From the title I’m sure some are thinking, "Has Pastor Dan lost his stinking mind?!? Has he lost his moral compass...commitment to the Scripture?!?" The answer is "No." I do believe and still believe (as will most who read this) that homosexual acts, not to mention "marriage," are morally wrong in the sight of a holy God.

That being said, I am deeply concerned with how Christians respond to the looming issue of homosexuality that confronts us on so many levels. On the one hand, I must say that as a citizen of this great country, I am deeply troubled by our moral slide into sexual and marital confusion. There’s no question that the issue will impact future generations. Because of that, I believe it is my moral obligation as a citizen of this country to deal with this issue in a manner (like voting) that will promote and ensure the welfare of the people I’m called to love. It’s part of living responsibly within a participatory form of government. However, (my opinion) I don’t think we’re going to win the battle politically or legally... which brings me to the deeper concern -

I’m concerned that in the fight for morality and the maintenance of our Christian heritage (so called), we lose our Christian witness along with the central mandate of our faith to love God and love our neighbor. How do we approach the issue? Do we approach the issue of homosexuality as a follower of Jesus? OR, do we approach it as infuriated Americans? It’s tough because we are both at the same time. As a follower of Jesus, however, my deepest allegiance is not to country but to Christ. What follows are some thoughts about how I believe a follower of Jesus should approach the issue.

First, we should approach the homosexual issue remembering that Jesus is for the homosexual (hence the title). What do I mean? What I DON’T mean is that Jesus is approving of the sin of homosexuality (any more than Jesus approves of our eating too much, drinking too much, displays of arrogance, or outbursts of anger). Rather, what I mean is that Jesus lived and died to benefit sinners. It was Paul who stated this life transforming principle when he said, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Did you hear that? While we were yet sinners - messed up in a multitude of ways including homosexual sin - Christ died FOR us. Jesus was for us as sinners. This tells me that people struggling with homosexuality, or wholly given to it, are not the enemy! Christ came for the sinner. He died for the sinner while in an undeserving state! And if we remember that, we’ll see them and treat them as the objects of God’s love, not the enemy - no matter how militant they may be. Our enemy is not flesh and blood.

Second, we must approach the issue with a sense of humility. I must remember that Jesus died for me while I was yet a sinner. My sin may not be of the homosexual stripe, but I have sinned in a multitude of ways, all of which are equally damning. Therefore, I shouldn’t approach the person given to this particular sin as if he (or she) is somehow sub-human or more deserving of Hell than me. Our attitudes, actions and words must convey the humility of a fellow-sinner in desperate need of God’s grace.

Third, we must act responsibly with confidence in Divine sovereignty. I’m somewhat surprised by Christians who - proverbially speaking - are running around like Chicken Little screaming "The sky is falling, the sky is falling," as if the world is going to end because of this issue. To be sure we must vote and continue to articulate the truth (humbly in love), but God is still in control! This issue didn’t take Him by surprise! Nor will it kill the church. Even if homosexual marriage becomes a culturally and legally accepted model for marriage, Christians will still survive. If we survived Rome we’ll survive this! Not only will we survive, but by God’s grace thrive. We will still hold to the sacred and biblically defined meaning of marriage. And our lights will shine the brighter for it! In short, we don’t need to panic and perpetuate a "sky-is-falling" mentality. The sky will not fall until God wills it to fall and to be perfectly honest, when He does... NOTHING and NO ONE will stop it.

Fourth, we must remember that our greatest weapon for people and the transformation of culture is not the weapons of men - namely politics, marches and demonstrations. Rather, our greatest weapons are found in the power of fervent prayer; the life-altering, world-altering power of the gospel; and true Christianity lived out in humility, sincerity and love. That, I believe, will make a difference. It will make a difference in an individual enslaved to sin, including homosexual sin, a difference in a community and a difference in a culture.

Am I concerned about the issue? Yes. Do I need to freak out over the issue? No. What I need to do (we need to do) is what followers of Jesus have done for thousands of years under dictatorships, communism, and every variety of immoral culture... follow Jesus. And if that is our primary strategy, the leaven of His gospel will work its way through the dough of our lives and culture.