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We live in a world where God’s design for sexuality is increasingly challenged. The Bible tells us that we are created male and female in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The only acceptable sexual relationship is that of a man and woman joined as husband and wife (Genesis 2:24). But in today’s political, cultural and social climate, Christians are hard-pressed to understand and explain the Bible’s relevance in this matter. In November 2013, Germany became the first European country to allow parents to choose a third gender from the moment of their child’s birth. India and Nepal have also officially recognized a third gender. In the last 15 years, about twenty countries have approved same-sex marriage nationwide or regionally. In Singapore, the Pink Dot movement, campaigning the LGBT community, has grown tenfold in the last six years. Recently, Caitlin Jenner’s high-profile appearance on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine as a transgender woman has taken the media and internet by storm.
How should Christians make sense of these current developments? Are we bigoted and homophobic if we do not support LGBT “freedom to love”? Is the LGBT community denied their human rights if we do not support same-sex marriage? If we struggle with same-sex attractions, can we be Christians? These are weighty questions that beg answers. Jesus would answer with utmost love and gentleness. He would neither condemn the sinner nor would he condone the sin. The Bible records about a woman caught in the sexual sin of adultery and brought before Jesus (John 8:1-11). The Jewish leaders wanted, according to the Jewish law, to stone the woman to death. Jesus, however, did a startling thing that was both just and merciful. He did not condemn her but told her to “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11). If sinless Jesus did not throw a stone, we sinners should not throw stones. Like Jesus, we too must be gentle. Pastor/Author Paul Tripp said: “Wrecking-ball responses to the sins of others are never restorative.” In truth and love, we hold out the hope and promise that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Whatever our temptations are or whatever our past conceals, the power of sin is broken when we turn to Jesus. “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin… For sin shall not be our master, because we are not under law, but under grace” (Romans 6:6, 14). “Amazing Grace” from Jesus has broken the power of sin – God’s gift to us. Let us continue to trust in Jesus who understands all our weaknesses including LGBT ones. Our foremost identity and joy must be the pursuit to become more and more like Jesus.
(Check out these web pages for a Pastor’s 3 parts video teaching on “The Gospel, Homosexuality and the Church”)
