Another question is...how many people would be left in our churches if the actual and literal meaning of scripture was lived by? I am not just referring to those translations found in the King James Version or the New International version of the scriptures. I am referring to the original literal translations of the Greek/Hebrew scriptures.

A Baptist Church Convention on homosexuality has decided to forbid any homosexual (practicing or non-practicing) from any leadership, any teaching, any ministry of any kind and even any Christian service. Non-practicing gays are being told they are not welcome to be on the cleaning roster or to help take up the offering. Things must change.

It's time to take a totally honest look at what the Scriptures ACTUALLY say about homosexuality. (Don't miss the prayer at the end).

It is evident that those of the religious community throughout history were not really concerned about upholding the scriptures as the regulator of mankind's behaviour. If they had been, they would have included in that same motion of interpretation, a similar number of paragraphs which covered adultery and fornication committed by heterosexuals, both practicing and non-practicing.

Those two issues are mentioned side by side in the same verse in 1 Corinthians 6:9.

What has surfaced has been homophobia pure and simple of what was behind that motion of interpretation. Technically it is called cognitive dissonance, or only believing what you want to believe.

Throughout history, has this possibly been the means for the religious heterosexual community to side step the issue of adultery, fornication and promiscuous sexual activity within their own lives.

It is a basic premise of debate that the onus of proof is on the asserter. It is up to those who assert that the Bible condemns homosexuals and homosexuality to prove from the Bible that it does.

The presentations below are an honest attempt to respond to the most common arguments, which claim that the Bible condemns homosexuals and homosexuality and to test them carefully from the Word of God to determine if these assertions are true, just as the Bereans did. (cf Acts 17:11). The presentations to follow are an effort to set the record straight using the original literal Greek/Hebrew translations and not those interpretations of man that have been used throughout history to condemn and judge others while at the same time ignoring their own behaviour.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 19: 1- 29
I want to consider these verses as part of the account.

Gen 19:4
"Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house."

Gen 19:5
"They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them." (New International Version)

"…that we may know them." (Authorized Version or the King James Version)

Notes:
AV - Authorised Version or the King James Version. (King James was gay)
NIV - New International Version

V 4 all (Heb kol) is important

V5 men (Heb énowsh) can also be validly translated "people" as it has been over thirteen times by the translators of the NIV in other passages. The best known of these is in Exodus 10:7 "Let the people go".

Others examples of when énowsh is translated "people" in the NIV are Gen 29:22, Ex 22:31, Lev 18:27, Num 13:32, Josh 8:25, Judges 9:49, 1 Sam 5:9, 1 Sam 6:15, 1Kings 13:25, 1Kings 21:13, Ezra 1:4, Eccles 9:14. There are others.

Why would the NIV translators choose "men" in this passage?
Both words are valid translations of the Hebrew word énowsh.

Let us carefully compare Gen 19:4 in the Authorized Version or King James Version to the New International Version.

In the AV, Gen 19:4
"But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:"

In the NIV, Gen 19:4

"Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house."

Notice how the word "people" has been quietly deleted from the AV when they translated the NIV.

Why?

It is particularly interesting to observe how many times the translators have changed "men" in the AV to "people" in the NIV.

For example, Mark 5:20
"And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel." has become "…And all the people were amazed."

In the NIV, there are many dozens of examples of where "men" has been changed to "people".

Why are they so happy to change "men" to "people" in so many places in the Bible, but not in Genesis 19:5?

V5 can have sex NIV (Heb yada) is most commonly translated "to know."

However the meaning in Strong's Hebrew Lexicon is 3045.
http://www.htmlbible.com/sacrednamebiblecom/kjvstrongs/FRMSTRHEB30.htm

"yada', yaw-dah'; a prime root; to know (prop. to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, fig., lit., euphem. and infer. (including observation, care, recognition, and causat. instruction, designation, punishment, etc.) [as follow]:--acknowledge, acquaintance (-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, [un-] awares, can [-not], certainly, for a certainty, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be [ig-] norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to, let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have [knowledge], (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be learned, + lie by, mark, perceive, privy to, X prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have [understanding], X will be, wist, wit, wot."

As we can see, Yada has a wide range of meanings. It can include sexual activity, as seen above and is used in:
Gen 4:1: "Adam knew his wife Eve and she conceived and gave birth to Cain."

However, Yada is only used to denote sexual activity between a man and a woman. Yada is used over 930 times in the Old Testament and it has not been used once to denote homosexual activity.

When the Old Testament scriptures describe sexual activity between members of the same sex (eg Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13- refer to discussion later) it uses the Hebrew word shakab, which according to Strong's Lexicon means:

7901. shakab, shaw-kab'; a prim. root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose):-- X at all, cast down, ([over-]) lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still, with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.

Keep in mind that the term "homosexual", was not coined until around 1868 in Germany, and was first used in English in 1891. However, that term and the term "gay" in this paper is used to refer to those who experience same sex attraction and the absence of opposite sex attraction.

However, the word shakab is not used in Genesis 19:5

Therefore the NIV translation of yada as "can have sex" is plainly incorrect.

As a general observation, do you think that the men of Sodom and Gomorrah would be even remotely interested in the daughters of Lot if they were homosexual?

It just does not make sense that Lot would offer his daughters to homosexuals does it?

