Some believe that a woman should never share the gospel in the open air, because she would be in direct violation of Scripture. But is this a biblical position to hold?
May 31, 2023
The Great Commission tells us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. The world says that we can preach—but not to homosexuals. Doing that has been given a special label, something called “conversion therapy.”
WebMD says, “Conversion therapy is any emotional or physical therapy used to ‘cure’ or ‘repair’ a person’s attraction to the same sex, or their gender identity and expression…. Medical and mental health experts have rejected conversion therapy practices as dangerous and discriminatory for decades.”
Some countries have even outlawed evangelism to homosexuals, and there are moves to do that in the United States. Apparently, the gift of eternal life is good news for adulterers, fornicators, thieves, blasphemers, and liars, but not for homosexuals.
“Homosexuals can be saved. The problem is that they (like all of us before we are saved) don’t see sin in its true light; therefore, they neither see their terrible danger nor their need for forgiveness.”
That leaves Christians with a big dilemma. We’re not going to compromise the gospel, and so many within the Church are expecting some sort of persecution. But, that need not be, because there is a simple and biblical solution.
The Scriptures tell us that when angels visited Lot in Sodom, they struck a group of homosexuals with blindness—to a point where they could not find the door to Lot’s house (Genesis 19:11). Some may see this as being symbolic of homosexuals being given up to a reprobate mind, making it impossible for them to find the door of the Savior (see John 10:9). However, the Scriptures do say, “Whoever calls on the name if the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13, emphasis added). God is able to save to the uttermost those who come to Him (Hebrews 7:25). After listing (obviously unrepentant) fornicators, adulterers, thieves, and homosexuals as those who will not inherit the kingdom of God, Scripture says, “And such were some of you” (1 Corinthians 6:11). It’s clear that homosexuals can be saved. The problem is that they (like all of us before we are saved) don’t see sin in its true light; therefore, they neither see their terrible danger nor their need for forgiveness.
It’s important to remember what the enemy does to deceive the lost. Note what it is he hides from the unsaved:
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
It is the gospel that is veiled from the ungodly. Why the gospel? Because it’s the means by which sinners are saved. It is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). Our commission, therefore, is to preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). This is because it’s the gospel that sinners need to hear, whether they’re a heterosexual, a homosexual, a fornicator, a thief, a liar, a blasphemer, or an adulterer.
“It’s the gospel that sinners need to hear, whether they’re a heterosexual, a homosexual, a fornicator, a thief, a liar, a blasphemer, or an adulterer.”
Cracking an Egg
For many years, I would crack an egg on the side of the frying pan and find myself getting shell in the egg. However, a few years ago, I found out that God designed the egg with a film on the inside of the shell. If I cracked the egg on the edge of the frying pan and broke that film, it allowed shell to fall into my breakfast. But, if I cracked it on a hard, flat surface, the film didn’t break and held onto the shell. There’s a right way to crack an egg.
And there is a right way to crack open the heart of a sinner. The right way is to imitate Jesus. We should use the moral Law to bring the knowledge of sin, as Jesus did (see Mark 10:17-19). If we don’t do that, sinners will continue to think that they are morally good and don’t need the mercy of the cross. The apostle Paul tells us what it was that showed him sin in its true light. He said that “through the commandment,” sin became exceedingly sinful (Romans 7:13).
So, when someone says that they are a homosexual, I don’t make it an issue. I don’t want shell in my egg. I make sure I do it the correct way by simply sticking to my agenda to give him or her the gospel.
This is why:
Now we know [without any doubt] that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully and appropriately, understanding the fact that law is not enacted for the righteous person [the one in right standing with God], but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals… (1 Timothy 1:8-10, Amplified Bible)
Notice that the Law was given for sinners—including homosexuals. Here’s where it is relevant to the contemporary Church. The world is telling us not to make an issue of homosexuality, and that is the answer to our dilemma—because according to this scripture, we don’t need to make it an issue. By setting it aside, we are laying down the pistol to bring out the cannon. By doing what Jesus did (using the moral Law), I can show a homosexual the seriousness of his sin, his terrible danger, and consequently, his desperate need for the Savior.
“By doing what Jesus did (using the moral Law), I can show a homosexual the seriousness of his sin, his terrible danger, and consequently, his desperate need for the Savior.”
Allow me to explain what I mean. When I meet someone whom I suspect to be gay, I simply ask them if they think there’s an afterlife. Then, I ask if they think they are good enough to go to Heaven. They usually say that they are morally good, so I take them through the Ten Commandments by asking how many lies they think they’ve told. Have they ever stolen something, even if it’s small? Have they ever used God’s name in vain? Then, I say, “Jesus said that if you look upon a woman to lust for her, you have committed adultery with her in your heart. Have you ever looked with lust?” If he replies, “No, I’m gay,” I ignore that and say, “Tom, here is a summation of your case before God on Judgment Day. I’m not judging you, but you have just told me that you are a lying thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart. If God was to judge you by the Ten Commandments on Judgment Day, will you be innocent or guilty?” Tom says he’ll be guilty, and then he admits he’s going to Hell and needs God’s forgiveness. Then, I share with him the gospel.
I haven’t compromised in the slightest. Rather, I have used discretion because I don’t want to poke him in the eye when I’m trying to feed him in his mouth.
Remember, it’s the gospel that’s the power of God to bring about salvation. Once he has seen that he is in big trouble with God, he realizes I am not “proselytizing.” Rather, I am deeply concerned about his salvation. And that’s evidence of my genuine love for him. He is now humble of heart, and so I give him a Bible and have him read this passage for himself:
Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
I then gently tell him that the only way he can find everlasting life is by the grace of God, and the way to obtain that is through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus. That means turning from all sin—anything that God considers to be offensive. I have shared the good seed of the unadulterated gospel. Now, it’s up to God to do the rest. He makes the seed grow and bring forth fruit.
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