Reaching men and women struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction is something we all can do and must do to help those searching. No one is doomed to be gay and you may be the only person that will have the courage to share the Good News with the same-sex attracted person. May we all trust God to do His part while we do our part.

• Keep the consequence of sin in context. God wants us to love and witness to straight sinners with the same gravity and perspective as we do to gay sinners.
• Evaluate your attitude toward homosexuals. Love never fails. Love is giving to others with their best interest at heart.
• Friendship is extremely meaningful to the homosexual struggler. Accepting and loving any individual with same-sex attraction without conditions has nothing to do with condoning their lifestyle.
• “But what if people think I’m gay?” Three words – “Get over it!” Be more concerned about your character and less about your reputation.
• Distinguish between temptation and sin. When temptation strikes (not if, but when), encourage him/her to turn to the Lord and not run from Him. No one gets to choose that which tempts them.
• Be prepared for the ‘born gay’ argument. While many believe their sexual orientation is inborn, and for that reason justifies their behavior, this theory remains unproven.
• Share your own life experiences. Many of the causes of same-sex attraction are experienced by many people. Talk about your own battles and strategies of battling weakness. rejection, loneliness, pain, lust and other temptations. Get real!
• Never water down the Word of God. Emphasize the greater struggle is not about his or her sexual choices, but rather his or her denial of the authority of Scripture and the Lordship of Christ. Do not apologize for what Scripture has clearly said about purity.
• Encourage the timid and help the weak. Extending affirmation or encouragement does not require special training, money or knowledge. Do not limit helping a same-sex attracted individual by relinquishing the responsibility to others. Do something tangible.
• Emphasize the key to overcoming same-sex attraction or any stronghold. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. For anyone to maintain or achieve any level of purity he/she must begin and cultivate a close communion with Christ Jesus. No matter what our feelings or problems, we all must die to ourselves and follow Christ. God is not to be used simply as a means to an end. He is our goal.

When it comes to homosexuality and the many related issues, is it possible we, the Church, have been and continue to be guilty of putting ‘a cause’ before The Cross? If so, is it then possible we have abdicated our moral authority to speak to the issue of our time?

Clearly, the existence and high visibility of a movement with a clear agenda to promote the social acceptance of homosexuality (including bisexuality and transgendered peoples) is beyond debate. The motives and goals of a relatively small segment of our society has been and continues to be significant and influential.

In the words of the Apostle Paul, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, reproof, for correction, and for training.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Homosexuality is, clearly, only one of the myriad types of behavior that are condemned in the Bible, and it is condemned for the same reason as the rest – it is in direct opposition to human well-being, and an affront to the character of God. Therefore, the condemnation of homosexual practice is the perfect expression of compassion, because it seeks to warn and rescue those caught in the snare of same-sex attraction.

God has given the responsibility of outreach and ministry to all of us. Personally, I believe in and have every confidence in the Church’s ability, through Christ, to win gay communities around the world to Christ. We are all in this work together through Him, fulfilling the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20) That said, what is our focus and what are our motives?

Jesus and the writers of Scripture did not hesitate to condemn sin and immorality in whatever form they found it. They did so, for one reason: to liberate men and women from the grip of spiritual, psychological and behavioral bondage. And, they refused to minimize or whitewash evil practice of any kind in order to bring as many as possible to the life-giving rule of God. Should this not be our motive today and why we go to lift high the Name of Jesus and The Cross?

While I completely agree the concern for social justice, physical and psychological health, personal responsibility and the importance of family are all values in which we the Church should be concerned, is our greater and primary concern for all people, “Are they dead in sin or alive in Christ?” If they’re dead in sin, it hardly matters what the sin is, they are dead in sin. The Cross and not ‘a cause’ must be the priority, for the homosexual – just as it must be for us all.

Our ultimate goal should not be to merely combat or bring a halt to the pro-gay movement or even to show that the biblical judgment against homosexuality is well-founded or to effect public policies – as important as all these points and matters are – we, Ambassadors for Christ, are to be instruments in the sovereign hand of God for the accomplishment of His redemptive purposes. Therefore, if we put ‘a cause’ before The Cross, we are seriously off course.

God’s passion should be our passion: “…that none should perish, but that all would have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) As an extension of the Church, I pray we all remember to put The Cross before ‘a cause.’ By introducing people to Christ Jesus and pointing them to the life-giving power of The Cross, men and women will find the freedom He has been offering them all along. Please pray that through the Holy Spirit these precious souls discover that change is possible and their eyes are open to the fullness of life that God offers all of us through His Cross – not a cause.

Pastor Phillip Lee
Executive Director
His Way Out Ministries

Is it because we are living in a state of compromise due to rampant sexual immorality? Is it because many churches think there is no problem with “that issue” in their church? Is it a fear that by extending ministry to “those people” they will attract even more such people?

Here is my concern. By not offering a Biblical response to homosexuality and extending competent ministry to those with unwanted same-sex attraction, a message of – there is no problem with “that issue” in the church, and consequently, there is no help to be had for the brokenness of same-sex attraction.

Anyone that has developed an intimate relationship with God has the capability of being a key figure in the healing process of any sexually broken person. If we will avail ourselves to the sexually broken and believe that God has the willingness and the omnipotence to empower results, we will be witness to, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8)

What does a church offering ministry to those with unwanted same-sex attraction look like?

First, the church will challenge the myth that homosexuals cannot change. Many homosexuals have changed their behavior. Many have overcome their desire to engage in homosexual behavior. While logic will not allow us to conclude that all homosexuals can change, logic dictates that many can and do change. Admittedly, pro-gay people will argue that changed homosexuals are only repressing their sexuality. It is important to recognize that repressing any number of sexual drives is healthy both for individuals and for society. The belief that change is impossible is a huge impediment to any man or woman struggling with same-sex attraction beginning the change process. Anything less leaves the individual without hope.

Secondly, the church offering ministry to those with unwanted same-sex attraction will promote hope for change through the Biblical understanding of homosexual practice as sin. It is monumentally important people understand that homosexual behavior is never isolated in the Bible from other sins. When it is mentioned, it is always mentioned with other sins. God tells us through the Bible that homosexuality is wrong, because homosexual behavior is bad for any man or woman. Understanding
this judgment as the action of a loving God who wants the best for us, allows us to surrender to God and begin the process of change. Therefore, rather than judgment, we find the concept of sin to be full of hope.

Thirdly, a church offering ministry to those with unwanted same-sex attraction will offer a warm and welcoming place for those struggling with same-sex attraction. It is hard for those struggling with same-sex attraction to advance in their healing and transformation without becoming a member of a congregation. For their healing and maturing in Christ, former homosexuals must come into a church. Therefore, this requires some understanding of their struggle on the part of other members of a congregation, since those who have struggled with same-sex attraction in the past need to be able to disclose their struggle when they fell the need to share. Also they need to have no fear that revealing their past behavior might jeopardize their standing in the congregation. If people do not know their past, it is possible former homosexuals will doubt their full acceptance in the congregation.

Ultimately, The Church should be a candle in the darkness by offering a place of refuge in the process of transformation.

Admittedly, I do not presume to have all the answers but there is much we know about the causes of same-sex attraction and we also know from Scripture that God has, is and will continue to set men and women free from the snare of same-sex attraction which is clearly presented to us in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “…and this is what some of you were.” The promises of God are true and unfailingly fruit-bearing “if” we extend them.

From All of Us at His Way Out Ministries…
His Way Out Ministries is proclaiming to, educating and impacting the world with the biblical truth that freedom from homosexuality is possible when Jesus Christ is Lord of your life. To each of you who continually bless us by your encouragement, ministry participation, monthly financial support, offerings and prayers…we remain truly grateful!

Pastor Phillip Lee
Executive Director
His Way Out Ministries