“Don’t Confuse Weeds with Wheat”
“Don’t Confuse Weeds with Wheat” (Romans 1:18-27)
Series: What Makes Christians Different?”
by Pastor Nate Walther
Eight Sunday of Pentecost, 07/19/2026
Don’t confuse weeds with wheat. That might sound like strange advice, as if there’s some epidemic of people weeding out fruits and vegetables from their garden instead of dandelions and thistles! But back in Jesus’ day, a certain kind of weed could easily be mistaken for wheat, especially if it was still some time before harvest when the wheat produced its full head and could be identified. And there’s truth in that picture for us today as we consider the harvest God wants to get from us.
Our sermon text provides an example that hits home for Christians living in the Madison area. I didn’t have to look hard for this topic, it’s right there connected to our regular, three-year set of readings that samples the entirety of the Bible’s teachings: homosexuality. Having just completed “pride month”, it’s the kind of thing that lots of people excuse: “this is how God made me, and there’s nothing wrong with love!” It’s also the kind of thing that lots of churches excuse: “the problem with homosexuality in Bible times was that it was practiced in a loveless way, and it was associated with idolatry.”
The only problem with those excuses? As we return to our sermon text, it’s clear God does not excuse it. To be fair, God does talk about idolatry in verse 23, but notice how it’s something that leads to such sins in verse 24. That tells us this isn’t a matter of guilt by association where “it’s only a problem if it’s practiced lovelessly”; rather, it’s a matter of cause and effect where “one bad thing leads to another.” In fact, there’s no other way to interpret it when God goes on to call homosexuality in verse 26 a “disgraceful passion”, where “natural relationships” are given up. To put it in another way, what we’re talking about today isn’t a case of “this is how God made me” but the opposite. God is the one who calls it “disgraceful”. God says it goes “against nature.” God calls it an “indecent act” that earns a “penalty.” Those aren’t words the Bible ever uses to describe God’s good creation. They are words the Bible uses to describe sin. And anyone who says otherwise is equally perverting God word.
Dear brothers and sisters in the faith, there’s no doubt about it: homosexuality is sin. God doesn’t make people this way—just like he doesn’t make someone violent or impatient or an addict—the fall into sin led to all of this. Which makes it equally sinful to downplay it or excuse it. It’s one of the surest signs of our fallen world: that mankind celebrates this today, that they confuse weeds with wheat.
Yet it’s only one example of idolatry that people place before the Lord. How often do people place other created things and what they want above God and his will? Because the sixth commandment isn’t just about hot-button issues like homosexuality or transgenderism. Just because a young Christian couple consisting of one man and woman is sleeping together outside of marriage does not somehow make it sanctified. So also, whether it involves the sixth commandment or any other commandment, what might someone place above the will of the creator? How often do we also worship and follow other things as idols, rather than the Lord? How often do we likewise confuse weeds with wheat?
That’s the real problem here. Where we are so quick to pin problems only on certain people or certain situations—So you just need a special month to bring awareness to the matter, that will finally solve it! But at best the issues are never solved, and at worst the approach is totally misguided (as it is in this case)—No, the real problem runs deeper with all people. You and I deserve just as much penalty from God for sins that run just as contrary to his will. Finally, what makes us different as Christians? Do we realize, by nature and because of our sin, the answer should be nothing.
It’s why only one answer will do: the answer perfectly found in God’s plans to save the world through his Son. Think of how Jesus didn’t just do what would have been easiest, or what he wanted to do, or what would have felt good. He followed his Father’s will to the end, even though it meant death on a cross where he suffered hell. For every time we have committed sin or excused sin, for any time we have raised an idol above God and what he wants, Jesus suffered for that too. It’s why we can ask that question again, what makes us different as Christians? And although the answer should be nothing, because of Jesus and through faith in him, the answer is actually everything.
By the way, as we think of what Christ was willing to sacrifice to save us from God’s judgment which we heard about in each of our readings, it is all reflected so well in God’s plans in the sixth commandment. In the end, we’re not prudes as Christians. Sex itself isn’t the issue. That’s why God had to label this is a “disgraceful” passion, because there is such a thing as a good passion! But that doesn’t automatically excuse every passion. Case in point, when it becomes all about getting what you want and what feels good, that’s idolatry. But anything can be a good thing if it’s about getting what God wants and it leads to good things for others. Likewise, when this is found in the right context – where kids whom God uniquely gives by this union will benefit from having mom and dad both be there for them, where husbands and wives are meant to sacrifice for each other and be there for each other until death parts them – can you see how reserving this gift for marriage will serve those purposes? On the other hand, every other sexual sin ultimately works against God’s plans to build up the family and the blessings he wants to protect there.
As we think of God’s blessings – whether that’s in the sixth commandment or any other commandment that we struggle with – how might that make a difference in our lives?… First, we repent of our own sin and live our lives differently! If God has truly pardoned these same sins and made such a difference for us in eternity, we want to live our lives differently here on earth!… Then, unlike our world that condemns anyone for not sharing in their viewpoint, we do things differently there as well. To be clear, we still condemn sin. That’s just saying what God is saying, and there is nothing wrong with that, don’t let anyone tell you there is! But even more ardently, we do what God did for us and share forgiveness for that sin as we seek to rescue a soul, and we continue to love them. It’s why you don’t disown a child for cohabitation, a friend for homosexuality, or anybody else for any other sin. Sure, you talk to them and warn them about their sin, but then you love them more than anybody else. That includes those who affirm their sin! As Christians we should be better friends and do more for those caught up in sin than those people who say their sin is OK!
Like Jesus said in our Gospel, we live as wheat among weeds. We don’t rip ourselves away from others at risk of tearing them up. We live peacefully with those around us. So much so that we may even look like those around us at times, but as people closely examine your fruit they will be able to see that you’re different. In other words, it’s OK if people glance at you and don’t immediately think “Christian!” We don’t have to wear our faith on our sleeves like that. But what’s not OK is if people get to know you and they’d still never know you’re a Christian. So speak and act according to the truth, but don’t feel like you have to rain down fire and brimstone on them. That day will come, but God will worry about it. You and I only need to concern ourselves with being wheat in his fields.
Or, perhaps an example we can relate to a little more than weeds which look like wheat is the example of salt & sugar. Think of how the two can look exactly the same, but once you get a taste of them you realize they are completely different! (You’ll know that if you’ve ever confused cups of salt for cups of sugar in a cookie recipe!) Similarly, even as you and I share strong viewpoints in a world of strong viewpoints, they should taste something sweet that comes from us. They realize that both sides have their viewpoints, their thoughts of what’s right and wrong. But where one side attacks me for not sharing in their viewpoint, the other still loves me even while disagreeing with my viewpoint.
That’s what we’re talking about today. It’s heavy stuff, but we need to hear it. If we don’t, Satan will try to convince us that it’s ok, that God’s wrong on this one, just like he’s convinced people in many other places. Only he won’t stop sowing weeds there. He’ll eventually try to get you to doubt everything God ever told you, including that you’re a sinner who needs a Savior, and that only Christ will do. To be clear, he’s done that elsewhere too… So don’t confuse weeds with wheat. Just like it would be foolish to confuse the two in your garden, the same danger is possible here. It doesn’t change just because something looks good or sounds loving on the outside. The world’s ways and God’s ways are completely different. One promises a good life here, but really fails to deliver. (Those political initiatives never work!) But the other delivers eternal life, and through it a better way to live here. It’s just one more example of what makes Christians different… any why that’s such a good thing. Amen.
