Homosexuality - Does God Really "Hate Fags"?

Does God really "hate" gays? Really? And is that the message that Jesus would want us to be known for? Is that the Gospel message? Really? I think not!

I am absolutely certain if Jesus was walking the earth today He would NOT ever be caught holding a "God Hates Gays" sign, and yes I am absolutely 100% certain of this! He probably would hold up a sign that said, "I Strongly Dislike Pharisees Types". :)

There are several areas I feel that we, as the Christian church, have done harm to our cause of spreading the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to a hurting world! And one of those areas is in regards to the Homosexual issue. Homosexuals have been, in my opinion, abused by much of the Christian community. They have been treated like a Cancer, and it's wrong! It's sinfully wrong! And I want to apologize as an Evangelical Christian Pastor and say that I am ashamed for the way we have treated you and I am very sorry!

Here's the deal, whether you are FOR or AGAINST homosexuality is really not the issue here, at least not to me for this particular "note" anyway. Because even if you see homosexuality as sin there is no reason to be hateful and bigoted! For example, I am against divorce, yet I love those who are divorced. I come from a divorced home and so does my wife. Divorced people serve in Mercy Church where I serve as Lead Pastor. They work with our children, they sing on the worship team, they've even served on our elder board through the years. So, in my opinion if you are going to be hateful towards the gays then you are a hypocrite if you are not hateful towards those who are divorced, those who lie, or gossip, or are prideful, etc. It's ridiculous. I could go on here, but I would hope you get my point.

Hate is not a FRUIT of the spirit, Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Jesus also said in Matthew 7:16 "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"
Jesus also said that people would know us by our LOVE, John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Bottom Line: We as Christians should be known as the most loving compassionate people on the earth today, and it's not too late to start with that! Let's get going on spreading the Gospel message that Jesus intended us to spread!

Just my thoughts! 

PS To all my gay friends, both personal and on facebook, I want you to know that there is a heterosexual Evangelical Bible Thumping Christian Pastor in Kansas City that loves you! For reals!

The "Born Gay" Question

I get asked almost weekly what I think about Homosexuality. I am not sure if it's because I delivered a sermon a couple years back called "God Loves Gays" or just the fact that I am a religious figure (pastor) and people want to know what my perspective is ... either way I want to address just the most common question I am asked;

Q: Is Homosexuality a choice? Nature vs. Nurture.

Great question and that is the question I will address here ... not all the other issues that surround this subject ... so please DO NOT judge me for what I DO NOT say ... judge me on what I DO SAY! That would be the mature thing to do!

I do know this; I personally was born with an attraction to women. No one had to "nurture" me to find women attractive. And not having a constant father figure in my life till I was 7 years old didn't change or effect that attraction.

I have had people (I would say ignorant people, not to be mean, and not to say they are stupid, but to say they are not well informed on the subject of sexual orientation ... so they would do well to leave their thoughts to themselves) that say "they (gays) just need to make the choice to not be gay." Okay, that would be like someone telling me, "Timmy you need to just make the choice to not be heterosexual." I can't choose to NOT be attracted to women, that's ridiculous! I didn't ask to be attracted to women, no one had to coach me, or show me pictures or pray for me to be attracted to women ... it just came to me "naturally." It was my "nature" and it is considered "natural" in society and in scripture for a man to be attracted to a women, and a women to be attracted to a man. Herein lies the rub, or the issue... or the problem.

I have interviewed many homosexuals, my roommate in college was gay, I have several good friends who are gay ... and because of the circles I run in, each of the gay people I know are Christians.

Side note: If you think you can not be a Christian and be gay, you are just a fry short of a Happy Meal. Lest you forget, "we are all sinners ... we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Not a one of us "Christians" are living a normal 100% consecrated God-centered-life! Let's just be honest, shall we.

All the people I know who are gay did not chose to be gay. As a matter of fact, most of my friends who are gay said they would never have chosen this life! And a couple of them said they have prayed, and prayed, and prayed that God would make them attracted to the opposite sex... to no avail. Why won't God give them what they ask for? I wrestle with this for many of my close gay friends.

