As we start this month, I realized that we have one more celebration to add to our calendars, the LGBTQIA community; that is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), intersex and asexual (or allies). Let me start by stating that when it comes down to celebrations in the Bible, they were always focus on God. I do see wedding celebrations, but I must tell you, I don’t see Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentines, birthdays, or celebration of any man dead or alive. I personally have a particular disdain for the celebration of Black History Month and Hispanic Month. For your information, I am both black and Hispanic. See, according to Scripture we are all sinners and fallen short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23). Also, in God’s eyes, there is no exception of person… nobody is better or worse than anybody. God needed to show this true to the great Apostle Peter as Peter was convinced that the Gospel was only reserved for the Jews; he then concluded “…I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” Acts 10:34-35 (NIV) 

If you are going to celebrate blacks and Latinos and now the LGBTQIA, what’s up with the Asians, when are they getting their month? What about the Italians? You get my point? So based on Scripture all these celebrations are out of order before God. 

Let me also emphasize, as I continue to develop the topic at hand, that the believer in Christ is called to love; that is, to love everybody. We are called to even love our enemies. However, that same believer is called by God to live by the Word, to not comprise, to be honest and to avoid certain fellowships and certain activities. There is no way around this. As much as we are called to love, we are also called to hate, but that hate is never targeted against individuals; even if they believe different than we do and, even if they hate us. 

As believers we are called to hate things such as the presentation of a false way (Psalm 119:104). We believe that Jesus is “…the way and the truth and the life…” John 14:6 (NIV) Any other way is simply not of God. We are also called to hate evil (Psalm 45:7), false doctrine (Revelation 2:6) idolatry (Psalm 31:6) and others. The focus is never on the person. As a matter of Biblical fact, the Bible tells us that “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

We most separate the individual from their actions. However, I must admit, that this separation is never easy. After all, folks are what they think. (Proverbs 23:7). So, I can understand why discussions on the LGBTQIA, from a Biblical perspective, are always a delicate subject that sparks many emotions on both sides of the argument. It is also a difficult topic to discuss because we know folks from this community; coworkers, neighbors, family members, etc. and just like in other communities, some are actually very nice people.

To be continued…