LGBTQ: Loving vs. Tolerating

I am sure many people have family members or acquaintances who are gay and/or involved with the LGBTQ community. There are events that have happened all over the country; they are even happening in small towns. The pride flags have been seen by many and are even in schools-even to kids in kindergarten!  

However, as Christians, we ought to call out sin and oppose it in our lives and the lives of others. This is completely different than affirming sinful lifestyles and tolerating them. Not only is this tolerated nowadays, but it is also applauded and celebrated. 

Paul wrote, "Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:4-6).

Love...
- is patient
- is kind
- does not envy
- is not boastful
- is not rude
- is not self-seeking
- is not irritable
- does not keep record of wrongs
- finds no joy in unrighteousness
- rejoices with the truth

Notice that love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth. The truth is that this lifestyle is offensive to God and is a sinful lifestyle and is destructive to not only the people living the lifestyle but also to children, families, and relationships. 

People are actually NOT loving when they affirm and tolerate this lifestyle. 

Paul, inspired by God, wrote, "Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). 

The sins listed here are the following:
- sexually immoral people - fornication - sex outside of marriage
- idolaters - worshiping anyone or anything other than God, image-worshiper
- adulterers - one who is unfaithful to a spouse
- males who have sex with males, females who have sex with females - pertaining to a same-sex relationship
- thieves
- greedy people
- drunkards
- verbally abusive people
- swindlers - a person who uses deception to deprive someone of money or possessions

Notice that homosexuality is on this list. 

It is also seen where Paul wrote, "For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error" (Romans 1:26-27).

The women, in another words, exchanged the natural function for one contrary to nature. They had sexual relations that are contrary to nature and were inflamed with lust for one another like the men. The men had strong desire for each other & the women had strong desire for each other. This still happens today.

Jesus said, when talking about divorce, "But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and the two will become one flesh., So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Mark 10:6-9).

Jesus actually quoted a few passages in Genesis.

"So, God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female" (Genesis 1:27).

"This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).

In other words, God made male and female and there are only two genders. Also, marriage is between a male and a female. Marriage is not between a male and another male or a female and another female. 

However, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). 

Jesus can bring people out of darkness into His marvelous light. He lived a perfect life as fully God and fully man. He fulfilled the law and the prophets as well. He died as a substitute in our place on the cross. He shed His blood on the cross, satisfied God's wrath and paid the penalty for our sins in full that we couldn't pay. 

"Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will" (Mark 14:36). 

"Wake yourself, wake yourself up! Stand up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk the cup of his fury from the LORD’s hand; you who have drunk the goblet to the dregs—the cup that causes people to stagger" (Isaiah 51:17). 

"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: 'Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand and make all the nations to whom I am sending you drink from it'" (Jeremiah 25:15).

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). 

Then, three days later, He rose again from the dead.

"Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay" (Acts 2:31).

"For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow your faithful one to see decay" (Psalm 16:10).

“God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this" (Acts 2:32).

Jesus will come again. He tells us to repent and believe the gospel. He said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:15). Repent means convert, which involves turning away from sin and toward Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh and put a new spirit withing someone. He transforms from the inside-out. Belief involves confidence and trust in Christ. 

John wrote, "But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13). Receiving means to accept and recognize the fact that He is Lord over your life.