I hurt for those who are gay! It's a rough road, full of rejection and heartache and even loneliness for many.

For just a minute join me in a thought: Let's say for example sake that what was normal, or "what God intended" for the human race was for a man to be with another man, and a women to be with another women. Okay, work with me here ... this is the way God set it up. So, you are born with an attraction toward the opposite sex, but you are looked at like a freak, or a hetero, or whatever ... you were teased, made fun of, etc. (in all my interviews this run true for most all) ... and you were especially rejected by the religious community ... a sinner, the worst of them all. The church that you attended asks you to leave ... because you just aren't normal. Your friends (who are all jacked up too) reject you because of your feelings. Basically, your life sucks! And the worst treatment is coming from the "so called" Christians... and they say... "hey, just don't have those feelings!" So you go on living a lie, hiding, which drives you further into a lifestyle that you haven't had an opportunity to journey through with anyone to help you make sense of it all.

Okay, so; Nature or Nurture? I think both! And it's just not that simple. People who are born Heterosexual of course can think it's simple ... because they were BORN heterosexual... hello! Life is simple ... most everyone is like you! From what I have learned from the Homosexual community - it can be complicated!

I have met some gays who were abused, and therefor felt forced into a gay lifestyle (nurture) and others who knew they were gay from the age of 5 (nature)... and the "nurture" in the home was normal, mom and dad still married, Christian home, etc. etc.

Now, I will say this (if you are gay, PLEASE do not take offense to this ... I am just speaking my thoughts here) we all have choices to make with what we are given in life. It's not what we are born with that matters, it's what we do with what we are born with that matters. You must decide.

I have a good friend who is gay, knew he was gay from age 7, and he has chosen to live a life of celibacy. He tried to marry a women, but just couldn't go through with it because he didn't feel it was fair for him to be more attracted to men and he felt that his girlfriend deserved more than that ... so he broke it off for the sake of her heart.

Again, for those of you who think you can not be "born gay"; let me just help you think correctly here for a second ... I see this to be very possible, because you can be born physically different sexually ... what I mean is - you can be born with both male and female genitalia ... so why couldn't you be born emotionally or chemically or genetically male in a female body? Make sense?

Again, just my thoughts ... and people ask me, "are you gay affirming?" Nope! I am "People affirming ... gay or straight, rich or poor, fat or skinny, healthy or sick ... I love people... and you should to (if you are a Christian!)

John 13: 34-35 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Now, you may have a different opinion than me, and I am totally fine with that. As I always say, UNITY not CONFORMITY. We can differ, and still be in fellowship. But if you reply to this post with anything HATEFUL or MEAN I will delete it and do a blog about you! LOL!

The Gap - Ted Haggard

I have met people who had a bad experience growing up in a church. Typically a Fundamental, Legalistic, Judgmental, Hypocrytical, Narrow-minded church. I recently heard a statistic (didn't research it to see if it is infact true)that said basically "individuals who were raised in a legalistic denominational background were more likely to suffer from Anxiety Disorders."

Wow, honestly if that is true I can understand why. And here is my attempt to explain why I believe it to be true; when a person is taught "this is the way you are to live to get God's approval", and that "way" is don't do this, that, and definately not that or you are going to hell or God won't like you as much as this person who doesn't do "that"... and then you do all the things you don't want to do (sound like the apostle Paul), then you feel guilty ... the cycle begins.

The gap is between what you think you "should do or not do" and what you "are doing or not doing." And within that gap is where I believe Fear, Anxiety and Depression often live. I am no Psychologist, and I have never read anything on it, this is just what I have learned over the years with myself and those I have counseled.

Guilt and Shame are often too common in a Christian's life. Jesus came to set us FREE from that guilt and shame and until you believe, receive and live it out - you will be in dis-cord with yourself. Now this is not a license to live a sinful life and not feel bad about it!

All that to say; Jana and I just had lunch with Ted & Gayle Haggard. If you are unfamiliar with them, let me refresh your memory; Ted Haggard is the pastor from New Life Church in Colorado Springs who was all over the news 2 years ago for the scandal with the Gay Prostitute. Ted and his wife Gayle have also been on Oprah a couple times telling their story recently and HBO did a documentary on their journey to healing and restoration.