What then does Genesis 19:5 mean? It can only mean what the Scriptures themselves actually say it means. We are not free to guess that it is homosexuality, inhospitality or anything else. Scripture must interpret scripture. Let's look at those carefully.

Isaiah 1: 1-17 describes the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. This passage makes no mention of homosexuality when it lists the grievances against the rulers of Sodom and the people of Gomorrah.

Isa 1:10 "Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!"

Isa 1:16 "Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong,"

Isa 1:17 "learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."

If "all the men" (Gen 19:4) of Sodom were homosexual….

where did the fatherless and the widows come from?

If all the men of Sodom were homosexual, there wouldn't be any fatherless or widows. This text proves it could not have been homosexual activity that was the sin of Sodom.

Jer 23:14
"And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah."

No mention of homosexual practice.

Ezek 16:49
"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

Ezek 16:50
"They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen."

"Detestable things" is important. In Hebrew, the word is "towébah" and is mainly used to refer to idolatry. However, Appendix 1 shows a comprehensive list of things that the Scriptures themselves give to describe what "detestable things" means when it is used in the Word. Those who claim that the sin of Sodom was homosexual practice have failed to prove that "detestable things" in Ezekiel 16:50 refers to homosexual practice. The onus of proof is on them. Homosexual practice is not recorded in the Genesis 19 account of Sodom.

However, this next passage in Deuteronomy provides the answer.

Deu 29:17
"You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold."

Deu 29:23
"The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulphur; nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger."

Deu 29:24
"All the nations will ask: "Why has the LORD done this to this land?

Why this fierce, burning anger?"

Deu 29:25
And the answer will be: "It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt."

Deu 29:26
"They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them."

Strong's Hebrew Lexicon says 8441. tow'ebah, to-ay-baw'; or to'ebah, to-ay-baw'; fem. act. part. of H8581; prop. something disgusting (mor.), i.e. (as noun) (an abhorrence; espec. idolatry or (concr.) an idol:--abominable (custom, thing), abomination.

Scripture itself interprets "detestable things" in Ezekiel 16:50 to be idolatry based on Deuteronomy 29: 17 & 26, and therefore the Scriptures themselves say "detestable things" does not mean homosexual practice.

If it was not for homosexual practice...
Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?

This same passage asks that very question and provides the answer.

Deut 29:23-26

"It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger."

"All the nations will ask: "Why has the LORD done this to this land?

Why this fierce, burning anger?"

And the answer will be : "It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them."

It was NOT because of homosexual practice, but because they broke the covenant and practiced idolatry.

Anyone who says Sodom was destroyed because of homosexual practice is not telling the truth.

Surely nothing can be clearer than that!

This is what the Scriptures ACTUALLY say.

~ Scripture must interpret scripture. ~

Mat 10:14
"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town."

Mat 10:15
"I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. "

No mention of homosexual practice.

Jesus declares that the inhospitable reactions given to the twelve, are worse than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.

It is interesting to observe how the church's current attitude to homosexuals is one of being inhospitable.

Could it be that this sin was worse than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah for which those places were destroyed?

It certainly was.

Mat 11:20
"Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent."

Mat 11:21
"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."

Mat 11:22
"But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you."

Mat 11:23
"And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day."

Mat 11:24
"But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

Here the Lord again makes reference to Sodom's destruction as he talks about unrepentant cities that refuse to believe in him or his miracles.

This is about religious unfaithfulness and unbelief, not homosexuality.

Jesus said in Luke 17:28"
"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.

In Luke 17:29:
"But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

When Jesus Himself spoke of Sodom, He did not mention homosexuality or sex of any kind. Surely if that was the sin of Sodom, as many have claimed, the Lord would have at least mentioned it here, but He didn't. Doesn't this strike you as being just a little bit strange? Here the Lord had a golden opportunity to condemn homosexuality if that was the sin of Sodom, but he didn't even mention it.

2 Peter 2:6-9

"if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)-- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment."

No mention of homosexual practice.

Jude 7
" In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire."

This is the only text in Scripture that refers to the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah as being sexual in nature. "Sexual immorality" in the Greek text is ekporneusassai which means "fornication" as it is translated in the AV. This is defined as consensual sex between a man and a woman outside marriage.

"Perversion" is sakros heteras in the Greek, it literally means "flesh other."

We get our word heterosexual from heteras.

This is a very important text. This text proves that the Bible itself interprets the sexual component of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah was heterosexual, not homosexual. Homosexual practice is not mentioned.

Conclusions:

After reviewing each verse in scripture that gives a description of the sins of Sodom, we gain a Biblical picture of what those sins were. Sexuality features very little really. Heterosexual perversion is mentioned in Jude 7. Scripture itself interprets "Detestable things" in Ezekiel 16:50 as being idolatry in Deuteronomy 29:17, 26. Therefore as a conservative, evangelical Christian, I believe that the Scriptures themselves do not interpret the sin of Sodom to be homosexuality or homosexual practice.

Notice how the decision to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18) was made before the alleged homosexual incident took place. (Genesis 19)

Can we just take a moment and stand back and ask…

If people still want to hold the view that Genesis 19 condemns homosexuals and homosexuality, then let us turn to Judges 19: 20-30. This is a dreadful passage. It has similarities to Genesis 19, except that in this case, the men took the concubine who was offered. They raped and abused her and she died.

Judges 19:20 - 28

"You are welcome at my house," the old man said. "Let me supply whatever you need. Only don't spend the night in the square."

