Homosexuality: Judgment or Ministry?

For me, this story begins and ends with a funeral. Let me explain:

Jim (name changed) was the son of a successful businessman who never wanted to follow in dad’s footsteps. Looking to make a new and different life for himself, he moved to San Francisco. Shortly after becoming a minister, I received a call. Jim had Aids and was coming home to die!

Suddenly, homosexuality was no longer simply a theological issue. It was the tragedy of a young man who made a poor lifestyle choice and was now paying a horrible price.

Yes, the Bible is crystal-clear. Homosexuality is a sin. Marriage is intended to be a bond between a man and a woman that culminates in an emotional, spiritual and sexual union. Sexual relationships outside the marriage covenant, homosexual or otherwise are sins.

Yes, it is also true that science is discovering that homosexuality could be an inherited trait. In other words you could be born with a tendency to become homosexual. So, if God made some of us with homosexual desires: Is it okay to act upon them? It sounds like a valid argument.

No, it’s not! In truth, we are all born with inherited deficiencies commonly labeled sin. I call it simply being human. Since we all have character flaws our task is not to give in to our desires but rather to learn how to defeat them by relying exclusively upon God. Read this statement carefully. We all sin! Everyone!

We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us… Romans 3:22-25

In other words, we are all struggling sinners looking for grace from almighty God. If we can truly see ourselves that way… God will work miracles. We don’t have to be homosexuals to struggle against sin.

As the church, our task seems to be twofold: 1. Stand firm against the sin of homosexuality. 2. Help those who are homosexual discover God’s healing grace. We are not to judge or condemn in any way because we too are sinners looking for God’s grace and guidance.

Unfortunately, there is also a political agenda with homosexuality. One side is pushing for its acceptance as a lifestyle choice. Every major church denomination is regularly petitioned by a vocal minority to accept homosexuality as acceptable behavior. Recently, a minister made headlines performing a wedding ceremony between two homosexuals. His Bishop suspended him, a church trial could not find just cause to remove him but a later ruling by a higher denominational court finally supported the Bishop. In an area where the church should be clear, there is confusion.

Another side is pushing equally hard to condemn. Philip Yancey, a famous evangelical author visited a Gay rally not because he was gay but to support a friend. Philip watched a group of religious protestors waving signs and shouting slogans, even profanity. Isn’t there something wrong with this picture?

I spent five months learning to be a hospital chaplain. One of my assigned areas included the Aid’s ward; easily the quietest place in the entire hospital. No visitors were laughing or crying in the halls… just cold silence. Twice, I was called in the middle of the night to be with a dying patient in the ward. Both times, I was the only other person there. Where were their parents, their friends… their church?

Thankfully, this did not happen to Jim. A loving family and friends surrounded him to the very end. Jim became closer to God and read the entire Bible. He called me occasionally to ask questions and share his struggles.

Jim's funeral was packed with friends and relatives, gay and straight who all sat together to share their love and fond memories of a dear and precious friend. For me, it was an example of how the church should and could be. Offering loving ministry in the midst of a difficult issue accompanied by God's simply amazing and all-consuming grace.

There was a lot of response to this particular devotion. I responded by writing -- Letters and More!