Ministries

The varying opinions and opposing stands due to our religious conviction and biblical values on the issue of LGBT (Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) have been translated into problems of insensitivity, discrimination, prejudice, and suppression. Even within the same Christian community, we do have differing views and perceptions regarding this matter. The ministry to the LGBT community needs much more than just biblical directives that we would like to share. We are mandated to respect others, hold God’s Golden Rule dear to our hearts (Luke 6:31), and sincerely share God’s Word and directives for a fullness of life and joyful living with a deep understanding of the concerned group’s intricate situations. According to research, there are two main factors so far that cause inclination toward the same sex person. One is due to biological factors whereby a person is characterized as having an imbalanced hormones or physiological defects at birth (WebMD, n.d.). The biological flaws have caused the person to feel foreign in his or her own body. Certainly, these individuals cannot feel comfortable in the gender they are identified with at birth. We do not know the actual causes; however, some Christians, from my research, share the belief that biological flaws could be the outcome of our persistent sinning that impact generations after. The second factor is addressed by Dr. Timothy Jennings, a renown Seventh-day Adventist psychiatrist. In his presentation of Homosexuality in Christian World in 2015, LGBT is caused by a disorder of the mind. The evidence also reveals that there are quite a number of those who keep sexual preference switching on varying circumstances, making their sexual orientation contingent and subject to change. This very well corresponds with God’s Word that says, “The human mind is the most deceitful of all…” (Jeremiah 17:9). If we live without proper mind regulation, we may experience confusion and tend to accept any thought that comes to us, including attraction toward the same sex. Like any other types of sin—the corrupted mind dictates the unruly actions. The devil is delighted to see this as every type of sinful habit signifies deviation of man from God’s original plan of righteousness for His children (Proverbs 6:14; 11:3; 12:8; 15:4; 17:2; Psalm 110:4).

Experts believe that it is the result of previous unpleasant experiences in their lives, including poor parenting. Everyone who is dealing with this condition has come a long and complex journey.

Moving Toward a More Compassionate Ministry

To understand the LGBT community better, therefore, one must stand on the same platform as of a sinner. A person has no right to condemn anyone because everyone shares the same struggles with his personal set of sins. Romans 3:22, 23 say, “… There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Christ came to fully understand the difficulties we face daily (John 2:24, 25) and taught us how we could overcome sins by His grace. Dwelling in human nature (John 1:14), with all the tendencies to sinning, He continued to stand tall and victorious over sin. We must keep reminding ourselves of the ministry of compassion that Jesus demonstrated to us with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (John 4:1-42). People around her were vindictive and spiteful due to her recurring sexual sin. Jesus, instead, approached the woman without condemning her multitude of sins. Seeing her struggles with insecurity, loneliness, unhealthy sexual habits, and bad choices that caused her to suffer continuously, He ministered to her with great sympathy (John 4:14). Although disapproving her sins, Christ’s gestures of kindness and acceptance had led the Samaritan woman to true repentance. The opportunity given by God to renew her mind had brought genuine peace and joy. God’s love can transform any type of sinful habit and addiction, including sexual sins, and turn them around into something new, beautiful, and praiseworthy which is in harmony with His plan. The LGBT condition is more complex than we realize. What we see is just the tip of the iceberg that sums up a person’s past experiences. Ellen White says, “The trials of one are not the trails of another,” (Ministry of Healing, p. 483). Although we can never fully comprehend the LBGTs, we can sympathize with people and touch their hearts with Jesus’ exemplified loving kindness. We can extend our kind hands to build a sincere and nonjudgmental relationship. We can ask God to inspire us on how we can touch people’s lives and rightly minister to them. The Christian life-perspective we share will enable anyone to experience contentment and God’s given joy, leading toward life being fulfilled and augmented in all dimensions—physical (sexual), emotional, social, and spiritual fulfillment.

Conclusion

As Christians, we must be guided by God’s Word and His directives. By having His Word engraved in our hearts, God will inspire and generate a deep appreciation among us of His purpose on our very own existence, enabling us to continually submit our thoughts and actions to His will. A person who truly experiences God’s love will be guided by God’s indwelling spirit in his heart (Romans 8:14) as he will begin to think of God more and of himself less. Also, we are to demonstrate the indwelling Spirit within us through how we live harmoniously together in society with varying beliefs, stands, and opinions. Likewise, God likes His children to remember that He is the God of order and of peace (1 Cor 13:33). He has the biblical standard and directives that we must adhere to. Ellen White stated clearly that “to obey when it seems the hardest is the true surrender to God,” Philippians 1:6 assures us that God will bring the process of sanctification in us to completion at the day of Christ.

Resources

Posse, R. & Julian Melgosa (2014). For Raising Your Children. Madrid, Spain: Safeliz.

Jensen, T. (2014). Come and Reason Ministries: Healing the Mind: Session 1. Retreived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI47SArpPnk

Jensen, T. (2015). Homosexuality in Christian World. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT41w3fZwTs

Jensen, T. (2016). Gay and Lesbian Christians. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BA7_YKLStc

White, E. G. (n.d.). Child Guidance. Retrieved from http://centrowhite.org.br/files/ebooks/egw-

english/books/Child%20Guidance.pdf

White, E.G. (n.d.). Ministry of Healing. Retrieved from http://centrowhite.org.br/files/ebooks/egw-nglish/books/The%20Ministry%20of%20Healing.pdf

White, E. G. (n.d.). https://text.egwwritings.org/publication.