So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.

While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men (Heb enowsh) of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him." (Heb - Yada - to know)

The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing.

Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But to this man, don't do such a disgraceful thing."

But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go.

At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.

When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold.

He said to her, "Get up; let's go." But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home."

What was the sin of Judges 19? If we insist the sin of Genesis 19 was homosexuality, then to be consistent, we must say that the sin of Judges 19 was heterosexuality.

Of course this was not the case. The sin of Judges 19 was rape and abuse (Judges 19:25). Then, to be consistent, they must claim the sin of Genesis 19 was threatened homosexual rape (it didn't actually happen, it was only threatened). It was not a general condemnation of homosexuality.

I do not accept that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexuality, because the Scriptures themselves clearly say that it wasn't.

In summary, Genesis 19:4,5 is more accurately translated as "Before they had gone to bed, all the people from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can know them."

It is also debatable whether the angels, Hebrew malák in Genesis 19:1 were men. When speaking of them in verses 5 and 10 énowsh is again used. We have already seen that énowsh has been translated as people in the NIV many times in the Old Testament.

Why would the translators choose to translate this passage that way?

I believe the reason is, translators intensely and bitterly hated homosexuals and were prepared then and even to this day to twist the translation of the Word of God to engender and encourage as much homophobia as possible in the Christian community.

This is a very serious offence as it is not only a mistranslation of the original Greek/Hebrew scriptures, but it affects enormously the lives of many people born as homosexuals. It is not just an academic argument. It also ascribes to God a hatred of homosexuals, which God Himself knows nothing about. This is a very serious matter and goes against scripture which says that God is love not hate.

This next passage is used regularly to condemn homosexual activity.

Lev 18:21
"Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

Lev 18:22
"Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

See also Lev 20:5-13

In both passages, homosexual activity was prohibited as part of the idolatrous worship of Molech.

The people who assert the view that this passage applies today and is a condemnation of homosexual activity and homosexuals must also…

Stop wearing clothes that are made from a mixture of cotton and polyester.

See the very same passage Lev 19:19.
"Men must not cut the hair at the sides of their head or clip the edges of their beards."

Lev 19:27
"They must rise in the presence of the aged and show respect for the elderly."

Lev 19:32
"They must kill children who curse either of their parents."

Lev 20:9
"If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood will be on his own head."

By what justification, can people claim that the prohibition of homosexual activity and homosexuals applies today? You can't cherry pick two texts and say they apply today and say all the others don't. Paul didn't give us a How to Vote card for us to put ticks against those verses we want for today and crosses against those we don't.

Paul claimed many times that the Old Testament laws no longer apply to those who have accepted Christ as their Saviour and Lord, especially in the book of Galatians and Romans.

Romans 10:4
"Christ is the end of the law."

Galatians 3:10
"All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

Gal 3:11
"Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."

Romans 10: 4 does not say "Christ is the end of the law, except for Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13". At least not in my Bible. Either Christ was the end of the Law or He wasn't.

Some try to claim that these passages in Leviticus apply today, as the prohibition against homosexual behaviour is repeated in the New Testament. In the pages that follow, I intend to show that homosexual behaviour between people who do not practice idolatry and who are born homosexual is not condemned in the New Testament. Remember we are talking here about what the scriptures ACTUALLY, say.

For those who continue to insist that these passages still apply today, it is only one small step from that point to claim that they have a scriptural warrant to kill homosexuals.

Lev 20:13
"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

It is probably alarmist to even suggest this, but it is a real concern for many homosexuals none the less.

Romans 1
Sexuality is not a matter of choice. If it were, there wouldn't be any homosexuals. One can choose to practice their sexuality or remain celibate, but one can't choose to be heterosexual or homosexual. Preliminary findings of research into human sexuality which has been conducted by a panel of qualified doctors at the Kinsey Institute which is attached to the University of Indiana has shown that in almost all cases, sexuality is determined prior to birth. In those where it was not, it was determined no later than the age of five years. The research is continuing.

The most common passage used to claim the prohibition of homosexuality is Romans 1.

Rom 1:18
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,"

Rom 1:19
"since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them."

Rom 1:20
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

Rom 1:21
"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."

Rom 1:22
"Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools"

Rom 1:23
"and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."

Rom 1:24
"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another."

Rom 1:25
"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen."

Rom 1:26
"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones."

Rom 1:27
"In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."

Rom 1:28
"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done."

Rom 1:29
"They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,"

Rom 1:30
"slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;"

Rom 1:31
"they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless."

Rom 1:32
"Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

Rom 2:1

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself"

The context is idolatrous pagan worship. See Rom 1:23 "…and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."
"Therefore" in verse 24 and "Because of this" v 26.

Homosexual practice that is linked to idolatry...
is what is condemned.

Paul only talks about those who have abandoned their heterosexuality and decided to practice homosexuality. I have no problem with that at all. But many people have never known what it is to be heterosexual.

We need to acknowledge that scripture is silent about those who were born homosexual and who decide to remain celibate, practice their homosexuality, or abandon their homosexuality to try to practice heterosexuality.

I am only pointing out that Romans 1 is silent on the issue. Many homosexuals have married under pressure of the Christian church, which regularly claims that the only union sanctioned by the scriptures is that of a man and a woman joined together for life in marriage.

