Homosexuality

I have some pretty controversial ideas about homosexuality, at least when I'm around certain friends. I'm not sure if I have it right, but I do have an opinion. This post might get confusing because sometimes it's difficult for me to coherently explain my thoughts, but I'm trying as hard as I can to explain myself fully and clearly. So here we go. I believe that while homosexuality is a sin, Christians should not ignore homosexuals. It's been said over and over that Christians should show God's love to them. AND THIS IS ENTIRELY TRUE. This is what I base my views on; that we as Christians should indeed love homosexuals. I believe that wholeheartedly. But it has to go further than just saying "I will show love to you, even though I don't want to. Even though I completely disagree with how you live." It can't be something we pretend. We have to actually, fully, completely love them. And not just homosexuals. While this post is going to be talking about homosexuality, I believe the views I have here apply to any and all sin around us. We can't ignore the sin. But more than anything, we can't ignore the sinner. Who will demonstrate Christ's love if we ostracize people? But I'm talking like a person who doesn't want to love homosexuals. Before I go further, I need to explain something.

I have never minded the gay community. I guess this is a result of the message being sent to the world that homosexuality is natural and okay, and I really, deep down, have had a hard time convincing myself differently. If I were not a Christian, I would be right there in the groups promoting gay rights. I would have changed my profile picture on Facebook a few months back to an equality sign. I would have closely followed pro-gay legislation and cheered when homosexual marriages were legalized in some states. I would strongly support any gay friends I may have. I would defend them when others spoke against them. There is a voice in my head that still tries every day to explain to me that homosexuality is a natural choice for some people, and that even though I myself am not homosexual, it is perfectly normal to be that way. I am constantly reminding myself of God's view of homosexuality: {1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NLT)} Homosexuality is wrong. It's sinful. And though my sinful heart may try and convince me otherwise, I cannot condone it for the simple reason that God says that it is wrong.

So after this revelation, I have to tell you that the whole "Christians have to love homosexuals" message is kinda pointless for me. I love them anyway. I just have to remember to hate the sin. And in doing that, I have to remember to continue loving the person. It's easy to get caught up in hatred of a sin and turn that into hating the sinner as well, or flip the other way, and love the sin as well. It's a difficult balance, but I turn to Christ to show me how to do it. He ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. He didn't just love them from a distance. He is my example. He sat down with them and encouraged their friendship.

I don't approve of homosexuality, in the same way that I don't approve of heterosexual couples involving themselves in sexual immorality. It's all immoral in God's eyes. I think we generally have a harder time remembering to hate the sin of unmarried couples living together than we do remembering to hate homosexuality. Just look at that list back in 1 Corinthians that I mentioned. It doesn't just mention homosexuality. God hates any sexual sin. He hates idolatry. He hates adulterers. He hates prostitution. He hates thieves. He hates greed. He hates drunkenness. He hates abusers. He hates cheats. But it says we were cleansed and made holy. So instead of focusing so much on hating the sins of those around me, I think a much better and God-glorifying use of my time is truthfully showing God's love towards those people, and sharing His word and being a light for Him. He will cleanse them and make them new. He will show them how to deal with their sins, not me. I can't fix anyone by hating or judging them. I can't change someone by screaming Bible verses in their face. All I can do is love, and live in a way that God approves of, hating my own sin and focusing on ridding myself of it.

I didn't really do any editing on this post, because I know I'll just get lost in trying to revise what I said, and end up making more of a jumbled mess than it is now. So I'll just leave it here, hoping that I was clear, hoping that I got it right.

Longing

I am full of longing tonight. But I don't know what I'm longing for. I feel like my heart is missing something. Is it a desire for closer relationships with my family? Is it a desire for nearness to the Lord? Is it a desire for friendships? Is it a desire to fall in love? I really don't know. I've been searching my heart and I can't seem to find the answer. I've struggled with this for months now. The only word I can think of to put to this situation that seems to fully cover this feeling is "yearning". I am searching for something, aching for something that is missing. And I can't seem to find out what I need. But in the midst of this longing, there is comfort. God knows what it is. He knows what I need. He knows the desires of my heart. So I give it to Him tonight. Just like I have so many times in the past. The Lord knows. The Lord understands. Even when I don't. He knows me better than I know myself. He knows my past, my present, my future. He cares. He loves. He takes it on Himself and fills the emptiness, and I am full again with His love. Maybe this emptiness is really just my heart's way of turning me to God and letting Him pour His love into me. He is my only solution. He is my healer and comforter. He fills me more than anything could. Like Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Even if it isn't exactly what my heart is telling me what it needs, I believe delight in the Lord can fill and cover those desires.