LGBTQ Issues

I was watching an CBN report with Richard Ellis, Pastor of Reunion Church in Dallas, and the reporter asked how we should respond to the LGBTQ community. He lovingly replied that some feel as if they were born that way; to which, he doesn’t refute. He said he agrees but offers a second option. He tells them that even though they were born that way, they can also be born again. When he said that, it reminded me of John 3:4-6 when Nicodemus told Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ Though Nicodemus wasn’t struggling with his sexual identity, the same principle applies, in that although their flesh is LGBTQ, their spirit can still be born again.

Time and Space to Change

What Mr. Ellis was letting us know, is that instead of condemning, judging, and telling them they’re going to hell, we should just tell them about the new birth. When he said that, something clicked. I thought, even though they are LGBTQ, they, like me, who was a very promiscuous heterosexual, can also be born again. Only, I found my identity in Christ, and as a result, have been celibate for close to sixteen (16) years. As Christians, we should give our brothers and sisters in Christ the opportunity, time, and space to allow God to help them find themselves in Him. Once they do, that’s when they’ll discover their real identity and who they really are. Their sexual orientation won’t even matter at that point because now they’ve tapped into who, and Whose they are. And because God is a loving God, He'll grant them even more time to discover who they are sexually. The great part about it, is that as they find out who they are in God, their sexual desires will be purified.

Again, as Christians, it’s not up to us to decide how long that discovery should take, or what they should be doing sexually in the interim. Our job is just to love on them. Not comment or co-sign on their lifestyle but love them through the process. How do I know so much about this? Because although I never struggled with LGBTQ issues, I was a sexually promiscuous heterosexual who’s gone through the same process. Therefore, I can’t judge. Sex is sex and as such, according to scripture, ‘…every sin that a man (or woman) does is outside the body, but he (or she) who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.’ (1 Cor. 6:18) Which means that though my sexual immorality and indiscretions were with men, it’s still sin. And as such, it’s not my place to condemn and judge another for their sexual preference. What I can do is pray for them and not tell them they’re going to hell or that they have a mental disorder. But I thank God so much for taking me through the same process, therefore I know how they’ll look on the other side. I thank Him for men of God like Mr. Ellis who has a heart for God’s babies; even those who are struggling with their sexual identity.

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