You Can't Pray Away the Gay

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will 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, will inherit the kingdom of God. 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” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). “You can’t pray away the gay.” What a way to open a recent episode of the hit series, Grey’s Anatomy. In the aforementioned episode, the character known as Callie confronts her father about her sexuality when he, along with a pastor, pays a visit to the hospital where she is a patient. Most folks would be amazed to learn that I agree with this statement—you can’t pray away the gay. Those who are gay, more than likely didn’t choose to be gay. A host of factors over the course of one’s life—particularly childhood and adolescence—I’m sure play a key role in one’s sexual orientation. But—there’s always a but—although one doesn’t choose to be gay, when confronted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the reality of God’s Holy Word on the matter, a choice has to be made. That choice is simple yet profound—will I believe God? If one chooses to believe the Gospel and God’s position on the matter then that one has taken a major step towards freedom from the sin known as homosexuality and any other sin for that matter! Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). A genuinely saved person will know divine truth and freedom from habitual sin. Such is the reality of a saving commitment to Christ. God never changes His position on this and He never will. Therefore, a person who may be gay doesn’t have to remain that way. This is God’s position on the matter regardless of what the APA or MCC says!

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” Paul’s reference here to the kingdom of God is the sphere of salvation where Christ rules as Lord over all who belong to Him by faith. All true Christians are a part of this spiritual kingdom. Paul then issues a very strong warning to those who might think they are a part of this kingdom but really are not. He says, “Do not be deceived.” He then lists several sins, though not exhaustive, that represents the major types of moral sins that characterize the unsaved. The only correct conclusion regarding this list is that people who are characterized by these iniquities are not saved. Both verses 9 and 10 state this clearly: “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Personally, I find these verses very frightening, the reason being I know several people who are characterized by these sins. I pray daily for their salvation. Thankfully, this passage ends with some good news. Freedom is possible and it comes by grace through faith! Paul writes, “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.” Apparently, the Church in Corinth was made up of individuals, who prior to their salvation, were fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers. Notice again that Paul says, “Such were some of you.” The word, “were,” appears four times in verse 11. “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified.” The good news is this—if any number of these sins characterize you, you can be forgiven and set free! As long as you are breathing you are not beyond the reach of God’s grace. If you come to Him in faith, repenting of your sin and embracing Christ and His free gift of eternal life, God will save you and He will keep you saved—and you will go to heaven when you die. And it is all accomplished “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

Because God is holy He can never and will never accept these kinds of sins or any sin for that matter. Any pastor, church or group that says otherwise is lying. All these sins—homosexuality included—are against God’s nature and plan for mankind. Thank God He has provided all that is needed to be freed from the powerful grip of these kinds of sins. That provision is washing, sanctification, and justification made possible through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is powerful enough to break the hold of sin in a person’s life. It may not be easy. You may still struggle. You may even fail at times. You may have to surround yourself with mature Christians who can pray with you and hold you accountable, but you can be free. That is the witness of Scripture and the reality of new life in Christ (see 2 Cor. 5:17). I personally know several Christians who were once characterized by these sins. And God has not only saved them, He has set them free. And He’ll do the same for you. “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:22-23). This is good news!