God Loves Gays

MEMORY VERSE: John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

QUOTE: Billy Graham was asked what he would do if he had a son who was gay and he said, “I would love him all the more”.

We see clearly in our memory verse for today how we should love people…

We also see in 1 John 4 where love comes from… and it tells us how our relationship is affected if we DO NOT LOVE.

1 John 4:7-9 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. …..”

Q: How has God loved us?

A: Unconditionally! There are no conditions on His love… well you must be nice, then I’ll love you, you must be heterosexual, then I’ll love you… no… God is LOVE!

Equal Salvation Opportunity (ESO)

Olathe Life Fellowship is an equal opportunity church that exists to offer the hope of salvation to all persons seeking truth, without regard to race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other spiritually irrelevant criteria.

INTRODUCTION: First I must address a question that I was asked after I announced the title to this message that actually would have been funny if it wasn’t so sad really… someone said, “We’re not going to be a gay church are we?”

I am sorry I am not even sure what a “gay church” is actually, or how to become one? I mentioned this to some of my gay friends when I interviewed them for this message and they laughed and said, and I quote: “I sure hope not – gay churches are a little weird!”

And let me be clear here and say that this sermon is not a political sermon! The only agenda I have is to help foster in our community an unconditional love for all people.

We are a community of Christ followers, full of all kinds of people - period! We are a people-church; we are ultimately a Jesus Church!

We are a church for humans beings… straight, gay, red, yellow, black white, poor, rich, tall, short, thin, heavyset, blonde, brunette, … shoot my sister’s hair was pink a few weeks back... We do not care who you are or what you look like – you are welcome here!

I am sure no one in this room would be ignorant enough to say God only loves heterosexual, republican voting, speed limit abiding, suit wearing, American brand buying, non-drinkers!

Can I hear an amen or an oh-me somebody? (laugh)

This talk is about God’s Love for everyone… and to remind us that we have not been given the job of judge! That’s God’s job!

 If you came here today to hear me bash Homosexuals for 30 minutes you will be disappointed in today’s talk!

 If you came here today to hear me encourage, or promote the homosexual lifestyle you will also be disappointed!

Because I truly believe some of you want me to either say “Homosexuality is a sin or that Homosexuality not a sin” to only validate your own opinion on the subject that matches your religious upbringing … basically to justify what you already believe/ or were taught or think you know.

I would guess that very few of you have no opinion on the subject.

I think it is a true sign of maturity when people can be together and yet have differences… and still be friends!

 Unity not conformity!

Any church that feels everyone must believe the same thing is a CULT, in my opinion! Any church that feels “they alone have the TRUTH” is in serious error as well.

Even after 100 hours of study I do not have all the answers today on the subject of homosexuality… I definitely do not have all the answers on the subject of love either… I am still trying to “love my enemies” as Jesus has commanded us to do!

So, again I did not come here today to spend a lot of time on the subject of homosexuality itself… rather I want to challenge us all to be people of love!

But I will say this… listen with both ears and listen to the whole message in context and I think you will be blessed and challenged and you will grow in your relationship with Christ.

What upsets me about the Christian community for the most part is that we obtusely elevate Homosexuality as a sin greater then others… forgetting to mention that so is greed, envy, gluttony, heterosexual lust, hate, adultery (which Jesus said we commit when lusting after someone we are not married to, this would include looking at pornography)…