Editorial/Biblical Reflection/Testimony

By Aaron Hale

Image: Deposit Photos

God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  (Colossians 1:27b)

I don’t mean to get over-spiritual and give a full on sermon, but it truly is the Spirit of God that lives inside of us born-again believers that will help us to effectively minister to this community.  The Spirit inside of us can help us to break past any fear of man, and boldly witness to homosexuals… all while still walking in humility and love.  I think we know well that dry religion in and of itself won’t attract those in the gay community.  But when we truly have the Light of the world in us– the love of Christ flowing out of us, that can be very attractive to people of all walks, and soften even the hardest of hearts.

Speaking the truth in love

When it comes to being a Christian witness to the LGBTQ, I like to point back to the example of how God used my Christian grandfather as a witness to me, when I was in the gay community.  What my grandfather got really right was: he had both love and truth.

Many times in the church, we’ve missed the mark because we’ve either striven to show love without truth, or we preach the truth without enough love.  An example of love without truth would be just behaving with a superficial niceness and telling people “Jesus loves you,” without ever warning that the sin that they’re continually engaged in will take them to hell.  The Bible, both Old and New Testaments are full of warnings about hell – which is not to condemn people, but comes from an infinitely loving God who wants so badly to prevent people from ending up there. 

Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.  Turn, turn from your evil ways!  For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ (Ezekiel 33:11)

Conversely, I think some in the LGBT (and other unbelievers)  have had a negative stereotype of Christianity based on believers who preach Biblical truths with a lack of love.  It’s clear to see how just preaching aggressively and angrily, without love, can backfire.  It can be easily likened to how back in Jesus’ days, the Pharisees used their religion both to elevate themselves and condemn others.  Despite their knowledge of the Scriptures, they missed the heart of God.  God has sent forth His Word to reconcile people back to Himself in His profoundly deep love.

If we’re left to ourselves, it could be easy to veer off into the world’s version of ‘love’ where anything goes, or else get into legalism and dead religion.  Both of those extremes come from the flesh.  But if we abide in Jesus, we can be in step with His heart, and start to get His brokenness for the lost, and urgency to see souls saved.

​​Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom (Colossians 1:28a)

I believe there are people in hell right now, in eternal torment horribly worse than the worst infirmity we know of on this earth, crying out “why didn’t someone warn me?!”.  If we truly believe the gospel, then we must have deep concern, even anguish, that many around us, including our loved ones, will go there if they don’t repent and turn to God.

The Two Main Ingredients

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30)

I want to zero in on two key ingredients to help those we love to be reconciled to the Lord.  The first is intercessory prayer, and the second is witnessing.  I know God can use our prayers powerfully, as He desires to use us to intercede for our peers and loved ones, that they would be willing to turn their foot from the wide road which leads to destruction.  God is a prayer answering God!  I have truly been experiencing this in my life as I’ve gotten the nerve (or faith) to actually believe Him!  

The second is our actual witness.  

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

(Romans 10:14-15)

So What Do I Say…?

“What do I say…?” you might ask.  I know it can feel like uncharted waters for many.  Well, the main thing you have to focus on is getting across their need for the gospel.  Yes, of course we must not compromise on the Biblical truth about homosexuality being a sin.  But the truth is that we all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.

Share with these precious loved ones that there is an eternity ahead, and that it will be in heaven or hell.  You can let them know that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  This is where you don’t even need to just zero in singularly on the topic of homosexuality.  You can ask them: have you ever lied before?  Have you ever stolen something, irrespective of its value?  Have you had sexual relations with anyone outside of marriage?  Yes, to any of those things?  Well, if you’re guilty of breaking one of the laws, you’re guilty of all of them (James 2:10).  We are born with a sin nature that none of us has the human strength to overpower; that is why Christ took the punishment for your sins on the cross.  In His resurrection, He defeated the power of sin.  He invites us into this same resurrection life today if we’ll turn away from our sins and put our trust in Him. 

Now when it comes to sharing the gospel with a queer-identifying unbeliever, I am not saying that all of the conversations will be easy or that all of the reactions will be favorable.  Jesus even says that we’ll be hated because of Him (Matthew 10:22).  But even in the midst of persecution, we can take heart and be glad that seeds are being planted.  God’s Word is a sharp, two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).  So if we’re truly coming from a place of love and genuine concern for someone’s soul, then one of the biggest gifts we can give them is cutting through the lie that Satan is using as grounds to take them down to hell.  If the person receiving your message is anything like I was five years ago, they might see you as “homophobic” in the short term, but might also be eternally grateful to you in the long run.  

For more insight, check out Aaron’s video below, where he shares more about his personal testimony on how Jesus saved him – and how we can help tell the truth to others in love today!

The opinions in this article are specific to its author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire Counter Culture Mom team. 

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