Hi Nick,
You make a very important point and pose a difficult question, one that I'm not sure I know the answer to. But before I address that, I want to highlight what I believe is a trap carefully laid by Satan to ensnare believers and to which too many blunder in unaware.
Hate, prejudice and discrimination are not gifts of the Holy Spirit and yet many Christians use the Bible as justification for ungodly attitudes and conduct towards those they see as a subspecies, outside of grace and not fit to even receive the Gospel, instead they receive abuse, hostility and lectures delivered with loathing and disgust. No they are not gifts, rather they are tools of Satan designed and used with great effect to split the church asunder and at the same time paint the church as being homophobic and prejudiced. This is off-putting to even straight people, particularly the young, who don't want to be associated with such attitudes. So as well as splitting the church, these attitudes are a hindrance to the Gospel. How smug is Satan as he watches what's happening?
Some say we have to call out sin: where
in the Bible does it say that? Rather it tells us:
but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, I Corinthians 1:23 NKJV
I want to use this opportunity to encourage my brothers and sisters to engage with lgbt and reach out and tell them about God's grace and love and Jesus's sacrifice that entitles them to become brothers and sisters, adopted into God's own family if only they'll accept Him as their personal saviour, which is pretty much the same Gospel we share with straight people.
Back to that question I mentioned in my opening paragraph. A born again believer who loves God and wants to please and delight Him has to have what God's view is of gay sex and intimacy.
My question is, at what point in a Christian's development is it best to have that conversation?
I think the answer to that question is in the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10;;17, but substitute sexuality for money. The lesson being that nothing must come before our love and adoration of God whether it be money, our family, a hobby or our sexuality.
Dear Brother,
Don't get me wrong. I can commiserate with them that are sinners for are we not all sinners, and isn't it those that our Lord came for? Yet, even identifying the sin, much less telling them about repentance, seems to be anathema to many who call themselves believers in the churches these days! If the mentioning of it ever happens at all, it is watered down/excused as something natural, while in truth it is an abomination that we could not wipe away no matter how much we tried, and it required our Jesus' death on the Cross to cleanse and take away as far as the east is to the west! (Psalm 103:12)
"testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 NKJV
Or should be like those Paul chastised those that saw Grace as an opportunity to sin that they might be receivers of more Grace!!!
1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2
Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ... 14
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin [leading] to death, or of obedience [leading] to righteousness? 17
But God be thanked that [though] you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18
And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human [terms] because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members [as] slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness [leading] to [more] lawlessness, so now present your members [as] slaves [of] righteousness for holiness. Romans 6:1-2,14-19 NKJV
You ask a valid question. When in a Christian's development is it best to have that conversation? I would say at the very beginning but let the Holy Spirit move you!!!
Let there be no doubt that Jesus died on the Cross for your, mine, our sins, for were we not of the World like they are too!!! If that doesn't drive one to their knees, then telling them that Jesus loves them no matter what, comes with little comprehension of the cost that had to be paid for the sin we so readily put to the back burner when front and center it should be. For it was that which has separated us from God in the first place!!! How will they know if we don't tell them? If truly the Holy Spirit has been placed upon their own, is not conviction the first acknowledgement of that fact even when they may not be able to verbalize that fact!!! And a weight comes off us that we can't even explain yet? Let them know it's the weight of SIN that has been lifted from them!!! Now they can come boldly before the Throne of Grace where one can obtain mercy and find grace in time of need (Heb 4:16)! That is where their help will come from brother! Oh, we can help, but you know this is a road that all must travel, and best for them to know where to go when we are not there to help them!
So, hold them in love and let them know that our God is not a vengeful one that many make Him out to be!
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NKJV
As you know one must even explain that repentance is a change of mind of something they have done. You confess your sins, and then go back doing it again, and again, repeating the process ad infinitum (without end)? It's just as I shared with you from Romans. Let this forgiveness not be an excuse but rather the motivation for repentance and holiness!
All this is part of their development, and the ones they will need you the most, because it will be the toughest road to walk they'll have to travel, oh, and tough it is!!! Satan doesn't let one go easily that's for sure!!! Explaining Temptation is another one!!!
With all this being said, I agree that many Christians don't know how to help others, and they are judgmental/accusatory and less forgiving/understanding and most especially loving then they should be. However, it's a war that we're involved in and as you knowing the enemy is cunning and if we let him, will use us against each other.
Remember sometimes we too need to be taught on how to behave towards others! Yet, you'll find that if they are of good spirit/heart it's because it's the sin they hate so much that they are really attacking. Just remind them, keep hating the sin, but love that sinner that at least some might be saved!!! Explain this to those who are newborn too. Let them know it won't be easy, and that those who should be siding with you, may and at times will appear to be their greatest critics!
Just remind them that it's Christ Jesus that we live for!!! Let Him be their focus! He's the only perfect one!
I could go on and on, but I do believe you know where I'm coming from, and it's not one of hate for those who are sinners of this or that. It's a love for them, that is sacrificial in its living. I'll leave you with this final thought.
It's getting tougher and tougher for believers, because the World is telling everyone that the only morality that exists is the one you make for yourself, and if another hurts you (feelings), then they are the hateful ones. Persecution is coming to those who are faithful to God's Word, and compromise is a win, win for the Adversary. Take a look at everything Paul went though, and oddly enough we call the Early Church the good old days!!!
With the Love of Christ Jesus Dear Brother. Blessings to you and yours.
Nick
\o/
<><
www.christianpost.com
