Understanding Homosexuality

Practical Ministry Guidance

1. A family member who has just learned a loved one is living a homosexual lifestyle.
2. A practicing homosexual seeking help—sometimes veiled under vague references or “a friend’s situation.”
3. A Christian experiencing same-sex attraction who does not act on those feelings but struggles with guilt or confusion.

Ministering to Family Members

• Stay calm and ask God for grace. Don’t panic.
• Keep communication open—love as God loves, even through the struggle.
• Avoid condemnation or harsh words, which often shut down dialogue.
• Avoid affirming sinful behavior or reinterpreting Scripture to justify it.
• Entrust the loved one to God, knowing He uses crises to deepen our faith (Proverbs 3:5–6).
• Find support. Bottled-up emotions can become toxic. A trusted Christian friend or prayer partner can help.
• Persevere in love and hope, even if change comes slowly or not at all.

Ministering to a Practicing Homosexual

• Approach the person with gentleness, not confrontation.
• Recognize they may feel lonely, guilty, or rejected. Offer care, not shame.
• Build trust before addressing behavior. Listen first. Avoid jumping into theological arguments.
• At an appropriate moment, ask if they have personally received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
• If they’re open, share the Gospel and offer to pray with them for freedom and healing.
• Encourage them to immerse themselves in Scripture, where God's truth can reshape their heart and mind.
• Urge them to build new, Christ-centered relationships through the church and/or a small group.
• Recommend professional counseling through resources like the Pleasant Valley Counseling Ministry (who can refer to a trusted professional).

Ministering to a Christian with Same-Sex Attraction

• Listen patiently and without judgment.
• Ask for their faith story to understand their spiritual background.
• If they express resistance or justification, gently share the biblical view of sexual ethics and call them to surrender.
• Help them distinguish between temptation (not a sin) and willful action (a sin).
• Emphasize that identity is found in Christ, not in sexual orientation.
• Encourage regular spiritual practices—worship, community, Bible study, prayer, and service.
• Recommend ongoing pastoral or professional counseling.
  • Note: Encourage those impacted by homosexuality to connect with biblically faithful ministries or trusted pastoral support.

Navigating Questions About Salvation and Sexual Sin

1. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone.
2. We are not saved by sexual purity, moral performance, or getting our lives in order. Every believer is a forgiven sinner who still battles sin.
3. The faith that saves us also leads us to repentance.
4. The issue is not “Does this person sin?” but “What do they do with sin?”
5. A  Christian may struggle, fall, and wrestle, but they do not celebrate sin or seek to redefine it.
6. Unrepentant sin of any kind is a warning sign.
7. Whether it is greed, bitterness, adultery, pornography, or homosexual practice, the Bible consistently warns that ongoing rebellion against God without repentance is not compatible with genuine discipleship (1 John 2:3–4, Galatians 5:19–21, Hebrews 10:26).
8. Our role is not to declare who is in or out, but to call people to Jesus.
9. We are not asked to decide who is going to heaven. We are called to lovingly say:  “Anyone who claims Christ but refuses to turn from sin is in spiritual danger and needs to come back to the Jesus revealed in the Bible.”
10. Affirming churches do not change God’s standard, they only confuse people about it.
11. A church may bless what God forbids, but that does not erase God’s Word. False teaching gives false assurance, and false assurance is dangerous.
12. A true Christian may be confused or misled by false teaching from affirming churches for a season, but if they truly have the Holy Spirit in them, He will lead them to truth, conviction, and repentance in time.

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