Disclaimer: I ran across this small pamphlet in my things written by someone quite a while ago who belonged to the Evangelical Christian Network of Evanston IL. I did some research and could not find them so I assume they no longer exist. There was no copyright notice anywhere on this small document. So I transcribed it for your enjoyment.
The Road Home
One of the most difficult aspects of being Gay/lesbian doesn't come from outside of us, but from within. We are oppressed, denied, hated and abused by society, but the saddest part is that we internalize all of it, and then do those same destructive things to ourselves.
For many of us, the worst oppression has come from the religious sectors of our society, and perhaps from our own homes and families.
How can we help but feel confused, angry and resentful towards Christianity, when Christians seem to be the very people who hate us the most?
First: Understand that it is "religion", and not God who hates and oppresses us. That it is ignorance of the Bible, and not the Bible that condemns us.
Second: Realize that each one of us has a soul...a soul which God created; and that God loves that soul more than anything in the world because it was made in God's image.
Third: God love us so much,that He sent Jesus (John 3:16) in the form of a man, to tell the world of God's love and compassion. Compassion was the heartbeat of Jesus' ministry (Matthew 12:7). Jesus did not come to condemn humanity, but to save us. Jesus never condemned homosexuals. In fact, He never said anything about homosexuality. He said a lot about immorality and heterosexual adultery and fornication. He could have spoken out against homosexuality, and if it was the sin that we are told it is, He surely would have.
Fourth: Nowhere in the Bible does God exclude homosexuals from salvation. We are welcome into God's family. John 6:37 says, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."
Fifth: finally, we cannot allow others' ignorance of God and the Bible to rob us of our Saviour and God. We cannot allow wrong interpretations of Scripture to keep us from forgiveness and salvation.
If you're confused, remember that there is no double-standard with God. We are all sinners. You are not a sinner because you are lesbian/gay, but because you are human. We all need God, and we all need God's forgiveness and salvation.
God does not deny or accept us on the basis of our sexuality. Romans 2:11 says, "For God does not show favoritism." God accepts us on the basis of our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior, and God's own love and mercy.
If you have denied God because of religion, it's time to come home...God awaits you anxiously and tenderly. If you have never known Jesus as your Saviour, He is standing with His arms outstretched to you. You are more than welcome...please don't wait any longer!
It's simple to receive the gift of salvation. It can happened right now and wherever you are. Here's how:
1. Repent and confess that you are a sinner, and that you're sorry, and want to change.
2. Ask Jesus to come into your heart. Tell Jesus that you want Him there, and that you believe that He will save you.
3. Rejoice! You are now a child of God! There is no doubt. It's a promise.
"What shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:31, 38-39.
If you have asked Christ Jesus into your hear, or if you want to know more...let us know.