Is opposing homosexuality hate?

So, the title expresses the dilemma many people find themselves in today.  On both sides of the question.  Nobody wants to think they hate someone else and nobody wants to be hated.  I will concede right now that there are those who claim to be Christians who hate, all sorts of people, for all sorts of reasons, homosexuals included.  However, rarely do I find someone on the opposite side of the argument who is willing to concede that people who speak out against Christians, Muslims, Jews or any other religious group that opposes homosexuality are hateful.  Yet, time and again, I find examples of exactly that...Dan Savage anyone?  That isn't really the point of this post however.  My point is to decide if opposition to homosexuality makes a person homophobic or hateful of homosexuals.

First of all, this entire premise seems ludicrous to me.  Time and again, I see people complain because a Christian (interesting that nobody seems to complain about Muslims when they oppose homosexuality, but I digress) has stated a position, using the Bible, that considers homosexuality to be wrong or sinful or whatever you want to call it.  People have used the Bible to justify all sorts of hatred in the past, so I am not naive enough to think that this is never the case.  Obviously, people who hate homosexuals will find a way to justify their hatred.  However, the media and lately, several of my friends, don't seem to distinguish a difference between those who actually hate and are using the Bible as justification versus those who don't hate, but believe in what the Bible says.  It seems to me that many people these days think they are one in the same.  This is NOT the case.  In fact, I'm opposed to asteroids raining down on me, but I don't hate the asteroid.  It isn't about what you say or even how you say it.  It is about what's in your heart...your motives.

Generally, I follow the premise that it is better to keep my mouth shut and be thought wise than to open my mouth and prove myself a fool (a paraphrase from Proverbs).  I fail at this more often than I'd like and end up in pointless arguments with people I don't even know.  However, God helps me succeed at it a lot too, which is more in line with His will anyway.  When it comes to talking with other Christians though, I have to also keep this verse in mind: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).  This tells me that Christians should correct Christians when their behavior is unbiblical.  I generally avoid this task except when specifically led to say something.  Today is one of those days.  People generally oppose the Christian viewpoint on homosexuality because it comes from Leviticus and we've dropped so much from Leviticus already, what's one more thing.  Well, I'll explain exactly why this is NOT a conundrum as so many think.


First of all, the New Testament, on several occasions, changes the Levitical law.  Christ says he did not come to condemn, but to save.  He said he came to fulfill the law.  He came to free us from the law.  Some say Christ is referring only to the ten commandments while others say it is all of the Old Testament law.  That argument doesn't really matter, but for the sake of argument, I think it is referring to ALL the Old Testament law.  Therefore, when we look at the New Testament and we see Christ speaking of freeing us from the law, we can argue that Christians are not subject to the law at all.  However, a very early disagreement broke out in the early church over this very thing, some arguing exactly this and therefore doing whatever they pleased.  Paul, in his writings, clarified this position for the church.  He wrote about the weak brother, strong brother.  He stated that some things are sinful for some people but not all things are sinful for all people.  A strong brother will not be tempted in certain areas and therefore those areas don't offer sin opportunities, whereas a weak brother, who is easily tempted in certain areas should avoid and abstain from them because they will lead them into sin.  Likewise, a strong brother should avoid and abstain from those same areas lest they lead their weak brother into sin.  If the strong brother causes the weak brother to sin, then he is equally guilty of that sin.  This is a very hard concept for some, especially considering Paul had specifically stated that Christian were free from the law.  However, the law was given so that man would know what was right.  You don't hear anyone say they can go out and commit adultery or murder or theft because they are free to do as they please in Christ.  Therefore, the argument that we are free from homosexual sin doesn't hold up.


