Sometimes we read articles or letters that in very clear terms condemn homosexuality and homosexuals. The homosexual lifestyle of men and women is called an "abomination." That is true. In Leviticus 18:22 we read, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an 'abomination'" (NKJV). These are relations that the Lord strictly forbids: incest, bestiality, homosexuality, and anything like it. The Bible is very clear in these matters. Homosexuality is a perversion.

Whenever I read such articles I agree with them whole­heartedly. As I wrote, God's Word is clear. But sometimes I find that there is little understanding for the serious plight of many homosexuals. Most have hidden their homosex­uality for countless years, sometimes from childhood on, and have deeply condemned themselves for having these perverse inclinations. It is not without reason that homo­sexuals call the public presentation of their sexuality a "coming out" (of the closet). What they mean is that they have fought it and hidden it for so long but are finally no longer able to do so. They fought and went under. They experience intense grief and have low self-esteem. Others become very defensive of their life style and regard all "straight" people to be hypocrites. Some commit suicide and others consider it. They know that they cause family and friends much grief, but they cannot change them­selves. Contacts with some relatives become very strained, if not impossible.

Severe Spiritual Struggle⤒🔗

There is the acronym LGTB, which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Trans-sexual, and Bi-sexual persons. Sometimes a "Q" is added for "Questioning," but that goes beyond our scope. There are many variations on a theme, but one thing is clear: homosexuals who come from a Christian background have had a deep spiritual struggle; they can­not change their nature and have failed whenever they tried. These persons do not have internal peace with God, and neither can they function in their church community. So, many have already left the church.

Many of them have also denounced their faith. Let's be consistent, they say, the Bible forbids this and the church must uphold Scripture, so they leave. Some develop men­tal illness and drug addiction, others become very angry with God, and very few are approachable. To be sure, I never met a homosexual of Christian background who is militant and hardly anyone of them would participate in a Gay Pride Parade. But one gay person once said to me: I do not belong in the church which cannot accept me, nor do I belong in the world which makes a caricature of me.

What is the result? Older homosexuals who have come through their wild teenage years seek a steady relation­ship. At least then they have someone to live with as they grow older. Because no one wants to be alone. Loneliness is a great factor in the life of many homosexuals. Rejected by family, disciplined by the church, and spiritually tattered, they are afraid, sometimes also physically run down.

The homosexual world is hard. It really is no fun. Fear of illness and being HIV-positive are not uncommon. Per­haps this is part of the reason why older homosexuals seek an official durable relationship, like marriage. In many ways life is lonely, but no one wants to be alone.

In Amsterdam there has formed a nucleus of gay per­sons, male and female, who have often the same church background, and they stay in touch with each other, to help and protect each other, but they have nothing to do with God and the church. Their lifestyle is material­istic and they reject that what they do is an abomina­tion. Sometimes they will admit that their perversion is an abomination, but often there is deep-rooted defiance, "I never asked to be this way, but this is who I am." "God made me this way, so he'd better take me as I am." As the song goes: "We're here for a short time, not a long time, so have a good time, the sun don't shine every day." Truth is: God never made anyone a homosexual.

Indeed, God did not make anyone sinful, but that is another matter. Also, heterosexuals can and do derail, sometimes seriously. Sexual weakness is not something to be taken lightly or condemned quickly. We all need to live from grace. The homosexual needs Christ just as badly as heterosexuals do.

How can we Help Homosexuals?←⤒🔗

It is not my intention to embroil you in a sob-story. Nor do I want you to feel "sorry" for LGTBs. Being sorry doesn't cut it. We need to find a biblical way to approach these brothers and sisters before they are swept away. Condemnation alone does not cut it, either. For the Bible says more.

In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul is dealing with the fact that some members of the churches in Corinth were having all kinds of disputes. People fight, unfortunately also in the church. The Apostle reminds the Corinthians that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. He adds, "Do not be deceived." It is easy to think that you are yourself above all base feelings. It is very human to think that we are right and everyone else is wrong, and that we are good while everyone else is bad. Don't be deceived.

