No Rest for the Wicked

A non-denominational church, High Point Church in Arlington, Texas, was scheduled to host a memorial service for a Navy war veteran. However, the veteran, Cecil Howard Sinclair, was discovered to be gay by the church. This discovery was made by members of the church who were putting together his tribute video, which revealed pictures of men “engaging in clear affection, kissing and embracing”; according to an MSNBC report this morning.

The church’s pastor, the Rev. Gary Simons said that the church believes homosexuality is a sin, and it would have appeared to endorse that lifestyle if the service had been held there. I say, isn't everyone a sinner? Or does this church only hold funeral or memorial services for Jesus Christ? Yes. I do believe that in the Christian faith, everyone is a sinner, which is why Jesus was sent here in the first place. Now sins are being labeled that are not recognized by the Ten Commandments, but are worse.

Being gay is not mentioned in any one of the commandments, but love thy neighbor as thyself is. I hope Rev. Simons doesn't know about the gay Lutheran pastors. In a related MSNBC article, it has been reported that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is now allowing gay relationship to continue with their clergymen without punishment. If the High Point Church in Arlington can't hold a memorial service for a veteran, who will the hold memorial services for? It would most likely be easy to find such things out, and to write about what kind of sinners they have helped remember in the past, or what lifestyles they have condoned, or what kind of lifestyles some of their members live, but I believe that would be wrong!

It does not matter what 'lifestyle' this person led, because no one else could be much better, although being gay is not even a sin. The Lutherans don't believe so, isn't that enough? I believe the church officials who made this decision are the 'sinners', would it be fair for me to decline them their rights to a peaceful memorial service in honor and memory of their lives, contributions to society, and for their families? I believe not.