How do you deal with a gay friend?

[bishoph]

Originally Posted by Jack Shephard

There is a clear line one must draw about morality. I know how I feel about human rights, marriage included. I know how I feel about homosexuality too. Neither of the feelings I have, whether I be for same-sex marriage or against or whether I feel homosexuality is a sin or not, does not affect the fact that I MUST love people.

It is MY OWN experience that homosexuality will only be an issue between you and your openly gay friend if, and ONLY IF, you allow it to be an issue. I promise you that your friend would not choose to be gay if he or she didnt feel they were. No one would purposely choose to be outcast & hated - in some areas of the country. This person is a friend to you for a reason... don't let anything change that. Trust me, God doesn't care if your friend is gay anymore than He cares if you are straight. He just cares that you show forth Him, God is love - yes? Show people love for He is love.

(edited the quote for space sake)

My friend there are several issues that are apparent to me with this post. However, I will address what I see as the most grievous. (The bolded section)

In the American culture we have been so incrementally desensitized to sin and wickedness that even in the "church" many do not see anything wrong with sin. Cursing, adultery, fornication, lying, arrogance, self righteousness, homosexuality, etc. I assure you however that God actually does care if a person is gay, (or any of these other offenses) and especially if that person says they are a Christian and completely at peace with the fact that they are living in direct violation of God's Word. (Can anyone say with Paul "and such were some of us, but......we were washed...sanctified....justified through the blood of Jesus Christ)Whether we treat them with respect/love is not even a question.....of course we do.....because we love them and hate the sin. Respect and love, however, are not the same as acceptance or approval of their sin.

Later you actually mentioned that you could perform a marriage uniting the two as one, which again is a violation of God's Word. The only way for you to say/do that would for you to believe that their lifestyle is NOT an abomination to God, and that it is acceptable according to the scriptures.