Articles
CAN YOU BLESS WHAT GOD CONDEMNS?
CAN YOU BLESS WHAT GOD CONDEMNS?
(Ken Weliever)
While we were away for Christmas break, we apparently missed this breaking news in the religious world.
“Pope Francis Allows Priests to Bless Same-Sex Couples”
This was the headline from the December 18, 2023, edition of the New York Times.
When I first heard about the announcement, I thought the Pope and the Catholic Church were approving of same-sex marriages. However, the Vatican stopped short of such endorsement. The announcement says that marriage is still regarded as the union between a man and a woman, but their clergy is now allowed to confer a blessing on homosexual couples.
Confused?
Me too.
So, I went to the Catholic web site and copied the Vatican’s statement which took 12 pages composing 5000 words. It is entitled “Fiducia Supplicans: On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings.” However, reading it didn’t abate my confusion.
The statement goes into great detail explaining the meaning of blessings in the Bible and its use from a Catholic perspective. It seeks to appease Bible believers by affirming the sanctify of marriage between a man and a woman. Yet, under the heading “Blessings of Couples in Irregular Situations and of Couples of the Same Sex” the statement seeks to offer some solace and comfort for those in an immoral union.
The Vatican’s announcement has spawned criticism in many Catholic and religious communities. One AP headline read, “Some Catholic bishops reject Pope’s stance on blessings for same-sex couples. Others are confused.”
The article from Cape Town, South Africa, details the “push back” from religious leaders throughout the country and the Continent. The article says the 31 of the 54 African countries have “laws criminalizing homosexuality.” In addition, Polish bishops have no plans to bless same-sex couples.
Aside from our theological differences with the Catholic Church, none of this makes any sense. How you affirm that marriage is between a male and female, yet bless the union of two men or two women?
Interestingly, and somewhat ironically, the Vatican’s announcement reverses a 2021 statement the denied blessings for same-sex couples, because, in their words, God “cannot bless sin.”
The word blessing as defined by Dictionary.com means, favor…mercy…benefit…Invoking God’s favor upon a person…approval…good wishes.”
The Vatican “blessing” infers both God’s approval and that of its religious leaders. “Blessing” implies legitimacy. Approval. Agreement. Commendation. And favorable reception. When a young man asks the father of his girl friend for his blessing, he’s seeking his approval and favor.
In much less than 5,000 words we can solve this perplexing dilemma spawned by the Vatican. Here’s what the Bible says. From the mouth of Jesus and the pen of the apostle Paul.
Matt 19:4-6
“4 Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
1 Cor 6:9-11
“9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
From this we learn.
1. God created two genders-male and female.
2. Marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman.
3. God joins them together-He blessed them.
4. Homosexual unions are unrighteous.
5. The practice of homosexuality will keep one from inheriting the Kingdom of God.
6. Homosexuals, as well as other sinners, can quit their sin. Be washed in the blood of Christ. Sanctified or set apart to holiness. And receive justification through Christ.
You can’t bless what God condemns.
Let’s adhere to God’s command to “flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). And refuse to normalize and bless sinful behavior.
