This document discusses responding to America's increasingly pro-gay culture from a Christian perspective. It acknowledges recent legal and social changes affirming homosexuality while arguing that the Bible teaches that only heterosexual acts between married couples are allowed by God. It emphasizes the need to love gays as neighbors in need of God's love and grace, despite theological disagreements, and provides suggestions for practical ways Christians can show love and support to the gay community.

1. Loving Gays
Responding toAmerica’s Pro-Gay Culture
Sunday, June 30, 13

2. Facts We Cannot Ignore
May 23, 2013: BSA decided to a"ow boys into Scouts regardless
of sexual orientation.
June 20, 2013: Exodus President apologizes for trying to change
gays and closes 37-year-old ministry that attempted to do that.
June 26, 2013: Supreme Court gives federal benefits to married
gay couples. (Inevitable decision)
Hundreds of pastors and about 8 million Christians
now affirm that “gay is OK” with God.
Sunday, June 30, 13

3. Historic Times
First time in 3000 years of Judeo-Christian teachings: gay
is OK
20th century: First time in human history in any culture,
that homosexuality has been affirmed as normal behavior
Sunday, June 30, 13

4. Truths We Cannot Ignore
God has not changed: Only heterosexual sexual acts between
married spouses are a"owed by God in OT & NT. Warnings
about sexual morality pervade the Scriptures. "Flee
from sexual immorality" (1 Cor. 6:18)
To be saved, gays can and must change. Their lifestyle and
beliefs have to change to comply with God’s view of sex.
We can & must love and serve gays as neighbors and/or
enemies while not endorsing their sinful actions or beliefs
Sunday, June 30, 13

5. Our Dilemma
There is no way to appease gay activists without
departing &om the truth of the Word.
unless we celebrate homosexuality, embracing it
as mora"y and socia"y equivalent to heterosexuality, and
unless we te" “gay Christians” that they can fo"ow Jesus
and practice homosexuality at the same time, we have not
gone far enough in their eyes.
US Law makes them lega"y equal and the Church of
America is deeply divided on gay theology.
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6. In the last thirty years, gay insistence for unqualified
acceptance has grown from a whisper to a roar.
Many churches in the West now believe that gays make
up a distinctive ethnic group in which a gay person is
assumed to be natively ‘gay’, morally neutral and
deserving all the rights and privileges due to members of
an oppressed minority!
Legal rights--yes. Acceptance as moral--no.
Splitting the Global Church
Sunday, June 30, 13

7. GREATEST NEEDS OF GAYS
Same as ours:
To know the love of God the Father, the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ and the fe"owship of the Holy Spirit
To experience God’s love & grace through people like us
who wi" love, serve, forgive, encourage and honor
them as our neighbor whom God longs to be gracious to.
Sunday, June 30, 13

8. Roots of Homosexuality
Gays need our love in word and deeds even more than most
people because of the roots of same-sex attraction:
Rejection, shame, ostracism, abuse, sexual abuse, rape,
pornography, bad parenting, fatherless homes, Christian
condemnation/ridicule/silence of others about them
2000 years of inept/sinful Christian responses
Sunday, June 30, 13

9. See Them As God Does
Wounded, confused, desperate people
Fu" of pain, shame, fear in gays a" over the world
Driven to drugs, despair or suicide to escape that pain
Trying to meet normal emotional needs in a sinful way.
Why do we love & serve Hindu’s, Buddhists, Muslims,
convicted murderers, rapists, thieves and drunks--but not
gays? What do we fear about that?
Sunday, June 30, 13

10. Don’t Avoid Gay Seekers
“When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate
with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t
talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin,
or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have
to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are
not to associate with anyone who claims to be a
believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or
worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people.
Don’t even eat with such people” (1 Cor. 5:9-11, NLT).
Sunday, June 30, 13

11. Sin in the Church
The Church has probably always had significant sexual sin
between men & women in its members. It does now!
The ungodly response of the Church towards gays for 2000
years has intensified and expanded the desperation of
people stru(ling with same-sex attractions. Some could have
been rescued but found little help in the Church.
Hateful response of the Church is just as bad as the
sins of homosexual acts in God’s sight. Both groups
are deluded and addicted to their sins. (Like slavery of blacks)
Sunday, June 30, 13

12. Sin in the Church
We must first repent of our own sexual sins and other bondages
such as pornography, adultery and fornication—and then we must
ask God to break our hearts with His love for gays.
We have not seen them as our neighbors: confused people needing
dignity and honor as a human beings Jesus died for.
We need to apologize to them and repent to God
We must commit to love in deeds and actions REGARDLESS OF
HOWTHEY RESPOND TO US. That’s God’s way.
Sunday, June 30, 13

13. Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)
“But to you who are listening, I say: Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you.
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other
also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your
shirt &om them.
Sunday, June 30, 13

14. Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what
belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as
you would have them do to you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.And if you do
good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to
you? Even sinners do that.And if you lend to those &om
whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?
Sunday, June 30, 13

15. Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)
Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in fu".
But love your enemies, do good to them, and
lend to them without expecting to get anything
back. Then your reward wi" be great, and you wi" be
children of the Most High, because He is kind to the
ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your
Father is merciful.
Sunday, June 30, 13

16. Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)
37 “Do not judge, and you wi" not be judged. Do not
condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and you wi" be forgiven. Give, and it wi" be
given to you.A good measure, pressed down, shaken
together and running over, wi" be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it wi" be measured to you.”
Sunday, June 30, 13

17. Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:7-42)
41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your
brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your
own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let
me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail
to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take
the plank out of your eye, and then you wi" see clearly to
remove the speck &om your brother’s eye.
Sunday, June 30, 13

18. Practical Ways to Love
Stop putting politics above the scriptures. Laws wi" not
save them or saveAmerica &om their influence.
Ask God for a prophetic word for them.
Pray for their healing of anything that causes them pain.
Follow the Golden Rule Jesus taught: “So in everything,
do to others what you would have them do to you, for
this sums up the Law and the Prophets. ( Matt 7:12)~~Jesus
Sunday, June 30, 13

19. Practical Ways to Love
Serve them during Gay Pride Parades: Gay Pride Meets Christian Humility
Fight for their legal rights as equals under the law
Be affectionate with them verba"y and with hugs
A"owing someone who has stru(led with homosexuality to get
close to you is the greatest gi+ you can give them.
Learn &om http://www.restoredhopenetwork.com and
http://www.lovinghomosexuals.com
Sunday, June 30, 13

20. Prayer Needed
There is intense pressure on those offering hope and
transformation to the homosexual community. We need to
pray for ex-Exodus presidentAlan and his wife and
family, along with those who have served with him in
recent years, since there is a massive spiritual attack
on those who stand on the front lines of
ministry to homosexual men and women.
Sunday, June 30, 13

21. Prayer for Leaders
On the one hand, if you are an ex-gay leader, both the
church and the world are watching your every move, the
former wanting to be sure you are preserving your
testimony, the latter wanting to discredit you. On the
other hand, many in the church mistake
compassion for compromise while the world
mistakes conviction for bigotry. The pressure from
both sides (and a" the more &om the spiritual realm)
can be intense.
Sunday, June 30, 13

22. Prayer For Ourselves
BIG DISTRACTION!! ( Neh & Sanba"at example)
Enjoy God with a" your heart & love your neighbors no matter
who they are. ( e.g. Muslims & Minnich’s)
Do Not Fear: Trust God in everything. (Is. 41:10)
Pray & Leave in God’s hands: We are not responsible to fix gays
or anyone else except ourselves.
God is in control. He wi" use it a" for good for His children.
Sunday, June 30, 13