A Compassionate Stance

I've been looking into the topic of being gay and being a Christian. Many people would say its impossible to be both. I personally have met people who I would consider a "gay Christian." But beyond that I have found a compelling book written by a self proclaimed gay Christian, called Torn. His name is Justin Lee. He was raised in a Christian home by two loving, non-abusive parents. He loved God and was a Christian from a young age. Yet as he entered puberty he discovered he had same sex attractions. He sought to fix this issue, even participating in what is called "ex-gay ministries," to no avail. The same sex attractions never left. He was called "God Boy" in school, which I find interesting because I was called "God Girl" in high school. My best friend told me about the nickname thinking I would be appalled, but I told her I took it as a compliment, because I am a Christian and love God. Anyways, in his book Torn, Lee talks about why he believes God would affirm same sex marriage. 

As I have thought about the topic of same sex marriage, I have thought that offering a homosexual man or woman celibacy as their only option after receiving salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ, seems a very incompassionate stance to take. I understand that some may choose celibacy, or feel compelled to lead a celibate life, in service to God once saved. And I think that celibacy is a wonderful choice. But I think it should be a CHOICE not something forced on someone. 

In Lee's book he points out that in the Bible Jesus often chose the compassionate option over the legalistic one. In one example Jesus healed a man's withered hand and he was told he by the Pharisees that he was breaking the law by working on the Sabbath. Here's Jesus' response: Mark 3:4 "Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?'" Jesus was taking the more compassionate stance, that healing was the more loving thing to do, rather than following the letter of the law. Jesus also said love is the fulfillment of the law. (Matthew 22:36-40) 

In another example Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field, and they picked some kernels to eat. The Pharisees again asked Jesus why he was breaking the law of the Sabbath. Jesus brought up the example of David: Luke 6:2-4 "Jesus answered them, 'Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.'" David was violating God's law, yet Jesus approves of this, arguing that sometimes violating the law is necessary in order to do the right thing. David was running for his life, from King Saul, and the only food he was able to get was the "bread of the Presence," which is forbidden by God's law to eat. Yet Jesus is saying this action was okay!

In another instance, after Jesus was healing on the Sabbath, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees: Luke 14:5-6 "Then he asked them, 'If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?' And they had nothing to say." In Justin Lee's book, Torn, He says "Over and over, Jesus provides examples of the spirit of the law superseding the letter of the law." And he mentions that these are the types of arguments Christians get into about homosexuality. As Lee further states, "... debating to what extent certain passages apply to us today and whether they condemn a particular behavior in a particular situation or not." But the Bible is clear, we are no longer under the law. 

Galations 3:23-25 says: 

23Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Throughout Jesus ministry he emphasized the spirit of the law over the letter of the law. Even though Jesus also said in Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." We to this day follow laws in the Old Testament, like the Ten Commandments. Yet there are other laws, like not eating shell fish or not wearing clothes of mixed fibers, that we no longer follow. 

So where do we draw the line? How do we decide to follow a certain law or not follow it? One answer could be "compassion." To look at the situation through the lens of compassion may dictate whether we follow the letter of the law exactly, or that we follow Jesus' lead of showing compassion in that situation. The Bible may say in the Old Testament (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13) that a man shall not lay with another man as with a woman, and you may think... "That's so clear!" And in the New Testament (Romans 1:26-27) Paul says men and women exchanged the natural for the unnatural and men slept with men, and women slept with women. Again, you may say... "That's so clear!" However we could look at verses, like 1 Corinthians 7:7-9, where Paul basically says it is not good to burn with passion, and being single isn't for everyone. And then we can look at our fellow men and women of the LGBTQ community, who have same sex attractions, and realize that forcing celibacy on them (if they were to come to the Lord and be saved, and proclaim to be Christians) would be unkind and perhaps even too much to ask of many of them. Perhaps some would choose celibacy after salvation. Which is great! But I would venture to guess that not 100% would feel that calling (which I believe celibacy is a calling, and not a commandment).

We also could dive deeper into some of these "clobber verses" and seek out the context and cultural background of them. And perhaps learn some new information about those verses. Read my previous blog "Let Love Lead" to hear more on that. 

This is just another way of looking at the topic of being gay and being a Christian (at the same time). If you are wondering if this is even possible, or thought 100% that it is not, then perhaps this blog will shed a new light on the topic and help you look at it through the lens of compassion. I highly recommend reading Torn by Justin Lee to learn more about his testimony as a gay Christian. It may just open your eyes to a new way of looking at things. 

Also, in conclusion, Jesus said that LOVE is the fulfillment of the law. We are told to love God and love people. Are we showing love and compassion to the LGBTQ community? I think the church can do better.