REAL LIFE! – Believe Series: Week Twelve
Marriage and Human Sexuality
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
I once heard someone say, “God created us in His image at the beginning, and we have been doing our best to make Him into our image since that time!”
What a powerful statement! There is no other topic that can bring anger, frustration, division and hurt than marriage and human sexuality. With that in mind, it is a subject where we need to tread lightly.
We believe as a church that God designed us in His image, and in His image he has created men and women. We also believe that Scripture is clear regarding a man marrying a woman.
Yet, let me say even though someone may believe this, everyone is entitled to think whatever they want. I personally believe God created us that way, but if someone I love believes something different, they can!
It is not my job to change their thinking. I cannot. Only God can change people. My job is to be there to love them, to care for them, and to listen to them.
One author stated the following: “We can get the Bible right – but if we get love wrong, we’re wrong.” – Preston Sprinkle
So how can we love others when we disagree about marriage and human sexuality? We are going to have people in our families who don’t think like we do. So what do we do?
- Listen to what they are saying!
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger
James 1:21 (ESV)
Just listen to what the other person is saying. People need to be heard, they need to feel the freedom to share what they are thinking and experiencing.
People’s perceptions and experiences in life are not the same as yours, so before you try to speak about what you believe to be true, before you get angry because God’s word says “this” or “that”, just listen. Remember, God can fight his own battles, He is big enough. Your job, our job, is to love people and that includes listening.
- Have empathy
Try to put yourself into the shoes of whoever is talking. Try to understand their perspective. This may be hard, because you may not struggle with the same things they struggle with.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
We are to be a comfort for others. In order to comfort someone we need to walk with them through their journey of life, not have pity for them. Seek to understand and have empathy!
- Speak with honesty and respect
If they are open to hear what you think about this delicate topic, then speak honestly but with the greatest respect. You don’t have to agree, but you also do not have to approach things hoping to win an argument. You are trying to respect who they are. That is what we desire, right? We want people to respect us, even if they agree or disagree with us.
In listening, having empathy and speaking with honesty and respect, I believe we can have clear lines of communication with others who may not believe the same thing we do.
So, back to that statement I mentioned at the beginning of trying to make God into our image. People need to wrestle with the Lord about what and who He created us to be. They do not need to wrestle with us.