Is it right for Christians to shun homosexuals?

“Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof."(Genesis 19:8 | NIV) The men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, unanimously rejected this unbelievable offer because they wanted the two male Angels who had visited Lot. The Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulphur and fire out of heaven to destroy the two cities and its entire population.

The origin of homosexuality is unknown. There are a few published studies in or around 1990 that have claimed to offer evidence in favour of a biological or genetic cause for homosexuality. The prominent researchers included Simon LeVay, J. Michael Bailey and Richard C. Pillard. Nevertheless, many researchers have rejected the studies and concluded that that there is absolutely no evidence of inheritance or biological origin of homosexuality.

One thing I have found with certainty in my own research is that homosexuality has never been taken lightly in the Biblical era.

It was law that if a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable, and they had to be are put to death, and their blood would be on their own heads.(Leviticus 20:13 | NIV) There has always been a sanction for men who committed such shameful acts with other men.(Romans 1:27 | NIV) God instructs the believers to not “have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman as it is detestable”.(Leviticus 18:22 | NIV) All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.(1 Corinthians 6:18 | NIV) He says that there is no place for such people in his kingdom.(1 Corinthians 6:9 | NIV)

There is an elephant in the Christian room called hypocrisy. Christians call out, hate, and discriminate on homosexual individuals. Yes! Paul highlights to the believers that they should “have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11| NIV) Yes! Homosexuality is detestable but so is fornication, adultery, sex before marriage, etc. All these sexuality sins are within your body and there is no place for such people in heaven.

I will forever use this quote by Jesus, “let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7 | NIV) Who are you to judge your neighbour? (James 4:12 | NIV)

The Bible does not encourage believers to hate sinners but to hate the sin itself. If anything, God wants you to fulfil the entire law by keeping one command, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14 | NIV) This commandment does not say love your neighbour unless he/she is a sinner or a homosexual.

Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked. (1 John 2:6 | NIV) Jesus loved us all regardless of our sins and he even died for us. I firmly believe that as Christians, the only way to have an impact in the lives of those who are sinners or homosexual is to love them as Christ loved us.