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I belong to what people would call a solid, largely traditional evangelical congregation. While there seems to be no support for getting rid of standards, it's also true that THE ONLY TEACHING that I (or the kids) have received is "love the sinner, hate the sin." That is ALL. So is homosexual activity sin or not? Tens of thousands of congregations have de facto decided to follow a neutral course on this. I understand that our sermons should not be continuously dominated by social issues of the day, but NEVER EVER address homosexuality?

Sodomy is an abomination, yes, that means it’s a sin.

Let’s be clear: fornication (any sex outside of marriage) is also a sin.

These are two sins that, when we see them being committed by people who are unrepentent (they refuse to stop or say they “can’t stop” or they refuse to admit that they are sinning), the Bible tells us such people are not destined for heaven. This means they are destined for hell fire and eternal damnation.

I don’t get all worked up about it, because the situation and the response God desires from his children is clearly taught in God’s Word the Bible. In the end, everything glorifies God, both God’s reward for the loving effort for ever-improving obedience (effected by God’s grace) of God’s elect, and God’s final destruction of the non-elect, the haters of God, along with Satan.

The sin I hate, yes, but I simply calmly tell people they are destined for hell and damnation and I quote to them from Scripture. It’s the LOVING thing to do. And I realize that it’s not up to me who will respond positively to the Word of God (the Bible) and who will not. That’s up to God. Either way, the Word of God is never without effect: it draws some to God and the rest are even more obstinately hardened against it, damning themselves even more.

Is there any neutrality taught in the Bible ? No, there is no neutrality taught in the Bible. Every person is either with God or against him: those who declare themselves “neutral” are not with God, therefore, they are against him. And in the end, they will get what they ask for their entire lives: eternal separation from God.

2 Corinthians 6:15 “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”

So, if in our environment certain abominable sins are ubiquitous - then by all means preaching should be focused largely on those sins. This would teach the flock how to identify and avoid the sin that is all around them, and, to be a light and salt to the world around them even though it is polluted with grievous sin.

If our septic tank backs up into our house - are we to simply ignore the problem ?

The Bible consistently teaches that there is no making an alliance with sin where God does not hate such an alliance. After all, it’s an outright rejection of God’s Word - and then partnering with those wicked people who promote the sin that God hates.

traditionally, churches didn't have to speak to ones sexuality.....it was a given...as was growing up and getting married and having children and working for a living...

this strange bizarre culture we have no has no "givens".....no compass to go by....no rules/regulations/etc...

the churches are just winging it as the wind blows...