Then follows a listing of sins (or sinners) that is deeply serious: "Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, not adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offend­ers, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slan­derers nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." Please note that the homosexual is specifically mentioned, not at the beginning or the end of the listing, but right in the middle.

It may be that two kinds of homosexuals are meant here: the male prostitutes who were at the heathen temples and young boys who were used as sexual objects. Note, however, that homosexuals are not the only ones listed here. There are also greedy people, drunkards (the old name for alcoholics), or slanderers, or swindlers (the old name for defrauders) who will not inherit the kingdom of God. The setting of many of these sins is around the pagan temples (hence the male prostitutes), so that adultery is often connected with idolatry (verse 9). It is in this context that the word "abomination" is used. 331

Sometimes homosexuals by weakness fall into sin. But be careful when applying the words "abomination" and "perversion." Let us humble ourselves, for sexual perver­sion in some form is not far from any of us. We have all fallen into sin, and the nature of us all is corrupt, more than we might be willing to admit.

In Reformed circles, Dr. J. Douma bears the distinc­tion of having been the first theologian to concern himself with a systematic biblical approach to homosexuality. I'll spare you the footnotes, but Douma made a distinction be­tween homophilia and homosexuality. Homophilia means to have a strong leaning towards the same sex. Douma did not see homophilia itself as a sin but part of the sinful nature which we all have, manifested in all kinds of per­version. But homosexuality goes one decisive step further: it is the actual engaging in a homosexual relationship.

Not everyone was helped by Douma's courageous dis­tinction. One homosexual told me that the inclination is as sinful as the participation. True, in a sense. You sin with your mind and in your fantasy, and that is just as bad as the actual deed. Did the Lord Jesus not warn us that even looking lustfully is already a committing of sexual sin (Matthew 5:27-30)?

We all have sinful inclinations, but not everyone (constantly) gives in to them. It is proper to distinguish between thoughts and deeds. Douma sought to convince homophile persons not to give in to their sexual desires. There is the way of crucifying the flesh, of abstinence, of growing in sanctification. I know that many homosexuals do not want to go this way, but with Douma I really see no other option. They must be saved by Christ, at the foot of the cross. This means also a resolute breaking with a homosexual lifestyle.

Douma's distinction has important merit. We all have sinful inclinations when it comes to sexuality. Giving yourself to these inclinations is no better than what a homosexual does. Who has never had perverse thoughts? What about adultery or sexual abuse? Is that nonexistent when it comes to our people? Are young and older people, male and female, in our churches and schools immune for pornography and far from what is called "sexting"? How many couples have sexual relations before they are mar­ried, sometimes with multiple partners? Let us all put our hand into our own bosom.

It is not so hard to label LGTBs as terrible people. It is hard to humble yourself, to seek out these sinners, and try to help them. Gay members of the church do not need our condemnation or pity, but as brothers and sisters in the Lord, they do need our support and encouragement.

You were Washed, Sanctified, Justified←⤒🔗

But there is something else that is mentioned in this passage. Paul writes: "And that is what some of you were." Past tense. "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Also past tense. Actually the verb tense denotes an action that happened in the past but still continues today. Do not think that sanctification is a quick and easy process. Paul directs the repentant sinner to Christ. Sanctification takes a life-time, and is never an easy path.

When Paul is writing about the discipline over sinners he writes about Jesus Christ! He did not come to save the just but to bring sinners to new life. Paul writes about the Spirit of our God. There is hope .For me, for you, for our kids, grandkids, and for our relatives. There is hope in Christ, also for the homosexual. We have to keep ad­dressing them with this hope. This is what I miss in some "abomination" articles. A homosexual covenant child is still a son or daughter of Abraham.