Jana and I had lot's of questions for them and their answers were full of grace, mercy and humility. It was nice to see them not suffering under the hand of bitterness, which could have very easily crept in to their journey and made it sour.

They are just 2 years past the ordeal, yet it is all still fresh in their minds and they continue their journey back from the grave. Jana and I both felt a genuine repentance in Ted, and a deep desire to continue to follow God. I told him that I feel his best days are ahead, like King David who sinned terribly, but did repent and turn to do great things. And of course Gayle, she was so sweet and a model of a women and wife. She was awesome. We pray that God will continue to work in and through them in the days and years ahead.

They mentioned they would love to be a part of a church like Mercy Church (they loved the name, of course!) if they only lived closer, because we are all about God's Grace, Mercy and showing the Love of God to the sinner (which is all of us).

Here is something I am passionate about and a great test to see if you are in a good church; if you are in a church that you must HIDE and LIVE A LIE for fear of judgment or being kicked out... you are in a BAD CHURCH... I would leave!

I spoke to a friend of mine this morning who works at a church and secretly struggles with homosexuality ... he can not tell anyone for fear he would lose his job. Ladies and gentleman, this is a a disgrace; the church should be a safe place for people to be real and authentic ... and get help for their struggles ... and if you can not do that at your church then find a new one!

A Gay Question

An email we received... thought you'd be interested in reading.

Dear Pastor Timmy,

I've enjoyed your online sermons. I just want to clarify for me though... you do believe homosexuality is sin and needs forgiveness right? And yet we are to love the sinner right?

Just checking.

Thanks for listening and I hope to hear from you a simple response on your view of homosexuality.

Rebecca
Raytown, Missouri


Here is my response:

Dear Rebecca,

Thank you and I am glad you enjoy watching our messages on line! That means a lot to us.

Your question is a tough question with no "simple" answer actually! I believe that the act of homosexuality is sin, or NOT God's ideal. And by God's "ideal" I mean not what he intended. God intended for ONE MAN and ONE WOMEN... hence Adam AND Eve.

But I DO NOT believe that being homosexual (or having homosexual desires) is a sin. Just like I believe being a heterosexual who desires many partners not a sin, but if you are a heterosexual and YOU have any partner other than your spouse - then it is sin. Make sense?

I do not believe that our sexual orientation is a sin, but what we do with our sexual desire can be.

I have a good Christian friend who is homosexual, and has been ever since he can remember... though he is not active. He has prayed and prayed and prayed, gone to counseling, etc, etc to have his "gayness" removed (his wording)... yet he remains attracted to the same sex. But, he remains single, and alone. Very tough! Very sad!

Imagine with me for a second here... imagine that Homosexuality was the norm. And in the beginning God created Adam and Mark... and you Rebecca were different then 96% of society... and you had desires that you could not explain for men... but, you know it's wrong, at least that is what you've been told... "You can't love a man Rebecca, you must love a woman". Wouldn't that be a sad life?

My heart hurts for those who struggle with homosexuality! There are no "simple" responses to tough issues... especially if you know someone struggling with this issue.

Truth: If we are honest, not a one of us is truly living God's ideal! We are all sinners, who desperately need Christ! And as Christ-followers our response to anyone facing this issue or any other issue we may face is LOVE!

I hope this brings some clarity to you.

Thanks!

Sincerely Yours,

Timmy Gibson

God Loves Gays - updated!

I did one of the most controversial sermons I've ever done here at Mercy Church KC, or anywhere for that matter - called "GOD LOVES GAYS" on Sunday, May 6, 2007. But even more exciting than that was on GOOD Friday, April 6, 2007 me and 14 others from our church carried huge pink signs that read, "God Loves Gays" down on the streets of the Plaza (located in Kansas City). The response was unbelievable! Very positive! One gay man gave all 15 of us a BIG hug and he said, "This is the best Easter message I have ever heard." Most all of us started crying! It was very cool!

I recently have been studying both sides of this issue of Homosexuality. I am interviewing homosexuals... Christian God-loving Homosexuals. Now I realize there may be some of you reading this (like the weirdo in Topeka, Kansas - Fred Phelps) who are hateful, hypocritical Christians who think homosexuals are going to burn in hell. I am sad for your ignorance and lack of biblical knowledge! Because you of all people should realize that all of us are sinners – even you!

On with my story...

I am a Heterosexual male and have been all my life, so I can not relate to the "struggle" (if you will) of being a Homosexual, or having Homosexual desires. I've just never had them. But I have had several friends who have had these struggles, feelings, and desires. And my first experience was with a good friend of mine in Bible College back in 1992.

My friend and I were in an evangelical denominational bible college at the time (which will remain nameless). And it was at that time my friend started coming to grips with his sexuality. He and I sang in a Gospel quartet during this time. At one of the meetings this Gospel Quartet had there was a prayer time where you can mention areas you need prayer, or support or whatever... so my friend mentioned struggling with feelings of homosexuality and wanted prayer, love and support. He got the exact opposite! I am totally embarrassed, frustrated, and saddened at the response he received... are you ready to hear it (it should hack you off)? They kicked him out!

Here is what just chaps my hide... why is it that people can mention any struggle they might have... lying, gluttony, lust for heterosexual sex outside the bounds of marriage, gossip; (normally people do not admit this one... because they justify it away like it's nothing but "sharing") gossip is a sin that is so poisonous it can break life long relationships with just a few mere words. The list goes on and on of things EVERY HUMAN on planet EARTH struggles with... why would we "especially those who call themselves Christians" who struggle with something, condemn homosexuals? I think there are several reasons and Jesus talks about it in the gospel account of Matthew.

Matthew 7:3-5 "And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye."

I think Jesus nails it here; they are hypocrites! We judge others because we are hypocrites! If I can point out something in someone else that makes me feel better about myself, my own struggle (at least in the eyes of others) then I feel better about ME. I know it’s sick really! I had someone mention to me that I should watch the movie SAVED with Mandi Moore, though not my movie of choice I rented it and watched it. Wow, it's not going to win any award, BUT it had a powerful message I thought. Basically the movie was all about these really weird “Christians” at a Christian school all “acting” like perfect little Jesus-loving-people. You then see them judge a homosexual, judge a girl who gets pregnant out of wedlock, and judges a Jewish girl who doesn’t fit into the “Christian Club”. Then the movie actually gets interesting; you later find out that each of those who were judging and pointing their little condemning “Christian” fingers at everyone were having affairs, lying, and hating… so it ended with WE ARE ALL SINNERS and we can not JUDGE anyone else! We should LOVE!

Q: Aren't we ALL God's creation? YES

Q: Aren’t we all created in God’s image? YES

Q: Does God love EVERYONE? YES, He loves everyone! Period!

Q: What did Jesus say about homosexuality? Nothing! I wish He would have said something, but He didn't. Jesus was silent on this issue. I often wonder why? I have a small suspicion.

Q: Did Jesus die on the cross for only Heterosexual Republicans? NO! Jesus died for EVERYONE!

John 3:16 "for God so loved the WORLD that HE GAVE..."

World - kosmos - in the Greek means "all humanity, or all mankind".

Back to my friend who was kicked out because of his struggle with Homosexuality... He of course was completely rejected, hurt, offended, confused and more by this very un-Christian response to his struggle with homosexuality (I am quoting his words... he called it his "struggle"). We as Christians SHOULD LOVE EVERYONE regardless of what their sexual orientation may be... whether we understand it or not, whether we struggle with it or not, whether we were raised to believe it's a sin or not, or even whether we believe it is a sin or not. In my opinion none of that matters... what matters is WE SHOULD LOVE and ACCEPT ALL PEOPLE, no matter what!

1 John 4:7-9 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

The entire law has been summed up with and in the law of LOVE!

Watch the actual sermon youtube

God Loves Gays

"GOD LOVES GAYS"
By Timmy Gibson

I just did one of the most controversial sermons I've ever done here at Mercy Church, or anywhere for that matter - called "GOD LOVES GAYS" on Sunday, May 6th.

