"The Price of Wickedness"

Pastor Laura Guy

June 29, 2008

Here's an instant replay of what happened in worship:

We continued our summer sermon series of Old Testament stories by looking at the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:1-29.
We realized that this story has been used as an example of God's judgment against homosexuality. However, reading the story with fresh eyes, we don't see anything about God's unhappiness with same-sex couples, only God's judgment on mob violence and attempted rape.
We puzzled over many of the questions raised by the story - Why did Lot offer his virgin daughters to the violent mob? Why did Lot's wife become a pillar of salt just for looking back at the burning city? What was the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah?
We read some other Bible passages that help answer the last question. Ezekiel 16:50 says that the sin of Sodom was that "She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me." Jesus also mentioned Sodom and Gomorrah when he said in Matthew 10:14-15, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” In both of those passages, the sin of Sodom is a sin of refusing hospitality and protection to travelers or strangers. These people were vulnerable people in that society, and they needed the protection of others. The citizens of Sodom were "unconcerned" about vulnerable people, and even threatened them with harm. Their selfishness had turned to wickedness.
We remembered that God was about to do a new thing through Abraham and Sarah - a new baby, a new nation to bless the world. God could not risk the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah threatening this fragile new thing.
We asked ourselves, "Who are the vulnerable people in our society, and how do we offer them welcome and protection?"
We recognized that, while this passage may not directly address homosexuality, there are other passages of Scripture that do. This issue has divided churches and denominations, and there are thoughtful, loving Christian people who read these Bible passages and come to very different conclusions. But for too long, the Church has used these passages as weapons against the gay and lesbian community, telling them they are not welcome. Yet, Jesus was all about radical inclusivity, radical hospitality. The Sodom and Gomorrah story reminds us that God expects us to extend that radical hospitality to everyone. Living Water Christian Church may have people who think differently about the issue of homosexuality, but we are united in our desire to be a church who welcomes EVERYONE!
We shared communion, thankful that all of us are welcome at Christ's table.