If you know a LGBT, tell him or her not to despair. There is hope. Cry with them and pray for them for for­giveness of sins and renewal of life. The Apostle Paul indicates that it is possible to overcome sinful sexual in­clination. You were washed. That probably refers to holy baptism in which the cleansing of sin by the blood of Christ is promised to believers and their children. Every homosexual believer should be comforted by the fact that he/she is baptized, and belongs to Jesus Christ. Therefore also homosexuals, just as adulterers and the like, must constantly be directed to Christ. There is hope, even when you do not see it.

With respect to all my sins, I must cling only to Christ's promises. There is nothing more damaging to the Christian life than a sense of desperation: God can never forgive me! He does and he will. I sense this desperation sometimes in the life of gay brothers and sisters. Their lives are not so "gay" (an old word for "happy"), after all. 332

Then follow the words "you were sanctified." How can we say that a homosexual is "sanctified" (holy) when he/she still engaged in sinful relations? I want to get back to that later in another context. But surely you know that be­ing sanctified does not mean having achieved perfection or a state of sinlessness. We have been sanctified also in Christ by the Holy Spirit.

I also read, "You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." Being justified is being declared to be without the guilt of sin. We can put past sins and lifestyles behind us in Christ and by his Spirit. These sins do not weigh us down any more. This is true not just for homosexuals but for all who have in any way commit­ted sexual sins.

Washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ: these are the words with which we need to approach homosexual brothers are sisters. These promises are for them and for me also. This gives me hope in my struggles to be pure and holy. This may give hope to all who suffer from sexual immorality and similar perversions.

The Gospel←⤒🔗

Not long ago a well-known anti-gay organization (church?) called EXODUS, a thirty-seven-year-old min­istry to "heal" homosexuals was shut down. This group had for many years used a "gay conversion therapy" and claimed to have healed many homosexual people. But later evidence did not support the claim of healing, and the leaders of EXODUS apologized to the general public for having misled and hurt people.

I was not a fan of this fancy EXODUS stuff. I think it undercut the real problem. Still, I was not happy with the failure of the EXODUS movement. Like most people, I am hard to please. But why rejoice when a movement that has a positive goal fails. Especially if you have nothing else to offer.

I am happy, however, that EXODUS has ceased a work that was more humbug than healing. The real problem is: it is not easy to break with sin and a sinful inclination. There are many sinful inclinations that remain with us through our lives. We have a battle on our hands. Check out Romans 7: Homosexuality is one of those struggles, perhaps life-long, that some have to fight every day. In that fight, we need the help of fellow believers.

It is easy to confront a deviant sinner with a Bible text. A homosexual knows all the texts and has sweated over them. It is easy to chase homosexuals away. It takes more courage and wisdom to call them in and tell them of God's love in Christ.

Thank God, one day we leave the sinful nature behind either by resurrection or by transformation. But we shall be delivered from this body of death. It leads Paul to a word of praise: "Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ, our Lord" (Rom 7:21-25). This is the joyful perspective of all Christians: one day I will receive new life and sin no more. That will be the greatest day in our lives.

It is not easy to be a homosexual. The homosexual world is filled with pain and darkness. Some feel deep­ly rejected by God and the church. But the heterosexual world is not a cake-walk either. So much immoral stuff is cast our way, and who can escape it fully? "I am a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members." Let us stand beside our homosexual brothers and sisters and encourage them that there is a way to progress in the struggle against immorality. One day at a time .One millimeter in every step. There is a place for them in the church, where we together may grow in obedience and humility. The LGTB world also badly needs the gospel.

We need to be in it for the long haul. It's easy to prom­ise something one day, and then not show up the next day. Do we have the patience to cultivate a responsible bond with those who have come to live in sin? Patience is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

It is our calling to have the gospel delivered also to homosexuals, lesbians, promiscuous people etc. If we wish to be a missional church, fine, but let us never forget then that our mission begins with those who are already placed on our path. We also need to consider what the current trend of immorality means for evangelism. Because you will find all these sinners living down the road on the streets of the big city.