A former Principal of a Baptist theological college, used to say, "It is just as important not to water up the Word of God and try to claim it as things said when it isn't, than it is to water down the Word of God."

Revelation has a particular warning for those who try to water up the Word.

Rev 22:18:
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book."

To claim that Romans 1 says anything about those who are born gay is watering up the Word, without any doubt whatsoever.

It is impossible for someone to abandon something they have never had.

However you want to interpret Romans 1, you can't accuse homosexuals of abandoning their heterosexuality if they have never ever known what it is to be heterosexual.

It is important to note that the only time lesbianism is ever mentioned in scripture is in Romans 1:26.

However, the most important part of Romans 1, the whole point of everything Paul said in Romans 1, is found in Romans 2:1.

Rom 2:1
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself"

Proof that this text refers to those who judge homosexuals is the word "Therefore" in Romans 2:1 as it immediately follows what Paul had to say about homosexuality.

Don't ever take Romans 1 out of context. Almost every time people quote Romans 1 as a passage which condemns homosexuality, they stop at Romans 1:32 and then proceed to judge homosexuals and "gay bash" as hard as they possibly can.

I find it absolutely amazing how people can take the Word of God out of context on this issue.

If you plan to gay bash from Romans 1, don't hold your thumb over Romans 2:1.

May God write all His Word on our hearts, including mine.

I Corinthians 6:9 NIV
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders…will inherit the kingdom of God."

This passage is best handled if we simply refer to the Greek.

"Sexually immoral" is pornoi, which means "fornicators" as in the Authorized Version or King James Version. Fornication is voluntary sexual intercourse between a man and a woman outside marriage.

"Male prostitutes" as it is translated in the New International Version are malakoi, which means "effeminates" (as translated in the AV). There are many effeminate men who are not homosexuals and many men who are homosexuals and not effeminate at all. Effeminacy definitely does not equate to homosexuality.

(Malakoi is also used in Matt 11:8 and Luke 7:25 to refer to fine clothes.)

"Homosexual offenders" is arsenokoitai, which is correctly translated "male prostitutes". There are many male prostitutes who have never had sexual relations with a male.

At the time Paul was writing, the word for homosexuality was arrenomanes. It was widely used and known, but it does not occur anywhere in the New Testament.

If homosexuality was clearly what Paul was referring to in 1 Cor 6:9, why didn't he use arrenomanes? This is a serious question and deserves a serious answer.

"arsenokoitai" was a word that Paul had coined. It had not been used before Paul used it. It literally means man/bed, and is correctly translated as male prostitutes.

Some claim that when Paul used arsenokoitai he was quoting from the Greek translation of the Hebrew (Septuagint LXX) in Leviticus 18 and Leviticus 20 when he created this new word and that this is proof that this word is referring to homosexual practice.

Paul said many times that the Old Testament law no longer applied, as we have already seen. He even used the colourful language of calling them "dogs" in Phil 3:2 when Jews tried to insist that Gentile Christians must follow the OT law and be circumcised.

Do you really think that Paul is then going to go back and do the same thing himself which he so vehemently condemned others for doing? It is most unlikely.

However, as much as one may want to condemn homosexual practice, you can't use Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13 to do it. Either Christ is the end or the law or He isn't. (refer Romans 10:4).

1 Corinthians 6:11 says:

"And this is what some of you were." It is referring to fornicators...adulterers,...effeminates... male prostitutes, in verse 9. This verse is often incorrectly translated "homosexual offenders" instead of "male prostitutes" and verse 11 is then used to try to claim that if homosexuals repent, they will no longer be homosexuals but become heterosexuals, as part of the conversion process.

This is not so, for two reasons.

Stop and think for a moment. If the word for homosexuals in Paul's time was arrenomanes, and Paul did not use it but chose to invent another word arsenokoitai, isn't it really begging the question to claim that arsenokoitai means homosexuals and couldn't possibly mean anything else? Yet, this is exactly what many claim. You really have to ask why people would want to do that. If you are going to totally vilify homosexuals, you would have to have something much more substantial than this before you could claim to be justified in doing it.

Many times I have heard sermons on this passage where the preachers claimed that we get "arsenic" in English from arsenokoiati and that this is a clear indication of the poisonous influence of homosexuals on our society.

"arsen" in Greek means "male" and has nothing whatsoever to do with arsenic. If people want to gay bash, please don't lie to do it.

The Oxford Dictionary says "arsenic …from Arab al-zarnik, (al the, zarnik orpiment…) Orpiment is defined in the same dictionary as "Arsenic trisulphide as mineral, formerly used as yellow dye and as artists pigment."

1 Timothy 1:10

"for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine…"

"Adulterers" is pornois, which means "fornicators" which is consensual sex between a man and a woman outside marriage.

"Perverts" is arsenokoitas which means "male prostitutes"
Refer to my comments in 1 Cor 6:9 above.

Homosexuality as we know it today when it is expressed in the committed long term loving relationship of two people of the same sex who were born homosexual and who not practice idolatry, is not mentioned in scripture anywhere. Remember, we are talking about what the Scriptures ACTUALLY say.

Now let us look at what Jesus said about homosexuality. My answer is on the next page.

"This page is intentionally left blank."

If the view of absolute condemnation of homosexuals and homosexual behaviour were supported by the Word of God, surely the Lord Jesus would have said a great deal about it and it would have been recorded in all four gospels, and blazoned in neon lights.

