John 3:17 (NKJV) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
We should not hate or condemn those in the LGBTQ community. Instead, we should love them even though we do not condone their lifestyles and welcome them to church so that they can listen to and know the truth. We need to see them through the eyes of Jesus, who is compassionate towards the lost. Jesus did not come to condemn the world because He knew that we are sinners and the knowledge of sin torments us. Instead, He came to build trust and covenantal relationship with us, and we are to do likewise for the people around us.
Romans 5:6 (NKJV) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Every ungodly person qualifies to be saved because God loves them Jesus died for them too. They might not have strength to overcome their desires and temptations and that is precisely why they need to be saved, because the power of the Holy Spirit that works in their lives after their salvation will help them to break free.
Matthew 9:11-13 (NKJV) And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Jesus ate with sinners, went to their houses, and spoke to them with grace while the religious people would have nothing to do with them. Jesus befriended them to reach out to them. Just like the woman at the well, Jesus did not condemn her but ministered to her with a word of knowledge and asked her to sin no more.
Those who practise homosexuality are just as human as anyone of us. There is always a story behind them which might not be pleasant. Sometimes what they really need is a listening ear, for someone to journey with them and to minister to them, but are we prepared to make time for them? There may be layers of pain that need healing and to be dealt with, and they are struggling with their identity and deep dark secrets.
It is difficult to speak into someone’s life unless they know that it is spoken out of genuine love and concern. Jesus showed His genuine and unconditional love for us by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He has the right to speak into our lives through the Word. God wants to build trusting, affectionate and intimate relationships with us. We allow Him to speak into the blind spots in our lives because we know that He is doing it out of love, and He wants us to do likewise for our brothers and sisters in the church. Whatever we do for those who are broken, we do it for the Lord.
Sermon Series: Natural or Unnatural (Part 2- Homosexuality)
耶稣爱罪人，我们也当如此
约翰福音3:17因为神派祂的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因祂得救。
我们不应该仇恨或谴责LGBTQ群体中的人。相反，我们应该爱他们，即使我们不容忍他们的生活方式。我们应该欢迎他们去教堂，让他们能够倾听和了解真相。我们需要通过耶稣的眼睛看待他们，耶稣对失丧者充满同情。耶稣来不是为了谴责这个世界，因为祂知道我们是罪人，罪的知识折磨着我们。相反，祂来与我们建立信任和盟约关系，我们也要为我们周围的人这样做。
罗马书5:6因我们还软弱的时候，基督就按所定的日期为罪人死。
每个不虔诚的人都有资格得救，因为神爱他们，耶稣也为他们而死。他们可能没有力量去克服他们的欲望和诱惑，这正是他们需要被拯救的原因，因为在他们得救后，圣灵在他们生命中发挥的力量将帮助他们挣脱束缚。
马太福音9:11-13（NKJV）法利赛人看见，就对耶稣门徒说：“你们的先生为什么和税吏并罪人一同吃饭呢？”耶稣听见，就说：“健康的人用不着医生，有病的人才用得着。（经上说）：‘我喜爱怜恤，不喜爱祭祀。’这句话的意思，你们且去揣摩。我来本不是召义人，乃是召罪人。”
耶稣与罪人一起吃饭，去到他们的家里，以恩慈与他们交谈，而宗教人士却不愿搭理他们。耶稣为了赢得他们而与他们交朋友。就像井边的那个女人一样，耶稣没有谴责她，而是用知识的言语帮助她，并且嘱咐她不要再犯罪。
同性恋者和我们一样都是普通人类。通常他们背后都有不愉快的故事。有时，他们真正需要的是倾听，是有人与他们同行并服事他们，但我们准备好为他们付出时间了吗？可能有层层的痛苦需要医治和处理，他们正在为自己的身份和幽暗的秘密而挣扎。
对某人的生命说话不是一件容易的事，除非那人知道这话是出于真诚的爱与关怀。耶稣通过在十字架上的死为我们的罪付出赎价，显示了祂对我们真诚的和无条件的爱。祂有权藉着圣经对我们的生命说话。神希望与我们建立信任、满怀深情而又亲密的关系。我们允许祂说出我们生活中的盲点，因为我们知道祂这样做是出于爱，祂希望我们也为教会中的兄弟姐妹这样做。无论我们为那些破碎的人做什么，我们都是为主做的。
讲章系列：自然或非自然（第二部分 同性恋）