Love Thy Neighbor?

Question

This question has 2 parts, if you can please answer both not just focus on the first.

The bible says and preaches, love thy neighbor, I have actually for along time, he is one of the most lovely gentle men I have ever met....... A few weeks ago I found out he was homosexual...... does that mean in the eyes of God I have to now turn my back on him and tell him he will burn in hell, or do you think God will forgive me for continuing our wonderful friendship

The second part of my question is

My neighbor is my sibling, my brother, now where do you think the bible stands on this one.

Please only genuine answers no hell burning replys. thankyou

Answer 1

Sod the lot of them, sanctimonious hypocrites, I don't fully understand the Bible, but the bit I do leads me to believe that all the people who have mentioned your bro repenting, not getting into heaven etc are not being in any way Christian. They have cold hearts. Rather than question your moral code I suggest they take a really good, clear look at themselves. the more I read from these so called Christians the more frightening it seems to have these people as friends, my friends (predominantly gay) are kind, generous, non-judgmental and activly involved in making our community a better place by volunteering their time and money to help the less fortunate, why are they on this site now instead fo out doing good deeds, there are an almost infinate number of people out there in need at the very moment they are sitting at there computers.

Answer 2

There is no reason you can not continue your friendship. It's possible to disagree with someone's lifestyle and accept the choice they have made without condemnation. I think prayer and behaving in a real Christian manner will be all you need to do. God works when we behave the way He would. He still loves your neighbor even though He doesn't approve of the lifestyle.

If the neighbor is your brother the same applies.

Answer 3

When God said to love your neighbor, He meant everyone in the world. Even the ones you might have a hard time loving, but He wants you to love them anyway. (Love isn't just an emotion, it's a choice.) Imagine if we all did this one thing. If we truly respected and loved and cared for each other as brothers and sisters. What kind of world would we be living in? This kind of love that He's talking about isn't sexual or anything like that. It's like the love you would have for your child, or mother or father, or siblings. People whom you care deeply for without intimate thoughts. Please keep your friendship with this person, God loves him too, just like you do. He doesn't like or approve the lifestyle, but this person is a child of His that He created. Of course, He has to stick to the laws and be fair with everyone. There will be consequences for all of our actions that break the laws of the Bible, like stealing, lying, murder, and yes even homosexualality. He can always ask God what to do. But never stop being his friend. He sounds like a wonderful person who, like the rest of us, need help with a few things in life that seem to put a roadblock between us and God. Hope you two are friends forever! God bless you both!

Answer 4

When you become a Christian you lay aside your old life to follow Jesus. (Matt 16:24-26) You put away what is sin and repent, you ask for forgiveness and stop living that way. Jesus said to the adultrous woman, "Go and sin no more" and He forgave her and she was not sentenced to death for the sin she commited. She became a believer instead. She stopped commiting adultery. (John 8:3-11) So if you are gay, stay away from gay relationships, stay away from gay bars, stay away from having gay sex. (1 Thess 4:3-8) Instead pray about it and God will help you for sure. Flee from sexual immorality. Dont even take pride in calling yourself gay. Gay like any other sin is a sin. Do you like being labled a "liar" or a thief" ? (Titus 1:16)
Dont turn your back on the Lord, if you deny Him He will deny you when the judgement comes. Do you want that? (Matt 10:23)
Your neighbor is as Jesus was trying to tell you is anyone you come across in your path of life. (Luke 10:25-37)

God bless you, I will pray for you. Please look up in your bible the verses I posted so you can see them in context. See Romans 1 also.

Answer 5

The Bible says to love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 13:9). Please do not confuse the emotion of love with the decision to love. You stated your neighbor is your brother, whom has chosen a homosexual lifestyle. Regardless of his choices, he is your brother and you should love him as such. You should be honest with him, let him know that your feelings towards him as a brother are not affected by his lifestyle, even though you don't approve, support, or condone it. Pray to God for guidance and wisdom in this. You should NOT tell him that he will burn in hell for his lifestyle, whether it is true or not. Your job is to love him and be a sibling to him. God asks us to love our neighbors. Bible-bashing doesn't win people. Love and solid relationships are what draw people to the Lord. Have faith, and stand firm. The Lord will not leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Blessings.

