Homosexual Christian?

[dannylirette]

Brethren, a man I dearly respect and consider a friend has written to me and just a few moments ago I opened it to read a confession: That he is a homosexual.

This man is a Pentecostal, very conservative, compassionate and merciful, though he was never one to tolerate false teaching or blatant sin.

He now tells me he can no longer deny his attraction to men, though he states he will remain celibate unless the "right man" comes along.

I have Open Air Preached at homosexual pride events and openly called homosexuals to turn to Jesus Christ for Salvation. I stood at a false church that was blessing homosexuality during a "service" and we held signs calling the "pastors" wolves. We stood and laid hands on a homosexual afterwards.

My views on this abominable wickedness are clear to this friend of mine so I'm a bit surprised that he even told me.

He asked that our friendship remain the same and of course it will as I want to reach out to him rather than reject him as it's clear that the devil has deceived this man.

He has had a propensity towards homosexuality all of his life and denied giving in to it (if I understand him correctly) (as he should have!) but since last January he says that he was directed by God towards God's Love for him in Christ.

How do I lovingly respond to him without closing the door to future conversations on this with him?

I love this guy and don't at all want to see him perish as he's now in a state of delusion.

[4him]

Hi Dan,

I have also had someone I know who considers himself to be a Christian, share with me in the past year, that he has always only been attracted to men. He also says that he has never acted on his desires, but this has only been in the thought life. With this guy, he has also had many of the life experiences that are common to homosexuals (Not that a homosexual lifestyle would ever be justified by previous life experiences). For instance, his dad abandonned him when he was young.

I will pray for this man for deliverance through Christ. Could you please pray for this guy I know, as well ? I have seen unforgiveness exact a heavy toll upon his life. Recently, he has taken to challenging his professors at university, in a way that I think is unbecoming a Christian, and is wanting to publish material in the Student newspaper which may be libelous. I am grieved by all of this and mostly want to see him experiencing true healing in Christ. (He has constantly been seeking for deliverance from demons, but I don't believe this is his greatest need).

In Jesus,
John

[Eli Brayley]

Dan,

I would ever make it clear to this man that one's standing in Christ does not depend upon their own works, obedience or righteousness, and that God justifies the ungodly, every kind of ungodly sinners, through faith in Christ alone. This must be absolutely clear.

I remember talking with a homosexual on campus once who tried arguing with me about homosexuality, that it was an acceptable lifestyle and not inconsistent with being a Christian. I made it very clear to him that it was sin. Upset, he expected me to say that he must stop being a homosexual for him to be saved. He said, "So do I have to stop being a homosexual to be saved?" I could tell that he had had this conversation before and was ready for a comeback to the typical "yes" answer many Christians would give him. To his obvious surprise, I said, "No, you don't have to." He was shocked. Then I immediately said, "But you'll want to." To this his mouth dropped open and he could not think of anything to say. At this point his excuses were dried up, because salvation was offered to him freely as a homosexual, something he had never heard before, and yet homosexuality was clearly denounced as sin. Christ had paid the full price for his wickedness and all he had to do was accept it by faith. But he could say nothing because the truth was he didn't want to give up his homosexuality. He did not want to call it sin. But if we refuse to own sin as sin we forfeit the blessed forgiveness of the cross, where Jesus died for our sins!

So this man needs to know that homosexuality is sin, but that all sin is forgiven by faith alone in Christ's finished work. If he is Christian, he should want to acknowledge it as sin and submit to the Father's discipline for sanctification. God deals with the sins of His children, and we are disciplined as sons. Our sins do not have to be put away for us to become children of God, but because we are the children of God our Father is actively at work in us, putting away our sins in love.

I am glad that I didn't have to stop my sins to be saved, but I am equally glad that now that I am saved my Father in heaven disciplines me as a son so that I may be a partaker in His holiness.

Teach these things to people, Dan.
Living in the grace of God,
-Eli