Matthew Henry John Bartlett

on christiandiscuss list:

I’m as muddled as they come about the homosexual issue, not so much in that I condone it (I don’t), but with what to do with it pastorally and evangelistically when I confront it. Jesus seems not to have been in the business of throwing stones at people, but then there is the fact that it does not seem to be the God-designed normal use of created bodies. Homosexual behavior definitely has a negative and unnatural essence to it. Maybe I should reflect on it more. Right now we have a young woman temporarily living with us. She works locally at the nearby Wallmart and has become good friends with a girl named Val, who prefers women to men. Val is shy, polite, nice looking and bright. We have not known her enough to get into anything deep, but just keep trying to always make her feel welcome at our house. I think we need lots of patience, time, and understanding with such people and not confrontational belligerence. Actually, if Christianity has a poor track record in its treatment of homosexuals, I think we all know it isn’t alone. Naziism was mad crazy in persecuting homosexuals. Perhaps other groups have done similar things, I don’t know.

Sounds like this girl at the mission just really wants to know that you are truly human and compassionate toward her and others, more than having all her intellectual doubts resolved. Funny thing, when people begin to experience God’s love in the presence of a loving group of Christians, their intellectual doubts and objections often just evaporate. I would recommend spending quality time with her and her friends when you can to talk about anything they want. More importantly is to not allow it to be all intellectual, but to be honest about your feelings on all subjects. Let them discover how fascinating you (Christian) are, let them discover how real, how genuine, how compassionate and even how you don’t feel that you have all the answers. As they see God’s new humanity in you, they will be drawn toward that. I also recommend just introducing them to other male and female Christians who aren’t wierd and condeming, but winsome and welcoming. Hopefully, there are many in your fellowship of Christian friends to introduce them to. And by all means, include them in your social activities, informal parties, movies, soccer game, anything good and wholesome. Jesus was a party-goer and he described the kingdom of God in the form of a huge banquet party. Bring the world to the biggest party of all, the most meaningful, the most welcoming! Bring them to Christians who celebrate and worship the true God.

And if she is a person who truly wants to learn about your views on Christianity, then tell her about them! I think I deeply can appreciate why persons would not want to believe in a god who is sending people to hell like traditional Christianity has taught. Hell is a concept that has to properly be understood. I think it has everything to do with seeing that God loves his creation and will punish and oppose everything that stands in his way of his plan to bless his world. That takes many forms and assures that evil will ultimately be defeated and the world put to rights.