s name trending, I assume they are either Tim Tebow, dead, or under attack.
This time it was the latter.
While being interviewed by Piers Morgan, Cameron was questioned about his views on gay marriage. He responded by succinctly summarizing his position:
“Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. One man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don’t think anyone else should either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t.”
When pressed further about his view of homosexuality, he described it as unnatural and destructive.
He even goes so far as to suggest the novel idea that “Marriage was defined by God.” Shocking, isn’t it?!?
Why is anyone surprised by this? Nothing unusual here. This is essentially the Christian moral position since . . . well, since always. Denny Burk comments:
What has been instructive to watch has not been Cameron’s remarks, but the response. Cameron is a Christian, and he merely summarized the 2,000-year old teaching of the church that homosexuality is a sin (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Tim. 1:9-10). Nothing new here. Nothing has changed on that front.
What has changed dramatically over the last 10 years has been society’s attitudes about homosexuality. By and large, people are more and more open to homosexuality as a wholesome, morally unproblematic way of life. But this, too, should not be news to anyone.
What should we pay attention to here? That there are many who aren’t willing to tolerate those who simply hold to a Biblical, Christian morality on the matter. Burk continues:
What is instructive about this interview has been how openly vitriolic people have become to the idea of a Christian sexual ethic. It’s not just that people disagree with Cameron. No, they accuse him of engaging in ‘hate’ speech and of being ‘homophobic.’ I saw one public figure accuse him of being complicit in murder. The denunciations of Cameron have been relentless. They accuse Cameron and his ilk of being intolerant. All the while, they seem to be blissfully unaware of their own angry intolerance of Christian morality.
Are we really at a place where a Christian who is pressed for his views on a matter can no longer state those views without being tarred and feathered? I think we are. Christianity hasn’t changed, but the moral consensus of our culture has.
After watching the clip of this interview, I commend the boldness, clarity and civility Mr. Cameron displayed in his response. What I believe is certain, is that we can increasingly expect more of these kinds of questions followed by vitriolic responses to Biblical teaching on this and other moral topics.
You can read his response to the furor here, or in a fuller version on his Facebook page.
