Os Hillman of “Reclaiming the Seven Mountains” argues in a column today at Charisma News that conservative Christians can show love to the gay community without offering an “endorsement of a lifestyle” that is considered sinful.
He warns that Christians “fall into deception” and “embrace a life of sin” when they affirm gays and lesbians, whom he says are seeking “acceptance from the straight community, politicians and God.”
Hillman urges readers to befriend gays and lesbians but only so “they might embrace God’s love instead of Satan’s counterfeit love.”
Let’s face it: Jesus got a lot angrier at Pharisees than He did at those living a sinful lifestyle. When Jesus saved the prostitute from being stoned, He didn’t discount her sin; He just told her to “go and sin no more.” My guess is that if Jesus were living today, He would befriend gays to let them experience His love personally in hopes they might embrace God’s love instead of Satan’s counterfeit love.
The Christian community has failed to embrace Jesus’ model of helping and loving those who, in many cases, don’t think they need Christ or a different lifestyle than the one they live. We all believed that before we embraced Christ. Unfortunately, when we embrace a life of sin, no matter what sin it is, we fall into deception. Moral compromise always leads to deceit.
The gay community has adopted the position, “You will accept us whether you want to or not!” The community seeks acceptance from the straight community, politicians and God. The problem is, they want endorsement of a lifestyle versus acceptance of them as people deserving of mutual respect. There is a big difference between these two concepts.
Christianity cannot, nor should it, condone sin in whatever form it is expressed. However, no sin is worse than another in the eyes of God. God hates pride, religion, pornography, divorce and homosexuality. But He never hates individuals. He does hate sin.