But He said nothing…
absolutely nothing !

That is particularly significant !

At this point, we would be comparing what Matthew, Mark, Luke and John said, and we would be discussing this at great length.

The truth is, it is just not mentioned. I am sorry, but it is totally inappropriate to dismiss this as an argument from silence.

Jesus said in Luke 17:28

"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.

Luke 17:29

"But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all."

In the verses above, Jesus talked about Sodom….
and HE did not mention homosexuality…

Or did He?

Let's look at Matthew 19

Mat 19:11 Jesus replied,

"Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

Mat 19:12

"For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

The context here is divorce.

A "eunuch" literally means a castrated man, but most believe it refers to anyone who does not have a heterosexual nature. In Esther, eunuchs were placed in charge of the king's harem, as the women would be safe when guarded by them. See Esther 2:3f

Isaiah gives a precious promise for eunuchs.

Isa 56:3

"Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." And let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree."

Isa 56:4

"For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant-

Isa 56:5

"to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off."

Isn't it tremendous that those born homosexual are included in God's family, when they accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour?

Matthew 19:11 is a particularly important passage for many homosexuals.

For them, Verse 12 makes absolute sense when it says:

"For some are eunuchs because they were born that way".

They know they were born homosexual. Their homosexual nature is all they have ever known. This is a very precious verse after experiencing years of bitter homophobia.

It would probably come as a surprise to most heterosexuals to learn that for most gay men, it is a physical impossibility to have sexual relations with a woman, and that it has been that way all their lives. It is the way they have been born. It is definitely not a matter of choice.

Gays often feel strong personal hatred from others just because they were born the way they were born and would give absolutely anything to have a heterosexual nature.

Many homosexuals have prayed to God for years asking God to make them heterosexual, and God has said…"No" - every time. Most of them go to extraordinary lengths to conceal their homosexual orientation out of fear of what others would say and do to them if they were to ever find out. Many are in Christian churches and you will never know who they are.

Whether you realize it or not, every day, you speak with many of them and almost certainly have been completely unaware you were talking to a person with a homosexual nature.

Gay bashing as a means of heterosexual bonding is never a good idea, either from the pulpit or anywhere else.

Matt 19:12 is real hope.

"The one who can accept this should accept it."

Jesus said -just accept yourself the way I created you. That can be a very big step for many gays, but a very important step. It can take years.

If only the heterosexual community could accept it too, just as Jesus said.

Mat 19:11 Jesus replied,

"Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given."

Only those who are gay will ever understand what its like to be born gay and those who are born straight will never appreciate that some are born gay or what it is like to be gay. Some Christians have said many things to gay Christians including comments like, "Clearly, you are not walking close with the Lord." Others have said that they are "evil" and "you are an abomination." Surely it should not surprise you to learn that the suicide rate amongst homosexuals is high. Have you inadvertently ever said anything to a homosexual or within the hearing of a homosexual that would encourage that person to take his or her life?

Stop gay bashing, my friend and stop doing it now. The Lord Jesus never did it. Why should you?

If you are not sure what to say about homosexuality and homosexuals or what to say to homosexuals, just take the example of the Lord Jesus and say what He said.

It doesn't stop all the hurt, but it does help to know that Jesus said they would never understand. However, the Lord says in Titus 2:15b

"Do not let anyone despise you."

When the Lord speaks to you through His Word, it is precious.

It is particularly important to realize that nowhere in the Word does the Lord ever condemn homosexuals for being born the way they were born.

It is also very important that homosexuals accept themselves on the same basis that God accepts us all - and that basis is unlimited and unconditional Love. Gays should never use the feelings of hatred by others as the basis for hatred of themselves. This is often hard, especially when the hatred by your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ is particularly bitter and intense. Titus 2:15 "Do not let anyone despise you."

Conclusion:
What do the scriptures actually say about homosexuality and homosexuals?

1: Where a person worships idols and is born heterosexual and decides to abandon their heterosexual orientation and practice homosexuality, only that type of homosexual behaviour is condemned. Refer Romans 1

2: The scriptures are silent in respect of those persons who are born homosexual, and decide either, to remain celibate, practice their homosexuality in a committed long term loving relationship, or abandon their homosexual orientation to try to practice heterosexuality. (Remember the warning about adding to the Word of God in Revelation 22:18).

3: When an individual, group, church or denomination judges homosexuals, that person, group, church or denomination has "no excuse" and are condemned for doing that. See Romans 2:1. These words are the whole point of all that Paul said about homosexuality in Romans 1. God has not delegated the function of judging to you or me or anyone else. If their judgements are then followed by prohibitions, by sanctions, by discrimination, by hatred and by homophobia, those individuals, groups, churches and denominations similarly have no excuse and stand condemned by God, every time they do it.

4: Whatever interpretation you put on Romans 1, you must be able to look a homosexual in the eye and be prepared never to accuse that person of abandoning something they have never had.

5: It is also my firm belief that those who claim that the scriptures condemn homosexuality and homosexuals (apart from those mentioned above) are in real danger of distorting the Scriptures. This is also mentioned in 2 Corinthians 4:2 "nor do we distort the word of God."

The Baptist Church held a special Conference on homosexuality. They absolutely forbad any homosexual from holding any positions of leadership, or of teaching or exercising any ministry of any kind at any time, or even engaging in any christian service. This prohibition applies equally to both practicing and non-practicing homosexuals.

