Is it okay to be gay and christian

According to Public Religion Research, 70 percent of millennials are alienated by churches’ judgments towards LGBTQ+ individuals, and with good reason. The first question I asked myself when I realized I like guys is one that we still get regularly at Queer Theology:. Have you asked yourself that question? What steps did you take to find the answer?

The Christian church has reacted to this growing understanding of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people in many ways that have not been supportive, from skepticism and fear to condemnation and exclusion, and even to outright physical violence and abuse. This is part one of an ongoing series on problematic trends in the church regarding LGBT issues. Many who describe themselves this way — but by no means all — say they are embracing chastity or celibacy and pursuing a relationship with Christ. That is, they believe the historic, biblical Christian sexual ethic, that God created humans male and female, and sexual expression is reserved for the marriage relationship of a husband and wife.

Faithful Christians are already embracing LGBT brothers and sisters. Mainstream denominations like Presbyterians and Episcopalians now ordain openly gay clergy, and there are seeds of change. However, to debate the issue seriously and truthfully, we must seek an honest picture of what our opponents actually believe — working from what we think they believe is neither helpful nor respectful. All people, regardless of their story, are deeply and unconditionally loved by God, each created with profound dignity and worth, not one more than another. But, all people are also stricken with a terminal illness: sin.

Struggling with same-sex attraction does not disqualify someone from being a Christian; however, calling oneself a “gay Christian” means choosing a sin to define yourself instead of Christ. True faith requires surrendering all sinful desires to God and finding identity in Christ above all else. One night I was reading the stories of people who had left the church because they thought God hated them simply because they were attracted to the same sex. I was so overcome with emotion that I put the book down, got alone in another room, fell to my knees and wept. The pain of these men and women for whom Jesus died was palpable and heartbreaking.

The Reformation Project and Beloved Arise are two organizations that have catalogued resources like books and videos by scholars to show you that it is okay to be queer and Christian. Reading any of the books they recommend is a great start. One night I was reading the stories of people who had left the church because they thought God hated them simply because they were attracted to the same sex. I was so overcome with emotion that I put the book down, got alone in another room, fell to my knees and wept. The pain of these men and women for whom Jesus died was palpable and heartbreaking.

It seems like the Bible is clear on sexuality. Why do some people think it’s OK to be gay? In the past two hundred years, western civilization has come to understand that there is a diversity to sexuality and sexual orientation that was not recognized in previous eras. The Christian church has reacted to this growing understanding of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people in many ways that have. .

I take a “missiological” or “missional” approach, using “gay Christian” as a way of relating to non-Christian LGBT-identified people and reaching them for Christ. .

When someone chooses to identify as a "gay Christian," they are making a sinful inclination part of their core identity instead of allowing God to define them. Likewise, when someone accepts same-sex attraction as good, acts upon it, or encourages others to do the same, it is a clear rejection of God's design and a refusal to repent. .