Oh... you're a fornicator... sure we can help you.
Oh... an adulterer... no big deal.... we can help with that too.
Drug, alcohol, smoking, and pornography addictions... lets work through it together.
Homosexual... how can you be homosexual and "Christian"... that's not possible.... go away!
How is it that we as Christians have somehow given ourselves the power to condemn and judge others or to categorize sin? Are we not the ones who have had the grace and forgiveness of God repeatedly extended toward us? Why is it so hard to extend it toward others... especially those who need it most?
I know that not every Christian, or congregation, is like this, but it is much more common than it should be. How is it that the man, or woman, who struggles with a constant drawing toward adult pornography is taken in with love and acceptance, but the man, or woman, who struggles with a desire for the same sex isn't? I know that homosexuality is wrong and it is a sin! But so is adultery, fornication, lying, jealousy, and must I keep going?!?!? Yes we see these things as sins and we do not encourage them, but we do not condemn them the same way homosexuality is condemned.
We today need to adopt a new motto toward homosexuals. We need to love them and welcome them in the church. After all, that is where they need to be... surely as Christians we can all agree on that! They do not need to be shunned just because their struggle is not the same as your struggle or your best friend's. However, we should not in any way, encourage their sin. Instead, we need to let the love of God flow through us and the grace of God be represented through our life. Then we need to allow God to bring conviction and healing. People who are caught in this sin battle need to be covered in prayer and the Word of God! Often, however, they are pushed away by the judgement and condemnation of the church and the people of God. This leaves them fighting the battle on their own, which is not affective at all. We all need the help of God in order to overcome our sin nature. For God is the only one who has overcome the world and it is our responsibility as children of God to encourage others to turn to Him.
I'm not advocating for homosexuality at all. It is wrong and it is a sin! We should stand against it in every way, but we also can't forget that these people are in a spiritual battle and that God can deliver them from their sin just as easily as He delivered you and me from ours. They are under attack and we need to fight with them (by calling the name of Jesus over them, prayer, emersion in the Word and spiritual encouragement)... not against them.
