Christianity and Homosexuality - Tony Campolo 

This is one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard. Thank you. I agree with you 100%. I was deeply moved. Then when you talked about the Compassion organisation I wept even more. I have sponsored a child through Compassion for 14 years. It’s a joy. God bless you.

His statement regarding those who come to Christ that "gay men remain homosexual... that statement flatly rejects the scriptures that he claims to be infallable... 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 says "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such WERE some of you; BUT you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." I know from 40 years of loving and following Christ, that His elect...those truly born again.. are new creations, with a new nature ...free from the power of sin and that includes same sex attraction which can become a life long struggle.. but "He Who has begun a good work in you, will complete it unto the day of Christ." When you put yourt trust in Him and are baptized ..You proclaim a reality... You were crucified with ad in Him and Died (to your old Adamic nature) buried with Him and raised up out of the grave in Him ! Your flesh has nothing but old sinful desires.. please read Romans chapter 7 and 8 to see that your old nature deceives, take heart those who come to Him with a repentant heart and true faith.. He will help you in your struggle and is faithful and not lose one of His own..

Brother Tony, Thank you for this powerful sermon. My son is gay, and I have learned so much in what to do for him in this way. I hear all sorts of crap, when it comes to his well being. My husband and I always tell him that we love him, and that he is always loved by The Lord, and that The Lord loves him regardless. I heard him tell a boy in High School, I LOVE GOD because HE GETS me.

The most common trend among those that affirm sin in the church is that they value personal anecdotes and emotions above the actual word of God. They bypass what the bible says and elevate their experience as ultimate truth. Paul speaks out on homosexuality. Does Paul contradict Jesus? Well, examine audiences. Jesus came to the Jews who had the Law. Their cultural framework was already established firmly in the law that said homosexuality was sin; why should Jesus rehash that issue when it's virtually non-existent in that culture? So then why did Paul speak on it? Paul's audience did not come from a background of having the law. They didn't understand the weight of that sin they were committing, and thus, Paul had to address it firmly. He gives hope for those stuck in that sin though. The transformative work of Christ in the lives of those that accept Him were able to change, and no longer do homosexual acts. Those people may still have temptation and urges toward those things, but just as we encourage heterosexuals to resist sexual temptation, we also encourage homosexuals to resist sexual temptation. To be tempted in one way or another is not sinful in itself, but to act on those temptations is. Jesus was tempted and did not sin. You can be tempted, and with Christs power, you can resist sin as well. There is hope, but it doesn't come from affirmation and indulgence. It comes from commitment to righteousness and to please God.

However, how then do you address the New Testament reaffirmation that homosexuality is a sin? Roman 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10, Jude 1:7. Certainly we should love homosexual people, but should we tell people that homosexuality isn’t a sin? Jesus does condemn divorce for any reason other than sexual immorality. We should accept and love divorced people but we shouldn’t call it not a sin. “Humanization” may be a good standard. I agree with it. But should it come before the Bible? I don’t think it can trump the Biblical standard. We should call everyone and have compassion on them, but should we compromise on what sin is? Shouldn’t we do both? Shouldn’t we speak truth in love?

Thank you Dr. Campolo. I am not a Christian myself, but I came into this video expecting the hatred I've seen in other pastors especially around my area. I instead was touched by this message and have nothing but utmost respect for you. The world needs more men like you.

Lord have mercy on all of us but we have to call sin as is.sin

Thank you Dr Campolo. I took a class with you at Eastern College in the late 70’s. Came out as gay at the school. Had a difficult time and left after my second year

I am strongly heterosexual. There has always been great temptations because of it. But remember how St. Paul said that he must bring his temptations into submission. Is that not Christ called to all believers? No one is justified by temptation. We are justified by Grace through faith. And faith is aspiring to “faithfulness” in Jesus. And Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commitments.

My husband Anrew Watson studied at Eastern in 1991/92 and as a wife I was able to attend Tony's class. It was amazing. Thankyou Tony. God bless you. Penny Watson.

Dr Campolo, in your position, you are responsible for what you teach and how people make decisions as a result. You said that people you have talked to who behaved that way, have not changed. Then you say it is because they are made that way? You, a minister of the Almighty, claim that He made them that way? Romans 1:22 -28; "Professing themselves to be wise, they became foolish, changing the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image like corruptible man....therefore God gave them up to uncleaness thru the lusts in their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves." What you are saying to people wrestling with this sin, is that it is okay because they can't help themselves? You have said that people who committ this sin cannot change and Romans backs that up. Why are you encouraging people to give in to a desire that one cannot stop because God made them that way? God contradicts you and you will answer for it.

