There is no subject that causes great emotion in people's lives or in the church with Christian than homosexuality. I have been shocked by both the silence and absence of teaching and equipping from the church as well as the out of control angry rancor that comes from some in the evangelical community. One of the reasons that Christians have a hard time with the subject is that they have failed to fully understand the way that the gay person thinks and what they use as a defence for their position on the subject. This past week i preached a message on "What to Say to a Gay Friend." There are two very important facts - one - the Christian community has had little impact on the gay community. What I mean is that we have not seen spiritual impact and conversional life change occuring through the gay community. The second fact is that IF we are going to impact them we have to know how to dialogue with a gay person on the issue and at least know how to address the main points of their agurment. What we must do is be able to answer them we have to look at five myths that they hold in their mind.....
Myth One: I was born this way. Even a church member wrote me this week on this issue, questioning my point in the message. But the fact are the facts. THERE IS NO GAY GENE. Never has been; no evidence; no proof and the only proof was manufactiured, politically motivate false research in 1994 and all of it has been discredited. There is no medical research that would point to being born gay.
Myth Two: The Bible may condemn lustful, indiscriminate homosexual behavior, but not loving, committed homosexual relationships. NOT TRUE -- sexual relationship is clearly limited to one man and one woman in the contexct of marriage. Homosexuals try to divide the issue and justify it with saying that if our sexual orietation is conducted in a loving realm. If that is the case, then we could justify any immoral behavior as long it was "done in love."
Myth Three: Once a homosexual, always a homosexual. Any person can change -- but you have to start with admitting that what you do or are doing is sinful behavior and allow the life changing power of the gospel to do its work.
Myth Four: If you don’t approve my behavior or my partner, then you don’t accept me. This is probably the most enmotional. When a family member or friend who is gay wants you and the rest of its family to accept their homosexuality and their partner becuase once you juxaposition your love for them with your acceptance of their behavior then they feel good! You must separate the two issues -- I love you and accept you -- but I will never accept the fact that you are involved with an on-going destructive sin.
Myth Five: All Christians are homophobic and could never accept me if they knew I struggle with homosexual feelings, fantasies or practices. It is true that there are nasty, unloving and unintellectual Christians who have tried to apply the Christian ethic to unregenerate people -- that is unfair and unkind! But I usually ask this question -- isn't it true that there are aberriant, deviate homosexuals out there who have done some unseemly things? The answer is yes -- so lets make a deal -- you don't lump me in the mix with the unkind, unfair Christians and I will not lump you into the unsavory gays that are out there!
I do know that until we as Christians learn how to dialogue with a gay friend in a loving and intellectual way -- we will never impact them spiritually!