Why are Christians so homophobic? I get asked that ...a lot. We cannot deny that there are some groups, who under the Christian umbrella, portray the perception that Christians hate homosexuals. It is true that Scripture does not condone homosexual relationships. There is simply no way around this. Until recently, I had never really encountered many homosexuals on a regular basis and the ones i knew, i knew from a distance. All of this changed. I was a bit surprised at how much I have encountered the homosexual issue in the emergent culture. I have never had very good Gaydar. Initially I just presumed that these guys were metro or emo. I mean its hard to tell when the latest fad is for hetero guys to wear women’s jeans. However, very quickly I began to regularly encounter males and females, who, with complete sincerity would say something like: “I’ve felt this way since I was seven.” “I wish I wasn’t like this.” “Why am I like this?” “Does this mean that I am going to have to live alone for the rest of my life?” “Can God change me?” “Can you be a Christian and gay?”
I went to seminary...i know the official party line answer to all of the above...but these... are real people. Somehow id been conditioned to think of them as the enemy and now here are people saying to me..."i wish i wasnt like this...but i am." It didnt compute w/my perceptions...Several had grown up in “normal Christian homes”. That is, they had a masculine father, were good in basketball, skateboard etc. It didn’t compute with most of my perceptions. Some did. Nevertheless, like you, I know the official answer to this question. In addition to coming to my church, some were even coming to my Bible study.
So, what did you say? (I can hear you screaming). How did you answer their questions? I’m sure that someone like James Dobson and Dave Walther (of SBC) have much better counsel on this but i was too busy to research it. Seriously. And so I figured that until I could figure it out, all I could do was love them. Befriend them even. I believe that they could sense that I was uncomfortable too, but they knew that I was real. So, what did you do? I befriended them. Welcomed them and said something like, “Yes, if you become a follower of Jesus He will indeed ask you to give up some things. But, I can tell you that even if you don’t understand it, the things that He will ask you to give up are things that will ultimately lead to your demise. He truly cares for you. I don’t deny that you have these feelings, attractions, and desires, but I do know that sex was God’s idea and that as designed by Him is exclusively for a man and wife. i know He loves you and wants what's best for you. thats all i really know."
In my very first year as a Christian I came across a really transforming verse in Luke 5. I really it like because it illustrates the blessing of just obeying Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense. The disciples had been fishing all night. They were experts at this and several knew how to make a living doing it. But in Luke 5, Jesus, a carpenter, gives them some fishing instructions. This is one case where I prefer the old KJV translation. Luke 5:5 “An Simon answering said unto him, ‘Master we have toiled all night and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net.” It is the only translation that uses the word “nevertheless.” When I first read that verse I felt convicted to say “Lord, I want to be a nevertheless Christian. I don’t understand why I cant have sex with my girlfriend. i love her. It doesn’t make sense to me, but nevertheless, I will do as you say.”
I feel that this is some of the best counsel that I can give. I don’t know what you’re dealing with I but I hope that you will obey and trust Jesus … nevertheless.