In discussions on this issue as soon as Jude 7. Is mentioned ..Why was Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed..there is dead silence

"It's Friday, but Sunday's coming !!!" The first sermon I heard you preach back in 1982.

I took sociology as a Freshman at University of Pennsylvania back in 1971. You were a terrific professor and speaker then and you are still a great speaker fifty years later.

Mr. Campolo, if you were a sociologist in Sodom and Gomorrah at the time of Lot's visitation by the angels of God (Genesis 19), would you affirm the right of the residents there to have their way with his heavenly visitors, even after their rejection of Lot's offer of his two daughters to them in place of the angels? On merely sociological grounds, wouldn't Lot's refusal to grant his fellow inhabitants their heart's desire to become sexually intimate with the visiting angels be a sin against the charity of hospitality and also (gasp!!!) a despicable act of homophobia? I mean, after all, wasn't Lot committing the unforgivable sin of offering a heterosexual option to his male neighbors hell bent on pursuing their same-sex attraction to angels whom they identified as young men? Just sociologically speaking. Also, do you think they had drag-queen story hour for children in Sodom and Gomorrah?

Dr Campolo I am a Christian because of Jesus Christ... not because of the Christians... There are a number of things that I can say, but I can affirm the Love of God above all Else...Thank You.

Love is powerful - as power- full as can be. Here is man with powerful love. Proclaiming Christ as Christ empowers him. Praise God.

Well said Sir, wish more Methodist thought as you🌻

My best friend committed suicide because he was gay and his father was a Baptist minister. It took decades to come to God because I loved him. It was a stroke, 28 years later, on the anniversary of his death that brought me to Him. The church has done a piss poor job of reaching out to us!

I agree with Tony Campolo regarding homosexual orientation. I also believe that the church should define marriage as being between a man and a women and that there are only two genders. These are not incompatible beliefs.

What a beautiful, beautiful man

Many many practicing homosexuals have converted to Christianity and openly forsaken and confessed their former lifestyle was in fact a chosen lifestyle.

This is diametrically opposed to the phrase: "such were some of you." God gives repentance. And he commands all men everywhere to repent.

I like Anthony Campolo, I respect him and do consider him a brother in Christ and yet disagree with him on the vast majority of political and social issues, I suspect this side of heaven we will never see eye to eye on many issues, but on some, we do see eye to eye on # 1 would be reaching out to the world to minister to their needs. An excellent talk he gave, powerful speaker.

Well said. For me the answer is in that verse in 1 John that tells us "God is love." The question is "What does love require of me?"

This was good preaching. We don't hear this often and it is refreshing. I am currently experiencing what seems like oppression. I am not homosexual but often hear accusations that say, "Queer' among other things. I am single and 73 yrs. Old. I have had a relationship with an elderly man in the Church who was gay who mentored me and helpful to me in my music career. I had finished graduate school and had no finances. He hade jumping from one fast food place to another seeking employment. Being discouraged, I came home one day and checked my messages. There was a loud panting noises. I was afraid and went to my parents home. My mother was there. In my confusion I said 'I'm a homosexual". She was upset because my nephew and niece were there. Things settled down but I was still partially confused. Before all this, he had played a song medley for me by christian artists. It was good and I agreed to transcribed it. It turned out to be 19 pages long and consisted of voices, woodwinds, brass and synthesized strings. It took me two months to complete. I purchased music notation software and put the arrangement into the software. It turned out sounding exceptionly well. He gave me a 100.00. Now I know this work would be worth close to 1,000. At this time, I had excepted a project with a woman at a respectable church, charismatic church. While attending a service there, after I had finished my transcription from the other project, I heard a 😱 voice in the spirit say, 'Homosexual.". More confusion and fear. I "should have been". working on this other project from a lovely lady at the highly respectable charismatic church. I was said to be a procrastinating on this "official" project. I deemed myself a failure. They did not know my predicament. I was not fond of the songs for this project and was given 25.00 per transcription. I did 3 transcriptions. I agreed to do transcriptions for 20 songs which was outrageous. More guilt and frustration. I wanted to make a point about Jesus not mentioning homosexuality : I've been educated to believe that the reason Jesus does not mention homosexuality is because He was preaching to the Jews who were a "moral' people. But "moral'" can mean self righteousness.

