For this discussion, we will need to split the community up somewhat. This entry will focus on the L, G, and B, which refer to lesbian, gay, and bisexual respectively. All three of these concepts are problematic from a Christian standpoint because each involves same sex couplings. There’s really no ambiguity when it comes to how God feels about the subject.
“‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. – Leviticus 20:13
The above verse represents a pretty harsh critique of homosexuality. Such harshness is not unusual for the Old Testament. Christian doctrine is based more on what appears in the New Testament though. So what does the New Testament say?
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men – 1 Corinthians 6:9
Even in the New Testament, homosexuality is confirmed to be wrong in God’s eyes. Non-believers certainly don’t like that Christians see it that way. Truthfully, there are probably some Christians who are not happy with this assertion either. There are certainly homosexual and bisexual people professing to be Christians, and it must be difficult for them to know that something that feels natural and right to them is wrong to God. It’s also undoubtedly difficult for the loved ones of people with those struggles. How do you reconcile the love that you have for someone close to you with your love for God and his Word? Some critics take things a step further and launch attacks against God. They question how God can be loving and condemn people for who they love?
The important thing to remember is that as believers we may not agree with or like everything God does or says, but we do have to understand and respect that God is sovereign. He made this world and everything in it. At the end of the day, he has the right to set whatever rules he wants whether we like it or not. He created woman for man and relationships based on that dynamic are what please him. That’s just how it is. We can’t change that.
Does all this mean that the perpetrator of the Club Q shooting was justified in what he did? After all, the Old Testament says that gay people are to be put to death. So, wasn’t he just fulfilling God’s command?
No. It’s not that simple.
Jesus did not actually mention the word homosexuality in the Gospels, so it’s impossible to provide a direct quote from our Savior on the topic. When you look at the various verses where Paul addresses homosexuality, he almost always groups it under the umbrella of sexual immorality, which includes other sins like fornication and adultery. We do see an interesting interaction with Jesus concerning adultery.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” – John 8:3-11
It’s reasonable to believe that Jesus’ stance would have been the same had the adulterous woman been a homosexual man instead. What too many Christians do far too often is prioritize sins based on what they do or don’t do. Heterosexual Christians may not struggle with homosexuality, so it’s easy for straight people to try and condemn gay people, but Jesus didn’t do that. He got everyone involved to acknowledge that they were all sinners and that, as such, they had no right to condemn that woman.
The same is true for us today. We must be honest about what is right and what is wrong, and that includes with respect to the sins we commit too. The Christians that envy, lie, fornicate, slander, or commit any of the other sins that most of us do on a daily basis are no better than homosexual people. We don’t have any more right to condemn them than the Pharisees had to condemn the adulterous woman.
it’s not our job to judge those who are wrong. That is left to God. It’s our job to love, to pray, and to spread the Gospel. We are to bring people to Jesus, and, honestly, we’ve been failing when it comes to outreach to the LBGT community. It seems like all they ever see from us is hate. That’s not only unChristlike, it’s also counterproductive. Most of us aren’t committing mass murders of gay people, but we might as well be. If we’re not behaving in a way that will give them the chance to choose Jesus and the eternal life that comes with him, then we’re still playing a part in them being condemned to death. Yes, homosexuality is wrong according to God, but so is taking actions that push people away from Him.
