Are Christians Homophobic?

This series begins here: How to talk to a Homosexual about Christ.”

Are Christians Homophobic?

By Joe Palmer

Many people think all Christians, or at least conservative Christians, are homophobic because we teach the Biblical position that homosexuality is a sin. Wikipedia says, “Homophobia is a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards homosexuality and people identified or perceived as being homosexual. Definitions refer variably to antipathy, contempt, prejudice, aversion, and irrational fear. Homophobia is observable in critical and hostile behavior such as discrimination and violence on the basis of a perceived non-heterosexual orientation.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia

Homophobia literally means “fear of homosexuals.”  While the definition of homophobia has been skewed for political reasons.  The question, “Am I homophobic?” is a fair one.  Remember it simply means afraid of. I like the Wikipedia idea of irrational fear.  Fear can be rational or irrational.

As Christians we are to love all people and in theory we do. Sometimes in practice we do not.  In reflecting on this question I can honestly say that some of our fears and attitudes are irrational. We treat homosexuality differently than we do other sins. But why do we react so negatively against homosexuals?  Why do we treat their sin different from other sins?  Most importantly, is it any different than a heterosexual couple that is having sex prior to getting married?  Let me be honest and make a few suggestions.

It is an unnatural sin. –  Now I know people may argue with this, but biology proves it.  We are designed to function biologically, and sexually in male/female pairs.  The best estimates are that around 2% of our population is homosexual in orientation.[1]

When we see a heterosexual couple who are not married, walking in public holding hands, or kissing it is not as shocking because it is not unnatural. We may not even know that they aren’t married.  We won’t necessarily wonder if the rest of their relationship is appropriate. But when two homosexual show affection we notice.

We aren’t comfortable with it – Sometimes we meet someone who has a physical deformity that is glaring.  We don’t want to stare but it draws our attention. We are caught in an awkward moment of trying not to stare, and being afraid we are staring.  Once we get to know the person as a friend, we start seeing them as a person and the physical problem goes unnoticed.

In relating this to homosexuals it doesn’t mean that we have to accept/condone their homosexuality.  We must however get to know them, to be able to show them friendship, in order to be able to share the Gospel with them.  Once we know them, we will see them as a person. We will relate to them in the same way we do our friends who are living together before being married, as people God loves who are involved in a sinful lifestyle.

Homosexual are often militant – In the movie “Lord Save us from Your Followers” he showed a Christian youth convention held in San Francisco.  The Christian youth went to the courthouse to pray.  A group of protestors including some homosexuals came yelling, “Racist, sexist, anti gay, Christian fascist, go away.”

Homosexuals are definitely pushing the envelope.  They don’t want just civility. They want us to accept that their lifestyle is normal, acceptable, even Godly, if they do it in the confines of a committed relationship.  So when some of us as Christians oppose the cultural changes of their agenda we are labeled as, “sexist, anti gay, and Christian fascist.”

So what part of my fear is rational and what part is irrational?  I think it is rational as a Christian to fear the change in our society. I am afraid that we are accepting even glamorizing sin.  I am afraid of the consequences for our country and our youth. It is not rational however, for me to think of homosexuals differently than other people who sin or to fear getting to know them. Perhaps we do have to recognize that we need to do a better job of loving people in order to be able to reach the them for Christ.  Perhaps we can learn better how to value people, without condoning their lifestyle. After all Jesus did.

Next week we will answer the question, “How do I talk to a Homosexual about Christ?”

---

[1] According to the Center for Disease Control.  Also see research section of Wikipedia on homosexuality.  Be aware that statistics by Kinsey and skewed to reflect a bias.  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad362.pdf