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“If a man has sex with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is abhorrent.” Leviticus 18:22 (MSG)

The Bible makes it clear that homosexual behavior is a sin, and most Christians, myself included, agree. What’s special about homosexuality though is that lots of people think it falls into an elite category of “those really bad sins.” You know, the ones that make God really mad. Like stealing, murder, rape, adultery, etc. The big daddies.

This standpoint baffles me.

In chapter 3 of Romans, Paul writes that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Hmph. I guess all includes me too, huh? Unfortunately. And it also includes my mom, my dad, my siblings, my friends, my teachers, my pastor, and even - dare I say it - the pope. Yep. We’re all sinners, living the sinful life, wallowing in sin. That’s not really too difficult to understand. The tough part, however, is realizing that those sins are all equal in God’s eyes, that there isn’t a sin hierarchy. The lying, the cheating, the stealing, the murdering, the homosexuality - God sees them all the same. 

But the cool part is that God sent us a Savior. As Jesus was nailed to the cross, he paid the price for your sins and my sins and the pope’s sins and the homosexual’s sins. And all we have to do is believe.

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24 (NIV)

Our God is a loving God, and our God is a just God. When Judgment Day comes, no one has a say but Him. I personally can’t agree with the gay man’s lifestyle, but I know that I’m in no way perfect myself.

I don’t see how there’s time in life to judge or hate. God loves us all the same; God will judge us all the same. While we have no say in the latter, we do have a say in the former. We can choose to love like Jesus taught us to love - unconditionally, faithfully, whole-heartedly. If Jesus loved the beggar and the thief, I don’t see any excuse for me to not love gay people. They are our friends and family, our brothers and sisters. Jesus died for us all, and my job is not to point fingers but to love.

“And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

“Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

“And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

“Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 6:10-20,23-24 (MSG)

I’m a Christian, and I love gay people.