Does God Hate Gays
June 12, 2011
INTRODUCTION
This last week on Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow weighed in on the homosexuality debate.
"A few months ago, in the heat of the tragic teen suicides that came about from intolerance of homosexuality, I saw a man on television who was apologizing for wishing death on gays from his facebook page. This member of an Arkansas school board was contrite for the violence in his words, but maintained that his values pertaining to homosexuality would remain, as he felt homosexuality was condemned in the bible. This concept, while foreign to me, is interesting, as it used to justify so much judgment and separation in our society. When my daughter came home from school one day saying that a classmate had two mommies, my response was, "Two mommies? How lucky is she?!"
What does it actually say in the bible that will cause some people to be upset by my line of thinking?
Happy pride.
Love,
gp
Gwyneth, who practices Kabbalah, follows with writings from several religious thinkers who thoughtfully denounce the use of the Bible to condemn gays. She also allows discriminatory remarks from a conservative Christian because she wanted to "include as many perspectives as possible."
What the "Christian man posted on Facebook."
"Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves. The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE."
"No because being a fag doesn't give you the right to ruin the rest of our lives. If you get easily offended by being called a fag then dont tell anyone you are a fag. Keep that shit to yourself. I dont care how people decide to live their lives. They dont bother me if they keep it to thereselves. It pisses me off though that we make a special purple fag day for them. I like that fags cant procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other aids and die. If you arent against it, you might as well be for it."
"I would disown my kids they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity. I will absolutely run them off. Of course my kids will know better. My kids will have solid christian beliefs. See it infects everyone."
Confronted with the cry for the universal tolerance of Gay lifestyles, followers of Jesus must be willing to enter the debate, with gentleness and respect, demonstrating what true tolerance looks like.
I. Concessions and Assertions
A. Concession #1:
We will disagree on this. Yes the bible condemns many acts, choices and lifestyles. Homosexuality is one of those lifestyles. I can't validate a gay lifestyle any more than I can validate theft, extramarital affairs, cheating on a spouse, cheating on taxes.
B. Concession #2:
Homosexuality has been the target of vicious intolerance and hate crimes.
C. Concession #3:
Some who have claimed the name of Christ have likely shamed the cause of Christ the church and genuine followers of Jesus,
D. Concession #4
AIDS has been tragic. And it has lead to much pain suffering and loss.
E. Assertion #1:
God is love and that he is holy and though he always loves us there are many issues with which we can give him offense.
F. Assertion #2
That it is possible to genuinely love someone and be offended by their actions.
II. Make the debate about God.
I can't validate your lifestyle, but I think I understand some things about what a life with God looks like. I'd love to discuss that with you.
III. Affirm God's norm.
Gen 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
A. Jesus affirmed the position
"Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied. "They record that from the beginning 'God made them male and female.' And he said, 'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.' Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together." "Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?" they asked. Jesus replied, "Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended." (Matt. 19:4-8)
Note one person from each of the genders.
B. Paul affirmed the same position.
"A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." . . . So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Eph. 5:31, 33)
Note one person from each of the genders.
C. This is a tripping point for all of us.
Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! And don't you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, "The two are united into one." But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Cor. 6:15-20)
Our choices in fulfilling our sexuality impact our lives.
Sexual issues can keep us from a fulfilling life with God.
IV. Affirm God's Response
A. Champion his love.
"We can't even begin to comprehend the breadth and depth of God's love toward every person on this planet--including gay men and women."
B. Extend Grace.
John 8:2ff
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 "No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
C. Expect the relationship to have an impact.
"Go now and leave your life of sin."
Jesus left it in the hands of the woman. He expected that the relationship would change her. Paul understood this. New Creations
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Tips for talking:
1. Recognize that your own purity issues are significant in this debate. Why should a homosexual strive for purity if a heterosexual doesn't.
2. Model Jesus. It was this pattern that led them to eventually put a label on Jesus intended to be the ultimate put-down: "He's a friend of sinners," they muttered maliciously. Become a genuine friend.
