June 28, 2011 with 24 Comments

375.

God and Gays

I’ve intentionally avoided any posts about this topic.

I’ve subconsciously skirted any discussion on it.

Maybe I’m a little bit chicken. What if the gay movement picks up the blog and reams me to pieces? What if I offend a brother or a sister in Christ? What if I don’t know the answers?

What if?

What if the truth is never spoken?

There are many questions that plague our minds when it comes to God and gays. Does God hate homosexuality? And if He does, why did He create some people gay? Or did He? Can you be gay and a Jesus following Christian? What do you do with your gay feelings if you accept Christ as your Savior? What about your gay family? Why are Christians so touchy when it comes to homosexuality? Is same sex marriage wrong? Says who?

These questions are hard to answer. Many Christians have done what I have done so far, and that is to avoid turning the light on any personal opinions on the matter. But what if you really want to know the answers?

Where do you go for answers on difficult topics like this one?

I know of one place to go. I know of one source of truth. I know of one valid opinion.

And it’s not mine.

It’s His.

He speaks in His word. He is loud and clear on all of the answers to life’s questions. He judges. He condemns. He loves. He saves.

He is.

God says a lot about homosexuality in His word, but I’ve decided not to cover that topic in today’s blog.

Instead I’m going to focus on the Christian’s responsibility to the gay community.

The Christian is, after all, God’s representative to a world that is hurting. I was hurting once, then I heard the truth.

Anything can happen when the truth is spoken.

Here’s the truth about the Christian’s responsibility to the Gay community.

1. Love the gay community. I have many gay friends. I live in a big city and work in a gay friendly environment. If I’ve learned anything from the gay community it is that Christians show little love towards them and I believe it breaks God’s heart. God sent His son Jesus to a sinful world because of love. God died on the cross to cleanse and save us because of love. Jesus was called a friend of sinners. I’m glad He is. He’s my friend too.

2. Accept the gay community. The marriage bill was just passed in New York. The gay community is here to stay. It’s time Christians accept them.  Separate the person from the sin. And yes, God does call homosexuality sin. Check I Corinthians 6:9 and in Romans 1:26-27. God also calls sexual immorality (ie lust) and idolatry, and adultery, and theft, and greed sin. I am a sinner just like every other human being born after Adam. Romans 5:8 says that God shows his love towards me while I was a sinner. I’m thankful for that. The church ought to be a place where sinners can come freely and hear the truth.

3. Share the truth with the gay community. I’m back to the truth – God’s truth. It’s absolute. It stands alone. You can deny it, ignore it, disagree with it, but it doesn’t change what it is. Jesus said that the truth will set us free – free from sin and judgment and hate. The gay community deserves to hear His truth in love. That doesn’t mean holding up hate signs in front of gay neighborhoods. It doesn’t mean hurting others in word or action. I love my gay friends, but I owe them the truth. I confess that I’ve often shied away from telling them the truth out of fear of alienating them. How is that loving to them?

4. Guard yourself from sin. In Romans 16:19 Paul tells us to be “wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” That means walking without blinders on. Listen – we are all prone to lust and wrong sexual desires. If it didn’t feel good people wouldn’t do it. Christian – guard your heart and your eyes. Love sinners without opening yourself up to sin. It’s a fine line to walk but you’ve got to do it. If you have stronger tendencies towards lust, that may mean greater accountability and restraint. Whatever you do, do it prayerfully and in the power of the Holy Spirit, always striving towards holiness.

5. See yourself in the gay community. I’ll say it again. Were it not for grace, I’d be exactly where my gay friends are – torn with the fleshly desires to what God has forbidden, blinded to God’s goodness, unwilling and hopeless to change. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, made us alive together with Christ – by grace we have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5). I am no different than my gay friends. Jesus Christ is the difference in me.

I’m sure many of you have questions and opinions about this topic. Feel free to share them. You can write in your thoughts under “anonymous”.

Here are several great sites that have more answers about homosexuality and God:

Exodus International

Door of Hope

Focus on the Family

Desert Stream

New Hope Ministries

Pure Life Ministries

Related posts:

In Culture, Sex

  • Rick

    Very well said Lina, if we protested against all the people that we think are wrong in their sin we wouldnt have a church to attend! By Gods grace alone am I different!!!

  • Lori Ridder

    Oh Lina! How like the Lord…my very first emailed blog from you on a topic that is a very great part of my life and very precious to my heart! I am not sure if you are aware, but my husband and I lead a ministry at Harvest-RM called “Someone I Love Is Gay”. We study God’s word for wisdom and comfort as we learn to love our family members with the love of Christ, while standing firm in God’s truth. Grace and truth….it’s a balanced walk but in the power of Christ it is absolutely possible!! Thanks for this. It is a message I have been spreading for 2 years now, since our daughter came out to us. We continue to pray daily for her return from the wilderness, but love her like crazy as we wait on the Lord. Blessings, sister!!

    • Janet

      Thank you for what you wrote, which I feel is from the Heart of Christ towards His people.

    • lina

      i did not know that lori! so blessed by your comment!

  • Martie

    Lina, this is such a sensitive subject for me. The homosexual community is not ministered to enough in our churches. I don’t believe it can be lumped into other sins or addictions–from my perspective this is something that begins at a very early age, incorporating delicate personalities and difficult circumstances. But they need to be ministered to by those who have been delivered from that sin. I keep praying for God to bring healing to so many more who can then be used to change lives.