This man should read his Bible it is very plain that it is wrong we can love them but have to let them know they are wrong this man should not be a leader in any church

I'm an ex-Pentecostal ex-Christian gay homosexual from Suncrest Drive in Florence, Alabama. Christian homophobia has ruined any possibility for me to be reconciled to this religion, it's too little too late. Even though some churches liked United Methodists, Evangelical Lutherans, Episcopalians, Unity, etc have tried to tone down the bigotry but it's too little too late.

Woe to those Catholic households where, despite the best-laid plans for coordinated indoctrination, a child confesses having “homosexual inclinations.” A mother known to me, let us call her Gloria, had a son of seventeen who confessed to having “queer” inclinations. She then passed through many stages of grief. First, angry denials: “No child of mine could possibly be gay!” And threats: “Remember your teaching, son. Sexual sins are always mortal. Repent and confess them to a priest or, God forbid, you will go to hell. “ Second, there comes bargaining with God: “God, how could you have permitted this? I have been a true believer and have supported your true Church all my life. What must I do to get this unwanted sickness in my child’s life reversed?” Thirdly, some months down the line after Gloria’s ceaseless prayers and novenas did not get the miracle anticipated, self-doubt emerges: “Where did I go wrong? Or my husband? Or his teachers?” Then, the son leaves home and travels over a thousand miles away: “For the first time, I can breathe freely without my mother continually hounding me and prying into every aspect of my private life.” With this absence, Gloria becomes emotionally fragile. She breaks down in tears multiple times each day and, invariably, whenever anyone asks about her son. She seeks therapy. Then she unexpected finds great solace in a support group of parents of homosexual children. For the first time, she hears from parents who have arrived at the point where they accept the sexual orientation of her children. She is horrified initially, but then she comes to realize that this acceptance enables parents to return to a supportive relationship with their children after a period of judgment and estrangement. As a result of this realization, she then avoids her parish priest entirely because she doesn’t any longer want to hear “any judgments he might have regarding the conduct of her son.”[i] Gloria gradually stops going to her parish church entirely because she cannot any longer tolerate the “self-righteous pity” expressed by certain “busy-bodies who are praying for Tony’s (not his real name) conversion and return to the Church.” Her son writes a letter of a few pages each month. At the end of three years, he writes a long letter describing how he first met “a courageous and sensitive young man” and how, over the course of time, they gradually became friends and lovers and “have pledged their undying love to each other.” Then, for the first time in years, he acknowledges that he missed his mother and, if and only “if she would agree to accept him as gay and to bless the love he has for his partner,” then both of them would want to explore how they might visit for a few days right after Christmas. Gloria is ecstatic! At this point, Gloria is entirely ready to accept her son “just as God created him, no more and no less.” This readiness came from her association with members of her support group. As she became at ease with their positive assessment of homosexuality, she at the same time became resentful of how the teaching of the Catholic Church had pitted her against her son. “Even before his leaving,” she said, “I should have been blessing him every day and assuring him that I will be there for him in whatever path God calls him-whether as a gay or as a straight.” To this very day, she cannot understand how “bishops and priests teach us that loving our Creator and loving our neighbor are the heart of Jesus’ message and then, turn around, and teach my son that his deepest desires for intimacy are ‘disordered’ and teach gullible parents like myself that I must condemn love-making between same-sex partners because it is always[ii] a mortal sin.” In fact, she tells those who hear her whole story that “those parents [in her support group] who seldom went to church taught her more about the depth of God’s love than those Catholics who went to church weekly and taught God’s hatred for homosexual love-making.”

Thank you. I cried so hard when I listened. 2 of my My adult kids are gay. I need to stand up even more than I do.

I stopped watching after 9:26. It's quite obvious this is rationalization. Sex between men is an abomination (detestable in my version). It is found in Lev 18:22. Touching the skin of a pig makes you unclean (not abominable) in Lev 11:7-8. They are not next to each other in the same chapter. If by inferring that the touching of the pig skin verse is next to the sex between men verse makes gay sex acceptable because touching a dead pig now is acceptable, then you must accept all the other prohibitions that are next to the same sex verse. And that is incest, bestialities, etc.. Can we use the same logic? Can we say all these are now acceptable? Gay relationships are not acceptable. Just as adultery is unacceptable. I believe there are more adulterers in the US than gays. Adulterers would have gone through the same shame sitting in the pew when the pastor shares about the sin of cheating. That doesn't mean that we should make adultery acceptable to make them comfortable. The sociologist should study if the suicide rates amongst gays drop after they are accepted by societal standard changes. Apparently it did not. So who is actually helping the gays? Not even one gay man changed to straight? I thought I've seen quite a few youtube videos by men who did. Rationalization.

