Grace & Truth: Maintaining Scriptural Fidelity When Ministering to the LGBTQ+ Community
Early in his book “Strange New World” Carl Trueman writes these words,
The sentence “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body” would have been nonsense to my grandfather. Had it been uttered by a patient to a doctor in the mid-twentieth century, the doctor would almost certainly have responded that the patient had a psychiatric problem and that his mind needed to be treated so as to bring its feelings into line with his physical body. Today, the doctor is more likely to respond that the problem is such that the patient’s body needs to be brought into alignment with those inner feelings. Indeed, were a doctor to respond in the earlier fashion today, he might well find himself subject to legal action. What has changed in our society and in the social imaginary to bring this new situation about?1
That is a fundamental question for us to consider. What changed so that things that were apparently self-evident for thousands of years of human existence – men and women are the only two gender options and it’s fairly easy to distinguish the one from the other, as one example – to a place where a person can claim a gender identity different from his or her biology or claim no gender at all. In fact, some people no longer even identity as homo sapiens, but as some other species altogether. And if we, based on physical realities, deny the legitimacy of any of these claims of identity, we are branded ignorant or hateful.
The problem is compounded for convictional Christians who believe in the clarity and authority of Scripture on such things. How do we navigate the time and culture in which we find ourselves? And how do we do this in a way that is faithful to the Lord’s will and share the gospel effectively in this lost and dying world? How do you have a productive conversation or share the gospel with someone whose view of reality seems like insanity to you?
Christians today seem to take two distinct approaches to this dilemma. First, given the immense social, financial and legal pressures to conform to the LGBTQ+ revolution, some Christians simply acquiesce, stop resisting and become LGBTQ+ affirming. The equal and opposite reaction is to rail, publicly and privately against anything or anyone associated with the LGBTQ+ movement and to create as much distance from “those people” as possible.
Condone or condemn, those seem to be the two paths most Christians take. But is there another way – a way that is both faithful to Scripture and loving to our neighbor? I believe there is. It is not a broad or easy path, but it’s also not that complicated. We don’t have to be world class apologists or experts on LGBTQ+ issues. We just need to keep in mind 10 precepts. One caveat before we begin: this article is intended to address how we talk about issues related to sexuality and gender with people who are unbelievers. For thoughts on addressing those who are LGBTQ+ or LGBTQ+ affirming and consider themselves to be Christians check out Jack Mumford’s article.
Remember the Imago Dei
We must remember everyone is a human being worthy of dignity and respect because all of us are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). No matter how different another person may be from us, or how differently they may believe, he or she is still a person created in the image and likeness of God. This means that we ought to treat everyone, gay, straight, trans or otherwise, with the dignity and respect they deserve as God’s image bearers. There can be no place in our hearts, words or actions for hateful, contemptuous or disrespectful behavior.
See a person, not a group
We need to see each person as, well, a person, not a nameless minion of a group we don’t like. It’s easy to demonize a group. It’s much harder to demonize someone we know personally. Try to understand his or her story. How did he come to this place in his life? What has her life been like? What is it like now? Personalizing the LGBTQ+ movement with a name and face you know is a powerful catalyst to empathy and kindness.
Mourn
Our reaction to much of the LGBTQ+ revolution is often that of anger – or righteous indignation as we like to think of it. Righteous anger is appropriate sometimes, but I don’t think it should be our first reaction. Instead, our first reaction ought to be one of broken heartedness. We should mourn because people are lost and deceived, and thus doomed (2 Corinthians 4:4). We should weep because God’s good creation is deformed, his perfect will is rejected and his glory is tarnished (Psalm 119:136).
Practice the Golden Rule
Treat others as you would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). Do you want to be treated with hatred, disrespect and disdain, or would you rather be treated kindly, compassionately and respectfully. We’re not called to see people as enemies. Even if they curse us and treat us shamefully, we are called to bless them and treat them with compassion and kindness (Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14). In this we have a wonderful opportunity to imitate Jesus, to love those who hate us and to serve those who despise us. Think of how Jesus has treated us and treat others the same way.
Learn from the ancient church
Remember that this isn’t new. The church has effectively navigated hostile cultures before. One such epoch in church history was during the second century. As Carl Trueman writes, “There, Christianity was a little-understood, despised, marginal sect. It was suspected of being immoral and seditious. Eating the body and blood of their god and calling each other ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ even when married made Christians and Christianity sound highly dubious to outsiders and the claim that ‘Jesus is Lord!’ was on the surface a pledge of loyalty that derogated from that owed to Caesar.”2
One instructive characteristic of Christian apologists from this era was how respectful they were. “They did not spend their time denouncing the evils of the emperor and his court. Rather, they argued positively that Christians made the best citizens, the best parents, the best servants, the best neighbors, the best employees, and that they should thus be left alone and allowed to carry on with their day- to-day lives without being harassed by the authorities.”