That brings us to the argument that the New Testament doesn't mention homosexuality at all or that Christ never mentioned it.  Sure, Christ never mentioned it, but he didn't speak about pedophilia either, so does that make it okay?  Of course not, so the argument that Christ didn't mention it and so it is okay is beyond the bounds of common sense.  However, does the New Testament  speak about it?  Well, we come back to Paul.  In Romans 1:26-27, he states: "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error."  There are other versus in the New Testament that have been used to condemn homosexuality, but this one specifically refers to the act as being unnatural, indecent and an error.  I've always found this to be perfectly clear.  Some in the gay community have argued that this verse is only referring to heterosexuals choosing to do these things, which always seems a bit disingenuous to me.  After all, that would certainly condemn bisexuals, would it not?  At any rate, clearly the New Testament does speak on the act and it does seem to be saying it is sinful.

So, if a person is opposed to homosexuality because they believe it is a sin, does that make them homophobic?  Of course not.  Homophobia is a fear of homosexuals.  There are plenty of homophobic people, but you can't label someone that way simply because of their opposition to homosexuality.  Making such a claim is the act of an ignorant person.  It would be like stating a person has a fear of Republicans just because they oppose Republicans.  It is ridiculous on its face.  At any rate, the next question is this.  Does a person that maintains opposition to homosexuality hate homosexuals?  Again, I think there are plenty of people who hate homosexuals and will use the Bible to justify their hatred, but you can't say that a person who is opposed to homosexuality hates homosexuals.  That's ridiculous.  Do you hate the adulterer, idolator, drunkard, murderer, or whatever?  Surely some do and that is very unfortunate when it happens, but that is not the way of Christ or of Christians in general.  Christ calls us to love others.  Would I welcome homosexuals into my church?  Absolutely!  People come to God in all places and states.  Only through the Holy Spirit does God lead people away from their sinful natures, and this is an ongoing process.  Therefore, I would welcome them into my church.  Would I tell them or teach them that homosexuality is right and honorable and acceptable before God?  Absolutely not, because I don't believe that is what God has taught us and I do believe that I would then be guilty of that sin because I would have led my weak brother into sin.  Many churches do not behave in this manner and I find that tragic because they just provide fuel to the fire when it comes to those who want to hate and condemn Christians for our position, but that is because the church is made up of people.  There is a great bumper sticker that states: Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven.  This is so true.  It is also something that Christians often forget.  They fall into the sin of pride or idolatry and consider themselves better than their fallen brother.  While tragic, it is very human.  This is what led the lead singer of DC Talk (a Christian rap band from the 80s-90s) to state that Christians were the greatest threat to Christianity and a relationship with God because they profess Christ with their lips, but deny him in their living.


So, all of this to correct an error of a Christian friend of mine.  He condemns some boxer for being opposed to homosexuality.  I don't know the boxer, nor do I know said boxers position on homosexuals.  However, my friend called him a hypocrite and a [insert swear word beginning with b here].  The boxer may well be a hypocrite when it comes to having tattoos but being opposed to homosexuals.  However, I've yet to meet someone who isn't a hypocrite about SOMETHING in their life, so that isn't really surprising.  I caution my friend though with this.  We don't know the boxers heart and can't know whether he got the tattoos (Lev. 19:28) before or after he became a Christian.  If he got them before, he is NOT a hypocrite, but rather someone who has been washed clean.  If he got them after, the reference may be correct, but still irrelevant.  After all, he may be a strong brother in this area.  You can tell who are the weak brothers, they are the ones covered from head to toe in tattoos.  Even if he is a strong brother though, he should still modestly cover the tats or simply not get them in the first place in order to prevent his weak brother from falling into sin.  Finally, my friend quoted "judge not lest ye be judged" and then proceeded to use the b word in reference to the boxer and stating that he needs to read the whole Bible rather than just rely on one verse.  Well, apparently, my friend also needs to read the entire text since he is apparently unaware that it says in Ephesians "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" or in Colossians "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth".  It is ironic that my friend chose to judge a person he doesn't even know simply because of their public stance on an issue of personal salvation while spouting a biblical verse saying do not judge.  Perhaps the boxer has behaved in a discriminatory or hateful way.  I don't know.  But if he is condemned solely for his convictions, well, that is unacceptable.