God is delivering People like these completly without any prejudice in Africa, we have seen it all

I love you Tony thank you so much ❤

Yes it is true that Jesus ĥad a love for the outcasts of society and that may have included homosexuals but He never condoned sinful lifestyles

Tony, I have great respect for your encouraging personality. I don’t believe you are disingenuous, but Biblical theology in what is one of our prime sources, the book of Romans, Paul’s letters to the church at Corinth, and so much more make the arguments against following homosexual urges or orientation. I am more drawn to the Pope’s expression of why neither he nor the Counsel’s can do what so many want: They do not have the authority to declare what God says is sinful to be not so. It is a cheap shot to recite what disgusting things thugs have done to the lonely and hurting. According to a most recent Christian survey 50% of the heterosexuals in Evangelical Christianity believes casual sex as all right. We are a culture that has elevated sex, hedonism, to the level of what life stands for. I am saddened. As a man who is heterosexual, I am faithful to my wife even when medical problems preclude sexual intercourse. WE ARE WRONG TO CONDEMN; God will judge each of us. And, I do not affirm the hatred, the crude actions you indicate, but I am concerned for a young, confused woman who went to lesbian counselor, who loved her and married her (I could lose a license fo failing to refer her), who still has feelings for men. She now has a child, and she does not know bliss simply because she accepted being gay. Was she? 30%, in one likely unscientific study, of our young women declared they are bisexual. Do you think that society can just go by our human judgment, following our “heart,” instead of God’s created order? It is much, much more complicated than you stories, I pray for all of us.

Homosexuality is also condemned in the New Testament.

Jesus said "Let those who are without sin cast the first stone!" What hypocrits and a momentous stumbling block this judgemental church has been on this subject. I thank God for His grace and forgiveness for ALL sin in ALL mankind through the death and resurrection of Him in Jesus. A great and powerful admonishment by Tony to institutional Christianity for not truly following the WAY of Jesus and transforming the world. Moralism yes but little grace and mercy. ❤️

Unexpected and unusual. So rare to find even a hint of understanding/discernment from Evangelicals.

How come everyone leaves out the word "SIN"?

This was a great sermon. It really pulls at emotions to make the pastor's point, regardless of your views of the subject matter. As an outsider looking in on the now methodist division, I can't help but see the UMC Association as money hungry. They are destroying the small historical Methodist churches by making the devision such a costly process. Why can't they allow those congregations to join the GMC and just agree to disagree.

Condoning sin is also a sin.

thank you so much for sharing this. it can be so tiring that when I make supportive statements about LGBTQ+ issues that others seem to doubt my faith or question my Biblical understanding.

So this man doesn't believe the bible. So why even bother?