A Plea for Consistency

It would have been particularly helpful if that same conference had also dealt with the issues of adultery and fornication which are also raised in 1 Cor 6:9.

How many heterosexuals who are married are virgins? If they are not virgins, are they guilty of fornication? What about those who have ever had a sideways glance at a member of the opposite sex other than their spouse? They may not have done anything, but it does mean they are non-practicing fornicators and adulterers.

To be consistent, surely we need to hold a special conference and tell them they are also not welcome to hold any positions of leadership or of teaching or exercise any ministry at any time or engage in any form of Christian service.

Why do we treat homosexuals and heterosexuals differently?

How many people would be left in our churches?

It is my belief that these people who voted that way are not really concerned about upholding the scriptures as the regulator of our behaviour. If they were, they would have included in that same motion, a similar number of paragraphs which cover adultery and fornication committed by heterosexuals, both practicing and non-practicing. The two issues are mentioned side by side in the same verse in 1 Corinthians 6:9.

It was homophobia pure and simple of what was behind that motion.

Technically it is called cognitive dissonance, or only believing what you want to believe.

I know the Lord and love Him dearly. I also love the scriptures and accept them as the divinely inspired Word of God in their entirety. I have not tried to manipulate my understanding of the Word to suit my particular point of view. However I am convinced that those who claim that the scriptures condemn homosexuals and homosexuality, (apart from those mentioned above) have clearly manipulated and twisted the Word of God to try to do it.

I expect many Christians will continue to feel it is their duty to condemn homosexuals and homosexuality, and discriminate against homosexuals in every way they possibly can.

However, this paper has shown that they
do not have a scriptural warrant to do so.

David and Jonathan

These two men had a very special relationship. I am not suggesting that David and Jonathan were gay for a moment, but it is helpful to look at a couple of verses that describe their feelings for one another. Jonathan was David's brother in law.

1 Sam 18:1
"Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself."

1 Sam 18:3
"And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself."

1 Sam 18:4
"Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt."

1 Sam 20:41
"After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together--but David wept the most."

After Jonathan was killed, David said in 2 Sam 1:26

"I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women."

David had many wives, including Michal and Bathsheba. Yet Jonathan's love for David must have been something particularly special, as David said that Jonathan's love was more wonderful than that of women, including even the love of Bathsheba!

That very deep love they knew for each other was something that God implanted in the hearts of those two men. It was something that God did.

Is God doing the same today when he implants a very deep love in the hearts of two men for each other?….

Absolutely. Can you put the issue of homosexuality to one side for a moment, and appreciate that God often brings two men together and places within their hearts an incredibly deep love for each other? That in itself is something wonderful and beautiful that God does and it isn't wrong.

Should they kiss? …even in church? Absolutely. It's scriptural.

This is a classic case of allowing the scriptures to shape the way we think. You need to ask yourself how much of what you think about gays is driven by homophobia, which is always wrong, and how much is driven by what the Scriptures ACTUALLY say.

You would be staggered if I told about the behaviour of heterosexuals in church that I have witnessed that has been judged to be perfectly acceptable.

Much of the heat in the debate on homosexuality in the churches would dissipate if good conservative evangelical Christians would treat the Bible much more seriously and honestly on the topic of homosexuality.

If conservative evangelicals applied exactly the same principles of exegesis to this topic of homosexuality as we do to any other topic, we would be saying very different things from our churches.

One need not ever lie from the Bible...
just because one hates gays.

If I am gay, what shall I do?

If you have a minute, why don't you come into my sound proof room? There is a lot of noise outside with people gay bashing and saying all sorts of things about gay marriage. We need to get away from all that for a bit. First of all, I am a retired Pastor who is gay. I don't practice homosexuality, but that is my choice. I am not going to judge you, nor am I going to stand on any high moral ground in here. So just relax. OK?

I am assuming you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. That's great. If you don't, or aren't sure, why don't we talk about that sometime.

You know, we read in John 3:16 that God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son... Loving someone is when you give yourself to someone, completely and unreservedly. That is what love is. When two people fall in love and they commit themselves to each other for the rest of their lives, they give themselves wholly and completely to their partner to the exclusion of all others.

Exclusivity is a hallmark of true and genuine love. Sexual relations are a beautiful expression of that love which follows the commitment of a couple to each other.

Sometimes we can get all mixed up and think we can get love through having sex with someone. Often when we have sex with someone, what we are really looking for is to be loved. True? Gays go to places sometimes looking for sex and they can become promiscuous. That can be really dangerous - dangerous to your health if you pick up an infection or a virus. Did you know there are over 50 different sexual transmitted diseases you could expose yourself to? It can also be physically dangerous. It can also be hard not to go to those places once you have started going there.

Whether you are single, gay, straight, married or in a permanent relationship, promiscuity can totally wreck your life and even end your relationship. Not to mention the health risks to you and possibly the person you are in a relationship with. That's sad. If this applies to you, and you decide you really don't want to go on the prowl anymore, it is probably because your higher spiritual self is telling you this. Just don't go. And if you are struggling with it, talk to someone you can trust, like your doctor. In the meantime, here are a couple of really good tips.

If you feel like you want to go on the prowl again, this made sound crude to you, always masturbate before you leave home. It will help to prevent you from being promiscuous.

Masturbation is not mentioned in the Bible; so don't let anyone ever put you on a guilt trip over doing it. Historically, this is another classic case of people not using the Scriptures to shape the way they think.

