Scott Hogenson: Why Are Churches Celebrating Sin?

There is much to be proud of in Christian worship services. Corporate worship includes singing hymns, praying, and learning God’s Word. I enjoy being a part of that. Confession is also something that I enjoy.

A confession of sins is a part of the Protestant tradition. It’s an admission that we are sinful in nature, and have sinned through thought, word, or deed. We seek forgiveness by God’s grace through this confession and earnest repentance.

I sin every single day. While I don’t like the fact that my sins are there, as a member in good standing of the human race, it is an unavoidable truth. Paul, the apostle to Christians in Rome wrote this: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” It includes me. 

Rational people agree that sin is evil. I don’t embrace my sin, I confess it to God and ask forgiveness. Jesus Christ said: “What comes out of a person is what defiles him,” Therefore, I reject any celebrations of my sin.

Not all sins are equally treated. In Protestant churches, more often than not, ministers who support LGBTQ ideology are installed to celebrate sin.

Take a look at this February 15, 2010 report Whose headline proclaims: “First openly transgender pastor called to guide Lutheran church in North Dakota.” 

The congregation unanimously approved the pastor’s appointment. According to reports, the church has hosted town hall meetings to discuss whether or not people should be forced into denial by calling women men. vice versa• Whether children should be protected against genital mutilation. It is impossible to predict how these discussions will turn out. 

The article quotes the new pastor’s saying. “Historically the church hasn’t been kind to transgender people. A lot of churches still aren’t kind to transgender people.” Although I don’t know how the pastor defines kindness, I do know historically that the church believed the Bible as the word of God. Many churches still believe what the Bible says. 

Sinful behavior is what defines LGBTQ ideology. This is not my opinion, but Christ’s. When He spoke it, He made it clear in the Gospel. “Out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Christians should ask themselves if they are going to affirm and celebrate the LGBTQ community’s behavior. This is a frightening proposition, but it’s already happening. 

The rise in euthanasia celebrates the sin of murder. It is celebrated by prosecutors who have made theft a crime and failed to prosecute. Critical Race Theory is a celebration of the sins coveting envy, deceit and envy. Cable news channels broadcast hourly the sin of slander.

Even today, components of Critical Race Theory are being introduced to conservative parishes. It remains to be seen if this means that churches will celebrate the sins of CRT’s advocacy of race hatred or align themselves with Marxist ideology. 

All of us sin. God forgives us through repentance, grace and confession. We are also called on to forgive others who sin against ours. These sins can be sexual immorality or theft, but we are also called to forgive those who do wrong. 

It is not the same thing as approving sin. 

The Bible teaches us to love our fellow man, but it also tells to hate evil. My sins should not be celebrated, they should be repudiated. I would not be happy if a pastor preached about my sins. More churches are celebrating more sins and it’s a grave moral and civic risk.

If the North Dakota pastor was threatened, harassed and assaulted or treated unkindly, it is absolutely wrong. I believe that the pastor should be able to fully enjoy and participate in American civic life. Therefore, I would demand that anyone who attempts to hinder the exercise of these rights is prosecuted to their fullest extent. 

However, it is not unkind for someone to believe what the Bible teaches. It is acceptable to call sins sins. It is normal to observe reality and natural law. These are common behaviors. As I reject affirmations of my sin, so too do I reject attempts to deny what is normal and in line with Scripture.

The church has been the moral anchor of society in many cultures, across all time periods. The church that celebrates sin is a weak foundation and the society built on it eventually crumbles.