One often hears that we sometimes need to ‘draw a line in the sand’ or if you will, ‘nail our colours to the mast’. In other words, there comes a time when we must let people know where our Christian values and morals will not allow us to participate in ungodly action. The seven Manly Sea Eagles (Rugby league players) took a stand this past week and said they would not play if the club insisted they wear a specially designed guernsey displaying the club’s support of the LGBTQIA+ movement. Unlike some other sporting codes, the NRL has up until now not had a round of matches where they show their support of the ‘gay-pride’ inclusivity, although there is talk about doing so next season.

It is without doubt that the Holy Scriptures point out that active homosexuality is not God’s will or design for mankind. But neither is gambling, and yet the same club is quite willing to wear those badges on their guernsey. And where does it all end? There are many loud ‘minority’ groups who are pushing their agendas. When will players be expected to wear a guernsey supporting various ‘pro-choice’ groups? I guess it is a case of where one draws the line and the seven Manly players have taken a stand. 

But let us not just point the finger at sporting codes, for we know that when one points a finger there are three fingers that generally point back to yourself. Where do we ‘draw the line’ when it comes to our Christian values? When I was a young child at home watching TV in the lounge room with my parents, if a ‘swear’ word was mentioned on the TV, it was immediately turned off, or the channel changed. Today, one can barely watch a TV program without some swear word or blaspheme or the taking of God’s name in vain being mentioned, and might I add, the tone and swearing is far worse today than it was many years ago.

So, what do we as Christians do with the Manly 7? We can do no less than support them, for they are generally standing on Christian values clearly outlined in Scripture. But we also need to show love towards people who don’t necessarily hold the same Christian values we do. We don’t need to condone or affirm their actions when they are clearly against God’s will for our lives, but we must continue to show the love of Christ towards them. Who knows, maybe the Holy Spirit may use the way we show that love to win them for Christ. It’s happened before!  

The Apostle Paul when writing to the Corinthians reminds them, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? “Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (Wow, that list probably includes me somewhere at one time!) Paul goes on, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God’ (Thankfully, this includes me too) (1 Cor 6:9-11). 

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for forgiving us our many sins. Help us to love as Christ loved us, and may you use that love to save fellow human beings into Your kingdom. Amen.