All of us are known by the labels we willingly wear or by labels that are attached to us by other people. Here, we are combining two labels that may surprise you when they are put together: ‘Christian and gay’.

To wear the label ‘gay’ draws both positive and negative reaction. To wear the label ‘Christian’ may draw similar reaction. To combine these two labels into one: ‘Christian gay’, creates considerable reaction, again both positive and negative.

The majority of evangelical and fundamentalist Christians reject the premise that it is possible to be both Christian and gay at the same time. We are not talking about so-called ‘ex-gays’ or gays who are no longer involved in gay relationships. We are speaking about homosexuals who have been spiritually born again by the power of the gospel of Christ and who now accept their homosexuality as God-given, normal, and natural. Prior to their new birth they were unsaved homosexuals. Now, they (we) are saved homosexuals, but still homosexuals. The salvation experience does not change one’s sexuality. It does change one’s eternal destiny and one’s living habits.

Unfortunately large numbers of gays also reject the possibility that one can be both Christian and gay. This is often the reaction that gays have to the homophobia of non-gay Christians.

As Christian gays, we see no conflict in being who we are. We are not ashamed to declare that we are born again believers. Nor are we ashamed to let it be known that we believe that the Bible is the infallible, divinely inspired, written Word of God. We look to the Bible as our final authority in all matters of faith, doctrine, and practice. We do not find our homosexuality and our Christianity to be in conflict with one another. We acknowledge Christ as our only Savior and Lord. We refuse to forsake Christianity simply because the majority of biblical Christians do not or will not accept us. We know that we are accepted by God. To us this is all that matters. In Christ we’ve been set free from the bondage of ‘religion’. We take Galatians 5:1 to mean what it says: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." The writer [Paul] was speaking of the slavery to religious rules and regulations, to vain and meaningless traditions, and to the legalism of religion. We believe that real Christianity is not religion; rather it is life in and through Jesus Christ. HE is the way, the truth, and the life. 

Most biblical Christians condemn and judge all aspects of homosexuality, hence they condemn homosexuals. They erroneously teach that homosexuality is unnatural, sinful, and immoral whereas the Bible says: "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled." (Titus 1:15)

As Christian gays, we need to be positive in our attitude toward heterosexual Christians. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need not develop ‘heterophobia [fear of heterosexuals and fear of heterosexuality]. Such fear is as destructive as homophobia. Christian love should be our motivation in reaching out to these Christian brothers and sisters. 

A positive biblical faith can and will eventually overcome the negativism of the organized Church that continues to promote homophobia. Both the world and the Church need to see the gospel lived out in the lives of Christian gays. The following are some positive steps Christian gays can take: 

1. Promote and maintain biblical standards in areas of morality and sexual behavior.
2. Endeavor to live godly lives that honor our Lord; lives that are Christ-centered.
3. Display love for God and love for our neighbor as Jesus has commanded His followers to do.
4. Teach sound biblical doctrine, holding firmly to the fundamentals of the historic biblical faith.
5. Witness to a lost and dying world of the saving grace that is found in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
6. Disciple and help equip Christian gay men and women to be effective servants of Jesus Christ.
7. Show to everyone that there is a better way of living life that can be found in Jesus Christ; that religion is not the answer but that Jesus Christ is the answer!
8. Maintain relationships that are Christ-centered where faithfulness in covenant is demonstrated between two people of the same gender.

Homosexuality is not sinful nor is homosexuality a perversion of nature as some mistakenly claim. Homosexuality is simply a variation in God’s wonderful work and world of creation. God delights in variety, just look around you; the mountains, the flowers, the desert, the heavens, the animal world and people themselves. God does not delight in clones. Homosexuality is not a mistake that God allowed to happen. Why some people are homosexual while the majority is heterosexual no one really has the answer. We just know that for some, homosexuality is natural and normal. It is who they are. It is not a learned behavior. People who claim that homosexuality is a learned behavior are misinformed. Those making this claim are seldom homosexual themselves. The non-homosexual cannot possibly fully know the psyche of the homosexual. We did not become homosexual, rather we discovered our homosexuality. Most of us went through a period of time fighting and rejecting who we really are. Remember, God does not make mistakes! 

The aspect of homosexuality that is condemned in scripture is that which is perverted. Every biblical passage dealing with homosexual sex acts is associated with pagan religious practices. These acts were in the context of pagan temple worship and are referred to as idolatry. Romans chapter 1 is a graphic picture of behavior as associated with pagan religion. 

Christian gays did not choose to be homosexual any more than Christian heterosexuals chose to be heterosexuals. We all, however, did choose to be Christians. We are firstly Christians who are also homosexuals.

As Christians, whether homosexual or heterosexual, we must remember that our freedom in Christ is not a license to ‘do one’s own thing’. That there are biblical standards spelled out in scripture cannot and must not be denied. An area that every Christian must learn to control in his/her life is lust. Lust is a part of each person’s old nature. (See: Rom.3:23; Jer. 17:9) Lust can be controlled or it can be allowed to rule and ruin one’s life. Lust is the craving and acting out of impulses that are triggered in one’s mind. Lust is a selfish attitude. It is the ‘me first, last and always’ attitude. Lust gives little thought for the feelings of others. It is accountable to no one, including God, and is irresponsible. Lust craves power at any cost. The converse of lust is love. Lust can be brought under control by the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit in the life of the believer includes ‘self-control’. Christians need not be defeated by their old nature. We have victory in our Lord Jesus Christ. The bible declares: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This is not an idle promise. If you are a Christian, this promise is for you to claim as your own.

If you are a gay person, don’t be ashamed of who you are and who God intends you to be. Remember, God is Creator. God has a divine plan for your life. God loves you. You are not an orphan or stepchild of God. If you have personally accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and life, you are God’s child. Remember, God has no orphans, no stepchildren. All believers are full members of the family of God. 

"You are all son/daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
(Gal. 3:26-28)

Did you get that? We are one in Christ. 

Would you like to know more about who you are and what God has for you? We cordially invite you to visit our church. We are not just another church; rather we are a church where everyone is welcome! We are not a gay church. We are a Christian church seeking to carry out the expectation that our Lord has for the body of Christ. We are seeking to put biblical Christianity into action!