What if I said that I struggle with homosexuality? Me, a Christian missionary traveling the world sharing the gospel in 11 countries, am struggling with homosexual feelings? How differently would I get treated here on The World Race and with my friends/family back home?
If I found the courage to be vulnerable & say out loud that I’ve been struggling with homosexuality, I know people reading this right now would instantly start judging me. Especially Christians
A few years ago, my gay friend invited me to go to the Pride Festival/Parade (gay festival) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was a little hesitant but I went anyway. The parade was so much fun, I was really enjoying it. When the parade was over I was walking to the fair grounds to go to the festival and there was a group of "Christians" with signs, yelling at a group of gay people. They were condemning them left and right, and it came to the point where it was starting to get physical. I was so angry that these Christians were treating them the way they were. It was heart breaking — the people that should know we are no one to be judging and condemning other people were the first ones to do so.
At the time, I was a new Christian still trying to figure out my faith and what I believed. Honestly, that turned me away from how I saw God. I now know not to rely on what people tell me about God, but back then i didn’t know. If I, as a Christian, didn’t know not to believe what people say, how can we expect people who don’t know Jesus Christ to not believe what CHRIST followers are telling them? People that are supposed to be an example of what loving like Jesus looks like.
I have been talking to some of my gay friends to see what their opinions are about church and Christianity. Here are just a couple comments I’ve gotten.
“Christians and churches have led me away from God to the point where I don’t even want to get to know who He really is…. When I came out [of the closet], my own mother belittled me because she was afraid I was going to hell…the church taught my mom arrogance and it hurt me to the point where I never accepted myself and I wanted to commit suicide.”
“I don’t like going to church. Its uncomfortable knowing people are judging you for who you are & who you like. When I hear someone say they are Christian, I already know they are going to judge me.”
“i dislike going to church because I feel, out of everyone in the church, I am the one people are looking at because I have short hair. What if I wasn’t gay and I just had short hair? Christians are supposed to be these righteous beings and welcome people into the church, yet they don’t.”
Why do we as Christians do that? Why is homosexuality such a huge issue? Yeah, I know it’s a sin. However, so is adultery, idolatry, stealing, lying, gossip, greed, gluttony and being prideful yet we don’t go around condemning and bashing people for lying or for having premarital sex.These are people just like you and I who struggle with sin. Proverbs 20:9 says “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart clean & without sin?’” Which reminds me of the saying, “Don’t point fingers unless yours are clean.” Nobody’s are clean therefore no one should be pointing fingers. As Jesus said in John 8, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone…”
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2
Just to be clear, no I’m not gay (mom stop freaking out). I praise The Lamb I don’t struggle with homosexuality because if you ask me, its probably one of the most difficult sins to be dealing with nowadays.
To all LGBT reading this, I just want to say that I am sorry what you have been through in the past, for what you are going through right now, and for what you will go through in the future. I ask that you have grace and forgive all people who will continue to judge you. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” that includes everyone, even Christians. We as Christians want you to know the Jesus we know and love. We don’t ever come close to being as graceful and cool as He is, but I want to let you know that Jesus died for you on the cross because he loves YOU so much. He wants to know YOU. He wants to be a part of YOUR life. God knows everything about you. But he doesn’t require that you change who you are to accept you. He wants to know you just as you are, and take you from there. Your only job is to accept Jesus in your life and seek His will for your life. . . He will take care of the rest.”
“My children make a pastime of judging one another—and themselves. But I am the only capable Judge, and I have acquitted you through My own blood. Your acquittal came at the price of my My unparalleled sacrifice. That is why I am highly offend when I hear My children judge one another or indulge in self-hatred.” –Jesus Calling
