“does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6

A couple of weeks ago, someone I’ve been praying for posted on Instagram and Twitter regarding her support for those in the homosexual lifestyle. She said she wanted to be sure everyone knew she fully supported those practicing such a lifestyle in however they chose to live and was loving them like Jesus did by doing so.

Unfortunately, she made three mistakes in her revelation. Homosexuality is a sinful lifestyle and supporting it by claiming it’s okay is also sinful. She is not showing any of her LGBT friends real love by supporting their sin. And she is not reflecting the love of Jesus by doing so.

Yes, I know all of those statements are very controversial today in American society. And anyone who dares to state the truth of God’s word regarding the topic will be ridiculed, cancelled, and called a hater by those who hate the truth. But none of that changes the truth, and that’s what I stand on. So let’s look at those statements.

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” Romans 1:26-27.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

The Bible makes it clear that the practice of homosexuality and all its various forms are sin. It does not matter how someone feels about it. Having feelings about something does not determine whether it’s right or wrong. God has the last word on that, and He has stated many times in the scriptures that same-sex relationships are sin.

Some claim that Jesus never spoke on the topic of homosexuality, but He did indirectly. He affirmed the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament. Number seven states that one should not commit adultery. Since sexual relationships are reserved for one man and one woman in the bond of marriage, anything outside that dynamic is adultery or sin. Obviously, that includes premarital sex, extramarital sex, and all homosexuality.

It is important to note that the Bible makes a distinction between same-sex attraction, which is an abnormality, and homosexuality or homosexual acts. The world chooses not to see that distinction as they would have you believe God ordained homosexuality, that it’s perfectly natural, and that people don’t choose it nor can they change it. But that is not true.

People have abnormal feelings and desires for various reasons such as trauma, abuse, or some form of mental illness. Having those feelings may not be under the control of the individual and aren’t sin. In fact, people can be helped to remove those feelings and desires in some cases. The sin comes about when we act on those feelings and desires in ways that God says are sin.

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11.

Paul clearly said “such were some of you.” Obviously, the people made the choice to stop the sinful actions, although they may still have been dealing with abnormal desires. The point is to see the difference, admit that emotions aren’t reality and don’t have to dictate our actions, and choose to live a Godly life regardless of your feelings.

“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.” 1 Corinthians 5:11.

“who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:32.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:18-19.

Let me say this as clearly as possible. I do not hate anyone. Even those whom I extremely disagree with. The Bible makes it clear we are to love everyone, even those who hate us. Jesus said the greatest commandments were to love God and our neighbors as ourselves. But I do not show that love for my neighbor by supporting his sinful lifestyle.

If I truly hated someone, doesn’t it make sense that I would either actively seek their misfortune or passively allow them to fail? The Bible clearly states that those who don’t know Christ, who insist on living in sin will die and spend eternity in hell. If I hate those in the LGBT lifestyle, why would I risk ridicule and persecution by trying to tell them the truth and keep them from eternal damnation? Wouldn’t it be easier to just say nothing and let them march to their own destruction?

But if you really love people, and you know the life path they are on is going to lead to their total destruction, you would risk whatever you had to in order to stop them from being harmed. Yes, they may dislike you, even hate you for a time for getting in the way of what they want to do. And you may not be able to get them to change. But you love them, which means you want what is best for them. Not just what makes them feel good.

People wonder a lot about what love, real love, is. That’s actually very easy. It’s commitment. Commitment to the absolute best for the other person, regardless of the cost.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

This brings us to the last statement, loving like Jesus loved. Yes, Jesus loves everyone. He proved that by dying on the cross for us, the ultimate commitment. And yes, anyone can come to Jesus just as they are, sin and all.

But Jesus doesn’t accept your sin. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for that sin. You come to Jesus as you are and you give up your sin. You admit you have it, you confess it to Him, you repent of it, and you ask Him to forgive you and cleanse you of it. That’s the way it works.

If we just pat our friends on the back and tell them we support them however they choose to live, we do not love them as Jesus does. We should tell them we love them and love them so much we’ll tell them the truth so they can have a relationship with Jesus and not end up in hell.

Jesus said no greater love has anyone than that he lay down his life for his friends. That’s the way He loves. How can we ever love our friends enough to die for them when we don’t love them enough to tell them the truth because it might hurt their feelings?

Jesus said in Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” To love Jesus is to obey Him. We cannot say we love Him or our neighbor and support what He calls sin.

That’s why I’m running the risk of making people angry by stating the truth. I don’t want anyone, even the world’s worst, to end up in hell. May they all come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and allow Him to give them new life.

I’ll keep praying for the young woman I mentioned earlier. I pray she truly knows Jesus herself. And I pray she learns to love her friends truly the way Jesus loves them, by telling them the truth.

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Do you know Jesus? Do you have a personal relationship with Him? According to scripture, all anyone must do is recognize their sin condition, realize that Christ died to pay for that sin, and ask Him to save them from it. Salvation is a gift of grace we receive by faith. Meet Him today! Contact me at kenneth@kennethmbriggs.com if you need more information.

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