God loves homosexuals

Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13: 11

I don’t know about you but when I read verses like this, there is something in me that says, ‘thank goodness this doesn’t apply to me’.  I may pray a quick prayer for those in prison or suffering before their governments for the Christian faith but there is never any expectation of a personal application. Until now.

In Britain this year the government, with great haste and no electoral mandate from the people, has introduced a bill in Parliament to legalise same sex marriages. Up until now homosexual couples had all their legal rights met through civil partnerships and these rights gave them equality in the law with heterosexual married couples. However for the homosexual community, a tiny minority in Britain, this was not enough. They wanted marriage as well.

I do not want to go into all aspects of this matter but the most worrying side effect of this proposed legislation is that any voices raised in opposition, even in private and in a calm and well thought out way are causing people to be censored at work or even lose their job. Politicians opposed to the legislation are being sent hate mail. There is no longer freedom of speech on this matter. If you don’t agree, you must be silent. This is a very worrying trend.

Parents are not permitted to withdraw their children (aged as young as 5) from classes that teach on homosexual practices and teachers have to equally promote homosexuality as well as heterosexuality or face censure. There is no freedom of expression in this matter or conscience permitted. By even writing this blog, I could face censure from employers – but I am not employed!

However Jesus has always promised that if they hated him for speaking truth, they will hate us, his disciples as well. This does not give us permission to stir up hatred to homosexuals or call them perverts. God loves all homosexuals – it is homosexuality that he does not like and that, I believe, is because it steals from people the joy that should come from marriage between one man and one woman and then reproducing children. I know for many people marriage and relationships are full of pain and hurt but that does not make marriage wrong or to be devalued. That is the effect of sin in our world.

We must be praying for the strengthening of marriages between one man and one woman in our societies. This is God’s best for individuals and society. We must not be frightened to speak out lovingly against homosexual marriage for it will have a hugely detrimental effect on society. The Holy Spirit will give us the words to say as we trust him. And we must pray for homosexuals to come to know how much God loves them; that he does not hate or reject them. As churches, we too must show God’s love and grace to homosexuals. Jesus always reached out to the marginalised in society and so must we.