How should we treat a homosexual?
Question:
Hello Mr. Jeffrey,
I have this question that has been bugging me for a while. The Bible says homosexuals are bad. Now how should we treat if we meet someone like that? Is it rude to ignore them? What if a close friend or a family member comes out as one and they don’t listen to our arguments that it’s wrong. Do we abandon them? Or not visit them, keep a distance from them? What if my neighbor is gay and the Bible says love your neighbor, what should I do in that case?
I am asking these questions because I had a friend at church who told me that he was gay. Then I told him it’s wrong as it clearly states in the Bible. He didn’t listen as he says Jesus loves him and will accept him as gay. Since I can’t convince him to change, and he stopped coming to church, I don’t talk to him now. Do you think what I did was right?
Also, I am scared of what’s happening around the world now. Like everyone is turning gay or trans. My favorite TV shows, movies, and even animations films are promoting gays. Should I not watch them? Furthermore, I am scared that I might become one as well or one of my family members will. What should we do in that case? Most of my cousins and friends have no problem with gays and they are already accepting them being in this society. How should I be less obsessed with this and ignore it completely?
Question:
How do you deal with people who lie? What do you do with your friend or family member who is committing fornication? Yes, homosexuality is a sin (Romans 1:26-27; I Corinthians 6:9-10), but it is no different than any other sin.
A distinction is made between those claiming to be Christians, yet are sinning, and those of the world of sin. "I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler -- not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves" (I Corinthians 5:9-13).
Yes, the people in the world promote sinful behavior. We have to live in such a world without allowing the world to influence us. "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14-16).
Love includes not wanting people to perish because of their sins. That means talking to them when they mention sinning. "You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him" (Leviticus 19:17). This doesn't mean speaking harshly or talking down to people as if you are superior to them, but it also means not ignoring someone going the wrong way in life.
Just because a person rejected your warning, it doesn't mean you were unloving. It merely means that sin was more important to that person than submitting to God. Your friend made his choice. It isn't the one you wished for him, but he is responsible for his own choices. You didn't drive him off, he left because he wanted to pretend he was following God and he didn't want to consider that he was in the wrong.
Homosexuality is not a disease that you catch. It is a choice that people make. Thus, since you are in charge of your choices, there should not be a fear that you will choose to go against God's instructions. We all slip and make mistakes at times, but when we do, we pick ourselves up and continue on because we have chosen to love God above anything else.