Repent of your own faults
Folks who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community aren’t worse sinners than we are (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). So, we need to be consistent in asking the Lord to show us our own sinfulness. How have we bought into self-centered individualism that denies God’s reign over all creation? What sexual sins do we ignore in our own midst or perhaps in our own lives? We decry Pride Month, but do we overlook prideful hearts in ourselves? How many churches readily accept no-fault divorce, a concept predicated on a view of marriage that sees it as being of no significance once the personal happiness of one or both parties is not being met? How many Christians allow their emotions to govern their ethics when a beloved relative or friend comes out as gay or transgender? We will never be perfect, and the accusation of hypocrisy will always come our way. We should speak God’s truth, always. So, let’s be people who live lives of dignity, holiness and integrity so those who hate us will find no evidence for their charges of hypocrisy (Titus 2:7).
Seek to understand
Seek to understand before you ask to be understood. Read those you don’t agree with to better understand what they actually think and why they see the world as they do. Have a conversation. Ask questions. Listen. As Jonathan Leeman writes, “Your opponent is not an enemy or a horrible person. To get a hearing from the person you disagree with, it’s important to understand as much as possible where they are coming from, and what in their past has shaped them. You will never be persuasive if you fail to demonstrate empathy.”3 Actively listening in order to understand another person is a great act of respect and is much more likely to move the person to reciprocate.
Understand natural law
Scripture is our ultimate authority on all ethical and moral issues. However, people often reject the authority of Scripture. This is where the concept of natural law can be helpful. Natural law asserts the existence of a universal moral order inherent in the natural world. According to this doctrine, God has created an objective and immutable moral law that is accessible to human beings through reason and conscience (Psalm 19:1-6). Natural law is believed to reflect the divine purpose and govern the ethical behavior of individuals, guiding them toward what is morally right and just (Romans 1:18-22). When it comes to issues regarding sex and identity, the idea of natural law is of obvious help. Almost everyone is born with a body that is either male or female, and these bodies have different capacities and functions. For instance, men cannot have babies. Natural law points to the boundaries of what is and is not behavior that will lead to human beings flourishing. Nature helps to show that biblical teaching is not an arbitrary imposition on nature but instead correlates with it. It assists us in showing that God’s commands make sense, given the way the world actually is. This can be a profitable entry point for opening someone up to accept the teaching of Scripture.
Lead with the gospel
LGBTQ+ people are not lost because they are LGBTQ+. They will not be saved by becoming straight or no longer struggling with gender dysphoria. What LGBTQ+ people must by confronted with is the gospel and God’s call to holiness. Like any of us, they must see and understand that they are rebels separated from God and destined to experience his righteous wrath unless they repent and trust in Christ. First and foremost, we should aim to share the gospel with LGBTQ+ people, not challenge them about their sexuality or gender identity. Of course, those issues are likely to come up early in the conversation. But we must remember that the gospel is the power of God to salvation (Romans 1:16) and that it is the gospel that transforms people. Trust the gospel and keep it foremost in our conversations.
Be the church
Stories abound of LBGTQ+ people who have been treated shamefully by churches. No doubt some of these accusations are unfounded. Many are not. As churches, we are called to be embassies for the kingdom of God on earth. We are to reflect and embody the values, ethics and affections of this kingdom. The central mark of these kingdom outposts is love (John 13:34-35). We are called to love one another above ourselves out of the overflow of our love for God. No church is perfect, but when a church is acting as the church ought, it becomes a powerful counter-cultural apologetic force for the truthfulness and goodness of the Christian worldview. More importantly, through the right preaching of the Word and the right worship of God, Christ is glorified and he will draw all people (LGTBQ+ and otherwise) to himself (John 12:32).
As Christians, we are called to engage in conversations about LGBTQ+ issues with grace and truth (John 1:14). While staunchly affirming the biblical view of sexuality and marriage, it is essential to reject any form of discrimination, hatred or mistreatment towards individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. We must strive to create spaces where honest conversations can take place, acknowledging the struggles, pain and complex realities faced by individuals with same-sex attractions or gender dysphoria. Our approach should prioritize genuine care, listening and providing pastoral support to those who wrestle with their sexual or gender identities. To affirm someone in their sin is the least gracious and most unloving thing we can do (1 Corinthians 6:9). But we must not forget our calling is to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). This will only be possible with the Lord’s enablement and guidance. Let us honor the Lord and love our LGBTQ+ neighbors well by sharing gospel truth with them in a gentle, gracious and compassionate way.
Rev. Justin Nash, “Grace & Truth: Maintaining Scriptural Fidelity When Ministering to the LGBTQ+ Community,” The Advent Christian Witness, Fall 2023.
- Carl R. Trueman, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022), 31. [↩]
- Carl R. Trueman, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022), 174. [↩]
- Jonathan Leeman, How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2018), 222. [↩]