Should a Christian echo Tim Hardaway’s words towards gay people?

Former NBA All-Star and Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway made some waves yesterday on a radio show when he announced his disposition towards homosexuals:

“You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known,”

Hardaway’s comment was immediately attributed to the extreme end of society where the homophobic, right wing, bigots sit. And from the vantage point of the world, this is also where conservative, Bible believing Christians sit as well.

Should Christians be echoing these words?
Absolutely not. First of all the word “hate” is used. The Scriptures would teach us that God sees hate the same as murder (1 Jn. 3.15). For a Christian to hate anyone is wrong. We may hate sin, but we must not be serial killers in our hearts because people do not know Christ.

And frankly, it is the power of Christ that draws people out of all sorts of lifestyles. I think this is the point of a passage such as 1 Cor. 6 where Paul has just listed a laundry list of sins (homosexuality and fornication included) and then says this:

1 Corinthians 6:11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Most Christians were sexual sinners before conversion; some were homosexuals, others were heterosexual. Fornication in mind or body is heinous in God’s sight, and you don’t get moral righteousness credited if it with someone of the opposite sex.

How Should Christians view homosexuals?
This really is quite simple to answer but difficult to apply. We are to view homosexuals as image bearers of God. The image is perverted and distorted, yes, but it is still there. And the glory of the Creator is to be restored through the evangelization of the image bearer that Christ might radically transform them into a position such as 1 Corinthians 6.11 notes.

While the lifestyle and the outward perversion might be uncomfortable and unsettling, the image of God is still there and it commends itself to you for love.

What Should Christians do with homosexuals?
Lovingly evangelize. Each year some friends and I go down to the city of Omaha’s annual gay pride parade (they call it something different, but I can’t remember). We go there to show love to this community. The love is not expressed in the endorsement of their lifestyle but in the giving of the gospel to them (here are the tracts). Where else can you have all of Omaha’s gay community gathered together?

It is unsettling however, to see many religious groups down there shouting with signs and megaphones at all of the gay people. Nobody listens to them, they just get mocked and laughed at. In fact, last year I was talking to a group of people about the gospel when they said that they could not hear me over the guy yelling behind me (he was draped in a cardboard sign). I had to go and ask the guy to hit the mute button for a minute that I might tell the people about Jesus. He actually was upset that I was not yelling at people. This is regrettable.

Our message is not a message of conversion to heterosexuality, for most heterosexuals are going to hell, but rather a message of conversion to Christianity, which will bring the sanctified sexual behavior in accordance with God’s will.

I do not want to stand with Tim Hardaway and others who verbally express murder in their hearts. Instead I want to see all people as image bearers of God who need to be confronted, not by me, but by Jesus, and graciously shown the beauty of restoration in the gospel. We do all of this with a mindset as characterized by Titus 3.3:

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

Gay Police bashing Christians?

This story caught my attention today. Apparently there is a Gay Police Association (GPA) and they have been less than positive about Christianity in a recent advertising campaign.

…3 curious questions:

1) why are they advertising?

2) why do we need to have a gay police association?

3) can you please wear a rainbow on your badge to distinguish yourselves from the straight cops?

In the ad a Bible was purposely placed next to a pool of blood. The purpose for the advertising campaign, which appeared in the national press, was to enlighten citizens about the drastic increase in the “religiously motivated attacks against gay people” the numbers are up “74 percent in the last year”.

The watchdog group, Advertising Standards Agency has ruled that the ad was offensive to Christians who were implicated as the source of the homophobic attacks.

(more…)

Evangelism at the Gay Pride Parade

It was a great thrill to go with friends to do evangelism today at the Gay Pride parade in Omaha. The crowd was not as 'wild' as it has previously been. Perhaps this is due to the unseasonably cool weather. However, that did not diminish the overt mocking of all things that reflect the will and character of God, as revealed in the Scripture. There were still plenty of folks to talk to and hand out tracts to; God was good to give us so many opportunities to proclaim Christ.

It is refreshing to be taught grace at the school house of rejection. As my friends and I continued to offer a wrath-guzzling Savior, who commands worship and obedience from all, we were rejected, mocked, and treated like tele-marketers interrupting Thanksgiving dinner. I am reminded that I am a Christian not because I am not gay, or because I am smarter than anyone, or because of anything other than the grace of God! In fact, God in a curious amplification of his wisdom, even gloriously demonstrates his power and grace by saving a rebel such as myself.

Sometimes I wonder if events like these are for the evangelists more than the rejectors. I know that God is ultimately working in all people, some hardening and some softening, however, I often think about the spiritual exercise that took place today as we were confronted with divine mercy, love, grace, justice, holiness, and eternality through the cross. And as we held out the crucified Savior we are reminded that the only way Christ is esteemed by sinful humanity is because God has first acted to change hearts. O' how this fosters dependence!
John 1:12-13 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Rainbows® are Trademarked!

[what follows is the text for a new tract (the image is above) we just made for an upcoming evangelism opportunity at a Gay Pride Parade in Omaha...it doesn't say everything, but we are limited to a 4x6 card and a very hostile crowd...if you are in the Omaha area this Saturday 6/10 and are interested in gospelizing, let me know]

Rainbows remain a popular symbol for so many groups of people, however who had them first??

The God of the Bible owns the distinct honor, as he has long used the rainbow to illustrate his loving demonstration of mercy instead of judgment! God the loving Creator was angered by humanity’s rebellion against his will & so therefore justly demonstrated his judgment upon their sin. In Genesis 6 the Scriptures teach that instead of giving mankind what they deserve for their rebellion, he chose to save some from destruction. The mercy & faithfulness of God was demonstrated by the beautiful rainbow that filled the sky.

God has not changed, he remains the same God who maintains justice while offering mercy, this is not to be confused with offering mercy at the expense of justice…God does not compromise his character, instead he demonstrates it! God made all of humanity to give him pleasure; however, we have rebelled against God’s plan, even spurning his authority. We have by our own authority, pursued our own pleasure! God being offended & just will not turn a blind eye to our sin, instead he will deal justly with it!

But in the ultimate display of mercy God has given his son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life in the place of sinners, & to die the death penalty for sinners like me and like you—regardless of our ‘backgrounds.’ It is only through God judging Jesus as if he was a sinner (though he wasn’t) in the sinner’s place that he can be just & merciful at the same time, without compromising.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not primarily aimed to convert homosexuals to heterosexuality, but rather, to convert all humanity to Christianity. The perfect son of God, Jesus Christ, is the one who sits in judgment of humanity. And it is this Jesus that calls you to turn from sin & follow him with obedience & love in the truth>>”Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

There are only two ways to respond

1) continue rejecting God’s authority (sin)…result: guilt & judgment

2) submit to & depend upon Jesus (faith)….result: forgiveness