Yes, I am a Christian.
I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)
I confess with my mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9)
And yes, because heterosexuality is God's revealed will/law for humankind, I am essentially, for lack of a better word, against homosexuality.
And yes, because no sin is greater than the other, homosexuality lies in the same realm as cheating, stealing, hating, lusting, etc.
Then why, oh WHY, have countless churches and pastors placed the sin of homosexuality on a pedestal, in the spotlight? Why, oh WHY, are Christians known as right-wing homophobes who enjoy boasting of the eternal punishment that awaits for those who do not repent? Why, oh WHY, do Christians flaunt such a piece as this:
Lord, forgive us for our lack of compassion for those who do not know You, forgetting that we once were slaves to sin.
Lord, forgive us for we have used scripture as a weapon of hatred, of condemnation, of separation -- and not as the Good News it is.
Lord, forgive us for we have misrepresented You, causing the world to curse Your name and decrees.
People do not speak of homosexuality the same way they speak of other sins. Christian institutions and figures have placed so much emphasis and tension on homosexuals, condemning them for being sinners. But those who do just that must not have a clear understanding of the Word. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23), and no one is righteous. Only when we fathom this truth can we learn to lovingly share the Good News to homosexuals. You cannot force a gay man to immediately end his homosexual practices. You cannot expect a man to change from the outside in; this transformation must occur from the inside out. He must first learn of God's unfailing Love and the manifestation of this Love -- the death of His one and only son, Jesus Christ. Homosexuality, like all sins, is a heart issue. Deal with it the same way one would deal with an alcoholic, a porn addict, a liar. You would not force him to suddenly cease his drinking. He needs to receive Christ's Love before he can be freed of his chains.
Once freed, that does not necessarily mean he will become straight. I have read testimonies of people who have become heterosexual by God's grace. However, there are those who continue to struggle with their same-sex attractions but understand that Victory is theirs in Jesus Christ. Upon accepting Christ as our Redeemer and Savior, we are no longer slaves to sin (John 8:34-36) because the Son has set us free. However, this does not mean we cease to struggle with our sins -- we struggle in confidence, knowing full well that we have overcome our sins through the blood of Christ and that God never gives us anything beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). I have read many accounts of those who, after being saved, continue to struggle with same-sex attractions, but because they understand that God is their all-satisfying treasure, He is worth a life of celibacy. Consider those who struggle with lust with the opposite sex; it makes no difference! A sin is a sin is a sin. We, as sinners, will constantly battle with our flesh, but by His strength, we can overcome them all. This is what it means to have Victory in Christ.
