I understand that the following commentary will be controversial to many. I also understand that if you only read the first paragraph or two it will probably anger, confuse, or insult you. All ask is that if you start reading it, you finish it. It was written as a whole and should be read as such. To pick it apart based on a single paragraph is to do an injustice. That being said, I stand by what I have written.
There has been a recent resurgence of posts denouncing the Christian stance toward the gay community. One of the more notable ones proclaims that we as Christians tend to decide who we will be Christians toward. I find this reprehensible and, unfortunately true in many cases. The problem isn't that we are hateful and mean, it's that we tend to confuse the sin with the person. You see, we are directed to try to be like God. To hate the things he hates and love what he loves. God loves all people and wants all people to come to him. God also hates all sin. So how do we reconcile the difference between sin and people? The simple answer is, we don't. We have to leave that up to God.
That doesn't mean that we have to accept sin. The bible is very clear on how to react toward unrepentant sinners. We are to love them and care for them, but at the same time, we are to direct them in his ways. If they become hostile to us, we are to leave them be as they have hardened their hearts and have rejected God's love and forgiveness.
That being said, where do we stand on the gay community? With the above in place we have to separate ourselves from the gay community as they tend to revel in their sin. Let's not kid ourselves, the bible clearly states that gay sex is a sin (read Romans 1:26-32). This doesn't mean that we should spew hateful messages about God's wrath or not minister to them in hopes that they will come to God, it means that we should not do anything that would indicate we support their sin just as we should not protect someone who stole our car. Both are sins and to condone either is a sin in and of itself.
If I were to offer one piece of advice it would be this, treat all people with love and respect at all times. This includes those we see as living in sin. This includes those who hate us. This includes those that "rub us the wrong way." It isn't easy and never will be. We have to share our testimony and show them that Christians aren't hateful bigots. We have be clear in how we treat others what it means to love the sinner but hate the sin.
Too many Christians forget this and see the sinner as the sin. The bible is also clear on that. When you decide the sin and the sinner are inseparable, you act as their judge. Romans 2 states, "1 Therefore, anyone of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. 2 We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. 3 Do you really think-anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same-that you will escape God's judgment? " The thing to remember is that, to God, all sin is the same, disobedience to him. Reading the bible has taught me that, to God, lying and murder are both sins and deserve the same punishment, death and separation from God. So if murder and lying receive the same punishment so do any other sin such as theft or homosexuality. Degrees of sin is a human concept. When you judge another on their sins, you place yourself above them as though you have no sin. I don't know anyone who hasn't sinned. Even my pastor admits that he has sinned. The difference is, whether you confess it or not.
I could continue on and on, but the reality is this, either you believe or you don't. Either you accept what I have written or you don't and continuing on will add nothing else. As always I welcome comments and debate as long as it is respectful and not hate filled. If I offended you, I can't help that, I meant what I wrote.
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