We can all feel enlightened now that Miley Cyrus has expressed her approval of “gay marriage” through her new tattoo and corresponding commentary. Alas I was troubled that I might not know what to think about homosexual marriage, but Miley came through for me and tattooed an “=” sign on her finger explaining, “ALL LOVE is equal.” This likewise is great news, as I expect a rather large check to be coming my way as a result of it. After all, if all love is equal, and Miley loves some people enough for them to reap the benefits of her work, then surely she loves me just as much. (Of course, she may hate me; I actually think this quite likely given what her music sounds like.) Miley fans must be incredibly excited. Backstage passes will no longer be necessary at Miley concerts, and fans can feel free to drop in on Miley and treat her belongings like their own any time they want. Yes, “ALL LOVE is equal!” Make sure to put “ALL LOVE” in caps, because that makes it truer.
Not all love is equal.
Of course, Miley is not really talking about love here at all, or about equality. If what Miley is advocating is “equal rights” with respect to homosexuals and marriage then she is wasting her time since the “fact is that a homosexual man and a heterosexual man have equal marriage rights: a homosexual man can marry any woman who will marry him, just like any other man (and vice versa with respect to homosexual women).”
The article telling us all of this hilariously suggests that Miley’s tattoo and unsubstantiated “because-I-say-so” claim on Twitter constitute a “bold statement.” In our society? I think not. If you want some bold statements, read what Scripture actually says about homosexuality. God destroys entire cities because of homosexuality. The practice of homosexuality is so terrible that it is itself a punishment for sin. Now if Miley had tweeted something like that we might call it “bold.” For now she is just parroting the same thoughtless assertions that countless others make in an effort to sound insightful in a sinful society.
Miley writes, “Where does it say in the bible to judge others?” If Miley knew Scripture she would know that there are a number of places that it says to judge others. Let’s look at some.
Jesus never tells us not to judge, He gives instructions on how to judge. We must look at His words in their context.
Matthew 7
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Jesus qualifies the statement “judge not” with “that you be not judged”. If you are going to judge another, expect the possibility of the same in return. He goes on in verse 2 to say that the same standards you use will be reapplied to you. This should tell us that this is a very serious matter. Verse 3 is the key to understanding Jesus’ teaching here. Jesus is warning against hypocritical judgments. If you have sin in your life that you have not repented of, then you have a “log” in your eye and you have no right or discernment in trying to remove the speck from another’s eye. The conclusion is not that we should not judge at all, the conclusion is that we should first remove the log from our own eye in order to see clearly to take the speck out of another’s eye. This passage is against hypocritical judging of others, not judging. Jesus does not tell us not to judge, He tells us the proper way to judge. Further, a number of “judgmental” phrases appear in the passage and are highlighted above.
It is not surprising then, to find the same teaching in Paul.
1 Corinthians 6.1-6.6
1When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?
Here Paul judges the Christians at Corinth because they want to go to a secular court to let their disputes be settled there. Paul tells them how foolish this is. If believers are going to judge the world, and Paul says that they will, then how is it that they cannot even make judgments about disagreements among themselves? Not only will believers judge the world, but they will judge angels! Believers are equipped to judge between themselves.
In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul sets forth a lengthy string of judgments on everything from men having sexual intercourse with their father’s wives to arrogance. Paul calls for the removal of people who do this, and even asks that an offender be given over to Satan. All of this presupposes a whole lot of judging! Paul even tells the believers in Corinth whom they should and should not eat with based on their sins. Then he drops a bomb in verse 12.
Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
We are actually commanded to judge. The remainder of the passage talks about purging out evil people so that God can judge them.
Christianity provides standards for truth and lies, right and wrong, etc. and it does not apologize for them. Believers are never told that it is wrong to make judgments concerning these things. Instead, they are to make judgments based on what God has already said. There is much, much more that could be said here, and the “exegesis” above is certainly nothing fancy, but I think it is sufficient for now.
Unfortunately Miley answers her question, “Where does it say in the bible to judge others?” with an ignorant falsehood, “Oh right. It doesn’t.” She adds, “GOD is the only judge honey.” But Miley does not actually believe this, does she? If she did, then she would know that God has already made judgment concerning homosexuality, has condemned it as sin, and has given us the right to make the same judgment upon the basis of what He has revealed to us in His Word. Miley adds another popularly cited, but rarely understood claim that “GOD is love” to complete her tweet. I highly doubt she has ever given much if any thought to where this statement is in Scripture and what it means in the context of Scripture, including the implication that the “flip side” of love is hatred. For example, a person who loves children hates child molestation. God, who loves His glory, hates sin.
Apparently this is not the first time that Miley has come out and publicly supported the LGBT agenda. She once tweeted, “You know the world is skewed when people get away with murdering children but we cant get gay marriage legalized in the state of California.” Now wait…let’s be consistent here Miley…how dare you judge people who murder their children?! “Where does it say in the bible to judge others?” “GOD is the only judge honey.”
Now why am I taking the time to “pick on” poor Miley? After all, some “Christian apologists” would likely tell me to “lay off.” Frankly, the question may stem from arrogance. If your apologetic is ever “above” a person or a topic, then you’re not much of an apologist. Obviously we should be wise in how we use our time. I realize that.
So take some time to educate your own children to respond to the type of anti-Christian clichés that they are fed through celebrities like Miley Cyrus, and realize that the foolishness which is characteristic of Miley’s mere tweets in this instance is likewise characteristic of the spirit of the age.
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