Loving GaysResponding to America’s Pro-Gay Culture

Sunday, June 30, 13

Facts We Cannot IgnoreMay 23, 2013: BSA decided to a"ow boys into Scouts regardless of sexual orientation.

June 20, 2013: Exodus President apologizes for trying to change gays and closes 37-year-old ministry that attempted to do that.

June 26, 2013: Supreme Court gives federal benefits to married gay couples. (Inevitable decision)

Hundreds of pastors and about 8 million Christians now affirm that “gay is OK” with God.

Sunday, June 30, 13

Historic Times

First time in 3000 years of Judeo-Christian teachings: gay is OK

20th century: First time in human history in any culture, that homosexuality has been affirmed as normal behavior

Sunday, June 30, 13

Truths We Cannot IgnoreGod has not changed: Only heterosexual sexual acts between married spouses are a"owed by God in OT & NT. Warnings about sexual morality pervade the Scriptures. "Flee from sexual immorality" (1 Cor. 6:18)

To be saved, gays can and must change. Their lifestyle and beliefs have to change to comply with God’s view of sex.

We can & must love and serve gays as neighbors and/or enemies while not endorsing their sinful actions or beliefs

Sunday, June 30, 13

Our Dilemma There is no way to appease gay activists without departing &om the truth of the Word. 

unless we celebrate homosexuality, embracing it as mora"y and socia"y equivalent to heterosexuality, and unless we te" “gay Christians” that they can fo"ow Jesus and practice homosexuality at the same time, we have not gone far enough in their eyes.

US Law makes them lega"y equal and the Church of America is deeply divided on gay theology.

Sunday, June 30, 13

In the last thirty years, gay insistence for unqualified acceptance has grown from a whisper to a roar. Many churches in the West now believe that gays make up a distinctive ethnic group in which a gay person is assumed to be natively ‘gay’, morally neutral and deserving all the rights and privileges due to members of an oppressed minority!

Legal rights--yes. Acceptance as moral--no.

Splitting the Global Church

Sunday, June 30, 13

GREATEST NEEDS OF GAYS

Same as ours:

To know the love of God the Father, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fe"owship of the Holy Spirit

To experience God’s love & grace through people like us who wi" love, serve, forgive, encourage and honor them as our neighbor whom God longs to be gracious to.

Sunday, June 30, 13

Roots of Homosexuality

Gays need our love in word and deeds even more than most people because of the roots of same-sex attraction:

Rejection, shame, ostracism, abuse, sexual abuse, rape, pornography, bad parenting, fatherless homes, Christian condemnation/ridicule/silence of others about them

2000 years of inept/sinful Christian responses

Sunday, June 30, 13

See Them As God DoesWounded, confused, desperate people

Fu" of pain, shame, fear in gays a" over the world

Driven to drugs, despair or suicide to escape that pain

Trying to meet normal emotional needs in a sinful way.

Why do we love & serve Hindu’s, Buddhists, Muslims, convicted murderers, rapists, thieves and drunks--but not gays? What do we fear about that?

Sunday, June 30, 13

Don’t Avoid Gay Seekers“When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people” (1 Cor. 5:9-11, NLT).

Sunday, June 30, 13

Sin in the ChurchThe Church has probably always had significant sexual sin between men & women in its members. It does now!

The ungodly response of the Church towards gays for 2000 years has intensified and expanded the desperation of people stru(ling with same-sex attractions. Some could have been rescued but found little help in the Church.

Hateful response of the Church is just as bad as the sins of homosexual acts in God’s sight. Both groups are deluded and addicted to their sins. (Like slavery of blacks)

Sunday, June 30, 13

Sin in the ChurchWe must first repent of our own sexual sins and other bondages such as pornography, adultery and fornication—and then we must ask God to break our hearts with His love for gays.

We have not seen them as our neighbors: confused people needing dignity and honor as a human beings Jesus died for.

We need to apologize to them and repent to God

We must commit to love in deeds and actions REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY RESPOND TO US. That’s God’s way.

Sunday, June 30, 13

Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)

 “But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt &om them.

Sunday, June 30, 13

Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)

 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those &om whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?

Sunday, June 30, 13

Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)

Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in fu". But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward wi" be great, and you wi" be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Sunday, June 30, 13

Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)

37 “Do not judge, and you wi" not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you wi" be forgiven. Give, and it wi" be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, wi" be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it wi" be measured to you.”

Sunday, June 30, 13

Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)

41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you wi" see clearly to remove the speck &om your brother’s eye.

Sunday, June 30, 13

Practical Ways to LoveStop putting politics above the scriptures. Laws wi" not save them or save America &om their influence.

Ask God for a prophetic word for them.

Pray for their healing of anything that causes them pain.

Follow the Golden Rule Jesus taught: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. ( Matt 7:12)~~Jesus

Sunday, June 30, 13

Practical Ways to LoveServe them during Gay Pride Parades: Gay Pride Meets Christian Humility

Fight for their legal rights as equals under the law

Be affectionate with them verba"y and with hugs

A"owing someone who has stru(led with homosexuality to get close to you is the greatest gi+ you can give them.

Learn &om http://www.restoredhopenetwork.com and http://www.lovinghomosexuals.com

Sunday, June 30, 13

Prayer Needed

There is intense pressure on those offering hope and transformation to the homosexual community. We need to pray for ex-Exodus president Alan and his wife and family, along with those who have served with him in recent years, since there is a massive spiritual attack on those who stand on the front lines of ministry to homosexual men and women.

Sunday, June 30, 13

Prayer for LeadersOn the one hand, if you are an ex-gay leader, both the church and the world are watching your every move, the former wanting to be sure you are preserving your testimony, the latter wanting to discredit you. On the other hand, many in the church mistake compassion for compromise while the world mistakes conviction for bigotry. The pressure from both sides (and a" the more &om the spiritual realm) can be intense.

Sunday, June 30, 13

Prayer For OurselvesBIG DISTRACTION!! ( Neh & Sanba"at example)

Enjoy God with a" your heart & love your neighbors no matter who they are. ( e.g. Muslims & Minnich’s)

Do Not Fear: Trust God in everything. (Is. 41:10)

Pray & Leave in God’s hands: We are not responsible to fix gays or anyone else except ourselves.

God is in control. He wi" use it a" for good for His children.

Sunday, June 30, 13