Something has indeed ‘crept into’ Christianity

I wonder if many readers of these pages have ever heard or seen the word “heteronormativity.” It was used in the recent column by Rev. Clint Schnekloth, “Lutherans support LGBTQ+” (June 24, religion page). He says it is something that has “crept into Christianity”, a “distortion” that is “alien to how God has actually created us.” In plain terms, for those who do not live in the rarified air of today’s progressive, apostate clergy, he is speaking of the belief many of us still hold, that heterosexuality, involving persons of opposite gender (“heteros” = Greek for “other”) is indeed “normal” and has in fact been so from the beginning of man’s creation.

Schnekloth would have us believe that this is a “distortion” that has “crept into” Christian faith. And when, sir, might that have happened? The ungodly sexual practices celebrated by many today were certainly known in the 1st century, AD, as anyone interested can see by reading the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 18 and following. And 1,500 years before that the practice of homosexuality was spoken of as something highly offensive to God. (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13.) Heterosexuality, the union of one man and one woman, was at the beginning. It was not a distortion that crept in. It’s like saying the idea of free speech crept into the Bill of Rights. It was there at the beginning when our Founding Fathers first wrote them.

Some things indeed have crept into our society and into our churches and the sermons and teachings of some pastors, things of which they approve and celebrate, which the overwhelming percentage of Americans would never have accepted just a few decades back. We recall the words of Isaiah, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.” Today we have Gay Pride parades. I would like to ask some who participate or witness and applaud them, some who perhaps would identity themselves as “followers of Christ,” of just what are you proud?

God’s word is very plain: We are all sinners. We all have “come short.” We all need a Savior. We are told, even those who have accepted His salvation, that we will “all give an account” to God. I realize I have much for which to answer. But I don’t expect to be charged with trying to persuade others to openly disregard and disobey what God has said, of rewriting Scripture to my own liking, or of saying that what He has commanded is “distortion” and a lie that has “crept into” Scripture. HAROLD B. CHILTON Fayetteville