[taykey]

You know, ther's a lot of gay people at my school, ther's even anti-homophobic posters in like every classroom. I really want to be a light to the world, but what do I say? There's even a gay club at my school, and on the announcements once, I heard the principal talk about a " moment of silence for homosexuals struggling to fit into society", or something like that. And there's a gay girl I kinda befreinded in one of my classes. I realy don't know what to do. Please help!

[Demon_Hunter]

Originally Posted by taykey

You know, ther's a lot of gay people at my school, ther's even anti-homophobic posters in like every classroom. I really want to be a light to the world, but what do I say? There's even a gay club at my school, and on the announcements once, I heard the principal talk about a " moment of silence for homosexuals struggling to fit into society", or something like that. And there's a gay girl I kinda befreinded in one of my classes. I realy don't know what to do. Please help!

umm, treat them like they are people. They are sinners just like you or I. Dont look at them as if they are some kind of leper (which alot of christians do), but look at them as people in need of a savior, just like you once were.

[Wesley7777]

I think you nailed it right there.

[mulletman]

Don't "deal with" them at all. What is to be dealt with?

[rock_show_host]

You can be a light to the world by loving people regardless of what type of sin they struggle with.

Honestly, don't treat or think of them ANY differently than any of your other friends. That's my advice. I think even more than a lot of groups, gays tend to have a distorted, negative view of Christianity because some of the only "Christians" they ever hear from are the over-preachy ones treating them like dirty inferior beings. Not enough Christians actually make the effort to reach out to them and take the time to understand their feelings and what they go through.

I went to a high school that was all about homosexual tolerance -- we would regularly have pro-gay marriage speakers, performers, musicians, etc. come visit our school, and once a year at least a hundred students would participate in a "Day of Silence" to commemorate the oppression of gay people in America. Needless to say, I was surrounded by a lot of very hostile attitudes toward Christianity and religion in general, which made it difficult a lot of the time. But it also taught me a lot about how important it is to love people regardless of their sexual orientation.

I believe homosexuality is wrong, but I believe it is equally wrong (and hypocritical) for any Christian to discriminate against or mistreat homosexuals. Homophobia is not Biblical; loving and reaching out to others regardless of their individual struggles is.

[bobthecockroach]

Originally Posted by rock_show_host

I believe homosexuality is wrong, but I believe it is equally wrong (and hypocritical) for any Christian to discriminate against or mistreat homosexuals. Homophobia is not Biblical; loving and reaching out to others regardless of their individual struggles is.

You nailed it.

[Dr. Worm]

Originally Posted by taykey

How do you deal with gay people?

The same way you deal with brunettes.

[bobthecockroach]

Originally Posted by Dr. Worm

The same way you deal with brunettes.

You nailed it too.

[tigerfan88]

Ditto to what everyone else said. Hate the sin, love the sinner. None of us are perfect, all of us sin, so discrimination has no place in Christianity, given what Jesus has taught us through the Bible. There's tons of gay people on campus at my college. I treat them just the same as anyone else I talk to.

[AudioACanuck]

I have a question about this,

There was this group of homosexual teens that kept coming into the place I work and talking with me. I had no problem, I knew they were homosexual. But then they started bugging me to come hang out with them, and I kept turning them down. Finally they asked me the reason why, and they wanted the truth, not an excuse. So I told them I was a Christian and was trying to live how God wanted me to, and they did things that I didn't believe was right. I said a few things and included homosexuality in the list. But I said they were all still cool people, I just didn't want to hang out with them. Do you think I could've handled this better?

[rock_show_host]

Originally Posted by AudioACanuck

I have a question about this,

There was this group of homosexual teens that kept coming into the place I work and talking with me. I had no problem, I knew they were homosexual. But then they started bugging me to come hang out with them, and I kept turning them down. Finally they asked me the reason why, and they wanted the truth, not an excuse. So I told them I was a Christian and was trying to live how God wanted me to, and they did things that I didn't believe was right. I said a few things and included homosexuality in the list. But I said they were all still cool people, I just didn't want to hang out with them. Do you think I could've handled this better?

I don't see what the problem with hanging out with them would have been. If you just don't like them and don't want to, fine, but it sounds like you felt it was wrong to spend time with them simply because (among other things) they were homosexual. To be perfectly honest, I think that's a pretty bad attitude/reason. But again, I'm probably making assumptions -- could you elaborate on why you felt it was wrong?

[slap_j]

Yeah. Homosexuality is not contagious. And simply being friendly or kind to someone isn't tacit approval of anything they may be doing that's sinful.

[Demon_Hunter]

Originally Posted by AudioACanuck

I have a question about this,

There was this group of homosexual teens that kept coming into the place I work and talking with me. I had no problem, I knew they were homosexual. But then they started bugging me to come hang out with them, and I kept turning them down. Finally they asked me the reason why, and they wanted the truth, not an excuse. So I told them I was a Christian and was trying to live how God wanted me to, and they did things that I didn't believe was right. I said a few things and included homosexuality in the list. But I said they were all still cool people, I just didn't want to hang out with them. Do you think I could've handled this better?

Jesus hung out and ate with drunks, theives, and prostitutes. Dont fret about the past, but in the future I would just say to remember that none of us are any better than the other. My sins, and your sins are just as bad as their sins. I think its ok to hang out with gay people, but you just dont want to participate in anything that would be wrong inherently.

[TunerSteve]

Originally Posted by AudioACanuck

I have a question about this,

There was this group of homosexual teens that kept coming into the place I work and talking with me. I had no problem, I knew they were homosexual. But then they started bugging me to come hang out with them, and I kept turning them down. Finally they asked me the reason why, and they wanted the truth, not an excuse. So I told them I was a Christian and was trying to live how God wanted me to, and they did things that I didn't believe was right. I said a few things and included homosexuality in the list. But I said they were all still cool people, I just didn't want to hang out with them. Do you think I could've handled this better?

You handled it the best way you knew how to at the time. I had a similar situation years ago, when friends I usually would spend considerable time with, began to dabble, and later deal illegal drugs. My response was to quit spending as much time with them, and eventually none whatsoever. I wasn't judgemental about it by confronting them, but I too could've handled that situation better as well. At the time I felt that by continuing to hang around them, I would be condoneing their behavior, and I think many feel the same way about homosexuals. If they know how you feel about homosexuality, and there is still an opportunity to spend time in social settings, I think your witness could eventually lead someone back into the light. I believe God places people in our paths, and how we treat them certainly can have an impact no matter what we do. Try your best to make sure that impact is positive.

[tlj009]

Jesus hung out and ate with drunks, theives, and prostitutes. Dont fret about the past, but in the future I would just say to remember that none of us are any better than the other. My sins, and your sins are just as bad as their sins. I think its ok to hang out with gay people, but you just dont want to participate in anything that would be wrong inherently.

I think this depends on what kind of person you are. And I don't think Jesus' example is a great comparison in this case. Jesus did hang out with these people but not while the were drunk or stealing or engaging in prostitution. Homosexuality on the other hand is a little different as it is a public relationship based on sin. I don't expect that Jesus was hanging out with a prostitute that was sitting on a paying customer's lap and I wouldn't think it is appropriate to hang out with homosexuals who were holding hands and kissing. The trouble is that a good many couples do act that way when hanging out with their friends. There is also a problem depending on your own strengths and weaknesses. Proverbs warns against having certain companions and I think the warnings are good no matter what sin is involved.

Proverbs 13[20] He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Proverbs 28[7] Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.