IT IS DEPLORABLE how some Christians can cause more harm than good, hinder rather than help in their ‘witness’ to the world, particularly when it comes to dealing with homosexuals. Homosexuality is an abomination, but if as Christians we are going to single out homosexual behaviour as being the most offensive and distasteful, we are way off from a Biblical perspective. Adultery and fornication are just as bad; it all comes under the umbrella of sexual immorality. Many say that homosexuals will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Well, neither will liars or those who are lovers of themselves (over and above loving God). The problem is that we self-righteously degree sin.

God does not single out homosexual behaviour. It wasn’t just because of men having sexual relations with other men that had Sodom and Gomorrah annihilated; it was much deeper than that. It was the condition of their hearts that had no regard for God whatsoever that in turn made them susceptible to every form of depravity. Such people were given over to a debased mind (and do we not see a strong resemblance occurring today?), the kind that Paul describes in Romans 1:21-32.

It is interesting to note how some immature believers will reference their justification, in despising those who are gay, to Scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, but at the beginning of the list (besides reading that “nor men who practice homosexuality [will enter the kingdom of heaven]” at the latter part of verse 9) Paul states “…that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God…” It is all-inclusive of every form of conduct that is displeasing to God. If we take a look at another list in Proverbs 6:16-19, we see God’s perspective from another angle: “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies and one who sows discord among brothers.” Why is not homosexuality mentioned in that list? This is not to downplay the depravity of homosexuality at all; all sin is depravity in God’s eyes and the sooner some wake up to the fact the better.

So many today in the evangelical church are just like the mob who were a breath away from stoning the adulterous woman, while being obnoxiously blind to their own sin (John 8:1-11). How many are so quick to condemn outward immorality (in the world) while many in the Church are riddled with all kinds of spiritual diseases such as pride, conceit, wilfulness, self-centredness, narcissism, bitterness, jealousy, greed and unbelief. With all persuasion, I am convinced that the very reason why our country is in the state that it is in is because the Church has failed. We can blame our governments (don’t misunderstand me, a lot of what our government does is disgracefully wrong and it is a wonder as to how they are still in power) from sunrise to sunset but that will make no bit of difference. Society is a reflection of the Church, no matter how many say that the Church of Jesus Christ is doing ‘just fine’.

Refusing to celebrate gay couples and marriages is one thing, but refusing to be served by a gay at a restaurant is another (for that matter one may as well inquire and avoid buying clothing that could well have been made or sold by gay distributors; one may as well refuse to travel on public transport because the driver or a regular passenger on board is homosexual; one may as well refuse to shop at a particular supermarket because a gay works on a checkout or stocks items. Of course it sounds ludicrous, but it makes the point). Why then not refuse the service of someone who is sleeping with the opposite sex outside of marriage? The reason why is because it is not as shocking these days (as it used to be) as to people being attracted (and sexually involved) to the same sex. Both are just as grieving in God’s sight, but few perceive it that way; and how we see that is the way in which we react to given situations.

I personally have worked with gays, some of whom were very pleasant to work with and I will go even further – I preferred working with them, to some other staff members that were heterosexual, because they were hard workers and conscientious employees; they were organised, efficient, and reliable. As a result, you were always guaranteed a smooth running shift and if any problems were to occur they were dealt with promptly. They never imposed their sexual orientation on other employees; they worked professionally. Now, there are many Christians that would strongly object to working in such an environment, but that is clearly a wrong Biblical perspective. The apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 in context of sexual immorality in the Church: “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy or the swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother [believer in the faith] if he [she] is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler – not to even eat with such a one.” We are not called to be monks or nuns and seclude ourselves from society (of course, we are to be wise as to what leisurely company we choose). Christ prayed that we would not be taken out of the world but rather kept in it; preserved and undefiled (John 17:15-18). It was the religious leaders that judged Christ for associating with immoral people, but amazingly, it was such immoral people that were susceptible to the gospel than those who were self-righteous and felt no need of the grace and mercy of God. Even though Christ was clearly not of the world, He was in the very midst of humanity with all its depravity, while remaining spotlessly perfect; He is the Physician that calls the sick to be healed by the power of His grace – and that is the essence of the gospel; that is the Good News that all of humanity is in desperate need of whether or not it acknowledges such truth.

None of us should go out of our way to condemn homosexuals (some Christians, who seriously lack God’s wisdom, have caused unnecessary tension and in turn brought disrepute to the gospel of Jesus Christ by pre-planning and attending LGBT events to stir up trouble from the sideline), but we certainly should never condone or endorse their sexual orientation. If I were asked as to what I think of such behaviour then I would answer honestly from a Biblical standpoint, but I wouldn’t single it out as being the ‘abominable’ sin. We are not to preach that people turn from this sin or that sin per se (this is not implying that homosexuality – as with every other sin – should not be called for what it is or that Christians should bow down to multiculturalism or political-correctness; the Bible is emphatically clear as to what it really is and we ought to be uncompromising in our stand); what people need saving from is not so much sins in and of themselves but our nature that is inherently sinful; it is beyond certain acts; it goes beyond the symptoms – what is the root cause? It is our disposition (as unregenerate people) of unrighteousness that taints and ruins every ‘best’ motive in our lives; what we regard as good is nothing but filth in God’s eyes. This is where all of us have fallen short of the glory of God no matter how moral and upright we may feel about ourselves; it is God’s verdict that stands.

I believe one of the most shameful things many of us will encounter at the judgement seat of Christ is that so many of us, as believers, have misrepresented Him before a lost world. We can all state in our creeds Who we believe Christ to be, but are we His ambassadors to where others are drawn to Him, not repelled by a fleshly zeal (that many equate to being Spirit-led) that manifests itself in an aggressive, self-righteous and arrogant way? Are we ‘epistles of Christ read of all men’?