And if you still feel the urge to go on the prowl:

Plan your trip in this fashion. If you are walking, jogging or driving, maybe there is a fountain or a house or a corner when you decide you will never go past that point in that direction. That is a great idea and can often work well. It's going to be harder when you are out of your normal routine, or in a different place on holidays for instance. Plannning things differently will help to change your thought processes of why you are wanting to prowl. Staying with a group of others is also helpful. No one is pretending it's going to be easy. Make yourself accountable to yourself of why you are wanting to go on the prowl. Is it for "sex" because you are "lonely" and looking for "love" through "sex"? Love and Sex are two different things. Do not confuse them with each other. Nothing is going to change your sexual orientation, but you can change your your promiscuous sexual behaviour, and you will be a much happier person and feel much more in control of your life when you do. If you continue to struggle with your behavior and want to change it, talk with a Christian doctor. If you want to modify your behaviour, they are the best qualified to help you, and will also give you good coping mechanisms on how to handle gay bashing at churchs and elsewhere.

The Kinsey Institute attached to the University of Indiana, which is run by qualified medical practitioners, has been conducting research into whether a person's sexual orientation can be changed, for over 40 years. To date they have not found one. Many have modified their sexual behaviour as I have done, but no one has changed their sexual orientation.

What if you slip over? Firstly, don't hate yourself. The Lord Jesus loves you heaps, so why not use the model of His love for you as your model to love yourself? That is very powerful I tell you. It is very common for gays to transfer the hatred they feel from others towards hatred of themselves. That is never a good thing.

There is a fantastic verse that is a promise in 1 John 1:9 which says; "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." It's a great verse to memorize. If you feel like crying your eyes out, go find a nice quiet place and pray to the Lord and howl. Ask Him to forgive you, and He will. He promised He would. He does that every time because He is faithful, just as the verse says. He is a great God, absolutely, isn't He? We are then justified. Put simply, that means "just as if I'd" never sinned - perfectly clean and white in God's sight.

We shouldn't plan to do it though. Romans 6:1 says "Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase? By no means." If the spot you have chosen is used by other gay Christians, you might need to be a bit careful where you walk. The ground will probably be a bit damp. You are not on your own.

Promiscuity is a sin whether one is gay or straight.

However, when heterosexuals are promiscuous, it is called adultery or fornication, depending on whether the person was married or not.

There is a widely held belief that promiscuity is nowhere near as bad when a heterosexual does it than when a homosexual does it. In God's sight, there isn't any difference. The ground at the foot of the cross is the most level ground on earth.

You are not a second or third class Christian because you are gay.

The Lord Jesus loves you dearly. Psalm 18:19 says "he rescued me because he delighted in me." God is crazy about you, yes, even you as a gay Christian. He really is. (There is box of tissues just there if you need it - it's OK)

There are other great verses that show the great love that God has for everyone:

1 Cor 6:19 and 1 Cor 6:20 which says "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body."

That word "temple" is the word naos in the original Greek and it means not only the temple, but the Holy of Holies within the temple. When Christ is our Lord, our bodies are the naos of the Holy Spirit, so it's not a great idea to mess it up.

However, don't ever consider a heterosexual marriage as a solution to being gay or as a means of "curing" you.

If you have been born gay, you won't need me or anyone else to tell you. You will know you are not attracted to members of the opposite sex, and nothing anyone can do will change your sexual orientation. Nothing will ever change after you are married, no matter how much you ask God to make you heterosexual. It would not be fair on your heterosexual partner either. Many gays think that if only they were to get married to a member of the opposite sex, everything will sort itself out. Believe me, it won't.

People can hit homosexuals with high voltages of electricity to punish them for being homosexual as they did in the 70's, they can discriminate against them and hate them, they can tell them they are evil, they can say they are obviously not living very close to the Lord, they can say that even non-practicing gays are not welcome to exercise any ministry whatsoever, but no one can make you be attracted to members of the opposite sex, even if you want to be attracted to them.

Finally, think very long and hard about whom you come out to, or tell that you are gay. I would not recommend you tell anyone in a Christian church, not even the pastor. A Christian doctor gave me that advice several years ago, and I regret the day I did not heed his advice. One Christian in our church was told by an elder that he was not welcome to exercise any ministry or even do any act of Christian service, just because he is a non-practicing gay. That ministry for him involved vacuuming the floor and helping to take up the offering. He was told he was not good enough to do that. Things must change my friends - they really need to. The reason why it is not a good idea to come out to anyone at Church is that in general, Christians do not allow the scriptures to shape the way they think about gays. Their homophobia does. (That is why this paper was written)

For the record, I had a very good relationship with both my parents.

Many doubt whether people are born gay, and the most gracious response we can offer is to say, "I know the way I was born." It is arrogant to suggest to anyone that they don't. God definitely creates some people gay. Sorry about that.. but it's absolutely true.

The Lord Jesus said in Mat 19:12

"For some are eunuchs because they were born that way… The one who can accept this should accept it."

Whom should you tell? I recommend a good Christian doctor. If you want to modify your behaviour, they are the best qualified to help you, and will also give you good coping mechanisms on how to handle gay bashing at church and elsewhere. However well meaning, Christians at church are definitely not a good choice to help you modify your behaviour. Untold damage can be done that can take years to repair.