  • RAM

    Important post. I think many Christians feel they are doing something wrong if they reach out and love the gay community. Quite the contrary, as it is with so many issues- Christians need to be known not for what we DON’T do (we don’t gamble, we don’t go to bars,etc) but for what we DO- and that is to love and serve our community and those without Christ (even people who are gay). 

    Side note: I just finished reading Christopher Yuan’s book Out of a Far Country. It is a powerful book about God’s relentless love and Christopher’s journey out of the gay lifestyle into  life as a Moody professor.   God’s love is pretty amazing. 

  • Heather

    Lina, Thanks for handling a tough topic with love and truth- and for having the courage to do it. I think it’s good for the christians to remember that so many in the gay community are lost without a savior- they need to hear first the good news of the gospel and to know the goodness and mercy of God. The nature of their sin isn’t the main issue.

  • Linda

    Lina,
    Thank you for this. My brother is gay and I have been struggling with how to love him without accepting the sin. What a terrific reminder of my own sin….and if people had not shown me the love of Christ while I was still in it, I might still be there. Praising God for His grace and mercy, praying for strength to speak truth in LOVE.

  • Gina

    Morning. Good post.my thought only- I. know people that are.and in my family.I know what is written in the Bible.our society is 2 quick 2 put labels on everything&every 1. As long you lead a Christian life and and honest 1 God does love everyone. We all in fact are Gods children. Everyone has an opinion abt.something or someone. If we all came together on the most important person God and get along I feel. the world would be a better place.everyone would be walking around w/smiles.if someone is straight, gay, handicapped. Purple,blue doesn’t matter we’re all equal. Just my thoughts. Happy Tuesday :) :( :)

    • lina

      good points gina. God does love everyone – so much so that he sent his only son to die for our sins. at the end of the day, God is holy and none of us can meet his standard of perfection – which is why we need Jesus to represent us. make sense? part of being a Christian entails following God’s ways as described in His book – the Bible. that’s what this post is about.btw, only labels i know are: sinner and saved. God’s grace does extend to everyone equally!

  • http://ZCxz Milo

    You deal very well with a sensitive subject. Christians deal with all kinds of sinful people, homosexuality is sin listed with the other sins in ICor 6. Love them, tell them the truth and let God do the effectual cange

  • ramzi

    Good post.

    But you have to remember that many gay people don’t see themselves as sinners. There are many gay christians, who are seeking a relationship with Jesus. There are many gays in the clergy and much of that is coming into the evangelical area (from what I read). They appear to have a sensitive heart for the Lord, and seek to live a christian life.

    • lina

      you are absolutely right about gay people not seeing themselves as sinners. that’s why that post was hard to write. my intent was simply to pass on what i believe God’s word teaches, and he really is clear about this issue. thanks for the comment!

  • Gina

    Great post. Im proud of you well written.

  • lisa

    So well stated!! We forget that that gay person struggles in sin just as I do. My sin just may not be a noticable but it’s just the same.

  • Gina

    True- my Uncle was taking his fiance to her picture framnd.he told her 2 wait in the car.someone went thru red light slammed into their car she died instantly
    while finishing his masters in art&music he met a Guy.34 years later still 2gether.leading a Catholic faithful hard working life and going to church praising God everyday.and being thankful.im not sure why I shared this. But I did :) :):)

  • http://www.blogspot.mrstullos.com Katy Tullos

    Thanks for this post. My husband and I were just talking yesterday about how heartbreaking it is that as Christians we can often readily identify the sin of homosexuality, but neglect to love that person with the love of Christ.

  • Susan Henricksen

    Lina, Thanks for this encouragement to be both Truthful and loving.
    At times, it seems like we are forced to pick a side when we need to be both to the world around us. No matter the issue. “Jesus Christ is the difference in me.” Well said.

  • Gina

    I just talked with my mom.her brother my uncle. Amazing man.my and I totally agreed. We love who we love as long as its right by God cuz on judgment day we ourselves will be in front of God.His judgment is the only one that matters. Just my Mom and my opinion :)

  • Amber

    Very good topic! God is always working in me to see a different light. It’s not easy talking to someone that is gay. I have a boss that is and a co-worker. It’s every where we turn. Do I wear that beautiful rainbow shirt or are people going to think I’m gay. I hear something a long those lines all the time. Sin is racking what God made don’t let it also harden your heart to people who are gay. Just talk to them like Jesus would. I know I need to be better at that with my boss. Lord help us as Christans to love one other.

  • Gina

    Amen:) to Lina putting so much thought into a topic most wouldn’t think about your thoughts and wisdom and God working thru you.thank-you from my family. All of us thank-you sincerely Lina from our hearts.Love Nechi Family.Yep mom put her thoughts in :) :):)

  • Jaimee

    A friend just gave me the book Out of a Far Country…EXCELLENT book on how a mom LOVED her son through his gay lifestyle. Heartbreaking story, yet a beautiful story of how God reedems! If you haven’t read it, pick it up, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy reading about God’s endless pursuit of us!

  • Ray Mickol

    Nice piece. Well thought out and spoken.

  • Jan

    spot on!  would love to see you flush out some of the nuances of each of these points.