How to keep LGBTQ people from becoming ‘spiritual orphans’
DALLAS — Carrie Underwood’s “Love Wins” video played on the…
Don’t condone, don’t combat
Understanding, love required to reach LGBTQ+ community
As college students, we’ve directly experienced the cultural shift toward tolerance and acceptance of those who are different from us.
For years, we’ve seen the LGBTQ+ community strive to make their voices known in social circles, politics and, of course, religion. (The acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and “plus,” which represents other sexual identities.)
How do we, as Christians, respond to such an outcry?
Andrew Marin. Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community. Westmont, Ill.: IVP Books, 2009. 205 pages.
“Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community” describes the journey of Andrew Marin in pursuing a better understanding of the LGBTQ+ community. Marin sheds light on the current conversations in Christianity by taking the reader on that journey, too — showing us the disdain these individuals have felt from Christians for too long.
He never condones their lifestyle, nor does he attempt to combat anyone’s beliefs concerning homosexuality.
Instead, he simply demonstrates that they, too, need to hear the Gospel, need to be shown love and need to understand that there’s a place for them in the church.
Marin began his journey when three of his friends came out to him during his freshman year of college. This led him to begin the Marin Foundation in 2005. The nonprofit helps create bridges between the LGBTQ+ community and Christians through scientific research, biblical and social education and diverse community gatherings.
Although Paul’s letter to the Corinthians lists homosexuality alongside various sins, we are also told to love our brethren despite their sins. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
We must show others that their sin does not determine whether or not we are friends with them or whether or not we show them God’s love.
“Love Is an Orientation” seeks to confront readers with these very issues in an effort to make them aware of and better prepared for the discussions we face every day.
In order to maintain and promote a sense of unity, Christianity must recognize that all of us are sinners, only made righteous by the blood of Christ. Therefore, love is to be at the forefront of our ministry, and we are to leave the judging to God.
Jimmy Johns, Morgan Marcum, Mallory Prior and Lydia Boverie are students at Harding University.
THE REVIEWERS are students at Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
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