In reply to Rev. Michael Nemec.

It is my understanding that being a homosexual is not a sin, nor is being right-handed a sin, nor is having blond hair a sin. On the other hand, left handed people can sin, blond haired people can sin, and homosexual people can sin. It is clear in Holy Scripture that any thought, word, or action in opposition to God's will is sin. Condemnation of such sin is easy to find in the Bible. However I have not run across a passage anywhere that condemns the sinner. It seems only fair that if God does not single out for condemnation any individual sinner, it would be wrong for us to do otherwise. As I look around at the faces in my congregation, I see sinners. They are admitted sinners. They confess it to be so out loud for all to hear in every worship service. I look in the mirror, and I see a sinner. I am admittedly so. I confess it out loud with my congregation in every worship service. Immediately upon hearing our confession of sinfulness, I announce God's forgiveness of all of those sins for the sake of his Son, Jesus Christ. No one is asked to specify his or her sin, nor is it required by God that we do so. It is simply understood that sin is sin, and if you do one, it is as though you have done them all. This puts all of us in the same boat labeled “Sinners,” and it is that boat-load of people for whom Jesus shed His blood and died.

We do this together at the beginning of every worship service, and I think we are doing it correctly. If that is the case, how is it right that some people who do some sins should be dealt with differently? It boggles my mind to hear of churches (some even in my own denomination) that single out an entire group of people (sinners) to be shunned because of sins that they may or may not even do. If taken to its logical conclusion, everyone (all sinners) should shun or be shunned by all other people (sinners). That seems to me to be the superlative in isolationism, judgmental-ism, and Pharisee-ism (if there is such a word). Shame on those who do it and suggest that others do it too. Furthermore, to deny access to the Scouting Program based on the fact that a child or adult is among the people in the “boat” is at the very least outrageous and at the very worst Un-Biblical. We will strive to maintain the charter that our congregation has with the B.S.A., and we will pray that our denomination does not attempt to force us to so otherwise.