The Gospel to homosexuals Pt 2 “How to Should Christians View Homosexuals?” I have been in many church settings where a speaker lashes out against the media. “The media is prejudiced, intolerant, biased against Christian Conservatives” they say. “They say we’re intolerant, but they are the ones who are intolerant…… of us” they continue. While there is some truth to this (in my opinion- …. The opinions expressed in this blog should not be misconstrued with those of Sam, the Affiliates of this blog, and anyone else….oh wait, I am Sam, never mind) indictment-there is something to the “media’s”, and the general public’s, perception of Christians. We do come across very prejudice and bigoted. This past month I have received emails from no fewer than 3 people who name the name of Christ as their savior where the sender is taking a very prejudiced view against other people. In one case there was a very unChrist like disposition against Spanish-speaking people. Another was against “gay” (or queers as the email put it- WOW, what love?.... Sorry the sarcastic bug bit me again) people of the community. Before coming to trust Jesus Christ (not to mention my wicked heart that remains since coming to Christ….. “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Roms 7:24…Thank God for Romans 8:1!) I was utterly wicked. I was guilty of making offense against the whole law (James 2:10-“Whoever keeps the whole law, yet offends in one point is guilty of all”). I did not nothing good, wholesome, pure, righteous, God-honoring, faithful (Rms 3:10-18,23, Jeremiah 17:9, 1 Cor 10:31). Specifically I was a lusting, selfish, fornicating, occasional pot-head, drunkard (all to impress some other pot-heads, drunkards), juvenile sinner (I have no intentions of any self pomp here, I was a boring sinner, but I am guilty of all of this against my God. No one is going to make a movie of my pitiful wicked life before coming to Jesus.) I can’t imagine finding Christians attractive, full of light, if what Christians (Little Christ’) would have talked about my sin as if I was some sort of leper. If I walked into a church and heard some angry preacher yelling about drunks as if he was better than me, I would have first kicked his ass (at least in my mind) and then stormed out thinking- “What a bunch of self-righteous bigots”. So, how do we think drunkards, porn stars, strippers, homosexuals, prostitutes, drug addicts perceive Christians when we speak against them as if they are the enemy? That is the problem. So many Christians think that “flesh and blood” is the enemy (Ephesians 6:12). We act as if we are so far removed from our sin that we ought to judge the world for their sin. We have unashamedly judged the world for their wickedness while allowing the professing Christians in the church go on in all sorts of wickedness. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 says- “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge these inside? God will judge those outside (the church). ‘Expel the wicked man from among you”. (This should be done in love also, not in anger, but we’ll save that for another time). The bible says that we have no business in judging the world. Yet, that is the pastime of Christians these days. We think that holding a sign that reads “Leviticus 18” with a smile on our face is an act of love. (I am not saying Christians should never stand up for righteousness sake) You/we can’t say we have love for sinners/homosexuals when we laugh at jokes ridiculing them, look at them with disdain, avoid them like the pan-handler on the street, and never extend the love to them that we would a family member. Jesus said that we should not be inviting our brothers, sister, cousins over for dinner, but the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind (I take this to mean spiritually as much as physically. And as Christians we do look at certain sinners this way) Luke 14:12-14. I have rambled on some, let me close with a few scriptures that I believe help us in our understanding to view all sinners. 1) Matthew 5:4 “blessed is those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”. An outsider might think that Christians interpreted this as “Blessed are the pissed off, for they shall be vindicated in all of their agendas and control the Senate and the House” James 1:19-21 says “My dear brothers (pretty gracious) take note of this; every one should be quick to listen (WOW! LISTEN- WHAT’S THAT? ) and slow to speak (Are you kidding me, this is in the bible? YES IT IS-SORRY it’s not my fault, I have a touch of the “bug”…sarcastic that is) and SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW TO BECOME ANGRY. For man’s anger DOES NOT bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore get rid of all moral filth, and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” the com(CAN SAVE YOU, It hasn’t yet-at least not if we are angry and bigoted). Kingdom pupils are happy when they mourn, for they shall be comforted with assurance of salvation from their own wickedness and comfort of creation being restored at the final glorification of the sons and daughters of glory because of Jesus’ righteousness. 2) Acts 10 Peter has a vision where God tells him to eat “unclean” (by Old Covenant standard) animals. Peter says- “No, Lord, I have never eaten an unclean animal”. God corrects Peter and tells him not to call unclean what HE has cleansed. This happened three times (10:16). Peter has a knack for needing to hear things three times (John 21:15-21). Later on Peter preaches to the “unclean” Gentiles (who represent every sort of wickedness that we could do or think of) and interprets this vision and conversation with God by saying that the “unclean” thing that God has cleansed is Gentiles. Gentiles were to Peter (and the other Jewish converts to Christ Followers) what Homosexuals are to Conservative Christians in America today. God is saving Homosexuals from there wickedness of “forsaking the Fountain of living water to embrace broken cisterns created by their own hands, which hold no water”. - Here is the Kicker-for those of us who were “reconciled to God through Jesus Christ” we were all homosexuals to God (Js 2:10). We were/are certainly no better apart from Jesus Christ. We should view Homosexuals as PEOPLE who need Jesus Christ. We should view our brothers and sister in Christ who still struggle with same sex attraction and lust as our family members who need help in overcoming their sinfulness as they help us with our gossiping, lusting, adultery, fornicating, lying, hatred, bigotry, pride, filthy greed, stealing (especially from God), neglecting to tell and live the GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS CHRIST came to save sinners! Like Us. Like the Gentiles. Like the woman caught in Adultery. The woman at the well. The tax collector who climbed up the tree (that wee little man!). The Pharisee (Paul). The bigot (Peter). The Thief (on the cross next to Jesus). The Husband Pimp (Abraham). The John with his daughter in law (Judah). The liar (Jacob). The Coward and bigot (Jonah). THE WORST SINNER OF ALL- SAM. I am guilty of everything I am blogging against. I am worse. I have much hatred in my heart. God help me. GOD HELP ME! God, Your people are wicked (I am wicked). We need Your grace to continually remove the filth from our lives and hearts. We need You to help us live the Gospel. Preach the gospel. Love the gospel. We need the gospel to continually renew our minds (I especially need this Lord) and transform us to think beyond the realm of our own interests and agendas, but to think in terms of eternity. To think in terms of that which Transcends this world. Thank you for sending Your beautiful Son into our culture through the WORD ETERNAL so that we may know YOU! Proud in my sin, humbled by Jesus- S