How to Minister Hope to Those With Same-Sex Attraction

Few issues have been as vexing to the modern Christian as the acceptance of homosexuality in the culture and even within the church. Some mainline denominations with a proud heritage of standing for God are selling their birthright at the altar of post-modern thinking and embracing what they believe to be a more “enlightened” view of sexuality—going so far as to ordain openly “gay” leaders, as well as marry same-sex couples.

Public sentiment has shifted at an astonishing pace from one of almost universal condemnation to wide-spread acceptance, if not outright celebration of a behavior the Bible unambiguously identifies as sin. Those who attempt to stem the tide of moral decline are branded as bigoted hate-mongers who deserve to be punished and silenced.

With that backdrop, it’s understandable that many Christians struggle to know how to respond. We’re no longer talking about a small group of radical homosexual activists hidden away somewhere in San Francisco.

Increasingly, believers are confronted with how to respond to a co-worker, a lifetime friend or even the painful dilemma of what to say to a son or daughter who suddenly proclaims they are “gay.” A good friend who has a homosexual couple living next door to him recently acknowledged, “I don’t know what to say to them. They are some of the friendliest and kindest people I know.”

<pull-quote>As ambassadors for Christ, we simply have to come to terms with the fact that we will be called upon to share the inconvenient truth with people.<pull-quote><tweet-link>Tweet This<tweet-link>

As ambassadors for Christ, we simply have to come to terms with the fact that we will be called upon to share the inconvenient truth with people. Some situations will require us to choose between competing priorities, between maintaining a conflict-free, but superficial relationship, or saving a friend or loved one from hell. That’s not to say we should go about beating people over the head with our Bibles. But we can’t avoid discussing the difficult eternal issues either.

In my experience, those involved in homosexuality also fall into those two general categories. On the one hand, there is the man or woman who has fully embraced a “gay” identity, and has fashioned their lives around what they perceive to be their innate and immutable identity as a homosexual person, including how that impacts their emotions, concept of sexuality and intimacy, associations, and, in fact, their entire worldview. They rarely have a genuine desire to know the truth.

On the other hand, the “struggler” is an individual who knows at some level that the behavior is wrong and has some genuine desire to turn from it, even though they experience same-sex attraction and may have even engaged in homosexual behavior. For this individual, there is an opportunity to provide hope, lead them to salvation if they have never been converted, and disciple them in the things of God as they begin to pursue a path of sanctification.

A ‘Ministry Model’ from the Gospel of Mark

We have in the Gospel of Mark a story that reveals some basic principles that can help us in our ministry to this person struggling with same-sex attraction:

“A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” (Mark 1:40-41 NIV)

1. The man had leprosy. This dreaded disease first appears as spots on the skin but it is not a superficial disease, finding its roots in the bones, marrow and joints of the body. Likewise, those struggling with homosexuality have great need to understand that homosexual lust is only a symptom of a much greater heart problem. They are not sinners because of homosexual lust. The opposite is actually true; they experience homosexual lust because they are sinners.

2. The man came to Jesus. This man at least had a clear sight of his physical need and came of his own free will. Those struggling with homosexuality cannot be driven to Christ.  They must be drawn to Him and that drawing can only be accomplished by the Father through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." (John 6:65b NIV) Any other inducement—fear, the desire to please others, dissatisfaction with their current circumstances, or even a temporary sense of shame or guilt—will eventually pass, leaving them without the inner motivation to stay the course which, by all measures will be a difficult one.

3. The man knelt in front of Jesus. “He kneeled and inclined his face to the ground, in token of deep humiliation and earnest entreaty.” So says the learned Bible commentator Albert Barnes. So it is that all genuine penitents must come—with a humble and contrite heart. Can you imagine this man saying to Jesus, “Hey Jesus, I’ve got this little spot here on my skin. You think you can help me out?” He was covered with rotten, stinking flesh! In a similar fashion, the individual struggling with homosexuality would be foolish to come to Jesus with his “little” problem, thinking proudly that the rest of his life must be very pleasing to God. A man or woman who is ready for the Lord to do the needed deep work in their heart will instead come like the prodigal son who exclaimed upon returning to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (Luke 15:21 NIV)

4. The man hoped in Jesus. He said to Jesus, “If you are willing you can heal me and make me clean.” From this statement, we learn two important things. First, that he had hope and second, that his hope was well-placed. It is of profound importance that these precious souls be encouraged to have hope. Many sincere Christians have struggled for years with same-sex attraction before finally being overcome by their lust. Others have a long history of failure that has killed any hope they might have had that things could be different.

Undoubtedly, the leper had heard the words of Jesus and had seen Him heal others. I know of no better way to engender hope in the hearts of the hopeless than to share the promises of God and to testify to the faithfulness of those promises in our own lives. Peter, a man who knew something about hopelessness, exhorts us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

<pull-quote>I know of no better way to engender hope in the hearts of the hopeless than to share the promises of God and to testify to the faithfulness of those promises in our own lives.<pull-quote><tweet-link>Tweet This<tweet-link>

We also learn that that small amount of hope the leper had was placed entirely in Jesus. Like the woman with the issue of blood, he had evidently concluded that no one else could meet his need. Likewise, those with homosexual lust must come to believe that Jesus is the only one that can give them new life and cure their condition...not Jesus plus works, Jesus plus psychotherapy, Jesus plus positive thinking or Jesus plus anything else. Their faith, their trust must be placed in Jesus alone to forgive, cleanse, transform and eventually to bring them into Glory.

5. The man was instantly healed. This begs the question:  what does “healing” really mean to one struggling with homosexuality? Does it mean that God will remove same-sex attraction when one turns to Jesus? In my many years of dealing with the issue of homosexuality, I have met a handful of men and women who have experienced a complete release from same-sex attraction. I must say that has not been the case in my own life, nor in the lives of most people I know. For most, the experience is one of a diminished intensity over time as God does a deeper sanctifying work in the heart.

Biblical Truths Concerning Ongoing Temptation

When the absence of all same-sex attractions becomes the single focus, it’s sad to see some conclude that God has somehow failed them when it doesn’t happen. This discouraging way of thinking can be avoided if one considers biblical truths concerning the nature of the flesh and temptation.

<pull-quote>When the absence of all same-sex attractions becomes the single focus, it’s sad to see some conclude that God has somehow failed them when it doesn’t happen.<pull-quote><tweet-link>Tweet This<tweet-link>

It is critical that the struggler understand that they do not have a “special” problem that requires some unique solution. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

He must understand that as long as we remain in these mortal bodies, our flesh will remain fleshly, and we will have to do battle against it. (Romans 7:21-23)

Those who desire to overcome homosexual lust must become fighters with the understanding that this battle cannot be waged in their own strength, but must be waged and won in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-18)

Ultimately, as with anyone who claims the name of Jesus Christ, the sincere Christian who struggles with homosexuality must count the cost and decide whom they will serve. Once this decision has been firmly made, victory is assured.  Jesus said, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Revelation 21:6-7 NIV)