Chances are, you know someone who is a part of the LGBT community. Perhaps you are familiar with the difficult balance between loving them and yet not mitigating the truth of God. If you have experienced this, or even if you were simply curious, you were likely refreshed by Dr. Christopher Yuan’s message in Friday morning’s chapel. Shedding light on a somewhat taboo topic, Dr. Yuan shared his powerful testimony, telling how God used federal prison, a Bible in the trash can, and a mother’s prayers to lead him out of a drug-filled, homosexual lifestyle. Later that night, Dr. Yuan returned to the packed ADR to speak further about engaging the LGBT community as Christians. For those of you who missed that night’s session, here are some highlights.

Dr. Yuan began by answering the question of how to respond to homosexual people with the gospel as our starting point. His answer begins with our attitudes. First, we must be convicted of our own sin. He made the powerful point that any discomfort, or even disgust, that one may feel toward homosexual behaviors should be a reminder of the disgust that God has toward sin of any kind. Homosexuality is not the unpardonable sin. It is an abomination, but so is pride and dissension. We must also be consistent in our treatment of sexuality. We cannot condemn homosexuality while viewing immoral heterosexual behavior as somehow better. Likewise, we need to address our attitude toward singleness. Both society and the church seem to agree that singleness is a disease and marriage is the cure. This is why the church appears to be issuing a death sentence for homosexuals when expecting them to resist their flesh in a potential life of singleness. We need to first remind ourselves, and then tell others, that the cure for loneliness is Christ alone, not marriage. Dr. Yuan reminded us that singleness is not a condemnation, but a gift, citing 1 Corinthians 7. The goal for our homosexual neighbors should not be heterosexuality, rather, it should be holy sexuality in line with the word of God. 

Next, Dr. Yuan addressed how we interact with homosexual people. We must show grace to those with homosexual desires. We cannot realistically expect them to no longer have these temptations after they surrender to Christ. As with any other sin, they will most likely continue to face this temptation; however, by the power of God’s grace, they can have the strength to deny their flesh. We also need to be compassionate, and offer assurance of our friendship. Our friends need to know that we will not leave them or condemn them as a result of their sexuality. Dr. Yuan made the crucial point that in order for homosexual individuals to feel comfortable or even safe sharing their struggles with you, you must practice zero-tolerance on bullying and gay jokes. Something said flippantly could establish you as an unsafe person for them to be vulnerable around. Do you think this is not relevant for our university? It certainly is. Even if you have not heard anyone proclaiming that he or she is a homosexual, Dr. Yuan referenced a study which showed that 80% of homosexuals on a Christian campus are not open about their sexuality. Be careful with your words; you never know what a person is struggling with. However, when we do know, we must offer a complete and redemptive view of the gospel. We should be open that homosexuality is a sin, but we cannot leave out the redemptive power of Christ to wash, sanctify, and justify them. Their main issue is not sexuality, it’s a lack of surrender to God. 

Dr. Yuan was sure to provide some very practical advice for when a Christian friend tells you that they have homosexual feelings. First, thank them for trusting you, and do not freak out. In this time especially, focus on helping them foster deeper connections with their spiritual family. Remind them that they are not alone, walk with them, and remind them that their identity is in Christ, rather than in their sexuality. Dr. Yuan issued this challenge: instead of saying things like “love the sinner, hate the sin,” do it. Pray for them and listen to them. Be intentional with them. Be patient, persistent, and transparent. He closed with the reminder that “homosexuals do not leave because they know it’s wrong, but because they know something better, and His name is Jesus.”

For more information from Dr. Yuan, you can visit his website, like him on Facebook, or follow him on Instagram. You can also purchase his books, such as Holy Sexuality and the Gospel and Out of a Far Country online.