Answer 6

If you are a Christian, then you should show him the love of Jesus, no point telling him gays will be destroyed when he doesn't want to know the Lord, because sin is sin, and he is probably doing more then just that.

If you took this view point, you would have to turn your back on everyone who is proud, jealous etc.

But if he wants to know the Lord and be saved, he must ask the Lord for help. It's a hard battle, but with God it can be won.

God bless!!

Answer 7

The Bible does indeed say love your neighbour whether black or white, homosexual, heterosexual or whatever, there are no opt out clauses in this...

Turning your back on him would be the worst thing you could do, sadly many Christians, and I am a Christian, would do just that, and in doing so forget about the lifestyle of Jesus Himself, Jesus was always found among those in need.

Now if you are a Christian and I am assuming you are, then of course we will not agree with the lifestyle and activities of a homosexual person/s. We know it to be wrong in God's eyes and it is our responsibility to let people know that this is the case, but we need to do it in love with grace, with understanding, if you turn your back on him, how can you do this?

I have several homosexual friends, great people, good people, but in my mind living in a sinful lifestyle, and I have left them in no doubt as to what I believe God thinks about their lifestyle and will continue to do so, but they are still my friends and count me as one, because I have approached this situation in love, with compassion and grace, not because I am a super person but because I desire to follow the lifestyle of Jesus.

I hope this helps.

**To notarycat above, excellent answer**

JB

Answer 8

You don't know whether or not your brother will go to hell...why? because he may repent someday...you do know that right now he is in danger of hellfire...and should warn him that his house is on fire...If your relationship is as strong as you say then maybe he will come around someday to do what is right.

As far as love your neighbor, love your enemies....You don't have to have the warm fuzzies for them to love them....always be decent to him, obey the commandments with him...because those that don't love their neighbors, do break the commandments on their neighbors...lying, cheating them, stealing from them, bearing false witness against them.

Also, it is important to clean up your own house (figuratively)as much as possible, with Gods help. the better example you give him the more likely he is to change his behavior at some future time.

I have a formerly homosexual sibling myself..she came around after many heart felt talks....Even if a person is born homosexual (or with homosexual desires) they don't have to act on them...it's the action that is sinful, not being predisposed or tempted by it. I'm heterosexual; but that doesn't mean Ihave to act on it. That I like women doesn't mean that I have to have sex with them..I'm not an animal without thought or reason...and neither is your brother. Tell him you don't hate him for having the urge (to be with men, sexually) it's the behavior that bothers you. many homosexuals cannot seperate the actions from who they are and become prisoners to that behavior....that's what Jesus meant about freeing us from our sins (not just paying for them).

I hope this helps you

I had a discussion very similar to that with my sister...she said at one time" but i just don't like guys" I said "hey I understand..if there weren't any women (just guys around) to marry I'd abstain...
She got that funny look on her face that I knew she was really thinking about it...why hadn't anyone ever told her that before...why hadn't I ever thought to say it before???

Trust the Lord and He'll give you the right words to say, at the right time, if he's meant to turn away from that behavior. Don't expect it to be immediate or easy..but if you love your brother, it's worth it.

Answer 9

No one has the right to condemn anyone. Don't turn your back on your 'neighbor', stick fast and let God and his ways shine through your life.

So now that we know your neighbor is your brother, all the more reason for you to be a good example.

Answer 10

You ask for genuine answers but then you state that you don't want to hear the truth. You already know the answer, but you are looking for a loop hole in God's Commandments. Sorry, there are no loop holes or side stepping sin. Sin is Sin.