Conversing with LGBTQ People Part 2: Do Christians Hate LGBTQ People?

If you haven't already had a chance to, check out part 1. This was such a big topic, that I felt each post deserved its own section, but appreciating the whole is important.

Christianity preaches hate against LGBT

No Christianity preaches truth.

But not the world's truth.

Truth in the world is manipulated for purpose. We have seen this so many times throughout history, it would take too long to list them all. Contemporarily then, how many news stations are there around the world and yet seemingly, no two can agree on factual events? Should they not all be reporting the same story from the same angle? This would be truth.
Yet news stations are open about their bias, a news channel can be considered conservative for example. That any news station can be considered to sit somewhere along a political spectrum, should send alarm bells ringing.  This effectively signposting that you will struggle to find objectivity on that channel, yet people still watch and cling to what they see as truth. This truth that suits them.

It wasn't always acceptable to be openly homosexual for example, until all of sudden for no real reason at all, it was. "Get with the times they say", so truth is changed by time? Truth changed by time is no truth at all, truth changed by time is agenda. We can say this of all agendas, all are built upon apparent truths until, for no reason at all, they are not truths anymore; because they never were the truth to begin with.

What commonality is there? In the world then the truth is acceptable as truth, but only when it suits. Situational truth. Lying is not OK in the world, but white lies? Hiring lawyers to lie for you? No problem. Our hypocrisy so ingrained within our culture, that it manifests in our common sayings, I wonder if you are familiar with: "Do as I say, not as I do"....you get the idea.

The truth, that is the gospel, is God's truth.

God's truth is consistent, because He is consistent. He is the great I Am. The same yesterday, today and forever more.

That means God's truth can make you feel uncomfortable. Because we are inconsistent, and the consistent truth will force us to confront this inconsistency within us. Our situational truths.

This, however, is not hate. It is simply the truth. If you identify with the LGBT community or find yourself in any manner of sexual immorality, then to remove any ambiguity:

Yes, this is sin.

A Christian called upon to answer this question, should have no reservation explaining it as such, for this is the truth. God's truth.

If you are a member of this community then, this doesn't mean that God hates you. No God loves you! God doesn't like sin because it is not good for us, but you He loves.

Perhaps you are feeling convicted or rejected by this truth, but this should not be confused as hate, nor would I have any satisfaction in making you feel that way. The apostle Paul dealt with something similar:

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
II Corinthians 7:9‭-‬10 NKJV

It is written all had fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:1-26), you don't think being privy to that information, wouldn't have made all who heard/read that uncomfortable? Made them feel convicted? Of course it did, and still does!

God is eternally gracious and merciful, such that conviction doesn't mean condemnation. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Conviction from God is rooted in hope, that is Christ, that we know we can do better because of God's love for us, not feel hopeless. The Holy Spirit prompts us to be better, and we want to do better because sin is not good for us. God allows His truth to make us feel convicted that we may be saved.

So how the truth makes you feel, does not mean there is hate in the truth. God is love, and there is no hate in Him, so you know His truth is simply the truth.

So do not be afraid to speak God's truth, we're not called to be in conformity with the world, but in conformity and aligned to God's will.

But...

Change is Needed

Because clearly something has gone wrong that has led to the widely accepted narrative that Christians preach hate against LGBTQ people.

Read Romans 3:1-23 again, it said all had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I am a sinner too, so too are you who reads this. I too lived in sin, no different than a member of this community. I too am stumbling to walk the righteous path.

But I walk. And keep walking, keep changing, keep striving to be better. Knowing that He works all things for my good because I love Him. Knowing that even if I fall short of His glory, His mercy endures forever (Psalms 136). I walk in the hope that is Christ knowing I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).  If this is true for me so too is it for members of the LGBTQ community.

That should give us humility that we can give a gentle answer to turn away wrath, and avoid harsh words that stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). That doesn't mean do not speak the truth, it simply means remember that the greatest gift is love (1 Corinthians 13), and freely as you have received, freely shall you give (Matthew 10:8).

Part 3 coming soon!


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