Does God hate gays and bisexuals?

Question:

Does God hate gays and bisexuals?

Answer:

May I ask my own question? Does God hate thieves?

What you are implying in your question is that who a person chooses to have sex with somehow innately defines who the person is. God doesn't see it that way. People can change and God has gone out of His way to help people change. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:16-17).

But God is also just. Sin is harmful and those who remain in sin must be punished. God prefers not to have to condemn people, but if they won't give up their sin, then God is left with no other choice. " "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live" " (Ezekiel 18:30-32).

While a person remains in sin, they cannot be a part of God's people, but they can change -- and that includes homosexuals. "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6:9-11). An alcoholic might badly want another drink, but he knows it is wrong and can refuse. No one has to have sex with people of their own gender. Temptation doesn't mean you have to give in -- that goes for anyone who wants to have sex outside of marriage.

But what about the person who refuses to give up his sin? God has to stand against such a person -- no matter what that sin is. "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken falsehood, your tongue mutters wickedness. No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly. They trust in confusion and speak lies; they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity" (Isaiah 59:1-4). Any person who remains in sin and lets sin define who they are is hated by God. "You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness" (Hebrews 1:9). "The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. You destroy those who speak falsehood; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit" (Psalms 5:5-6).