There is a growing number of Christians who feel that refusing to accept a homosexual’s lifestyle is an act of hatred. Those who consider homosexual behavior as immoral aren’t “loving their neighbor.” After all, if we claim to love someone, shouldn’t we just accept the decisions that they make?
On the surface, it seems that to “love” means to accept the lifestyle choice of same-sex individuals. Yet, when God’s Word shines its light on this issue, our acceptance of homosexuality proves to be hatred and an absolute disregard for life.
Imagine visiting a doctor. He tells you that you’re healthy but the truth is that you are dying of a disease. He doesn’t tell you that you’re dying because he is trying to spare your feelings. How egregious is his malpractice? A person is dying and the doctor cares more about feelings than actually dealing with the issue at hand.
When Christians tell anyone that their sinful lifestyle, which is explicitly condemned in the Bible, is acceptable to God, they in actuality are showing hatred by approving of what ultimately leads to judgment. Isn’t that similar to how Satan tempted Eve in the garden saying, “You shall not surely die . . .” It’s a error of biblical proportions that people can break God’s Law without suffering the penalty that is due.
For example, the biblical warnings in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Do we not take them seriously?
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Paul contrasts what the believers used to practice as a normal part of their life. But their conversion and regeneration in the Spirit meant that these are no longer normal practices. It’s not to say they were sinless or never struggled with their old life. But they never accepted it as a part of normal Christian living!
In Romans 1:32, after Paul had outlined the progression of depravity that defined mankind, including homosexuality (v. 26-27), he makes this stark judgment:
32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Paul condemns with equal force those who practice this evil and those who approve of it.
By giving approval to sin, we are saying that sin is “okay” with God, He’ll tolerate it. They are both lies. Sin is heinous to God, so much so that He had to pay the ultimate price—dying for it on the cross.
We show love to people not by approving of their sin, which leads to judgment, but by showing them the Savior of the Bible, Who died for the sins of world, so that men and women in bondage to sin could be free and live in newness of life.
Shining Our Light 
Imagine visiting a doctor. You have a broken arm, but also you can hardly breathe with chronic asthma attacks. The doctor ignores the asthma completely, and grasps the broken arm, twisting it so that the break becomes worse.
Let me explain that one to you. Even if you are right that equal marriage is sinful (I disagree) what should the church do? People are crying out for the Love of God- it is like being unable to breathe! The doctor must address the asthma first.
Then the broken arm. Do not merely preach that God Burned Sodom: this is a complex fracture, requiring great care and skill to heal. The good shepherd will not drive the gay person away. The hireling may drive the gay person away, because the hireling is unable to (changing my metaphor back) heal the complex fracture, only make it worse.
Thanks friend for reading my post and taking the time to comment.
Pastoral care for those in need is not in question. But it is pastoral malpractice to ignore what the Scripture calls evil. It is even more egregious to call what is evil “good.”
If homosexuality is wrong, (and I believe the Bible says it is), then the church needs to wraps its arms around a person struggling with this issue and tell them plainly what the Bible has to say: “Take up your cross and follow me.” The solution for the problem of sin is the same irrespective of the sin—Jesus.
I agree with you that Jesus never drives anyone away, and that He welcomes everyone with open arms. But God has a standard, grounded in Himself—and revealed in Scripture, which He will never compromise on, and that’s why Jesus had to die, so that sinners like you and me could be reconciled to God.
Max Lucado said it aptly: “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.” I have areas in my own life that don’t look like Him and I have to change, despite an inner desire to stay the same.
Unfortunately, pastoral care for those in need is precisely in question. If you read of the fear of gay people brought up in conservative evangelical homes of being found out, you will see that. And being gay is the unique sin for so many Christians: pastors can lie and exaggerate and sleep around and be forgiven, but the love of their partner is the Great Sin which the gay couple must shed before entering the church for the first time, though second-married people are welcomed. So many people parroting views like the ones in your post use them as a cover for bigotry and hatred.
As Christians we need to repent for our lack of grace towards gays. We also need to repent of all that we’ve done to destroy marriage and sexuality within the church. Our failure to address sexual behavior outside of marriage has resulted in the weak state we find the institution now. I hope that a spirit of repentance overcomes the church over her unfaithfulness to the biblical picture of what God intended for sex: a physical Union symbolizing the oneness of a husband and wife.
Wonderful write up. The truth is scarce these days, it’s encouraging to hear the truth. The word of God stands forever true and cannot be changed. It is a shame for a Christian to accept homosexuality as okay, when it contradicts the bible’s clear position. The Bible has never condoned sin, and since it cannot change, it never will. That an act is acceptable to the world doesn’t make it acceptable to God. God is the embodiment of love and no one’s love for another can be greater than God’s. Yet God condemns it! We show love by condemning the act and showing them the way. I however know that it is ungodly to be violent to someone, refuse to talk to or relate with a person simply because they’re gay.
I appreciate the encouragement brother. I completely agree. What God says is wrong can never be acceptable to those who follow Him. Yet, we must always engage with those of the gay community with love and not compromise with what God has revealed in His Word.
Exactly!