"What would you say if a family member, friend or colleague had a condition that is routinely but not always associated with the following problems: - A significantly decreased likelihood of establishing or preserving a successful marriage - A five to ten year decrease in life expectancy - Chronic , potentially fatal liver disease-hepatitis - Invariably fatal esophageal cancer - Pneumonia - Internal bleeding - Serious mental disabilities, many of which are irreversible - A much higher than usual incidence of suicide - A very low likelihood that it's adverse effects can be eliminated unless the condition itself is eliminated - An only 30% likelihood of being eliminated through lengthy, costly, time consuming treatment in an otherwise unselected population of sufferers, although a very high rate of success among motivated carefully selected sufferers. * We can add four qualifications to this unnamed condition: #1 Although it's origins are influenced by genetics, the condition is strictly rooted in behaviour #2 Individuals who have this condition continue the behaviour despite the destructive consequences of doing so #3 Although some people with this condition perceive it as a problem and wish they could rid themselves of it, many others deny that they have any problem at all and violently resist any attempts to "help" them #4 These people who resist help tend to socialize with one another, sometimes exclusively , and form a kind of "subculture" This unnamed condition we have been describing is "ALCOHOLISM". And now imagine another friend, family member or colleague who has another unnamed condition associated with a similar list of problems: - A significantly decreased likelihood of establishing or preserving a successful marriage - A TWENTY-FIVE TO THIRTY YEAR DECREASE IN LIFE EXPECTANCY - Chronic potentially fatal , liver disease- infectious hepatitis, which increases the risk of liver cancer - Inevitably fatal immune disease including associated cancers - Frequently fatal rectal cancer - Multiple bowel and other diseases - A much higher than usual incidence of suicide - A very low likelihood that it's adverse effects can be eliminated unless the condition itself is eliminated - An at least 50% likelihood of being eliminated through lengthy, costly , time consuming treatment in an otherwise unselected population...but a very high success rate , almost 100% among a carefully selected, motivated population * As with alcoholism , we can add four qualifications to this unnamed condition: #1 Even though it's origins may be influenced by genetics, the condition is, strictly speaking, a pattern of behaviour #2 Individuals who have this condition continue in the behaviour in spite of the destructive consequences of doing so #3 Although some people with this condition perceive it as a problem and wish they could rid themselves of it, many others deny that they have any problem at all and violently resist any attempts to "help" them #4 Some of the people with this condition, especially those who deny it is a problem, tend to socialize almost exclusively with one another and form a likeminded "subculture" This unnamed condition we have been describing is...homosexuality. "( From "Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth " by Dr. Jeffrey Satinover) Both of these conditions are forms of volitional, addictive, compulsive , self soothing behaviour...and as addictions they are automatically IDOLATROUS....first these addictions separate the addict from friends, then family, and then God...and then the addict must join a subculture of likeminded individuals where they can join together to worship their god...that's what a Pride Parade is all about...addicts worshipping the sexuality that they made into a god. Now...Tony Campolo has made a big deal about "red letter" Christianity...teaching the words of Jesus Christ...so did Jesus have anything to say about volitional, addictive , compulsive, self soothing behaviours? Yes He did...He said " You shall have NO OTHER gods in my place". This is the heresy that Tony Campolo, and many others are now defending . All they are doing is exchanging a validation of the person and work of Jesus Christ in favour of a Jesus whose purpose is to validate LGBT individuals in their addictive sexuality. Tony Campolo...may the Lord rebuke you!

People must conform to God's law, not try to change God's law to conform to people.

To compromise the severity of sin....is to undermine the power of Jesus forgiveness merited on the cross

Love is shown in your words. Praise God

Y’all act like chastity is impossible

Around 7min mark; touching a dead pig is an abomination? really? where in leviticus 18 does it say that?

AMAZING!!!! ❤️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙏🏼 Jesus must be proud of Tony.

As a gay man, I should be and am happy that the world is more accepting. But the Christian Church has been around for 2000 years and has NOW found that homosexuality is not a sin. That they don't have to impale us or burn us or even condemn us to the fires of hell. For 2000 years they said they spoke the word of God. Did God change his laws? It just proves to me that if God exists the church has no idea od what he says.

Being a humanist I am deeply touched by MCompolos description of Roger had me in tears

Tony’s arguments for homosexuality “we don’t know why people are homosexuals” “some preachers say bad things about homosexuals and make them feel bad” “some homosexuals kill themselves because they are ashamed of their behavior” “some homosexuals know the Bible and some churches don’t care about homosexuality” “Tony made fun of Roger and bullied him, and Roger killed himself” “Homosexuals reject church because church people said bad things about them” “Homosexuals challenged Tony that Jesus doesn’t specifically condemn homosexuality” “Christians don’t follow Jesus perfectly” Needless to say the rest of “Dr” Campola’s arguments are extremely weak and as unpersuasive as the rest.

God created Man and Woman, He does not make mistakes..

Jesus also told the woman "Go and sin no more..." I like Tony Campolo. I feel his heart in this message. He could have still expressed love and truth. However, he didn't. Love without truth is idolatry and that's what this message is. It's heartbreaking because I have family and friends who are homosexual and I love them and I treat them with the utmost respect as I do any other person, but they know where I stand and I stand on God's word.

