For too long in the United States, the church has been unwelcoming to the LGBT community. This is one of the significant factors resulting in the sharp decline of church membership in recent years.

Church membership itself is not the most important thing, but these numbers do reflect how fewer people may be coming to know the love of the Lord because churches don’t welcome them. Jesus said to come as you are, so it’s about time that churches across the nation truly welcome people as they are.

Love is not limited

Jesus was sent as God’s incarnation on earth for all people, not just some. Too often, people forget this. Nothing can separate anyone from the love of God, and we think Paul sums it up best in his letter to the church in Rome:

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us — who was raised to life for us! — is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.

We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing — nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable — absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

• Romans 8:31-39 (MSG)

There are many of those who call themselves Christians who believe that homosexuality is one of the worst sins in the Bible because “it’s a lifestyle sin.” Yet the same Christians will also be quick to agree that no sin is worse than another and that even one is enough to warrant the need for salvation. 

In this very passage from Paul’s letter, he writes that “not even the worst sins listed in Scripture” can separate someone from the love of God.

So ask yourself, even if you believe that “homosexuality is one of the worst sins,” how can you dare to refuse to love someone for that when God Himself does not withhold His love?

Theology is less important than people

Jesus declared that the most important command in Scripture is this:

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

• Matthew 22:37-40 (MSG)

It is faithful to love God so much that you devote a lot of time to studying His Word, but we too often get hung up in theology trying to surmise the perfect interpretations of Scripture. We need to stop getting hung up in theology and about what this passage says is right or this one says is wrong and remember that Jesus said everything in God’s Law simply hangs on our ability to love God and love others as we love ourselves.

If a church is unwelcoming and unfriendly to LGBT people, do you think its members are following even these two simple, greatest commands? We don’t think so.

What is “right” has always been unclear

We have covered this quite extensively in one of our previous articles, but it is worth mentioning again here that the correct way of interpreting the Bible’s stance on homosexuality is unclear. For starters, there are only six passages referencing anything that is understood as homosexuality. From there, what exactly is being talked about is unclear. 

The passages often seem to be referring to the act of pederasty, which was sexual abuse against younger men that was somewhat common in the Greek culture of the New Testament time period. This type of abuse along with lust in general are condemned equally, but as far as a genuine, homoexual relationship is concerned, it seems less likely that this is the subject of concern.

Ultimately, whether or not a church views homosexuality as a sin is not as important as its stance on love. If a church truly believes in love, it will welcome all guests and treat them with kindness and love.

Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey

At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. We are currently going through a new sermon series titled “To Hell With Normal.” It’s all about redefining what we consider normal in life as we seek to make our lives more like the way Jesus would have them to be. 

Do you want to grow in your faith, or are you simply curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.