We often place homosexuality into a separate category, treating it differently than other sins. However, Jesus died for every sin, including homosexuality. Therefore, we should view and respond to gay teens like Jesus treated sinners in His day—in a spirit of love, not condemnation or rejection.
A gay teenager’s sins are no different from anyone else’s at their core—they still render them unable to enter heaven when they die because heaven requires sinless perfection. Therefore, since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Romans 6:23), gay teenagers need to hear the gospel so they can be born-again.
Here are some common things I say to those who do not know how to approach or minister to gay teens:
“What spiritual and practical advice would you give a heterosexual teenager who was cheating in school, lying to their parents, or doing drugs? What counsel would you offer that teen if they were a straight A student but sexually active? How would you go about sharing the gospel with them under those circumstances?”
As I stated above, we tend to categorize gay individuals differently than others, bringing confusion about what to do or how to present them with the gospel. So, viewing them as any other unbeliever will help you address their lost condition and explain their desperate need for Jesus.
