“Born-again Christians are more likely to disapprove of homosexuality than divorce. The vast majority of Christians say that homosexuality should not be considered a legitimate lifestyle and strongly reject church-sanctioned weddings for same-sex unions. However, a minority of born-again believers (39 percent) embrace Jesus’s teaching that divorce is a sin except in cases of adultery” (page 94).
“Most born-again Christians have a hard time knowing how they should respond to the lifestyles of homosexuals as well as how to respond to the political efforts of gay and lesbian activists” (page 94).
“May Christians continue to be very skeptical about donating to HIV/AIDS causes, even overseas, despite Christians’ generosity in many other arenas” (page 95).
“It is one thing to be against homosexuality, to affirm that the Bible rejects the practice of same-sex lifestyles, but it is another to be against homosexuals, to let your disagreement with their behavior spill out in your feelings and words toward them as people” (page 96).
“We encountered significant resistance among some Christians to having their views about gays and lesbians challenged. Apparently they have already made up their mind that they have nothing to learn. Consider some of the inaccurate assumptions Christians embrace:
- Homosexuals are incapable of acting morally.
- Homosexuals are an organized movement with the purpose of subverting conservative Christianity. Another assumption is that all homosexuals are of the same mind regarding their political engagement as well as in their antagonism toward Christians.
- Homosexuality is a simple issue…Many Christian psychologiests and pastors consider human sexuality to be a complex puzzle of personality, our tainted sin nature, an individual’s history, and personal needs.
- It is best to avoid any friendships with homosexuals. (pages 97-98)
Biblical Responses
- Acknowledging the complexity. The biblical response to homosexuals should be to deal with the fundamental needs that all men and women have. We must acknowledge that everyone has sexual baggage but also has the potential for sexual wholeness. There are major problems across the spectrum of sexuality that the church needs to address. For example, a majority of born-again Busters believe that cohabitation and sexual fantasies are morally acceptable.
- Opening doors with conversations. A vital element of engaging homosexuals is to elevate the importance of conversations. Christians expect overnight results and are impatient with the need to cultivate deep, candid relationships and interactions of trust.
- Treating other Christians with respect. If we don’t work at developing meaningful relationships with our co-workers, whether gay or straight, how can we expect them to respect us and our beliefs? When we get to know and love homosexuals because they are people, perhaps they will grow to love and appreciate us and maybe even listen to what we believe.
- Having the right perspective. Even if we could “win” every legal, legislative, and political battle-a reality that will become increasingly difficult as Mosaics and Busters take center stage-the chasm between Christians and outsiders will only deepen. We cannot assume that politics is the only or best way to influence people.
- Expressing concern for kids.
- Having compassion. ‘Nothing that we despise in the other man is entirely absent from ourselves. We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or don’t do, and more in light of what they suffer’ (Deitrich Bonhoeffer)” (page 104-107).