Also, tell the Lord Jesus. No one loves you more than He does, and no one understands you better than He does. He will speak to you through His word and really encourage you.

1 John 4:20

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."

Heb 4:15,16

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Has it ever occurred to you that the Lord Jesus was tempted to be promiscuous just as many have been and that He said "No" every time? It says He has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. But it also means He understands perfectly how hard it is for us, as gays, to say "No" and is right there to help us. Just ask Him. He won't mind a bit. He'll be glad to.

Nahum 1:7

"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."

Just before you go,I have a really thick hide here that looks as though it might fit you. How about you take it and wear it every day. It's really important to wear it whenever you go to church. You will need it. Have a great day. I will be praying for you. (I mean that.)

What About Everyone Else?

Recently I have been counselling with a young fellow. He came to me and said, "The Pastor said last Sunday in his message that "Homosexuals are an abomination." The Pastor even called me an abomination. Am I really an abomination to God and everyone else?" He was really upset.

If your line is to love the sinner, but hate the sin of homosexuality, please articulate that. The Pastor should have said "Homosexual practice is an abomination" if that is what he believes. Always differentiate between the sinner and the sin.

What he said was unscriptural anyway.

Lev 18 and 20 clearly says it was homosexual activity that was prohibited as part of the idolatrous worship of Molech. That is what was an abomination or detestable. That has got to be a case of really sloppy exegesis. Don't you ever be guilty of that, especially on this topic! If that Pastor still believes those verses apply today, I wait with bated breath for him to tell me how many of his children he has killed lately for cursing him. (see Lev 20:9 - same passage)

Pastors, who read this, please help the Lord reach gays. Don't make the Lord's job harder. Don't ever use gay bashing as a means to make yourself more popular with your congregation. That happens frequently. Sometimes the loudest gay bashers in the church community are in fact gay themselves, and are using their behaviour as a decoy, so you won't suspect them. Several in every hundred in your congregation will be gay. Almost certainly you will never know who they are. Your first priority needs to be to align yourself totally with what the Lord Jesus wants to do in the lives of the gays in your congregation.

I would rate the suicide risk of that young fellow as moderate to high. Please pray for him and all others who are struggling with this would you?

I firmly believe the most important priority of the Lord for the gay community is to reach them with the gospel. What chance have they got of coming to know Christ if we continue to maintain attitudes of total and bitter vilification?

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Gays really appreciate that verse I can assure you. It means God's love reaches them and they are included in His plan of salvation when they accept Him as Saviour. When it seems the entire world excludes them, even those in His own church, God doesn't.

What are you doing to help reach gays for Christ? Is gay bashing from the pulpit or in any conversation really going to help? You have already spoken to many gays and never realised it, and probably you never will. Is your approach to say change first and then we will accept you, or are you going to do what Jesus did and love them right where they are?

The best qualification you can obtain to pass any opinion on this topic is to spend a minimum of 500 hours out there sitting with gays, listening a lot and telling them how the Lord Jesus loves them. After all the hatred that has come from evangelical churches, don't be surprised if it takes a very long time before they are prepared to listen. Whatever we say in our churches, it must help the Lord Jesus reach gays as His first priority, and not hinder Him in His work. However, please remember that only a very small proportion of gays have come out and are identifiable. The majority are normal people who you will never know are a person who has a homosexual nature.

There is an inclusive church that has a gay couple who hold a home group of over 100 in their home each week, and almost every week gays are accepting Christ in those meetings. I wept when I heard that. "Come and rejoice with me…" Isn't it absolutely fantastic! Please don't judge them. (Romans 2:1 forbids you to do that) Let us pray for them and really encourage them. I believe that in our community, gays remain a significant group of people not reached with the Gospel.

If God has spoken to your heart...
As you have read this paper...
Whether you agree with what has been said or not...
Can I suggest you pray this prayer:

Lord, I don't understand why you have created some people gay, or why some people think they have been. I am sure my gay brothers and sisters don't understand either. But I praise you that you do understand. Help me never to judge them. Your Word forbids me to do that. Help me to be obedient to your Word. Help me never to hate them and discriminate against them and vilify them. Please forgive me if I have ever done it in the past. Lord, the ground at the foot of your Cross at Calvary is the most level ground on earth. Help me to be totally honest with your Word in respect of homosexuality. Forgive me if I have ever twisted or manipulated or lied about your Word when I have spoken about homosexuality.

Lord, please forgive me if I have ever offended a homosexual or hindered them from coming to you, whether I have realized it or not. I beg you to forgive me if I have ever said anything in the hearing of a homosexual that has encouraged that person to take his or her own life - especially if that person has gone to a lost eternity without you. Lord, I beg you to forgive me if I have ever done that.

Lord, I want to treat heterosexual and homosexual sinners exactly the same. Exactly the same as you do Lord. Exactly the same as you have treated me. I am a sinner just the same as they are. I want to totally identify myself with what you are doing in trying to reach gays with your offer of Salvation, and to grow them as your disciples. Help me never to place pre-conditions on that, just the same as you don't.

Lord, I believe with all my heart that most of all you want to reach gays with your love and salvation. Help me to align all I do and say totally with what you are doing, and never to hinder you, or make your job harder. Help me to be the kind of person you can use mightily when I meet homosexuals, whether I am aware of who they are or not.

I love you Lord. Help me to love gays too, just as much as you do.

Amen