14:55 another way he bends and ultimately breaks. Divorce and re-marriage is spoken on plenty by Christ himself. Don’t point the finger at the congregation and say, “you allow this sin so allow all!!” Offer your hand and say “let me help you through to see the truth of your actions”

This unfortunate current split in the UMC reminds me of a similar split in southern Methodists in the 1960s -1970s.. When I was growing up in the 1960's South, many churches left the UMC because they opposed racial integration, believing the Bible called for continued segretation of blacks and white. My wife and I were both sad and excited as we recently transferred from a church leaving the UMC. We have joined a UMC church that is staying the course until the next annual conference. We would have preferred to see our old church support, and the UMC approve, one of the other options than the Traditional Plan. We hate to see the church divided over this one issue of acceptance of gay marriage/clergy. We have gay relatives, and it appears to us they were made by God and nature this way, and deserve full acceptance and support in the church. We suppose the broader issue is how literally we interpret the Bible. We think our society's understanding of homosexuality has improved over the last many centuries.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 - "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Thank you, Dr. Campolo! Your positions are wise and nuanced, and clearly carefully considered.The fundamentalist pushback is predictable and lazy. You and Peggy are really doing Christ's work. "I have other sheep not of this sheep-pen, and I must draw them in also." John 10:16

Excellent message!!! If only ALL churches and ministers were like HIM!!!!

Just because we don’t know what causes homosexuality doesn’t change the fact that the Bible says it is a sin. He is trying really hard to justify it.

I sorta of atumbled on this message and disagree. You are coming from a sociological and human mindset versus a Biblical one. God was extremely clear on this. It is called sin. God never changes. And your beginning comments about how our human nature cannot explain it...well we can if we want to call it as God called it. But yhat doesnt mean we cannot love or pray for a person. And that goes goes for any pwrson of any turmoil. We are all sinners and by God's grace and mercy can we get thru it or by it and repent. Lets remember Jesus used the lame, the wicked, the harlot etc. He didnt turn his back on them but they also repented and believed. Jesus did not approve of pushing ones sin or sinful nature on another and misleading.

I do know because I do know what the word of God says on the issue: God says it is an abomination. Sodomy is sin. Lying is also sin. Lust is also sin. Adultery is sin. Stealing is sin. There are many things that God says is sin. Jesus calls us to repent and forsake these sins. Go, and sin no more.

so much power in this preach !!! love 14-15 min. best statement!

Life is seen through a filter our eyes are the filters with everyone else's eyes are different filters. When we read to the Bible or follow someone's interpretation that doesn't match with our heart we stay in a dissonance we stay in confusion because God is not a god of confusion when God clears up that confusion you'll know it but that truth is your truth through your eyes through your personal revelation with God and some people have got that piece and found God and met God and God is instilled that peace that surpasses most understanding but some are not there yet and that is what we're fighting with ourselves with our different visions our different realities are different paradigms but know that we're all on a journey and listening to our brothers and sisters opens up that paradigm you must trust and have faith in your God whoever your God is that God is a god of questions and answers and Free yourself to believe that a good God is not going to punish you for feeling and having questions amen. 🌈🙏

You're saving lives Tony Coppola and your wife is blessed. Don't feel bad even gay people went down the wrong road it's easy to follow the crowd the one thing gay people have the advantage of is being born that way and knowing they came into the world that way at least that's what I take to my grave. I'm at peace now, it's a long road. 😇🙏🌈

A few thoughts ... Tony Campolo doesn't seem to care what the Bible teaches about homosexuality. Jesus didn't (directly) condemn homosexuality because everybody in Israel believed it was a sin. There simply was nothing to say. Same with Jesus not condemning bestiality. Several of his arguments boil down to: Two Wrongs Make a Right. Regarding divorce, any divorce-related sin is a past tense sin, unlike the topic at hand. His accusation that evangelicals don't care about the poor is preposterous.

Lord have mercy on us. With God all things are possible.

Fantastic communication that is filled with personal anecdotes and strong emotion and yet vacuous when it comes to considering what the text(s) of the Bible says and means. The reality still stands that those who practice homosexuality or immorality whether "straight" or "gay" will not inherit the Kingdom of God. It's not my truth or your truth that matters but what the Bible says. In the end, we will all stand before God and be judged on the basis of His character and provision for sin. If we have been reconciled through the life and death of Jesus on the basis of faith and evidenced through the orientation of our whole lives, we will be welcomed. If not, we will be given what we have walked in while we lived - the absence of God, and then it will be forever.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

2 Esdras 7:36 KJV 36. Then said I, Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness: While I don't condone the behavior, I pray for them to be delivered from their sin as I do all others living in sin.

Many gays testify they change!!!

Thank you

I'm sorry, but we are to recognize sin for what it is. Owe own sin as well as that of others. At no point did this gentleman acknowledge that homosexual 'marriage' is sin, regardless of how well intentioned his message may be.

No Scripture, no holiness, no righteousness, no God's Law, no Gospel, no Christ - just sociological psychobabble based on a love of the (secular) world. Just sad. (2Timothy 4:3-4)

"that is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.[32]". No amount of justification changes the biblical prohibition on gay sexual acts. Sex is reserved for heterosexual marriage and must be faithful. Gay people are loved by God just as anybody else but Sin is prohibited by God for all also.

Lord, Help us the church, to understand these things..help us to know with your hearts view..OH LORD

Romans 1:24-28

Thank you for posting this, I needed to hear this.

Love is not seen in affirming those things that the Lord condemns. He is a God of wrath every bit as He is love.

“First of all, I’m a sociologist”. All you need to hear. First of all you’re a Christian- you put anything above the Word and you’ve just headed down a wrong road. The Word of God is clear on the issue. God loves them, God desires to save them but He doesn’t permit homosexuality, PERIOD! Second problem “I’ve changed my mind because of things my friends have said about gays and lesbians” you don’t change convictions because of others. So sad but we were warned of apostasy in the end times.

Nicene Creed brother.

I disagree myself. As a person who’s struggled with addiction most my life… you might as well say that I was born an addict and can’t change. We are faced with temptations of all kinds. Lust of the flesh is one of them. Check out Jackie Hill Perry’s story, she was gay most of her life… she breaks it down… it’s time we help one another and not condone or condemn!!!! Gods word is very clear!!! Paul warns us to beware of false teachers. I liked Tony’s take in the video party and prostitutes but completely disagree with changing Gods word to fit our human desires.

23:54 the line should have been drawn long ago. Thanks for pointing that out

Tony left the reservation years ago. Follow Tony or Follow God. You choose.

Amazing. Thank you so much. It solve my views

This man is a story teller, not a man of God.

Jesus commanded us to love our enemies but that doesn't mean condoning their sin and if they're living in the homosexual lifestyle then they shouldn't be allowed in church

Its like asking a thief why he steals

The bible, while extremely important, isn't God's only revelation. The universe itself is meant to reveal God's nature and characteristics. As such, we're expected to extrapolate from the world around us that heterosexuality is God's explicitly intended pattern for us.

Not totally true. I have a friend who was gay, and he prayed about it, and God transformed him. He is now happily married to the love of his life, who happens to be a woman. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with being gay, I am just saying that homosexual men DO change and HAVE changed.

Love is shown in God’s Word.

27:48 finally, he says something I agree with.

God the Son, Jesus Christ, born to the virgin Mary, concieved through the God the Holy Spirit, did not live a righteous life, die for my sin, and rise that I may have Eternal Life in Him, so that I can wallow in the Sin I once craved without penalty! 😢 He died for me, a unworthy, rebellious sinner, that that I in Him might Live! Repent of your evil deeds that you may live! Repent and believe the Gospel! The basis of all our sin, adultury as well as homosexuality, theft and murder, hate and lust, is unbelief, a knittet fist to heaven saying:"I am my own god, my will be done!" Yet we all know, and claim, there is only One God, only One who may define Good and Evil! I won't claim that sin die easily, it has definetly not done so in me, its a lifetime of sanctification, struggle and battle, but the christian will, no matter the sin he struggles with, say to the God who bled and died on a tree for him: "Father, your will be done, not mine!"

An awesome message, from one of my favorites! Well done, Tony.

Homosexuality is not my issue..does not change my views .nor does it effect my life..I do not fight.for acceptance who I am....

Wonderful sermon. The 15 year old son of one of my former colleagues died of suicide at age 15. Bullying played a part in this. Christians with harsh views toward LGBTQ+ should ask themselves how do you believe Jesus with treat such people?

God loves all people. This pastor is conflating homosexuality with homosexuals acts. The latter is prohibited by God just as sex between unmarried straight people are prohibited from sex outside of marriage. This pastor's derision of the Bible is shocking and explains why people are leaving the UMC. He does not know better than God and never will.

Forget the studys....study the Bible!

Thank you, Dr. Campolo. My complaint has always been that too many Christians do not in fact respect God's word in dealing with the LGBT community. They quote scripture from the Old and New testaments without any regard for context or even basic grammar. They have no other intent but to use scripture as a lethal weapon against those they treat with disgust.