I recently have been studying both sides of this issue of Homosexuality. I am interviewing homosexuals... Christian God-loving Homosexuals. Now I realize there may be some of you reading this (like the weirdos in Topeka, Kansas) who are hateful, hypocritical Christians who think all homosexuals are going to burn in hell. I am sad for your ignorance and lack of biblical knowledge! Because you of all people should realize that all of us are sinners – even you!

I am a Heterosexual male and have been all my life, so I can not relate to the "struggle" (if you will) of being a Homosexual, or having Homosexual desires. I've just never had them. But I have had several friends who have had these struggles, feelings, adn desires. And my first experience was with a good friend of mine in Bible College back in 1992.

My friend and I were in an evangelical denominational bible college at the time. And it was at that time my friend started coming to grips with his sexuality. He sang in a Gospel quartet as well during this time. At one of the meetings this Gospel Quartet had there was a prayer time where you can mention areas you need prayer, or support or whatever... so my friend mentioned struggling with feelings of homosexuality and wanted prayer, love and support. He got the exact opposite! I am totally embarrassed, frustrated, and saddened at the response he received... are you ready to hear it (it should hack you off)? They kicked him out! The sad thing is I could've guessed that is what would’ve happened by those judgemental un-loving so called "Christians".

Here is what just chaps my hide... why is it that people can mention any struggle they might have... lying, gluttony, lust for heterosexual sex outside the bounds of marriage, gossip; (normally people do not admit this one... because they justify it away like it's nothing but "sharing") gossip is a sin that is so poisonous it can break life long relationships with just a few mere words. The list goes on and on of things EVERY HUMAN on planet EARTH struggles with... why would we "especially those who call themselves Christians" who struggle with something, condemn homosexuals? I think there are several reasons and Jesus talks about it in the gospel account of Matthew.

Matthew 7:3-5 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

I think Jesus nails it here; they are hypocrites! We judge others because we are hypocrites! If I can point out something in someone else that makes me feel better about myself, my own struggle (at least in the eyes of others) then I feel better about ME. I know it’s sick really!
I had someone mention to me to rent the movie SAVED with Mandi Moore thought not my movie of choice I rented it and watched it. Wow, it wasn’t an academy winner BUT it had a powerful message I thought.

Basically the movie was all about these really weird “Christians” at a Christian school all “acting” like perfect little Jesus-loving-people. You then see them judge a homosexual, judge a girl who gets pregnant out of wedlock, and judges a Jewish girl who doesn’t fit into the “Christian Club”. Then the movie actually gets interesting; you later find out that each of those who were judging and pointing their little condemning “Christian” fingers at everyone were having affairs, lying, and hating… so it ended with WE ARE ALL SINNERS and can not JUDGE anyone else! We should LOVE! I am not much of a writer, but that gives enough to get the point.

Q: Aren't we ALL God's creation? YES
Q: Aren’t we all created in God’s image? YES
Q: Does God love EVERYONE? YES, He loves everyone! Period!
Q: What did Jesus say about homosexuality? Nothing! I wish He would have said something, but He didn't. Jesus was silent on this issue. I often wonder why? I have a small suspicion.
Q: Did Jesus die on the cross for only Heterosexual Republicans? NO! Jesus died for EVERYONE!

John 3:16 "for God so loved the WORLD that HE GAVE..."

World - kosmos - in the Greek means "all humanity, or all mankind"

Back to my friend who was kicked out because of his struggle with Homosexuality... He of course was completely rejected, hurt, offended, confused and more by this very un-Christian response to his struggle with homosexuality.

We as Christians SHOULD LOVE EVERYONE regardless of what their sexual orientation may be... whether we understand it or not, whether we struggle with it or not, whether we were raised to believe it's a sin or not, or even whether we believe it is a sin or not. In my opinion none of that matters... what matters is WE SHOULD LOVE and ACCEPT ALL PEOPLE, no matter what!

1 John 4:7-9 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

The entire law has been summed up with the law of LOVE!

Timmy Gibson
www.mercychurchKC.com