You can’t pick and choose Bible’s teachings

The Christian faith is based on the teachings found in the Holy Bible. People cannot pick and choose only what is palatable to them.

The Aug. 29 Gazette front page headline stated, “Gay, lesbian believers say some churches make belonging difficult.” The article seemed to praise those congregations who accept homosexual people without condemning their sexual practice.

The only sexual behavior acceptable to God is between a married man and woman. Everything else is a sin. Would these churches named in the article as being welcoming to homosexuals also welcome unrepentant adulterers, prostitutes and fornicators?

Christian teachings begin with the need to repent of sin. Churches who teach that gays and lesbians must cease their sinful sexual behavior in order to be in fellowship also say the same about adulterers and fornicators.

Gays and lesbians who think “churches make belonging difficult,” really want the church to ignore what God says about their sin and let them fellowship without leaving their sin behind.

Any church that does not confront homosexuals (or adulterers and fornicators) with their sin has fallen away from the teachings of the Bible. The ELCA's recent vote is a prime example of this apostasy.

Glenn E. Chatfield

North Liberty