I'm Adnie Gaudin from the Called by God Podcast, and today I want to bring clarity to a conversation that many of us avoid or handle poorly: how the Christian faith engages with homosexuality and the LGBTQ+ community. In a recent fellowship recording I shared a passage of Scripture, some personal reflections, and resources that helped shape my thinking. My hope in this piece is to present those ideas clearly, compassionately, and practically—so we can learn how to have the conversation, minister with love, and point people to the life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.

Opening Scripture: The Design for Relationship

"And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man... And Jehovah God built the rib, which he had taken from the man, into a woman and brought her to the man. ... Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall become one flesh. ... And both the man and his wife were naked and were not ashamed before each other."

I read Genesis 2:21–25 because it sets the stage for how God designed human relationships, sexuality, and intimacy. The passage describes the creation of woman from man, the intention of two becoming one, and the original state of nakedness without shame. This isn’t just about biology—it's about God's design for relational life, covenant, and holiness.

We Don't Know How to Talk About It—but We Must Learn

One of the problems I addressed in the conversation is simple and honest: many of us don't know how to have conversations about homosexuality in a way that is both truthful and loving. If we're honest, our attempts often fall into two extremes—condemnation or accommodation. Neither reflects the posture Jesus modeled. He met people where they were, loved them, fed them spiritually and physically, and invited them into a new way of living.

Learning to have the conversation means being humble enough to admit what we don't know, courageous enough to speak the truth in love, and wise enough to rely on Scripture and the Holy Spirit rather than cultural talking points or emotional reactions.

Scripture Matters: We Can't Make It Say What We Want

An important part of this discussion is the authority of Scripture. The message I shared is not intended to be a cold legalism, but a conviction that we cannot simply reinterpret or discard clear biblical teaching to make it fit our preferences. There are those who argue that traditional readings of Scripture about same-sex behavior are misinterpretations. I believe we must carefully study the Bible, not bend it to our desires.

At the same time, Scripture calls us to be ambassadors of grace. We are to hold fast to the truth while compassionately engaging people who struggle—or who live differently than we do. That tension is difficult, but Jesus showed us how to hold it without hypocrisy.

Recommended Reading: A Voice Worth Hearing

One resource I recommended during the fellowship is Guy Hammond's book Gay and Christian. He makes a forceful case about how pro-gay theology is redefining church teaching in ways that, in his view, conflict with Scripture. His documentary Finding Guy also tells his personal story of leaving that lifestyle and coming to faith. These are resources I encourage people—especially those in the church who want to understand both the theology and human reality—to explore.

"How pro gay theology is crashing into the church like a speeding train without a whistle."

Whether you agree with Hammond or not, his work raises questions that deserve careful, prayerful, and biblically-sound responses from the church.

Sinner, Not Different in Worth—Different in Struggle

One of the most tender things I wanted to emphasize is that people in the LGBTQ+ community are not beyond God's reach. They are sinners—just like I am. We all sin; we just sin differently. That truth should humble us and shape our approach.

"Anyone in the LGBT community is a sinner like me. They just sin different than I do."

This is a difficult theological and pastoral truth to hold because it can easily be misunderstood as callous. It's not. The point is to remove any sense of superiority and to replace it with compassion, responsibility, and a clear gospel message: Jesus came for sinners, and the goal of discipleship is transformation into Christlikeness.

Jesus' Model: Meet People Where They Are

Jesus never began his ministry by condemning folks to hell. He met people in the places where they were, offered spiritual nourishment, and then called them to a new life. That must inform how the church engages with sexuality and identity: we are to be ministers who feed people spiritually and physically, who disciple, and who extend hospitality and truth.

For believers, the call is to be a "replica" of Christ—reflecting his love, holiness, patience, and zeal for truth. That means balancing truth and grace, convicting and comforting, calling and accompanying.

Baptism, Dying Daily, and the Slow Work of Sanctification

Part of my message was rooted in the imagery of baptism: going down into the watery grave and rising up as a new creation. That's the ideal. But the reality for many of us is that dying to our old ways is a process. Some immediate changes occur at conversion; for others, the journey is longer and more painful.

We need to remind people—and ourselves—that sanctification is a spiritual work of the Holy Spirit. It often requires daily dying to self: letting go of habits, desires, and identities that are at odds with God’s design. That's where patient discipleship, prayer, and community are essential.

My Own Transparency: I Dabbled, I Wondered, I Chose

Let me be frank and transparent: I have never been in a full-blown homosexual relationship, but I was curious and I dabbled. I questioned my sexuality for a time. That period taught me an important lesson: honest self-examination and surrender to God help clarify who we are meant to be.

For me, the conclusion was simple: I love men. That doesn't mean my life is perfect. I still struggle with other sins. The point of sharing my personal story is not to claim superior spiritual maturity—it's to show that struggling with sexuality does not make someone beyond God's grace, and it does not disqualify them from receiving compassionate pastoral care.

How to Engage—Practical Steps for Christians

Here are practical suggestions I shared for those wanting to engage well with people who identify as LGBTQ+ or who struggle with same-sex attraction:

• Pray first. Ask God for wisdom, compassion, and clarity before you enter any conversation.
• Listen well. People need to be heard. Hear their story without rushing to judgment or answers.
• Speak truth in love. Be honest about what Scripture teaches, but do it with gentleness and respect.
• Offer discipleship, not condemnation. Invite them into community, Bible study, counseling, and supportive relationships.
• Recommend resources. Point people to literature and testimonies that honestly deal with identity, conversion, and sanctification—like Guy Hammond’s work.
• Remember baptism and process. Remind them that growth is a process and that transformation happens over time as the Holy Spirit works.
• Be consistent. Don’t be a one-time fiery rebuke or a one-time overly tolerant friend. Walk with people consistently.

Resources to Explore

If you want to dive deeper into the topics discussed, here are a few suggestions I mentioned during the fellowship:

• Guy Hammond — book: Gay and Christian
• Finding Guy — documentary about Guy Hammond’s journey
• Pastoral counseling resources and local discipleship groups

These resources are not a one-size-fits-all answer, but they provide perspectives and testimonies that help the church think biblically and compassionately.

A Final Word

If I could sum this message up in a few sentences, it would be this: there is a God in heaven who created you perfectly, who knew you before you were born, and who gave you a purpose. There is an enemy who seeks to destroy; he twists desires and identities to pull us away from God’s best. But the gospel is real: Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost. He calls us to follow him, to be transformed, and to live in a way that honors the One who created us.

I pray the words I shared touch someone. Whether you are a believer wrestling with identity, a friend of someone in the LGBTQ+ community, a pastor, or simply someone searching for truth—be open-hearted, be teachable, and keep your eyes on Jesus. We are called to make disciples, not to condemn; to extend love, not to justify sin. May we be people who reflect Christ in both conviction and compassion.

Remember: Jesus Christ loves you. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. If you're wrestling with these truths or want to learn resources I mentioned, look into the materials I referenced and reach out for community and prayer. The path to real happiness is not in pleasing the flesh—it’s in following the Savior who gives life abundant and true.

Worldly Pleasures vs. GOD'S Standards What's the REAL Path to Happiness?