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1 Corinthians 6:9-20
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Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men a
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nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
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And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Sexual Immorality
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“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
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You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
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By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.
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Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
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Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
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But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
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Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
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Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
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you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
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That is as clear as it gets. Sexual immorality, which I myself have issues with overcoming, is a sin against my own body. It is my thorn.
In the Americas, versions of sexual conduct and behavior have become legitimized, legalized and in some cases standardized as education in our societies. As Christians, this is an attack on what we consider moral. But what is not considered, is that a great number of us came to Christ from that state of darkness. In the Americas, sexual conduct is a bed of hypocrisy.
Nations are not holy. Economies are not holy. Societies are not holy. These are all worldly constructs. And the darkness that fuels them, empowers its children. The world gives its children what they desire. This is not what Christ does. He gives us a way to be loving, and at peace with it. What is holy, is faithfulness to this truth.
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John 14:27
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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
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So as we are under the grace afforded us, we are slaves to it. Our bodies are no longer ours. And the correction of our ways is ongoing, we all sin, but the more we persevere, the more righteousness comes through us. None are perfect, not one. But because we have given ourselves over to our master, his perfection can work through us. The grace afforded by the blood of Christ, and his ascension, gave us a spirit of correctness to live in us forever.
We live surrounded by darkness. It is in the form of liberties and freedoms that supply the flesh what it desires. When we lived in darkness, we celebrated it. And so this is what is increasing in the world. Sin in increasing, and sin is celebrated. Those who sin, are at liberty enable themselves and each other. Those who sin are empowered by these freedoms, and celebrate them. This darkness is what we were all born into, and what they will die in.
So where do we fit in. If they do not know the light, how can they understand? Well, no amount of persecution will work. It only increases the spirit of rebellion and makes them worse than before. No amount of judgement will work. It only brings judgement on ourselves in our hypocrisy, as we also sin. So where do we fit in? We don't.
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John 15:18,19
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“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
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If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
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So it is important to understand, it is us, whom do not belong. We are the foreigners, the orphans, the aliens, the refugees. We are the ones who the world hates. Knowing this would happen, Christ asked for an advocate to be sent among those who love him and follow his commandments. The Spirit of Truth is our guidance, and when relied upon, is what brings to us, perfect understanding.
This is key. Because that understanding is only available through the authority of Christ, who all things, including the tree of knowledge of good and evil, came through in the beginning. You see, the human animal relies on its own knowledge of good and evil, to make choices based on its incomplete understanding. But when we have put ourselves aside, the Holy Spirit supplies us with understanding beyond our human limits.
So what does it mean then to carry this light, this understanding? It means we are brought out of our darkness, so we can see where we came from, and what currently has a hold on those individuals placed before us. And in this understanding, we are capable of supplying love. No judgement, no condemnation, no ill will. We are capable of having God's love come through us.
Why do we need to love the LGTBQ folks? Because only by doing so, are we showing we believe and love the Christ. Because if we love him we keep his commandments:
- Love the Father with all our heart, mind, and soul.
- Love one another
Treating others how we would want to be treated. Not being bitter, angry, evious, scornful, judgemental, condemning, and hateful. Not putting ourselves above them, but instead serving them with a love that is sincere and they will be witness to.
This insight works in other ways too. Loving Muslims, loving refugees, loving pro choice people, loving all who bring contention to you. We are to flee from what is evil, but that is for our own sake. When it comes to others, we can be confident, and fearless in showing love.
Is that acceptance of their sin? No! We love the soul and hate the sin. Do we enable their liberties? No! But we do not challenge them with what we hold true, because it is futile, and foriegn to them. Do we empower their freedom of expression? No! But we instead use our freedom to show them love that we would have shown for ourselves. And THAT is what they witness. And THAT is how we serve righteously.
In love, in faith.
There are no LGTBQ Christians, because they do not have Christ in them. There are LGTBQ repentant souls, we call them men and women, we call them brothers and sisters in Christ. A pastor said, " A man came to me and told me he couldn't find a way out of what has a hold of him. I told the man he didn't have to. I told him he had to give it to Christ, so Christ can lead him out of it."
In love, in faith.
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