Fellow Christians with gay friends?

Question

Christians who have gay friends:

1. Has your friendship with gays/lesbians affected your view of whether or not homosexuality is a sin?

2. Has it affected how you read the Bible? (more metaphorical than literal? Or do you still see homosexuality as an "abomination"?)

3. Do you agree/disagree with the what your church says about homosexuality?

Peace be with you.

Answer 1

My friendship with anyone gay or straight has nothing to do with how I view sin. My views on sin come from God's word, and that will never change.

Homosexuality is, has been and always will be sin in the eyes of God, and is called an abomination in scripture. God won't change to suit me or anyone else. I wouldn't want Him to change anyway because, like His laws, He is perfect!

I have never heard our church preach for or against gays, but I know they believe it is a sin. We don't focus on sin but on salvation from sin. Everyone needs that because everyone is a sinner.

One thing I know is that every homosexual who ever really got salvation God's way turned from homosexuality. Many of them got married and are raising families and are very happy.
I have a very good friend who was delivered from that life and he is very happy in ministry.

Answer 2

I'm a Christian, I have some gay friends, don't currently attend a church. No, having gay friends has not affected how I read the Bible, I still read it prayerfully and as literally as I ever did. I do still view homosexuality as an abomination, but I read the whole passage about homosexuality and see that I'm not able to judge anyone for it since I, too, have been guilty of committing abominable sins, not the least of which was disobeying my parents. I don't bash on homosexuals or anyone else because no one's going to be won to Christ through bashing and hate-talk. My commission as a Christian is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in love. I'm not commissioned to stamp out sin or sinners, judge those who do sin, and certainly not to bash anyone for any reason. "All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we've turned, every one, to his own way." Very important to keep this in mind. We're all sinners, some of us just happen to be saved by grace.

Answer 3

Hi Colin.

1. YES! One of my roommates is gay. Before I moved into my current house, I really had no gay/lesbian friends. I come from West Michigan, which is really conservative. Even though I am by no means conservative myself, and wasn't before moving, being friends with him has really opened my eyes on this topic.

2. I can't say it has affected me reading it more metaphorical than literal, but it really made me think hard about if specific verses were to apply to us today, or if it was for Israel at the time. I have had some great discussions about it.

3. I agree with my church. But that's because I go to a progressive church!

Answer 4

I know quite a few gays.

1) Yes.
2) I am Catholic so my interpretation of the Bible has always been more metaphorical than literal. Otherwise, maybe it would have.
3) Not so much.

Answer 5

I think if Jesus had been concerned about same sex relationships he would have said so. When he did refer to Sodom and Gommorah it was in reference to the inhospitable reception which the citizens of the town gave to Lot's visitors as parallel to the inhospitable reception his own disciples would receive. There was no reference to sex. Jesus apparently thought of Friendship as a supreme description of his relationship to the disciples when he spoke to them at the supper on the night he was betrayed.(Gospel of John 12-15) I no longer speak of you as servants...but as friends. Love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend. You are my friends if you do what I command you. Because Jesus revealed that God(Father, Son and Spirit) is an inner life that is relationship the touchstone for all human relationships is disclosed. The members of the Church will get things wrong from time to time but the getle grace of Christ speaking from all areas of the community will bring about correction and insight. Slavery is one example. Circumcision is another. Women's rights is still another. The way that the cultures in which early believers lived influenced the writings that we call the Scriptures. All these cultural influences must be judged in terms of the relationship standard that Jesus sets out for us. So freedom, inclusion, and equality become more prominent as history unfolds. I believe that when you read ALL of Leviticus which you refer to you will see how many of the abominations have already been rejected. The Church is a Gift from God that sometimes human experience can enshrine the Church, sometimes not. The Church is to make us more fully human and thereby more fully Christlike. Those who profit from slavery, exclusion and patriarchy will not find the mandate from Christ easy to swallow. People may imagine that God agrees with their own prejudices and fears but perfect love will remove the fear and open the eyes of those who will not relate to others as Jesus did.
Gay people can be as good or bad as straight people. The important issue is whether they are allowed to be free, equal and responsible members of the Body of Christ. Early Christians struggled with a similar question in the early days when the question was whether to admit the uncircumcised or exclude them. Jesus was circumcised. The Old Testament Scriptures required God's People practice it. There was no specific repudiation of the practice taught by Christ. The disciples changed the requirement because they understood God was including the uncircumcised already by giving them the Holy Spirit and calling them to love fully. The Church had to agree. When one gets to know gay people you can find just as much evidence of Christ-like-ness in them as in non-gay people. Be a Friend. That's the starting point.

Answer 6

Hm... well, I don't know what to tell you.... I recommend hanging out with her gay friends. That might help. Or just find some of the people of the above answers, they seem more than willing to help you... good luck! I would have a little talk with God after this also, he might want to hear the explanation.

Answer 7

1. Well, I didn't concider it a sin before, neither I concider it now
2. Well, I think that The Bible is in some parts a bunge of crap, but new testament tells about christ and his sayings which you all know, so basicly my answer will be no
3. Well, I don't concider homosexuality a sin, but I am against same sex marriages and parades

Answer 8

People focus on the entirely wrong aspects of homosexuality. They argue about what causes it when that is not at all important. The thing to keep in mind about it is that the behavior that the condition causes fails to glorify either God or the person him or herself. In other words, it doesnt matter what are the causes. It is glorifying to no one. It has no purpose other than pure sexual release. God made sex however for procreation and celebration BETWEEN A HUSBAND AND HIS WIFE ONLY!!! So God hates all kinds of sex outside of a marriage between a man and a woman and He hates them all just the same - not just homosexual sex. There are a lot of so-called Christians out there that are committing adultery and fornication every single day. And God is NOT pleased! The primary goal of ANY Chrsitian is to GLORIFY GOD THROUHG GOD'S CREATION. That includes the beautiful gift od sex. Think about it all! It is not as much of a sin to experience homosexual thoughts as it is to actually act them out. DON'T DO IT! Pray and fast in repentance. God will hear you and He will help you. He certainly helps ME!

Answer 9

1. No.
2. No and yes.
3. I agree with what God says.

Answer 10

Love the sinner, hate the sin. Being grounded in faith means I believe the scriptures. I have family members and friends who are gay. I have witnessed to them frankly in the past and also let them know I love and value them, as does the Lord.
Having done that, I have discharged my duty. It is not my place to beat them over the head over and over again about it. I tell them again only if they raise it again. I pray for them to repent.
It is not my place to judge them, but instead to love them.