If you ask a lot of Christians today what God thinks about people in the LGBT+ community, you may get a similar answer:
Yes, God loves them and they’re made in His image and they’re all welcome in church……but…
Then typically go on to talk about the precautions of what they just said. Like, Yes God loves them, but not their actions. As if that were the question. As if the answer is different for gay people vs. straight people.
If you asked someone what God thinks about Ethan, I would dread that ‘but.’
“Yes, God loves Ethan, but…”
Like, wtf?
I’ve heard that response so often (and even given it myself) that it’s no wonder those people are turned off from the church! Who wants to be loved and accepted conditionally?
“Yes, God loves you and you can worship with us as long as you suit up and behave…”
Isn’t that sort of antithetical to, like, the entire gospel we preach? That it’s not what we do that makes us acceptable to God? Of course, we always have separate conversations about our actions and beliefs. But I don’t hear the same sort of follow-up for straight people ever.
“Does God love straight people?”
“Yes, but as long as they don’t commit adultery.”
Never heard that answer once, lol.
It mainly seems like it’s people who are other from us about whom we respond in that way.
Gay people, as long as they don’t act on it.
Addicts, as long as they’re getting clean.
Muslims, as long as they come to believe in Jesus.
Same with Buddhists, Hindus, and of course, Catholics.
It’s a weird culture we’re in.
Look at Jesus. He hung out with prostitutes and sinners, but you don’t see Him jump up from the table and clarify to the Pharisees: “Hey guys, just FYI, I’m sitting with them, but I do not approve of their lifestyle. Just want you to know.” I doubt these outcasted people flocked to Jesus because he was stingy with God’s love.
“We love hanging out with Jesus because He’s always clarifying that God loves us but not our actions. He’s real clear about that, so we all love chilling with Him.”
— The Prostitutes
The moral teachings came at other times, but I doubt Jesus was always harping on that.
From now on, if someone asks us if God loves gay people, or any other type of people, let’s just say yes.
No buts.
e
Day 39 of 100 Days of Blog.
We love our children. When one of our children decides to eat all their Halloween candy in one night, sickening themselves, we don’t approve of that, but it in no way affects our love towards them. If my child came to me and said “Celebrate my right to eat all my candy or it means you don’t love me!” That would be incorrect. God’s love for us isn’t based on what we do or don’t do. HOWEVER God’s direction and paths he has clearly delineated to have us flourish is clear, and his intention is for us to follow them. Not to commit sins and attempt to neutralize them by insisting others accept the sin “or else it proves that you’re a hypocrite.” No. We are all sinners, God loves all of us. To show our love for Him, we follow his teachings. And don’t forget Ethan, he instructed the prostitute “Go and sin no more.”
I was wondering where Ethan was going on this subject. I myself leave the “but” out of my words by saying all are welcomed, come as you are! My wife and I go round a round about this topic. I’m told my words are not true I’m not accepting of all. I’m not the church, I’m part of the church body. I’m who I’m and you are who you want to be! If I don’t want to drink the kool aid then don’t pour it down my throat! I know same sex marriage is a huge topic which I will say this state law go to a court house. Don’t ask a church to change the beliefs of marriage.