CAN A PRACTICING HOMOSEXUAL BE A CHRISTIAN?
As Christians, we know we are not to judge others. But we are often called upon to make evaluations about situations around us. We have to know God’s Word and how to accurately apply it today. But we must do it with great humility, recognizing all sin is sin, and our sin is no less than theirs in God’s sight.
Still, God clearly sets standards in His Word and we must know and follow them. Homosexuality is sin (Leviticus 18:22;20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 1:26-32). However, the issue everyone faces when coming to Jesus for salvation is admitting he is a sinner and needs Jesus. No one understands all their sins or the depth of them. We don’t have to recognize and promise to turn from every sin before coming to Jesus. We come knowing we can’t overcome sin and we need His forgiveness and help. In fact, quite often we don’t recognize the depth of our sin and depravity until after we come to Jesus and start growing in Him. Recognizing homosexuality is sin and turning from it is NOT a requirement before salvation. All sin is sin, none is worse than other sin.
So yes, a homosexual can turn to Jesus and accept His free gift of salvation. So can a murderer or a gossip or someone who lusts or loses their temper. That doesn’t stop anyone from coming to Christ. Sometimes before salvation God may convict a person of their sin and their need to be willing to give it up, but the focus in salvation is on Jesus’ free gift, not on ourself or our sin.
There will be a time after salvation when each one who comes to Him, realizes the depth of their sin and the necessity of turning from it. That is true of sexual sin as well. It is also true of murder or lust of anger or whatever. Sometimes God removes the sinful desire immediately, other times it gradually fades, but in some cases, there can be a lifelong struggle with it. The problem comes when a person stops struggling and just lives a lifestyle of sin, be it homosexuality, murder, lust or anger. That’s where the waters get cloudy very quickly.
I’m not going to comment on the person who claims to come to Christ but then chooses to remain in their sin (whatever the sin). Did they never truly believe (like the seed on rocky soil, Matthew13:20)? Are they a Christian but a carnal one (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)? I don’t think there is any simple, one-answer-fits-all solution. Only God knows the real truth in those cases, and we know He is merciful and loving, but also holy and just. We leave those cases with Him. Pray that if they haven’t really come to Jesus they will, or that if they have, they will admit their sin and turn from it.
Takeaways from this: 1) we can’t think our sin is somehow ‘better’ than someone else’s’ sin, 2) we are only where we are because of God’s grace and mercy (“There but for the grace of God go I.”), and 3) when Jesus was on earth, He left the “pretty-good” people and reached out to those in gross immorality and sin. He welcomed them and loved them because He saw the person behind the sin, and so must we. (July 17, 2023 Doylestown, PA)
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourself. It is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Do you know anyone living a homosexual or immoral lifestyle? If not, ask Jesus to help you seek them out as He did so you can show them His love.
How are you doing at being able to love the person but not their sin? Can you separate the two? We see ourselves as more than just the sum of our sins, we must learn to see others that way as well.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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