- To say that authentic Christians hate, or fear, those trapped in the homosexual lifestyle demonstrates a gross misunderstanding of the principles of the Christian faith. To “confront in love” simply comes from a desire to honor God, and to truly love and care for others. We must extend compassion but without compromise.
- If warning, confronting, challenging, advising, an admonishing can all be categorized as “hate-speech,” then, based on this definition, many parents hate their children. But of course the opposite is true: Parents love their children, so much so that they warn, confront, challenge, advise, and admonish daily. So why are those who do the same often characterized as “hate-mongers”?
- This is not about civil rights; it’s about God’s Word. Certain “rights” and “wrongs” called absolutes are given by God to save man from himself. Nearly all of our social issues are related to the stability and structure of the God-ordained family. Personal rights were intended to operate freely, but only within the framework of God’s Word, and social responsibility. For example, few can dispute the significant relationship between STDs and promiscuous sex, AIDS and homosexuality, broken homes and adultery, and so on. But those in support of gay-marriage often claim that it’s about “rights.” However, when we speak of Constitutional rights, we are referring to “God-given” rights. God orchestrates these rights—the definition and the perimeters—they correspond with His nature, His will, and His Word. When we replace “God-given rights” with “man-given rights” we create an environment where there would be little recourse, and no end to what man could advocate. Yes, we will always have the “freedom” to choose what we do, but no one has the “right” to do what is wrong.
- Times change but God’s standards do not. If our sexual preferences run contrary to God’s Word we must change our preferences, not the other way around. Same sex marriage is not about “rights”—it’s about sexual “choices.” But can we legislate morality? No, we cannot change a person’s heart by forcing a set of laws or rules on them. But we can uphold statues that protect the health and welfare of society, such as preserving marriage between a man and a woman. No matter how many laws are passed in favor of same-sex marriage, it will not change God’s mind.
- Are those who defend homosexuality, or who say nothing, truly loving the homosexual, or are they simply seeking to avoid conflict? For instance, if they are more worried about being liked than being truthful, do they really care for homosexuals more than the person who is willing to risk their reputation, and quite possibly their safety, in order to speak the truth in love? The answer is obvious: Authentic Christians love the truth, and others, so much so that they are willing to risk the consequences of confrontation in order to help others. This is genuine love, not hatred. “When we become so tolerant that we lead people into mental fog and spiritual darkness, we are not acting like Christians—we are acting like cowards” (A.W. Tozer).
- Jesus condemned “all” sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and woman. In Matthew 15:19 when Jesus said, “Out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications…these defile a man,” He implied that all sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and a woman is harmful, and immoral. The word “fornication” in the Greek is porneia—where the word “pornography” comes from; it includes all illicit sex. Jesus understood that sexual sin often results in the death of a family, a marriage, and the integrity of an individual—the entire family, and society, loses. The Bible is crystal clear on this issue. Homosexuality, like all sexual sin, is harmful, and morally wrong.
- As a final word of encouragement: If you’re searching and not finding, hurting and not healing, and living but not loving, I encourage you to look to the One who has the answers and commit your life to Him. No matter what you have done or have experienced, from sexual abuse and abortion, to promiscuity and/or homosexuality, you have the ability to turn to Christ and start anew. One famous quote captures it well: “A true measure of a person is not who they were, but who they will become.” It’s all about Who you know!
