Earlier this week, I went to the post office in Alpha to send some packages and buy some stamps. I do not like to buy the usual US Flag stamps. I like variety, and prefer to buy and use the other stamps that are released. When looking over the new selections, one stamp caught my attention. It was a black and white photo of a man I did not recognize, and I would have glanced on by him except for the fact that in the upper left hand corner of the stamp there was a rainbow flag. Having not lived under a rock for the past few decades, I know what the rainbow flag represents.
I went home, pulled up the US Post Office website and, sure enough, they have released a stamp commemorating Harvey Milk, an openly homosexual elected official. The website makes the following statement:
In 1977, Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, making him one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. His career was tragically cut short nearly a year after he took office, when he and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated.
The stamp art centers on a photo of Milk taken in front of his camera store in San Francisco. The colors of the gay pride flag appear in a vertical strip in the top left corner.
A commitment to serving a broad constituency, not just gay people, helped make Milk an effective and popular leader. He was an eloquent speaker with a winning sense of humor and was able to build coalitions between diverse groups. His achievements gave hope and confidence to gay people at a time when the community was encountering widespread hostility.
Milk believed that government should represent all citizens, insuring equality and providing needed services. In the years since his death, there have been hundreds of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender public officials in America. In 2009, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Milk the Medal of Freedom.
The pro-homosexual agenda continues to make unbelievable strides in our country. Now the Post Office has bowed to the pressure applied by this movement and has issued a stamp commemorating a man because of his sexual orientation, choosing to make the "gay pride flag" a recognizable part of the stamp.
Regardless of the changes that have occurred in our nation, God's word has never changed. "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89).
Homosexuality is still a sin against God and nature.
"For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due" (Romans 6:26-27).
"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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7).
Unlike our President and Postal Service, I refuse to honor an individual because he chooses to bravely live an "alternate lifestyle." Homosexuality is still a sin which, like all sin, excludes one from Heaven. We are living in a perverted time where evil is called "good" while good is called "evil" (Isaiah 5:20). For instance, as I think about the Post Office commemorating a homosexual, I can't help but wonder if they will dare to commemorate a man like Billy Graham after he dies.
It is important that the light of God's truth be sounded forth in a world of growing darkness. However, it is equally important that Christians speak this truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Homosexuals existed in the First Century. They were not hated by Christians. They were taught the gospel, and some of them obeyed. After identifying "homosexuals" and "sodomites" as those who will not inherit the kingdom of God, Paul said, "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" (1 Cor. 6:11). As with any other sin, the washing, sanctifying, and justification comes only after repentance.
While it troubles righteous individuals to see the sin of homosexuality celebrated and advanced, and we know the day may come when articles like this one will bring legal consequences, we stand by the truth of the gospel without apology, and loving pray for and plead with those entrapped in this sin to repent and find their soul's salvation.