Question:  Dear Greg,

            I am attending a local United Methodist Church.  One of the issues confronting the church is the “same sex marriage” and homosexuality.  I believe the Bible to be God’s inspired Word and absolute.  I have found it rather difficult to talk to some people about the issues who do not have strong convictions about the absolute truthfulness of God’s Word.

            Do you have any recommendations as to how I may discuss these sensitive issues from the “non-Biblical” standpoint to point out the seriousness of the matter?  Sometimes I get the feeling people take me as a “Christian fundamentalist and discount my opinion.  I am truly concerned about the degradation of the moral values in the U.S.  Thank you.

            God bless,

            Tak Okabe

Answer:  Dear Tak,

            One of the many difficulties with this topic is not what the Bible says, but rather that some Christians have unwittingly allowed Christianity in general to be painted with the broad brush of intolerance and hatred.  And as we see what some Christians have historically said and done, we must be honest and agree.  But, on the other hand, the fact that Christians are imperfect and have said and done unbiblical and UN-Christian things does not discount, minimize or devalue the Bible or the gospel.

            The Bible is clear – practicing homosexuals are not behaving like Christians, any more than practicing thieves or murderers.  The Bible is also clear – there is no “order” or “rank” of sins and sinners that places homosexuals and homosexuality as most “despised” or “corrupt” of all humans.  We are all sinners – we simply differ in the way that our sins are expressed.  No one of us is better than another in our flesh or because of what we may do or not do – it is only Christ in us who can forgive, justify, and make us righteous.

            The Bible is also clear – all those who accept Christ are new men and women of God – that includes those who were practicing homosexuals, and by way of example, alcoholics, chemical addicts, etc.  I use this comparison because another facet of this topic is the fact that some homosexuals claim that they were born that way and cannot change.  Without debating that issue, we can simply say that Christians may in fact be recovering addicts – but they are not by definition, practicing addicts.  Perhaps, if they were alcoholics, they can never touch a drop of alcohol, or even be around those who drink – for they have a weakness.  Christians who are forgiven do not seek to engage in behavior which Christ has forgiven.  It is possible therefore, if someone believes that they were born homosexual, to be a Christian – but that someone will be, according to the Bible, a celibate homosexual.

            There is no reason that Christians cannot insist upon the fact that homosexuality as a lifestyle is wrong, without exhibiting behavior and attitudes that are condemnatory and judgmental.  This is one of the failings of Christians that has allowed this issue to gain so much of a foothold in Christianity.

            Hope this helps.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht