Hitchin Christian Centre

Q: How should the church treat one of it's members who is living a gay life-style?

A: Hi, thanks for your question, which is probably one churches everywhere are trying to wrestle with. You have asked how we would treat a member who is living a gay lifestyle. I can answer this because we have had cases like this.

It would be important to differentiate between 'members' and 'visitors'! Our members all believe the Bible is God's inspired Word. They would know that such a lifestyle is contrary to what God wants for us, and no different in fact than if they wanted to indulge in adultery - both would be wrong in God's eyes. My response to the person concerned was not to condemn, but to love them. Not pity them, but love them. Not to turn them away, but to help them and encourage them, and to be there for them, and where appropriate, to give them support and counsel.

This is too detailed a process to write here (I'd be very happy to help you if you so desired), but it would involve having an understanding of the need and of seeking God's help, in a loving and not condemning way, to bring restoration.

Fact is, God has a much more fulfilling lifestyle for us - He doesn't want to make our lives a misery but to give us "a real and a better life than we have even dreamed of!" (John 10:10). We all mess up in our lives and need God's help to clean us up and get us moving in the right direction.

Hope that helps? Please contact me if I can help. Tony

This is a response to a question posted on our "Ask the pastor" page. To submit your own question, go here.

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