Hmm... this is a touchy subject that I'm sure I'll get flack over but I used to also think that all sin is the same and homosexuals are no different. However, I have come to realize that this is not necessarily Biblical. Sure, one sin is considered imperfection and worthy of eternal separation from God but that doesn't automatically mean that all sin is seen as equal to God. In the OT, God had different punishments for different things. For some things, it was very minor, while for others, it was death. And as most of you know, the punishment for homosexuality was death. So there were definitely different tones God took with various sins.
Now, in today's society we have been taught that people are just born that way. However, this argument doesn't make sense to me for many reasons. I could argue that I was born a murderer, a thief, a liar, an adulterer, an idolater, etc, but that does not mean I simply have to accept that and give into my sinful flesh. And what's more, the way the Bible describes homosexuality is as a state of moral depravity as a result of the rejection of Christ. One example of this is Romans 1:25-28:
"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
So I am starting to believe that many of them are actually in a state of being given up. Now, before you get all angry, we must realize that God will judge people and send them to hell eventually. So either way, there does come a time when he gives up on people (which is usually upon death). I realize this is not a popular teaching today because it is uncomfortable (especially to homos) but I am starting to see an interesting phenomenon of homosexuals infiltrating the churches and subverting the message to be that of total love and acceptance.
In my experience, every homosexual that I've talked to already heard the gospel and refused it. In fact, most of them HATE the God of the Bible. If they do accept a god or christ, it is a false one who accepts them and their sin. Well I'm sorry but that is not Biblical. If you want to be religious, that's fine, but as true Christians, we must follow God's word over man's.
The Bible also describes them as implacable. Implacable means someone who is never satisfied. And the Bible gives examples of these people gradually becoming more and more demanding and depraved to the point of raping innocent people to death (in the book of Judges) and of course the famous Sodom and Gomorrah situation. So it is a very serious sin and not something to take lightly.
Now am I saying that everyone who has had homosexual tendencies is this way? Of course not. I think many, especially younger people, are just confused by our filthy culture of promoting homosexuals and they may have characteristics of the opposite gender and have been told by others that they are probably gay so they start to believe it. But regardless, I have heard of homosexuals that have been saved and started a new life fighting those old ways and eventually found a proper husband or wife and became completely satisfied.
So with that said, I do not believe we should be out there like Westboro baptists with signs that say, "God hates fags" and instigating them. Nor do I think we should treat them poorly. However, I don't think we should just pretend that they are completely normal. And any sort of friendship needs to be limited.
So what about other non-Christians? Well... I have found the more I grow with Christ, the less I can handle hanging around non-Christians. I know some of you like to give the example that Jesus was around sinners but He did not join in their behavior in any way. He was only around them to heal them and teach them to repent (change). And Paul talks about "being all things to all men for the sake of the gospel" but he also warned:
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14
So in summary, if you are being friendly because you think that they may be saved, that is fine. But if you are close friends and totally cool with their lifestyle and they are influencing your life, then that is not OK.
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