How do we witness to the LGBT community?

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JFSurvivor

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
#1
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#1
So I'm sitting here at my college and I heard a conversation between some students. They were talking about someone's sexual preferances. I got to thinking, "what would be an effective way to witness to them?" I don't plan on going up and just talking about Jesus right off the bat but just how would we witness to the LGBT community?

So first, we all know being gay, transgender, ect. is a sin. That's not the debate here. If you disagree with that statement you are free to start a new thread.

Second, the LGBT community has a lot of questions that are very legit. How would we go about answering them in a loving way?

Here are some questions I have heard:

"Well if I'm gay am I going to hell?"

"I was born this way and I can't change. Why would God condemn me?"

"What if I'm a good person? Would God still send me to hell for being gay?"

These are all legit questions and unless we know how to answer them effectivly with equal parts truth and love we will never reach a very hurt community.

So what are your thoughts? Because we can't just throw the cold hard truth in their faces. That would send them running to the hills. But we can't sacrifice truth for love either. We need to love them while being truthful. How do we do that?
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#2
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#2
JFSurvivor said:
So I'm sitting here at my college and I heard a conversation between some students. They were talking about someone's sexual preferances. I got to thinking, "what would be an effective way to witness to them?" I don't plan on going up and just talking about Jesus right off the bat but just how would we witness to the LGBT community?

So first, we all know being gay, transgender, ect. is a sin. That's not the debate here. If you disagree with that statement you are free to start a new thread.

Second, the LGBT community has a lot of questions that are very legit. How would we go about answering them in a loving way?

Here are some questions I have heard:

"Well if I'm gay am I going to hell?"

"I was born this way and I can't change. Why would God condemn me?"

"What if I'm a good person? Would God still send me to hell for being gay?"

These are all legit questions and unless we know how to answer them effectivly with equal parts truth and love we will never reach a very hurt community.

So what are your thoughts? Because we can't just throw the cold hard truth in their faces. That would send them running to the hills. We need to love them while being truthful. How do we do that?
Click to expand...
Actually, it might surprise you how many people right here believe that is EXACTLY the way to act. So, get ready for the onslaught of those kinds of replies.(No, I'm not one of them.)
 
JFSurvivor

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
#3
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#3
Willie-T said:
Actually, it might surprise you how many people right here believe that is EXACTLY the way to act. (No, I'm not one of them.)
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But that won't reach anyone...it will just make them hate Christians. The truth apart from love is not effective at all and love apart from truth isn't effective either. Do you want people to really come to Christ or do you just want to talk to sound holy and rightious and so that you can go around beliving you are a warrior for God? (this isn't directed at anyone)
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#4
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#4
JFSurvivor said:
But that won't reach anyone...it will just make them hate Christians. The truth apart from love is not effective at all and love apart from truth isn't effective either. Do you want people to really come to Christ or do you just want to talk to sound holy and rightious and so that you can go around beliving you are a warrior for God? (this isn't directed at anyone)
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Of course it won't. But truly "reaching" people is not really the intent of many people. To a lot of people, it is far more important that they drive home a certain verse they happen to know better than other verses. (Uh oh....... am I stepping on toes?)
 
JFSurvivor

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
#5
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#5
Willie-T said:
Of course it won't. But truly "reaching" people is not really the intent of many people. To a lot of people, it is far more important that they drive home a certain verse they happen to know better than other verses. (Uh oh....... am I stepping on toes?)
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But that hurts people in the process. I don't have a problem with smacking Christians with a truth brick but non-christians are a different story...they don't have that comfort or that...that thing that Christians have and its sad. :-(
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#6
Jul 3, 2015
56,015
26,143
113
#6
JFSurvivor said:
I don't have a problem with smacking Christians with a truth brick (
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Interesting. I saw you complaining about being "hit with a truth brick" by other Christians, but for you it is okay to do to other Christians?
 
B

biblicalsandy

Guest
#7
#7
JFSurvivor said:
So I'm sitting here at my college and I heard a conversation between some students. They were talking about someone's sexual preferances. I got to thinking, "what would be an effective way to witness to them?" I don't plan on going up and just talking about Jesus right off the bat but just how would we witness to the LGBT community?

So first, we all know being gay, transgender, ect. is a sin. That's not the debate here. If you disagree with that statement you are free to start a new thread.

Second, the LGBT community has a lot of questions that are very legit. How would we go about answering them in a loving way?

Here are some questions I have heard:

"Well if I'm gay am I going to hell?"

"I was born this way and I can't change. Why would God condemn me?"

"What if I'm a good person? Would God still send me to hell for being gay?"

These are all legit questions and unless we know how to answer them effectivly with equal parts truth and love we will never reach a very hurt community.

So what are your thoughts? Because we can't just throw the cold hard truth in their faces. That would send them running to the hills. But we can't sacrifice truth for love either. We need to love them while being truthful. How do we do that?
Click to expand...
I share with them where I have fallen, and show them what God brought me to think about, which changed my outlook and life. That is all I can do, besides pray. If they listen, great joy! I don't mind being questioned, as when I recall what God has done for me, I think dearly about his love!
 
HeRoseFromTheDead

HeRoseFromTheDead

Senior Member
#8
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
689
113
#8
My approach has been to be myself and accept them for who they are. I'm not judged for what they choose to do. But if the topic comes up, I let them know what I believe. I used to know a couple of lesbians who lived on a farm. I'd help them out for haircuts. I never verbalized my faith, but I knew they knew I was a Christian because I'm sure the friend I met them through told them. They eventually split up, and the last time I saw the one that left, there was a bible on her nightstand at the house she was staying. I guess I should have inquired more, but I didn't.
 
