Does God Change His Views on Moral Issues?

In 1972, the United Methodist Church declared homosexuality was “incompatible with Christian teaching” and forbade “marriage between two persons of the same sex.” However, in more recent years, its teachings on the issue of homosexuality have evolved. 

As of May 2024, the United Methodist Church removed its 40-year ban on same-sex marriage, paving the way for greater LGBTQ acceptance within their denomination. (At the same conference they also voted to allow LGBTQ clergy.) 

The United Methodist Church is not unique in facing this issue. 

Many other churches, including the world’s largest denomination, the Roman Catholic Church, face a similar situation.

To learn more, read “What’s Behind the Pope’s Decision to Allow Blessings for Same-Sex Couples?” 

The issue of equality

One word that’s been increasingly heard in the public square is equality, and rightfully so. Equality, when correctly taught, is a biblical principle. 

The Bible begins with the declaration that humans—both male and female—are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). This foundational concept shows how highly God values all human life. 

Our first introduction to equality is in the story of God creating Adam and Eve, who were different but totally equal in spiritual potential and value. Yet people have consistently failed to uphold this truth. Generally, the human record is one of devaluing women, making other humans slaves and viewing other races as inferior. We could go on and on with a list of ways society fails to practice what it preaches with regard to equality. 

Our nations and churches have removed the Bible as their authority. The consequence has been moral chaos and confusion. And the religious world often mirrors these societal divisions. 

In New Testament times, people were deeply divided: women were seen as inferior, Jews hated gentiles and vice versa. The divisions also extended to the educated and uneducated, and to slaves and masters. 

But Paul taught that these humanly constructed divisions are artificial and mean nothing to Christ. Christianity dictates that those who follow Christ must treat their neighbor with kindness and respect, no matter who that neighbor is. In other words, Christians are to uphold true equality.

Paul brought out this revolutionary concept in one of his letters: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

So what are we to make of the acceptance of—and in some cases, wholesale invitations to—the LGBTQ community by some churches? Are these churches simply trying to uphold equality? 

To answer this, we must first address a more fundamental question: Who ultimately decides what is right or wrong? 

A question of authority

This issue of authority has led to widespread divisions and fractures, affecting not just churches, but also families, communities, nations and even relations between nations. 

Who has the authority to determine the correct way to resolve these issues? What will we use to guide our decisions? 

Without a consistent standard to guide us, humanity struggles to maintain a stable and functional society.

The Bible warns that we, on our own, do not know how to live or determine what is right or wrong:

• “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). 
• “A man’s steps are of the LORD; how then can a man understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24).
• “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).

Take, for instance, the biblical law of marriage being a union between one man and one woman, with sexual relations confined to this union. In the past, this was mirrored in many national laws.

But as people have disregarded and rejected the Bible’s authority, they have cast off restraint in this area. 

So, with the world’s idea of equality being more authoritative and valued than Scripture, what do we have now? Marriage can now be with a person of the same sex, an animal, a ghost, an AI chatbot, a doll or even oneself. These types of “marriages” occur because people have removed the authority of the Bible so that everything has become permissible, without any restraint. 

Our nations and churches have removed the Bible as their authority and have disregarded God’s laws and ordinances contained in it. The consequences have been greater moral chaos and confusion.

God’s law as a restraint

God has given mankind His laws, and a close look at His laws shows that many were written in a negative frame. Consider the 10 Commandments. Many of them are framed in the negative. You shall not murder, shall not commit adultery, shall not steal, shall not lie and shall not covet. 

Why? Because they are designed to restrain our natural human nature. 

Human nature leads us to naturally gravitate toward wrong actions. 

So, our Creator established His laws to restrain our natural tendency to do wrong, setting clear boundaries for us. He is explicit in His condemnation of wrongful sexual behaviors—practices that include homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9), adultery (Leviticus 20:10) and sexual relations with animals (Leviticus 18:23). 

Jesus commanded the woman caught in adultery to “sin no more” (John 8:11). Paul rebuked the Corinthians for tolerating sexual sin (1 Corinthians 5:1) and commanded Christians to “flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18).  

God’s law serves as a boundary designed to promote happiness. Without it, people are left without direction (Proverbs 29:18). Crossing these boundaries leads to unhappiness and suffering. When people cast off restraint, boundaries disappear and everything seemingly becomes permissible. 

Does God change?

Some believe that the God of the Old Testament is somewhat different from the God of the New Testament. They suggest that the Old Testament God was harsh and heavy-handed, but Jesus is loving and merciful.

This idea is unbiblical and false. 

Both the Father and Jesus do not change. Their character is holy and righteous forever (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17). 

God does not change His mind on principles and morality. His character remains absolutely constant at all times—and His law reflects that. God’s holiness, justice and goodness are perfectly revealed through His law (Romans 7:12). 

Even if our nations or churches disregard God’s laws, we can apply them in our own personal lives. Following God’s law produces a successful and abundant life. Disregarding it leads only to unhappiness, suffering and death.

To learn more, read “The Law: A Reflection of God’s Character.”

Photo credit: iStock.com/LPETTET

Date Posted: September 23, 2024