Should a christian be frinds with a gay

The challenge of relating to a gay-identified friend or family member assumes a very different aspect when he or she already claims to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus didn’t start with correcting the woman’s sinful behavior, even though he already knew about it.

Should a Christian have

As a Christian, how should I relate to a gay-identified friend or family member? What you want to understand now is how to talk with the person in question as the relationship progresses and differences of opinion on topics such as sexuality and sexual morality become an issue.

Every person you meet is your neighbor, and Jesus commands you to love your neighbor as yourself. Instead of launching straight into a discussion of Bible doctrine, try to get a sense of what your friend or family member is going through.

As a result, an entire Samaritan village was converted to faith in Christ. In considering whether a Christian should have gay friends, we need to ask ourselves whether Jesus would have gay friends. The New Testament nowhere identifies any specific individuals as homosexuals.

Any suggestions?. Refusing to do so — or conveniently avoiding these people — is certainly not acting like Jesus. There are some important similarities, of course: with this person, as with the non-believer, you will want to exhibit kindness, gentleness, grace, and love while reflecting the Spirit of Christ in everything you say and do.

True friendship points everyone toward hope, restoration, and life in Christ. However, if we look closely at Scripture, some clear principles emerge that can guide us. Instead, look deep enough to discern his or her essential humanity and to understand how it reflects the Image of God.

Form a connection on the basis of common concerns and interests. And as that relationship grows and blossoms, the Holy Spirit will grant you opportunities for genuine Christian witness that you could never have devised on your own.

Bear in mind that this experience is very real and deeply personal for him or her. Christians can be friends with gay people—loving, caring, and walking alongside them—without compromising God’s truth. The simple answer is that you relate to a gay-identified individual as you would relate to anybody else.

Your conversations with this friend or family member will look very different depending on whether you do or do not claim the same faith and whether you each view the Bible as authoritative. The question of whether a Christian should have gay friends is an important one.

When challenged or asked to explain your own beliefs, use I-based language to give a positive and winsome personal testimony see 1 Peter In doing so, you will be creating a context for the development of a meaningful relationship. As a Christian, how should I relate to a gay-identified friend or family member?

But you already knew this. I have several relationships that involve this dynamic, including both non-Christians and those who claim to be followers of Christ. But you will also have some ground for referencing scriptural teaching and appealing to a common understanding of moral and spiritual truth.

The Bible has much to say about homosexuality and how we are to relate to those who identify as gay or lesbian. Every person is a human being and deserves to be treated as such, regardless of his or her lifestyle or belief system. I have several relationships that involve this dynamic, including both non-Christians and those who claim to be followers of Christ.

Any suggestions? Remain in this mode for as long as it takes to establish a relationship of mutual fidelity and trust. Remember that, according to the social mores and religious dictates of first-century Judaism, this woman was the sort of person — a female, a Samaritan, and a sexual sinner — with whom Jesus was not supposed to have any interaction whatsoever.

Try to appreciate your friend as a whole person. As with many issues, there are various perspectives on this within the Christian community. For instance, Christian men can follow Jesus by having a friendly water cooler chat with the gay guys in their office.

Be empathetic and understanding. Remember that God loves this individual even more than you do. Think in terms of something bigger than mere sexuality. In either case, we suggest you begin by listening very carefully to what the other person has to say.