Christians and Homosexuals

Yesterday the Iowa state supreme court ruled that a law to ban homosexual marriage was unconstitutional.

I could write a long spiel about how the judicial branch once again overstepped its authority. I could write about how Christians should write our congressmen long scathing letters about the immorality of homosexuality. Or I could write my own long scathing blog about how we should condemn homosexuals and their lifestyle and how we should boycott Pepsi because of their support of the gay lobby, blah, blah, blah.

You’re welcome to do any of these things yourself, but as for me, I’m not so sure this is how Jesus would handle the situation. And since my goal, though I’m far from it, is to be as much like Christ as I can, I’m going to write about how I believe we should treat homosexuals and those that support homosexuality.

First, here are some versus from the Bible about homosexuality.

Leviticus 18:22 - Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

Leviticus 20:13 - If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

Romans 1:26-27 - Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

The first two verses are commands from God and are in the same chapters that condemn adultery, incest, and bestiality. These are all sexual sins. One thing to note, though, is that these commands are given to God’s people.

All of these sexual sins are all lifestyle choices. Let’s get one thing straight, people are not born homosexuals. It is their choice to become one. Yes, there may be social circumstances that push someone toward that lifestyle, but like adultery, bestiality, and incest, homosexuality is a choice.

So, what should our response be to homosexuals and those that support homosexuality?

Here are a couple verses that should give us serious pause. Paul, in 1Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

In case you’re unclear, “inherit the kingdom of God” means go to heaven when they die. Therefore, our response to homosexuals and people who support homosexuality or any other sexual sin should be to tell them the Gospel of Christ. We should not condemn them for their lifestyle or for their beliefs. We should not put them down, judge them, or argue with them. We should love them, show them kindness, and tell them what Jesus has done in our life. Then, let God change their hearts and their lifestyles.

1John 3:9 says, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”

While we cannot judge the heart, and only God truly knows if someone is saved, if someone persists in a sin, it’s likely they do not have a relationship with Christ. And even if they do, they’ve wandered far from that relationship. So, loving them either to or back to Christ is what we should do. And telling someone the Gospel is never wasted breath.

Isaiah 55:11 - so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

We cannot tell unbelievers how to live.

Paul, in 1Corinthians 5, verses 12 and 13 is addressing sexual immorality within the church. He says, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you.”

This is clear. We are not to judge those who are not believers. Only God can do that. We need to clean up our own house, live our own lives for Christ, and tell others about Christ.

Remember Jesus’ example.

Matthew 9:10 - While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.

Jesus hung out with the “sinners”. He didn’t condemn them, put them down, or argue with them. He loved them and showed them the kingdom of heaven. We’re to do the same.

2Timothy 2:23 - Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

There’s a whole blog in the above passage, but for now, just read it and apply it to those who are unbelievers living a type of life you don’t agree with.

Finally, for those of you clinging to your judgmental attitudes, adultery, like homosexuality is a sexual sin. And what did Jesus say when the men dragged the adulterous woman out to Him saying they should stone her to death as the religious law said to do?

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:5).

Jesus’ response to the woman was then this:
Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:10-11).

So, I’ll say the same to you regarding homosexuality. Those of you who want to condemn them, if any one of you is without sin, go ahead and cast the first stone.

But if you’re not willing to cast that stone, maybe you could invite a homosexual couple over to dinner and show them the joy of knowing Christ.