Jesus, I will follow you.

I think the better question to ask is how do you deal with a non-believer, or someone who is living in unrepentant sin. I don’t think you should treat a gay person different then how you would treat anyone else. The most important thing to remember is that we are all made in His image. An attitude of hatred toward anyone, believer or unbeliever, straight or homosexual, is inconsistent with the way we should treat any person that God has created.

Phillippians 2:3-5 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.

Paul spent much of the second chapter of Philippians explaining the importance of treating everyone with respect and dignity; even to the point of considering them more important than yourself. That above all else, is what you need to remember first.

In a way, it’s simple: Show them the same love and respect that Christ would show them. Jesus is down on sin, but not down on sinners. All people have sin in their lives, but that doesn’t mean they have less worth to God. So no matter what sin people are involved in, they’re still worth God’s love. I would treat any gay person the same way I would treat any of my straight friends who are sexually active. You can show love to someone without approving of what they do. The most important thing is to be honest about what you believe without shoving it down their throat.

Immediately finding a way to “fix someone” is an almost automatic reaction when we are confronted with a problem. Don’t do that. You need to build up trust with a person first so they know you have their best interest in mind. A person needs to feel permission to express their desires and longings, even though they may not be approved of, no matter what your sexual orientation is.

We need to change our focus from pointing out and condemning sin to sharing the unconditional love God has lavished on us. We need to provide an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can convict in the way and at the time He knows is most appropriate. That’s not to say you shouldn’t share your beliefs, but pray about it and figure out when you think it’s in God’s timing for you to do so. If they’re ever invited, most gay people eventually leave the church in despair because they find no hope there. But we can change that if we are willing to walk in their shoes; if we can just listen—and love.

Blessings<3

-Sarah