EXAMINING THE CHURCH’S APPROACH TO THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
The missional landscape of the Middle East looks different than it does in the West. For example, the primary social, political, and military climate in the Middle East revolves around Islam. That’s not the case in the United States.
In America, and especially this month, one of the most prevalent subjects being discussed is the LGBTQ+ community. This is not a subject that gets much airtime in the Middle East (with the exception of Tel Aviv which is literally one of the "gayest cities in the world” according to several online lists).
Point being, missional landscapes vary dramatically from place to place. We want to be prepared to bear witness to our marvelous God no matter where in the world we find ourselves. One of our mandates as an organization is to resource those who have the Gospel and to reach those who don’t. It’s to that end that this predominately Middle East-focused ministry is writing an article about the LGBTQ+ community in America.
We, the Church, must have clarity on the purpose of our engagement with the LGBTQ+ community. Otherwise we may end up in ditches on either side of usefulness. As Christians, our purpose is to demonstrate the love of God and to make disciples. If what we are doing or saying is not accomplishing that goal, we need to seriously rethink our approach.
ALLIES
For example, many Churches have gone the way of becoming an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. While this approach seeks to express love and acceptance of people, it also muddies the waters of the Gospel message.
Approving of sin to accept a person does not demonstrate the love of God and it does not result in obediently reproducing disciples.
Jesus defended the woman caught in adultery, but He did not approve her sin. Quite the opposite, He instructed her to go and sin no more.[1]
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin…[2]
How can we who died to sin still live in it?[3]
ADVERSARIES
Others have gone they way of becoming adversaries to the LGBTQ+ community. While this approach seeks to emphasize the seriousness of sin and the value of truth, it also aggressively marginalizes an entire group of people and their loved ones.
Condemning a person because of their sin does not demonstrate the love of God and it does not result in obediently reproducing disciples.
Jesus didn’t come to condemn people for sin, He came to be condemned for their sin.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.[4]
Jesus is literally the embodiment of love. He’s the kindest being in existence. He has never committed a sin. He’s the only innocent person to ever live. He can literally do no wrong, and yet, people hate Him. Why?
Because now they have no excuse for their sin.[5]
Truth, even when expressed in the gentlest terms, is going to be divisive for some people. So let’s do our best to share that truth in the most Jesus-like way possible so that when people do respond with hostility, it’s on account of Jesus, not because we were being jerks.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.[6]
THE ADVOCATE
Jesus, the head of the Church, modeled the way of truth with love— becoming an Advocate with the Father on behalf of sinful humanity (including, but not limited to, the LGBTQ+ community).
Jesus opposes sin because He loves all people. Opposing sin because of love for a person demonstrates the love of God and results in obediently reproducing disciples.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.[7]
Jesus is our advocate when we sin. But the only way to have Jesus as an advocate is to repent! Jesus satisfied the wrath of God for the sin of the whole world by receiving the punishment we deserve instead of us. But if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment.[8]
And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar…[9]
Those who love Him obey Him. Those who don’t, don’t.[10]
God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.[11]
People in darkness don’t come to the light for fear their works will be exposed.[12] And they’re right, we will all stand naked and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.[13] But look at how the Lord responds to those who do so voluntarily.
With infinite kindness and unfathomable mercy. It pleased the Lord to punish His own Son instead of you.[14] You have no need to fear the Light. The Light loves you to death. Literally.
Our primary call to the LGBTQ+ community is not: “Stop being gay.” Straight people go to Hell every day. Our call is: “Come to the light of the Lamb who was slain for your sins before you were born. He’s better than you could possibly imagine and He loves you more than you can even believe. But believe it!”
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the Day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.[15]
Jordan Scott lives in the Muslim world with his wife and children. He is the host of THE WAY podcast and author of A Call to Compel: The Simplicity, Urgency, and Joy of Making Disciples, available now from FAI Publishing. Jordan can be reached by email at jordan@faimission.org.
