Q: So being a Christian means you hate homosexuals, right?
A: No.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
There is no clause in here that says we don’t have to love homosexuals. The Bible also says this:
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
1 John 4:20
Again, there’s no clause in here saying we can hate gay people. Anyone claiming to love God but hate gay people is lying to you according to 1 John 4:20.
Q: But what about God, doesn’t He hate homosexuals?
A: Again, no.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world…” there’s no clause in there that says “except for homosexuals.” The Bible says God loves everyone, which would include the homosexuals.
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:3-4
God desires all people to be saved, it doesn’t say “all people, except the homosexuals.”
Q: But isn’t homosexuality a sin according to the Bible?
A:
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
Leviticus 20:13
The Bible also says that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So yes, homosexuality is a sin. Keep in mind though that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), homosexuality isn’t the only sin. The Bible states that breaking one law is the same as breaking them all (James 2:10). What these passages do is put us all on an equal level as sinners. Therefore, one person cannot boast for not commiting sin X but yet commits sin Y.
Most importantly, remember John 8:1-11, which is about how the Pharisees were going to stone a woman to death for prostitution. Then Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7). Jesus then forgave the woman of her sins, and told her to go and sin no more.
Q: So I can’t be gay and be a Christian?
A: Often when I have this discussion with someone, the conversation will go similar to above, and then I’ll be asked this question in the middle of the conversation. At this point, I don’t like the way this question is worded. To me, it almost sounds like this is the question that’s being asked:
“Do I have to stop being gay BEFORE I can become a Christian?”
Absolutely not, nothing could be further from the truth. God accepts you the way that you are, and He loves you enough to not want to leave you that way.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 6:37
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Q: Well, what about after I become a Christian? Can I continue a life of homosexuality?
A: Recall from the Gospel Message page that all sin separates us from God, and in order to break down these barriers you need to repent of your sins. Repenting involves not just confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness, but making an honest attempt to turn away from your sins. Also, in John 8:1-11 remember Jesus' words to the prostitute after forgiving her of har sins. Jesus told her to go and sin no more. There’s no fooling God here, because God knows your heart (1 Samuel 16:7). But you don’t have to depend on your strength alone to overcome sin, because our own strength is often not enough. That’s why we have Christ to help us through our trials and temptations.
Q: Why is homosexuality a sin anyways? It’s not hurting anyone else.
A: It is true that homosexuality isn’t a sin against other people the way rape and murder are sins against others. Homosexuality (and sexual sin in general) is a sin against your own body.
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 6:18
God didn’t design us to be homosexual, and I believe God has bigger and better plans for those who are homosexual. But first you must take that first step towards God.
Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 1:3