Understand, I did not pick this battlefield and a battlefield it is. Others picked it for us; however, this is where the war is being waged and we either fight or we acquiesce. There are several other fields of conflict that could have been chosen, yet they were not for any unknown number of reasons. With this understanding…
Has the Church ever approved of homosexual relations/activities/marriage, etc.? It has not, so there must be a reason after 2000 years it has been unwavering in its stance. Now, we are expected and instructed to encourage, reassure, and embolden those who struggle with this burden instead of attempt to lead them to seek the face of God. Rather than provide them with Christian support, love and encouragement, we are coached to provide worldly support, the same worldly support of which we have been taught as children to be guarded against. I have heard the various and continuous drum beat of all the reasons we should do as asked, but if we pause, for just a moment, to actually considered what is asked of us and if it is beneficial to them, to us, to the Church, to God for that matter, I feel we would come to a different conclusion. At least if we would, during that time, leave our own views at bay.
If the Church as never accepted, or even fought against, homosexuality in the past, and the reason was just, as it was, and the Orthodox Church doesn’t waiver, how are we expected to revise our view? Modernization? Of what? Changing times? Is that a good thing? Look at the state of the world, I conclude it is not. Is God different today than He was yesterday? So, homosexuals get a “protected class” status to prevent them from all sorts of bad folks who say unpleasant things. Then, they begin their fight for social acceptance, and get it. Then, they begin their fight to adopt children, against the entire family structure created by God, and get it. Now, they are fighting to change the very definition of holy matrimony, and they are winning. And while this is taking place, while we rejoice in their new, modern, enlightened and tolerant victories, we are too busy to see the secret battle being waged simultaneously. We are too being in opposition to our own Church to take notice others are fighting the Church as well. We pay no attention to major denominations being torn apart as a result and chalk it up to “those crazy Protestants”. We fail to realize what has historically protected us from the problems of Protestants no longer exists, geography, as we are now in the very same towns and cities as they reside. We have fallen, and I believe partly the result of converts joining the Church, victim to their views, which are ripping their churches to shreds.
Let’s take a look at our recent history. The murder of unborn, innocent children has been legalized. Casual sexual practices have been normalized as we now do not expect anyone to remain a virgin until marriage as the Church teaches. Monogamy in marriage has all but been eradicated. Demented sexual encounters are expected and encouraged (swingers, multiple partners, sometimes at the same time, etc.). Homosexuality has been normalized. The entire family structure has been propelled into tiny fragments. All of this in done in opposition to the Church as none of these things are supported by the Church. These are attacks on the Church and victories against the Church. When those of us who see these things for what they are vocalize and speak, we are, without a second thought and through muscle memory, immediately called homophobes, bigots, haters, and any other vile title someone can conjure up. The Church, our Holy Church, our Apostolic Church, is being attacked daily. The Theotokos, mother of Christ, is called a whore by the very same people we are asked to lift up and embrace with open arms. We are too busy attempting to join in the PC band wagon we forget the holy war we already sworn allegiance to with Jesus and we, again, are too blind to see the vitriol and hate in the eyes of those we embrace while they plot against us. This is all done as a result of our apathy, our fear of not being “nice”, our laziness, and our foolishness. We are under siege and persecution and oppression is just around the corner. We have already seen its hallmarks. What are we to do? Continue on the same path or set our destination to return where we should be? Do we continue to invite, into our Church, the evils which scheme against her or do we say enough and “close the doors” to protect her? Which is more important, making people feel better or preparing them for judgment? Understand, as we have been told, if we stand for the Church, for God, we will be persecuted. I tell you, open your eyes, that day is soon coming.