As ambassadors for Christ, we simply have to come to terms with the fact that we will be called upon to share the inconvenient truth with people. Some situations will require us to choose between competing priorities, between maintaining a conflict-free, but superficial relationship, or saving a friend or loved one from hell. That’s not to say we should go about beating people over the head with our Bibles. But we can’t avoid discussing the difficult eternal issues either.

In my experience, those involved in homosexuality also fall into those two general categories. On the one hand, there is the man or woman who has fully embraced a “gay” identity, and has fashioned their lives around what they perceive to be their innate and immutable identity as a homosexual person, including how that impacts their emotions, concept of sexuality and intimacy, associations, and, in fact, their entire worldview. They rarely have a genuine desire to know the truth.

On the other hand, the “struggler” is an individual who knows at some level that the behavior is wrong and has some genuine desire to turn from it, even though they experience same-sex attraction and may have even engaged in homosexual behavior. For this individual, there is an opportunity to provide hope, lead them to salvation if they have never been converted, and disciple them in the things of God as they begin to pursue a path of sanctification.

A ‘Ministry Model’ from the Gospel of Mark

We have in the Gospel of Mark a story that reveals some basic principles that can help us in our ministry to this person struggling with same-sex attraction:

“A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” (Mark 1:40-41 NIV)

1. The man had leprosy. This dreaded disease first appears as spots on the skin but it is not a superficial disease, finding its roots in the bones, marrow and joints of the body. Likewise, those struggling with homosexuality have great need to understand that homosexual lust is only a symptom of a much greater heart problem. They are not sinners because of homosexual lust. The opposite is actually true; they experience homosexual lust because they are sinners.

2. The man came to Jesus. This man at least had a clear sight of his physical need and came of his own free will. Those struggling with homosexuality cannot be driven to Christ. They must be drawn to Him and that drawing can only be accomplished by the Father through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." (John 6:65b NIV) Any other inducement—fear, the desire to please others, dissatisfaction with their current circumstances, or even a temporary sense of shame or guilt—will eventually pass, leaving them without the inner motivation to stay the course which, by all measures will be a difficult one.

3. The man knelt in front of Jesus. “He kneeled and inclined his face to the ground, in token of deep humiliation and earnest entreaty.” So says the learned Bible commentator Albert Barnes. So it is that all genuine penitents must come—with a humble and contrite heart. Can you imagine this man saying to Jesus, “Hey Jesus, I’ve got this little spot here on my skin. You think you can help me out?” He was covered with rotten, stinking flesh! In a similar fashion, the individual struggling with homosexuality would be foolish to come to Jesus with his “little” problem, thinking proudly that the rest of his life must be very pleasing to God. A man or woman who is ready for the Lord to do the needed deep work in their heart will instead come like the prodigal son who exclaimed upon returning to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (Luke 15:21 NIV)

4. The man hoped in Jesus. He said to Jesus, “If you are willing you can heal me and make me clean.” From this statement, we learn two important things. First, that he had hope and second, that his hope was well-placed. It is of profound importance that these precious souls be encouraged to have hope. Many sincere Christians have struggled for years with same-sex attraction before finally being overcome by their lust. Others have a long history of failure that has killed any hope they might have had that things could be different.

Undoubtedly, the leper had heard the words of Jesus and had seen Him heal others. I know of no better way to engender hope in the hearts of the hopeless than to share the promises of God and to testify to the faithfulness of those promises in our own lives. Peter, a man who knew something about hopelessness, exhorts us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)