The first thing I have to say as a Christian is I am sorry. I am sorry for the way I misrepresent Jesus. I am sorry for the way Christians say hurtful things and try to belittle people. I am sorry that mean signs are painted and waved in peoples faces. I know this isn't what Jesus died for...and it makes me sick to my stomach. So, as a Christ follower I am apologizing for the ways we mess up. For the way we try to follow Jesus and get it completely wrong. But overall, we are humans. We will not be perfect. So please do not look to Christians to be perfect people. The only hope of perfection is found in Jesus.
Now I bet a ton of you are sick of all the hypocrites. I think one of main things I hear as a Christian is that we are a bunch of hypocrites...and you are right. I promise we do not try to be..but again, we are not perfect. The only way I am able to change is by the grace, mercy, and leading of God. And for the sin I struggle with, God forgives me...as I come to Him and repent. The crazy thing about the topic of homosexuality and people calling Christians hypocrites for speaking against it IS, if we did not we would be hypocrites....the Bible does call it a sin. So, for once we are not being hypocrites! (#PTL=praise the Lord) That being said, the way we speak against it is often not healthy, or in a loving way. And again, I apologize for that hurt. The Bible says, "Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor. 6:9-11. These verses help us to see the many ways we are separated from God. I have read several different versions of Bibles, and it is important to note the word "practice" is in front of the word homosexuality. Or the phrase reads "or people who do sex sins with their own sex". I believe that the practice or act of homosexuality is a sin...not the thoughts or overall struggle. Let me give you a fabulous example of crossing the line from struggle to desire. It comes from the book The Good and Beautiful Life by James Bryan Smith. "One day I was walking on the beach with my brother, engaged in a deep conversation about God. A beautiful young women in a bikini was walking in our direction, and of course we both noticed her. When she passed by we looked at each other and said, 'Wow'. Now, had we sinned at that point? I don't think so. If we had not noticed, we would not be sexual persons. The response was completely acceptable in my view. Now, had we turned and followed her, focusing our eyes on her body, dreaming of a sexual encounter with her, we would have sinned. We would have crossed over from simple sexual attraction to epithumia (intentionally objectifying another person for one's own gratification.) But we didn't." As a human I desire other things more than the Lord...I hate to admit that fact. This does not mean that I am not a Christian. It means that I need the Lord even more. This verse also tells us the way for cleansing, the way to life, the way the void in your heart can be filled...It is by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of God replacing the want and desires for those sins. So, in summary, I am saying that in the worlds view you can be gay and be a Christian. But with this title you cannot practice the act of sex with the same sex..and say it isn't a sin. To struggle with homosexual thoughts is okay, and the same as struggling with the desire of money. It is our brokenness. But there is freedom from those struggles...and His name is Jesus. Even though the world may refer to a Christian who struggles with homosexuality as gay or homosexual, God doesn't. Here is a tidbit a friend of mine wrote, "Imagine then what a slap in the face it is to the God who offers us a new name for us to reject that name and be identified once again by the slavery he died to purchase us from? My brother or sister who struggles with same sex attraction, but has placed his or her faith in Jesus is not gay in our Father's eyes. He or she is a son or daughter that Jesus died to cleanse from ALL unrighteousness. Now which is more important: what the world thinks of that brother or sister or what God thinks?" I am not saying the life of struggling with homosexuality and being a Christian is easy. But then again, if I am honest it isn't easy for people who are single Christians either. There comes a point where your desire for God is worth more than anything. I am a single girl, who is not dating or engaged. I may never be married, and I may never have sex...but that is okay. I know that God's intention for sexual actions are to be between a husband and wife, and are designed for my good. I do not look at it as a hateful rule, but as a healthy way to live life and keep me from hurt, from the shame I would feel, and the empty void it would leave. I am saying this because if I can do it, then someone who is gay and serves the Lord can too.
Now for Christians, here is a verse that is not mentioned much, "When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people. It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, 'you must remove the evil person from among you'." 1. Cor. 5:9-13. This is extreme, but I feel it is also overlooked. This verse says judge those believers who say they love the Lord and practice the above sins. It is not our responsibility to punish or judge non-believers. If you think about it why would we hold them to the standards of the Bible? If they have not accepted Jesus or even opened a Bible, we cannot expect them to live their lives according to what it says. I don't know about you, but rarely have I wanted to change by someone pointing out my flaws and belittling me. If Jesus points out a flaw he backs it with encouragement, with truth, with the promise of a life filled with meaning and help from the things that hold us captive. So, instead of always looking outward and judging...let us look in the mirror, or in our own church. I think there would be less hypocritical actions by Christians if we took this call seriously with our brothers and sisters in Christ. By looking in the mirror we realize that we sin. I am reminded of the woman
caught in adultery (John 8)—“but let the one who has never sinned throw the first
stone!” We all sin, and homosexuality is
a real struggle. Also, looking at the
life of Jesus we see how he ate and lived among sinners. How beautiful it is that a man who could do
no wrong ate and talked among the lowest of people. If Jesus could do that and we are considered
the filthy people, how can we not? I
would challenge the church to love like Jesus. Let us be a community that welcomes people in
any step of life into a safe place where others can learn more about the
Lord. God has an amazing way of making
messy and hard situations into a magnificent love story.
This topic is one that is so heavily debated because in our culture we think sex and our sexuality identifies us. I read a blog this week and it made great points on this fact. But do we really want to be defined by those things? Do you feel whole by defining yourself on that basis? We are more than just our sexuality. We were made for more, and to the core most people feel this on an everyday basis. It is hard to follow God, but it is the best decision I have made in my life. Check out the story of the rich man (Mark 10:17-31.) He obeyed every commandment of God but could not give up his love of money to follow Jesus. You can substitute his love money for any idol in your life. It is hard to give up things to God, but do you really want to be defined by money, success, or your sexuality? Have those things given you joy and made you whole? The promise of eternal life and love of Jesus here on earth will make you whole. Our sexuality is a part of us, it is not the complete story.
If you find yourself reading this and have stopped following the Lord because Christians are hypocrites, you have missed the point of the gospel. The point of it isn't a Christians life. It will still be imperfect. The point of the gospel is that your soul is saved. That one day all of the hurt you feel will be gone. That God loves you so much that He Himself sent us a son who died for our sins. Those very sins that you think define you. Those sins that make you cry at night and not want to get out of bed in the morning. He lived on this very earth and suffered every hardship imagined, and He did it perfectly. Because of this we are not separated from God. Please do not let the imperfections of Christians separate you from the love of God, and of Jesus, that He died to give you. There is healing, and there is a purpose for your life. It is an exciting adventure that God wants to be a part of.
