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Every year since 1969, June has been designated "LGBTQ Pride Month." During this month, the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Questioning lifestyle is covered liberally in the news and is applauded and promoted throughout the entertainment industry. In consequence, many Christians are puzzled as to how to respond, and our "Bible Questions" page receives many inquiries during this month as to what the Bible teaches on the subject. "Should we make a place for the LGBTQ community in our church?" "Is the LGBTQ lifestyle a sin?" "Does God love the LGBTQs?" "Am I a bigot if I think the LGBTQ lifestyle sinful?"
Today's world deems it socially unacceptable to criticize certain lifestyles that the Bible does deem as unrighteous. (2 Timothy 3:1-4) The popular message of our day is: “Be true to yourself.” This provides a green light to live up to whatever standard "feels right," and labels as bigots those who wish to uphold God's directives. Romans 10:2-3
It is the role of the true followers of God to teach His Truth, even when it is not popular. But sadly, in an effort to be progressive and appeal to all, some churches have condoned behavior which is strictly forbidden in the Bible. (See Scriptures below.) These churches are turning a blind eye to all manner of what the Bible labels as unholy practices such as unwed couples living together, adultery and homosexuality. Thus, they leave the door wide open to society's norms, inviting the LGBTQ community to teach a "new normal." Drag queens have been invited to come in full regalia to speak from the pulpit and to read books about their life-choices to children in story hour. Misguided Christian ministers preach that "God is love" — that God welcomes all people no matter the lifestyle they wish to maintain.
Has God's Word changed? Does He change with the shifts in society's values? (Malachi 3:6) God sets before us in His Word clear moral absolutes. We are admonished throughout the Scriptures to “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” Therefore, if we are to be advocates of God’s Word, our love for others must include teaching what is right and wrong in the eyes of our Creator. 1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 5:14; Matthew 5:19
Is the "New Normal" Really Normal?
The Bible teaches that God created fixed sexes — male and female. (Genesis 1:27, 28) Shall we set aside what God has so obviously set in order? Any variance from this orderly arrangement He considers as abnormal — thus we see the advancing degradation of human behavior originating from father Adam's disobedience. This does not mean that everyone who is LGBTQ is a bad person or that they should be treated unkindly or disrespectfully; nor should they be discriminated against in the world's community. Most of these individuals are very fine people — valuable and productive members of society. But, if the Word of God is to be respected above society's norms, we must understand that if they want to be members of the Christian community, they need to recognize their lifestyle is at variance with God's natural arrangement and therefore is displeasing to Him, and they need to "abstain from" misguided "fleshly lusts."
Science does show that improper behavior can be a result of a person's biology or environmental factors. For example, a person with a volatile temperament may have an imbalanced chemistry from birth, or may have had a troubled childhood environment. No matter the cause, once educated in the principles of God's Truth, the Christian is expected to work to change that distorted behavior, and not just make excuses for it. In this case, the propensity to be violent may always be there, but controlling the impulse is expected of a Christian. As the Christian strives to emulate that model of love and order as set forth in God's Word, it is recognized that none will be without some degree of temptation in their minds toward former sins. But temptation is not sin if kept under control — not acted upon and avoided. James 1:14,15
In God's Kingdom to come, His great love for humanity will be demonstrated by restoring order in the earth. God will heal and rehabilitate ALL mankind from the fallen nature to the state he was before Adam's fall. (1Timothy 2:3-6) In the ages of righteousness to come, this will leave no room for behavior that is volatile, selfish or abnormal from God's original perfect creation.
Bible Standards vs. World's Standards
Christians cannot expect to regulate the outside world's behavior, but should make every effort to set the example of righteousness to the world. What IS expected of ALL who enter into Christian circles is to make every effort to transform sinful lifestyles into that which is pleasing to God. God does love the sinner, but He does not condone sin. Another way to put this is that God sees the potential in each one — the person they could become if they would allow themselves to be transformed. (Romans 12:2) Although none are righteous and all fall short of the glory of God, the important thing is that there should be a concerted effort, with prayer for guidance, to put away sin. All those wishing to transform their lives and put away sinful behavior are to be welcomed in fellowship and encouraged in the right path. Matthew 7:13; James 5:20
Even though we come as we are to Jehovah, He does not want us to stay as we are. James counsels: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands... purify your hearts...” (James 4:8) This being said, practicing homosexuals — those who do not yet see this lifestyle as sinful, should not be part of the Christian ministry nor should they take an active part in Christian services or decision making. They should not be banned from attending, but it has to be made clear to them that God does not condone such behavior. Compromise on this issue would indicate that the congregation is sympathetic with the sin and therefore complicit in it.
We do agree that "God is love," but, because He loves, He has provided in His Word a standard of righteous principles from which we should live. He has permitted for each individual to exercise free moral agency in deciding whether to accept or reject these principles, but, with this freedom, God has warned against tampering with His Truth in order to justify sinful behavior. Let us determine to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
Consider the following Scriptural admonitions and clarifications.
The message of each should be clear whether God approves of the LBGTQ lifestyle:
Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11(NIV) "Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards... will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
Romans 1:24-27 "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves... for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error..."
Hebrews 13:4(NLT) "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."
Jude 1:7(NIV) "Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example..."
Matthew 7:13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Romans 10:2-3 "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."
2 Timothy 3:1-4 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves... without natural affection... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God..."
James 1:14, 15 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
To learn more about God's Holy Standards
please read the following
short subject article on our End Times Bible Report Quarterly: