To all of those who belong to the LGBTQ+ Community,
I owe all of you an apology.
I owe you an apology because the church, which is the Body of Christ, which I belong to, has not done its job in giving you a clear message.
I ask for your forgiveness that some of the people who are within the visible church have not told you the truth concerning Christianity. We have taught people to pursue their purpose and their "dream destiny" is what God wants them to do. We have instructed people that God wants Christians to be rich, have better sex, or have great well-behaved children. We have turned Christianity into an exercise of morality. A series of “do these things” and “Don’t do these things” in order to be righteous and loved before God.
Simply put, we have not told you the proper distinction between what to do and what to believe. I have to admit, some of us have given you law and with it, condemnation, which has led many to despair. Or perhaps we have communicated a false understanding of the gospel, with a false understanding of the law, which has led to flat-out rebellion against God’s word. We, as the body of Christ, have not told you clearly what the word of God says. So let me clarify these things that have not been clear.
First, homosexuality is a sin, and those who identify with this conduct have earned the wrath of God. However, I desire to entertain a hypothetical argument: Suppose that homosexuality was not a sin. LGBTQ+ community, let me ask you a series of questions:
Have you ever lied?
Have you ever disrespected your parents?
Have you ever stolen (doesn't matter the object or amount)?
Have you ever been jealous of someone else’s personal possessions?
Have you ever cheated someone out of something you wanted?
Have you ever been intoxicated?
Have you ever blown up at someone?
Have you ever caused trouble or hostility between two or more people?
If you have said yes to any one (or all) of these things, you have committed sins against God and you still are not righteous before God! Even if homosexuality was not a sin, you have 8 other sins (and more I have not mentioned for the sake of brevity) that you have committed. One of the many places in Sacred Scripture where this is found in Galatians which says
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-20 NASB).
In this list, there is more than just homosexuality listed (this is implied in the word “immorality”). So even if homosexuality (or in this case “immorality”) was not a sinful act before God, you still do not qualify for righteousness in the sight of God, because, in your thoughts, words, and actions, you have been hostile towards God, and hostile towards your neighbor due to your sinful nature. Therefore you are still found guilty and deserve eternal damnation. But you know what LGBTQ+ community, I was guilty also.
I was condemned too. I have been intoxicated, and envious, and have caused hostility between people. I have been involved in witchcraft in the past, and have disrespected my parents (even as a young boy). This has earned me the wrath of God as well. I was a sinner in the sight of God. I was found guilty by the means of my conscience, just like you. I have earned eternal separation from God for all my sins, just like you. This is why Romans 3:22b-23 is so important:
…for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (NASB).
All of us are held accountable to God, and there are no excuses for any of us. Due to our thoughts, words, and deeds, we all have fallen, and continue, to fall short of God’s glory.
Yet there is good news! Even though we all deserve eternal separation from God, we have been given a full and complete pardon by the death of Christ. God has displayed His love for us by sending Christ to take on our sins and the wrath that we deserved for our sins, on Himself. This is what Paul was had wrote in his letter to the Romans:
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:6-8 NASB)
Yes, homosexuality is a sin. However, it is one of many sins that Christ died for. Just like lying, cheating, disrespecting parents, strife, intoxication, etc. All of these are sins that Christ on the cross has died for and has won reconciliation and salvation for you, and me. The peace, comfort, and forgiveness of all your sins (past, present, and future). The thing that God desires that you do is believe that God has done this for you, as Jesus said
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16 NASB).
It is through the blood of Christ that you and I have been reconciled to God, if you receive His gift for you. It is through the cross of Christ that you and I have been made white as snow, and it is by the blood of Christ and His forgiveness that you are not to identify yourself by your sexuality, because you are made new in His sight. For if you are convinced that Christ is your Savior, then you are now identified, not as a homosexual, but as a saint-a holy one of God. You are a new creation indwelt with the Holy Spirit. You are now an expression of God’s mercy and grace, given to you and me.
Once more I ask for your forgiveness LGBTQ+ Community. The church has been off-topic and has taught religious morality and little to no gospel. This resulted in confusion and distrust in the church. I would also admit some of the churches have not been as gracious and merciful, and some of us have not spoken out against injustices committed against you. We should have spoken out. Not because you are homosexual, but because you are human beings, created by God, in the image of God who need the forgiveness of sins in Jesus's name.
However, I also apologize for those in the church who have turned a blind eye and have accepted this particular sin, watering down God’s truth because they do not want to offend anyone, yet preaching against all other sins and calling them out plainly for what they are. This does not help you either, because one may walk around as if there is nothing to receive forgiveness for. This is what God’s word says, and it must be proclaimed as a sin, but we must be respectful and plead that you believe in what God has done for you, not insult and berate you to the Messiah. This did not work with me, and I am sure will not persuade you. You, like me, are human beings who need the grace and reconciliation of God.
I end this blog with a personal testimony from Paul in his letter to Timothy, which sums this up best. He wrote:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life (1 Timothy 1:12-16 NASB).
Until next time…
Soli Deo Gloria!
L.S.