JFSurvivor

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
#9
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#9
Magenta said:
Interesting. I saw you complaining about being "hit with a truth brick" by other Christians, but for you it is okay to do to other Christians?
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No...see there'something a difference. When Christians are having a debate, that is different from a Christian lying or stealing. If I start lying or stealing hit me all the truth bricks you want but if we're just debating or trying to talk about Jesus throw me a truth pillow so that things stay civil.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#10
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#10
JFSurvivor said:
But that hurts people in the process. I don't have a problem with smacking Christians with a truth brick but non-christians are a different story...they don't have that comfort or that...that thing that Christians have and its sad. :-(
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"Yes", it's very sad. But many "Christians" honestly feel that they are operating from "love" to make sure that whoever they are preaching at, be they Homosexual, or whatever, get the full impact of just what loathsome and defiled filth they are. If this turns them off, "Too bad", the Christian knows they "Did their duty" and delivered God's message. From that moment on, they are fully justified, and it all rests on the head of "the sinner."
 
S

Stonemason

Banned
#11
Nov 9, 2015
210
1
0
#11
Lead by example. Be compassionate but do not yield to their adultery. Identify yourself as Christian. Be ready to answer questions and be resolute.

The thing about witnessing is, it's communication, and "communication is a two-way street". Sometimes, indeed, you can reach someone by walking into a restaurant and talking to the air. Someone will probably hear you, and maybe these times are when real miracles happen, but we should not pretend we can perform miracles on demand. In order to communicate, you must speak and they must be listening, not just hearing, but listening. Speaking to them as if they're a brick wall is not communicating and thus not purposefully witnessing. They need to somehow be ready for the message.

I hope this helps. I run into the same thing often.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#12
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#12
JFSurvivor said:
No...see there'something a difference. When Christians are having a debate, that is different from a Christian lying or stealing. If I start lying or stealing hit me all the truth bricks you want but if we're just debating or trying to talk about Jesus throw me a truth pillow so that things stay civil.
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I can see this.
 
MLN76

MLN76

Member
#13
Jan 31, 2012
44
6
8
47
Des Moines, Iowa
#13
I think one of the things we forget is that sexual immorality is far from the only thing wrong in each person, in any person for that matter. Lying, cheating, hatred, bitterness, anger, drunkenness, etc. are all symptoms of a much bigger issue - fallen humanity, and our sin nature. The "sins" aren't the problem, it's our very nature. When a door opens to speak to someone, pointing at one thing is useless. Sin is sin is sin, and there's only one remedy for sin.

If you had let me know you were a Christian before I was saved, I would have hated you regardless of what you said. Romans talks about how those who live in the flesh cannot submit to God, not only won't...but CAN'T. (Rom 8:7) And also, that the people spoken about in the 1st chapter were, "Haters of God". And honestly, something in me hated Christ in you. If that makes sense.

I think simply being light and salt to those people...not so much with words, but with actions. Christ followers stick out. We're "alien", "strangers". That difference speaks volumes. Pray for opportunities to be salt and light in their world, and when it comes, don't be afraid of being politically correct, just do what God puts on your heart to do. Be prepared to be unappreciated, hated even, but be persistent. That's what they're watching for. Not just LGBT folks, but all those who are lost.

Just my two cents.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#14
#14
JFSurvivor said:
But that hurts people in the process. I don't have a problem with smacking Christians with a truth brick but non-christians are a different story...they don't have that comfort or that...that thing that Christians have and its sad. :-(
Click to expand...
Love the lost. if a Christian gets out of line, do what Paul did and take them down a peg or two.

Jesus said he came to save, not to judge, that includes that community.
 
S

Siberian_Khatru

Guest
#16
#16
JFSurvivor said:
These are all legit questions and unless we know how to answer them effectivly with equal parts truth and love we will never reach a very hurt community.
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Yep, love and compassion are big. I think you answered your own question by asserting that.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#17
#17
JFSurvivor said:
"Well if I'm gay am I going to hell?"
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Why, Because your Gay Everyone is headed to hell, gay or not. What we have done is not the question, the question is what is the answer.

"I was born this way and I can't change. Why would God condemn me?"
Click to expand...

I will be honest, Only God can answer this, if I was asked this, I would have no answer, at least not now. maybe someone here can give us a good answer on if the person was born that way.

"What if I'm a good person? Would God still send me to hell for being gay?"
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Depends on whose standard you were comparing yourself too. If I compair myself to your standard, I may be evil. But if I compare myself to Gods standard, there is no question, His question is perfection. show me one person walking the earth who has lived up to that standard, I have yet to meet anyone. so I am in the same boat you are..
 
Grace777x70

Grace777x70

Banned
#18
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
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#18
The answer to every question is always and will remain throughout eternity...the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.

Only hearing the true gospel of Christ will bring life to us! We need to hear the gospel everyday!!!


2 Peter 3:18 (NASB)
[SUP]18 [/SUP] but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#19
Jul 3, 2015
56,015
26,143
113
#19
JFSurvivor said:
No...see there'something a difference. When Christians are having a debate, that is different from a Christian lying or stealing. If I start lying or stealing hit me all the truth bricks you want but if we're just debating or trying to talk about Jesus throw me a truth pillow so that things stay civil.
Click to expand...
Of course it is different when it is you on the receiving end, or you dishing it out. That is the whole point. Seems you missed it. Error is error. Plus, I don't get how you can say being homosexual is a sin. It's not.
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#20
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#20
JFSurvivor said:
Because we can't just throw the cold hard truth in their faces.
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When sharing cold hard truth in a loving, respectful, non-judgmental manner, its amazing how it lessens the coldness and hardness. God loves His children, regardless of sexual identity. Shouldn't we? And for the record, I love gay people, but hate the gay agenda. But that's for a different thread.
 
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