Last month President Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage. Since then there has been a massive worldwide discussion about the legitimacy of same-sex marriage. People both within and without the Christian church have asked: What is the church’s position concerning same-sex marriage?
A few historical precedents may serve to guide our response. Back in 1892 a huge World Fair was held in Chicago to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. This World Exposition was designed to not only show off America, but to particularly show off Chicago as a world-class city. Chicago had just recovered from its terrible fire and the World Exposition of 1892 was its coming out party (it was also the debut of one of the world’s favorite fair rides – an invention by George Ferris that became known as the Ferris Wheel).
One of the features at the Chicago Exposition was something called the “World Parliament of Religions” in which representatives of the world’s religions met to share their mutual philosophies and to attempt to invent a new religion which synthesized the various religions. Many Christians in the city of Chicago organized a protest against the World Parliament of Religions. They sought out DL Moody, who was the Billy Graham of his day and asked him to join their effort in attacking the World Parliament.
But Moody refused to attack. Instead, he rented theaters across the city of Chicago and set up preaching posts with lay preachers and evangelists. Moody knew that there were going to be millions of visitors to the city of Chicago. In announcing his reason for setting up these preaching posts, Moody said, “I am going to make Jesus Christ so attractive that men will turn to him.” Moody was following in the footsteps of the great Apostle Paul. Paul’s basic approach in dealing with the extraordinary spiritual and moral pluralism which existed in the city of Colossae in his day was to present Jesus as being so attractive, so amazing, so wonderful, and so winsome that men and women from every background would turn to Christ for salvation.
One of the guiding principles that ought to govern our lives as Christians, who passionately care about seeing all people connect with the Savior is this: We Christians must become better known for what we are for than for what we are against!
Moody’s philosophy still needs to be followed today: I’m going to make Jesus Christ so attractive that men [and women] will turn to him.