One of my peer students is a Chaplain and she answered the question this way which has given me something to meditate on:
"It is not unusual for any given day for me as a Chaplain to be sitting down with an inmate who identifies as homosexual or transgender. I see them as an amazing creation of God, loved by Him and desiring a relationship with Him.
Very often the subject of the Bible will come up. Just recently a lesbian woman said to me, "Pastor Mary Ann, I know what the Bible says about my sexuality. I believe in God, but where do I start with this?" Note: this girl had been brutally raped by her step-father for years. She is horrifically frightened of men.
My response is always pretty much the same. "God loves you. He wants you back. Let's begin with baby steps. We don't have to know His whole plan right now for you. Let's start by praying, getting you a Bible and let God lead you step by step."
One of my male gay inmates who came to the Lord said as he was leaving our facility . . . "I don't have all the answers yet. I am going to live celibate. Maybe God will change my feelings and maybe not. But I will live under His will and do it His way." I never told this guy to STOP being gay. It is not my job. My job is to lead them to the Lord.
I follow this up with a comment shared during a Mentors' meeting by Pastor Steve last week:
Understanding means to "grasp the significance of", "to avail." A word study in Greek and Hebrew defines its meaning to be, "to cut through the darkness"
- Knowledge = having information
- Wisdom = knowing what to do with that information
- Understanding = grasping
I end this with my prayer for you: May your study of Scripture first enlighten you. May the Holy Spirit help you gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding. May you walk alongside Jesus as He shines His light on the darkness of others. Blessings . . . Judi