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When it comes to being salt and light to those within the same sex attraction community, I think the Church, as a whole, has allowed the devil to define the rules of engagement. There is a militant side to the gay movement that threatens the fabric of society with its political and social agenda but there are those who struggle with same sex attraction that do not embrace that culture. For the most part the church seems to be reactionary in how it relates to, and bridges the gap to reach out to, them. In my book “Diary of a Witness” I recounted how, while working for a major airline, I had an encounter with a gay man who God used to change my heart and attitude toward those struggling with same sex attraction.
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The prophet Micah said “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
As God challenged my attitude toward this one I worked with, and changed my heart, the wall came down and relationship was established so I could speak into his life, with a real concern for him as a person. In fact, when he left the airline, he told me I was the only person there who had treated him with dignity and respect.
Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost and that is our calling, as well. I understand that some believers are called into the Political arena to serve. I feel we are called to serve the Lord in different ways, with different callings. My calling is not to be overtly, directly political because I am a pastor. I certainly can be involved politically by faithfully voting and praying for those in authority but one has to be careful because, when you are political, you draw lines in the sand and you tend to make enemies. Yet there are others who are compelled to be political. In the human body we have all sorts of organs and body parts with different functions. Each may not come into contact with the other but they work together for the good of the Body.
Often Christians will point a finger and say “God get them” instead of “God save them”. Hopefully we can balance out the political folks with the evangelistic or pastoral folks and all get on our knees and say, “God pour out your Spirit on those in the gay community and bring revival!”
| “Straight People” don’t go to heaven, Redeemed People do” |
Not long ago someone came to me and asked how they should minister to a love one whom they suspected was Gay. That is a really good question and, for that matter, how should we as Christians minister to anyone who says that they are Gay or Lesbian? One of the best things you can do is take the need off of them having to have a different sexuality. I like what Sy Rogers, a former gay man for many years that came to Christ and is now married, said. “Straight People” don’t go to heaven, Redeemed People do”. In other words, it is not your sex life that sends you to hell. People go to hell because they have not been reconciled to God through Christ and that is where we want to place our emphasis. |
2 Cor. 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
We have the joy of sharing the Good news of what God has done through Jesus Christ to reconcile all to Him who believes on His Son. I remember a testimony by the great evangelist Dwight L Moody who was approached by a woman who worked in an adult dance hall for men. She asked him, “If I come to Christ do I have to give up dancing?” He replied lady, “When you come Christ you can dance all you want to” She got saved in one of his meetings and then came up to him and said, “You were right, He took all the ‘want to out”! It was a changed heart, as a result of being Born Again that turned her life around. Sure, beyond the event of the new birth there can be a process of healing and the renewing of our minds but the Divine Seed planted began its work of establishing the Kingdom within. Jesus Saves.
So how do I respond or reach out to someone who says that they are gay? Personally I don’t think it’s my duty right off the top to tell the Gay or Lesbian what I personally think of their lifestyle. There is, of course, the concern for their salvation but that should be true of all people. Sy Rogers was asked the question “what if someone asks me ‘Do you think it is wrong to be Gay?’” The answer is “Why are you asking me for my opinion, it is God’s opinion that matters. And, if his opinion matters, why don’t you stop surrounding yourself with others who will tell you what you want to hear and start reading the Bible to find out what God says about it and ask God’s Spirit to guide you into truth.” You see, the truth is, if they really care to know, God will really care to show them. Do you remember Jesus replying to a man who asked a moral question in order to get the Lord to side with him? Jesus replied “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" Luke 12:14-15
What if they say, “Well God has made me gay or I was born this way”? Again, Sy Rogers suggests the way to approach this might be “Ok, for the sake of argument, let’s just say God allowed this. I understand you may have had these tendencies of same sex attraction for a long time and maybe even from birth. However, I bet you He does not want it to define and control you but to encourage you toward Him. He wouldn’t want it to be your lord and master; He wants to be your Lord and Master. I thought about that and realized that would be the same for me as a heterosexual. God would not want a strong attraction for those of the opposite sex to define or control me.”
| This way we don’t make the issue a point of antagonism and conflict but we can use it to encourage people to the real need, which is, reconciliation with God made possible through Christ. Then the Holy Spirit can do the heart change and begin leading them into the truth of their God given Identity and not the false identity the World or the devil has lied to them about. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin and to clean us up once we come to Christ, but you have to come to Christ in order for that to happen. Once someone gives their life to Jesus, whether they are constantly attracted to the same sex, or the opposite sex, or a sex addict, or drug addict, or any other addiction or form of sin; all of this is Idolatry and there has to be a heart change in order to change. You cannot make anyone get saved. We are to love people no matter what condition they come to us in and speak the truth to them, in love. I understand the concern for the life style and how it is wrong; however, we need to be ministers of reconciliation not condemnation. If someone is not ready to respond to Christ on God’s terms, then we must be patient and pray. |
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...we don’t make the issue a point of antagonism and conflict but we can use it to encourage people to the real need, which is, reconciliation with God made possible through Christ.
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Lately I have been meditating on Proverbs 22:11 “He who loves purity of heart, and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend.” I need the friendship of the King, Jesus, with me as I engage with the non-believer, for it is “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts. Zech 4:6
The Love of God, reaching out through us to those bound in sin, is key. Speaking the truth is important; however, speaking it in love is powerful. - Greg Daley
Posted on
Tue, June 12, 2012
by Greg Daley
filed under