As most of you who follow the news will know, Tyler Clementi, a freshman a Rutgers, recently committed suicide after his roommate secretly tapped him in a compromising situation in his dorm room. Clementi’s death is a tragedy. A tragedy that is now turning into a political football. Here is an article by Southern Baptist Seminary’s brilliant President, Albert Mohler. In it, he strikes the Dantesque balance as he approaches homosexuality. This balance refuses to ignore what the Bible teaches about homosexuality—viz., that it is a sin. Of course, if we destroy or give up the biblical standard of morality all sin simply melts into opinions or feelings about some action. Those in the homosexual political community want to use this suicide to push for greater acceptance of homosexuality. They desperately want homosexual behavior to be culturally acceptable. They want to melt that sin. Their solvent, however, too strong. If you give up a transcendent moral system for a “it is wrong because I (or the majority) says it is” way of thinking, then clandestine tapings, backstabbing, posting the sins of others online, persecution of anyone or anything, and suicide, is all ok. We must hold fast to biblical morality even when, or especially when, it condemns us because this condemnation points us toward change and finally toward a fuller humanity (i.e., Christ likeness) and a deeper more abundant joy.
So, Mohler clings to the scriptures, but in doing so he continues—like Dante—to recognize the humanity and dignity of the sinner and therefore he can see the true scope of the tragedy and the tough questions that this death should cause churches to consider. Could we love a confused young man like Tyler Clementi? Would he find mercy and hope along with truth calling him to repentance if he wandered into one of our fellowships? Would we stand between the boy and the bridge? Here is the article:
