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What is the best way for Christians to deal with the question of homosexuality if Jesus states that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourself?
I understand the concept of "love the sinner, hate the sin", but trying to explain that to a non-Christian that consistently throws up Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:18-32 about God (Christians) wanting to kill homosexuals is increasingly difficult.
Mark 12:31
NLT - 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
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Asked September 26 2013
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Ryan Kafer
Supporter
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Brandon Hughes
Supporter
Loving our neighbors does not refer to making them feel good or happy. As Christians we understand this temporal world is passing away and that all humans have a final destination, death, after which they will enter into one of two places for eternity. For it is appointed man once to die, then judgement. Loving our neighbor is not just doing nice things for them but foremost loving them enough to tell them the truth, that they have broken God's law and are in need of a Savior. The eternal destination of a person is far more important than anything else we can address in someone's life. The best way to deal with homosexuality? In my personal opinion I would start with the 10 commandments to show a person how they have transgressed God's Law then present the good news of the forgiveness of sins paid for by Christ's shed blood on the cross in the hopes God would grant them faith. After that and through the process of sanctification work on the issue of homosexuality. A multitude of ways to address this issue can be taken, this is a path I prefer. While I understand the slogan, "hate the sin, love the sinner", on judgement day will God throw the sin or the sinner into hell?
Emo Tenorio
Supporter
In the season we're in words and their meanings have been will fully corrupted by various focus groups to deceive the masses with sly emotional slogans. With this in mind, the Christian must present the truth of God's Word with an olden times expression "with the bark on" meaning presenting or speaking the true facts of a matter, subtracting or adding nothing period. It's only with the true facts on any matter, that correct choices or decisions must be made, not current emotions or fanciful feelings. The facts should be presented in a clear and neutral third party way as your the King's ambassador delivering His communication, not yours. If they reject the terms of the King and that's their free will choice to do so, choosing instead open rebellion opposing natural law and Him so be it! There will be a price to to paid for this error at a time and place of the Kings choosing, the prosecution and execution carried out by the King. If the King were not to execute the terms of His communication that would make Him a liar much like a modern day politician whose words can't be trusted! You have done your job and their blood is not on your hands, we are hated for warning a vile dark world of a quickly coming settling of accounts. Christians have a live and let live view, because of the Lord's grace shown to us, yes we will warn others of their errors in love to spare them loss. But there are others who walk this earth whose religious tolerance level for such behavior is never questioned by the caterwauling intelligensia odd indeed? In the Lord's freedom and grace..............warrior on
Tony Flores
Supporter
We can deal with the Homosexual problem as we have to deal with other sin. We can love the sinner as our self, but we do not have to love their sin. We should let the Holy Spirit lead us to share the Gospel and plan of salvation with them and the reasons why that life style is against God's plan for our life. We should quote the scripture and most of all let them know that our merciful God loves them and that Jesus died in the Cross for all our sins and with out Jesus all sinners are doomed and will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless they repent of their sins and follow Jesus Christ. We should let them know that the consequences of sin is eternal death. Make sure they know John 3:16 and let the Holy Spirit, whom works on salvation to work in the sinner for them to come to Christ. Of course we cannot save anyone, but We can plant the seed and water it and let God work in that person's life.
BONNIE KIRBY
Supporter
If we are true Christians and children of the Most High God, than we believe, do and say what the word of God says. God has a standard for us to live by in order to make it into His kingdom. As Christians we are God's representatives on earth and we are chosen to tell people the truth about His word, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not judging the word judges. Galatians 6:1 (brothers and sisters if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore that person gently, but watch for yourselves, or you also may be tempted). No matter what the sin is we must speak the truth of God's word to one another and others who are not yet saved. We should pray to the Lord to help us speak His word in the right way and the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of all believers in Christ Jesus will do rest. One last thing read(Romans 1:18-32.) explains just how God feels about sin and homosexuality. I hope this helps, may the Lord bless you and use you for His glory a vessel for honor....... :)
Peggy Carter
Supporter
No one is beyond the reach of God's love and forgiveness. (John 3:16) Conversely, no one is beyond the reach of God's judgement. (Romans 1:18-32). A loved one of mine believes that being homosexual is not a sin, or a mistake, but is a valid lifestyle. This person professes to be a Christian, as the choice to accept Christ was made early in life. As this person grew older and entered a committed homosexual relationship, the tendency was to rationalize and claim that this choice was "God's will." It seems futile to use loving persuasion or fervent arguments. The difficulty isn't this person's relationship with me, but is with his/her relationship with Christ. There's but one mediator between God and the sinner.... and its not me. I pray about the situation, but believe that trying to "witness" would alienate the person and cause them to "dig in their heels" and reject any opinions expressed or implied. They must come to their own place of repentance. The above scripture from Romans is clear. "That which is known about God is evident within them;" (v.19) and "they exchanged the the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator." (v.25) and yes, also verse 32: "although they know the ordinance of God.... they do the same" [grievous sins listed in vv. 29 - 310]. I have to claim another verse from Romans: "I commit you to God who is able to make you strong and steady in the Lord." (Romans 16:25 LB).
Ken Walrath
Supporter
I believe that, as Christians, we are the stewards of Gods love. As such we need to be concerned with the results of our ministry. Do our words and actions bring people closer to God, or do we turn off ears, effectively driving people away from God? We can make ourselves feel good by telling our version of the "truth" so fervently that we push away someone who needs to experience Gods love, especially when they feel that they are loving another human being. To constantly remind them they are wrong only serves to shut them down, effectively pushing them away from Gods love. We need to concern ourselves with the RESULT of our words and actions. Are we condemning them? Or are we showing them the wonders of a loving God? We may feel we are doing the Christian thing by reminding them that they are sinners, but exactly WHO are we serving? Ourselves? We feel better because we told them the "truth". But how much closer did we bring them to God? Are they better off? Did we help anything for them? Or did we just help ourselves feel better because we parroted the "truth"? THINK about what we are doing when we do it. What are we causing to happen? It's not a simple black and white issue. When we interact with someone, we cause them to feel. Is it Gods love? Or His wrath? God never asked for our help in spreading His wrath... but His love, He did ask us for. If you REALLY want to show love, be careful of the resulting action. A self-serving ministry helps no one. The best way to deal with homosexuality... just show Gods love. Have faith that God will do the rest. The almighty Lord has no need for warriors, so I will simply be His friend. He has my love and I have His.
Laura Nelson
Supporter
I have gay family and friends. I have loved them and prayed for them over the years. Yes, I read the Bible. I can not reconcile everything I read with Jesus' command to love GOD and love my neighbor. I am human, sometimes I don't feel love for people's actions that are perceived as sin. But people and their actions are not the same. I will thank GOD for His endless love and mercy for me and that He sent humans to love ME unconditionally when I was lost in what others perceived as sin in my life. Ive been forgiven and loved so much, I am responsible to do the same.
Mark Vestal
Supporter
The sin is not the issue. All mankind being born into a 'sin nature' is the problem. We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners. HUGE difference! The approach should begin with that truth. There is no need to mention any single sin by the one offering the gospel of God's grace to the sinner. The whole purpose of Jesus Christ and His shed blood was to remove the sin barrier that kept ALL humanity from coming to God. Accepting the fact that we are ALL sinners and in need of a savior because of this is the first step. Seeing Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross as our only path to salvation is step two. We do not get to the other side of the 'door' by 'walking' through it. We get to the other side by believing God has placed it there for us through Jesus Christ and His shed blood. We believe that ALL of our sins were forgiven at the cross through Christ's blood. We believe He was dead and buried, but rose again. He conquered sin and death FOR US (1 Cor 15:1-4). HE alone did it ALL! When the sinner believes this then the Spirit will take over (Eph 1:12-13). Our job is to show the sinner the correct path, which is God's grace and Jesus Christ crucified for them. The Spirit will then guide them in their 'walk' which comes AFTER salvation, after having faith in Jesus Christ crucified for their sins.
Albert DeBenedictis
Supporter
How should a church deal with a homosexual attending church services? The Bible says that Christians are to love others and not hate (Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Galatians 5:14, 22; Ephesians 4:2; James 2:8; 1 John 3:23; 4:7-12; 4:16, 20-21; 2 John 1:5; etc.); however, the Bible also states that we are to hate evil (Romans 12:9). I believe that anyone openly living in sin and attending our church is defying God and needs to dealt with. The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is sin (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-11, etc.). I believe we are to treat homosexuals the same as we treat any other unsaved person; however, many homosexuals openly defy God as they hold hands in public and show affection towards their partner, etc., and living in a sinful lifestyle. If the church knows that a homosexual is living in sin, even though they do not show it in church, I believe the homosexual needs to be approached in a loving manner and explain to them what the Bible teaches about homosexuality and salvation. Some churches teach that we are to love everyone, even homosexuals (Matthew 22:39; 1 John 4:8). They teach that we are to be kind to them and allow them to worship in church with everyone else. The Apostle Paul wrote that we are to deal with those who are openly living in sexual immorality and remove them from the body of believers (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). From the Apostle Paul's writings, it does not appear that we are to ignore those who are blatantly sinning against God. Do you believe that we should just pray for them? My thoughts were to allow homosexuals to attend a few services in hopes that they would hear the gospel and repent of their sin. If they continue to attend church, at some point a church official is to pull them aside and explain what the Bible says about sin (specifically homosexuality) and explain the gospel to them. If they persist in attending the church meetings and never show any signs of repentance, they should be asked to leave. My guess is that if homosexuals attend church, they are most likely already aware of what the Bible says. Does allowing homosexuals to attend church cause one to perceive that the church condones (allows and accepts such behavior), regardless of what the Bible teaches? Would allowing a homosexual to attend church services give the impression that it is all right to live in sin? I believe that one who is living in a sinful lifestyle, such as homosexuality, be disciplined (even excommunicating with them from attending church - Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13) in the hopes that they will eventually come to understand that God does not condone sinful lifestyles and will repent of their sins, turn from it, and live as God requires.
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