LGBTQ: We Don’t Talk About That
So I was sitting watching TikTok and a homosexual comedian was complementing this handsome (fiiiine) interpreter. While I was watching I thought “so many Christians act offended when they see things like this” and my mind wandered to consider that it’s because of the idea of feeling what God feels. Then God planted a thought “Is God even offended?”. The more I thought on this the more I resonated with no. I believe God is more concerned with our healing, our transformation, even our knowledge more than he is offended the expressions of the LGBTQ+ or anyone else. Many of the things we shouldn’t do either have drastic spiritual consequences or are thoughts derived from the enemy, but it’s not because God is offended or angry, rather loving, assuring and helpful.
What about the God of the Old Testament? 1. While God hasn’t changed, the circumstances have changed. The Old Testament God was commanding man, in his own will, to live clean from their sinful nature. God himself said the heart of the man was wicked thinking of evil continually (Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9). If you move to the New Testament, the scripture states that man has no control and is controlled by the enemy outside of Christ, but Jesus (John 8:34; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 2:2).
2. Sin leads to death (Romans 6:23), this is true. But there is not an emphasis on certain people or expressions of sin. Pride leads to death, just as murder leads to death, just as lying leads to death, just as un forgiveness leads to death. Do you see the common thread. Yes, death. But underneath, where do all those ideas and actions come from? Do they come from God, no. They come from the enemy and they come from flesh (our own temptations (James 1:14). So as the Bible states, if you are to be lead by the enemy you are his (1 John 3:8) and if as a Christian you refuse to die to your flesh that will lead you to death as well (Romans 8:13). So while your sin leads you to death, it is also because of your ownership and because of your choice as a saint do disobey and follow another leader than God. While you were bought for a price, the gift of salvation has to be received and maintained (Philippians 2:!2).
3. Covenant. The people of the Old Testament created covenant with God. They then went back and forth on their word based on their comforts and options for comparison at the time. In the New Testament, God says be hot or cold not luke warm (Revelation 3:15-16). but no where in the word do I see a pass given to condemn to look down on others. Rather, Jesus confirmed that he did not come to condemn (John 3:17) and he came against the Pharisees that looked down on others (Luke 7:39). Back then there were more Jews than Pharisees, today there are more Pharisees than saints (No wonder the world is confused).
4. “We have to stop expecting the world not to act like the world.”, as my pastor says. Christians live from grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) and from the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Cor. 6:19), the world does not. So why do we expect the world to act saved, without the Holy Spirit and when the “Christians” of the world have a hard time living like God themselves?
Even today, it’s hard for people to understand Christians who believe God is against homosexuality yet they have homosexual friends or can be around others who don’t believe as they do. Either it’s those who feel like the life choice can rub off or it’s those who feel your holiness shouldn’t allow you to be comfortable around it. However, both thoughts are unbiblical, and convienently allow us to forget our past and present sins while focusing on others. The first, establishes sin as transferable and the second, completely goes against the life and walk of Jesus. For instance, majority of the disciples were not “saved” when Jesus met them. Rather they were transformed through knowledge, relationship and the individual choice to believe. Yet, in the process Jesus chose them. He was there with them, not just popping in and out. Don’t believe me yet, Simon Peter was still cutting off ears after years with Christ…you see that today and you definitely would reconsider if you thought they were saved or not.
I heard this from a Pastor, (paraphrase) sin opens doors and you don’t get to choose what spirits walk in, any more than you can choose its expression. So the same sin nature you had to be delivered from, though different, doesn’t make you better because of what society deems as acceptable and not. So if you can comfortably sit around your cousin, and boss and pastor (👀) you should have no problem around your homosexual Godly image bearer (Because they are still that).
The way we see people directly impacts the influence we can make on people. Moreso, it reveals the content of your heart (Matthew 12:34; Proverbs 23:7). God does not bring shame and condemnation (2 Cor. 7:10) so if your “offense” does, in relation to those with a different sin expression than you, there may be more to worry about than them. That may be the block in your eye, vs the speck in theirs (Matthew 7:3-5).
I can hear you now, “that’s more than a speck”, I’m sure God would say the same about your pride or maybe your need for control, or maybe your idolization of self that makes you believe you’re right compared to everyone else in the room. Whether you’re homosexual or not, we are all fallen creatures that Jesus justified so we can get back up (Romans 5:9, 4:25; Galatians 2:16). We are all brothers and sisters and if we don’t get a handle on how to love (1 Cor. 13:1-3; 1 John 4:8,20; 1 John 3:15) we will be condemning people all the way to hell, wondering why God doesn’t know us (Matthew 7:23).
Maybe today, consider how you see people. Consider the lenses in the glasses you are wearing. Is your sight distorted? Can you see the worst person you know as in the image or God and worthy of everything good and perfect gift of God (James 1:7)? If you can’t, it’s time for a new prescription. It’s time to humble yourself and seek the Lord and pray (2 Chron. 7:14). It’s time for God not only to heal, but to make you whole (1 Thess. 5:23). Because they aren’t the problem….you are.
