Let's pray for each other.
I’ll give my two cents on this. I think this is the new Pope’s first real lesson in being media Savvy.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m not Catholic, but do love my Catholic Brothers and Sisters in Christ and consider them such, and while I don’t look to the Pope as my supreme spiritual leader, I do have some admiration for him as a minister and regard him as a man who so far seems to be a good man that understands what the Book of James refers to as “pure religion”.
So, coming from that standpoint, I think what he meant here is something that we protestants commonly refer to as “love the sinner hate the sin”. He probably didn’t say it as well as he could have being that A) he’s a 77 year old man (I think) and B) this is a level of media spotlight he probably isn’t accustomed to yet. I don’t believe he was saying “its OK to be gay”.
That being said, his statement about not Judging gays, if he meant it in the way I believe he did, may well be a legitimate expression of how Christians should behave. If a gay person walks into my church, I don’t stand in the Foyer and say “out with you, rotten sinner”. Further, I believe if someone who is gay turns to Christ and says, I’m gay, I don’t know how to stop, but I know I need Christ...again, I have no doubt that Jesus forgives them, and does it even before they have exited the lifestyle. If we have to quit our sin before being forgiven, then it is not Grace, but my righteousness...which the Bible tells us is to God as filthy (literally menstrual) rags. I believe that is what the Pope is meaning when he says he is not to Judge.
The next step, of course, is repentance. You need to quit doing those things that are displeasing to God. But here comes the catch...we don’t. At least I don’t. I certainly struggle with things, temper and language, but those are sins just like any other. Repentance is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re all to Crucify our flesh and pick up our cross DAILY. Its a chore. So again, if someone is struggling with homosexuality, I don’t believe that removes them from God’s Grace anymore than someone that struggles with drunkenness, or anger, or any other sin. Within church structure, someone struggling with such things may be disqualified from being in positions of authority, but its not my place to Judge their salvation. God looks on the heart and knows if the person is truly seeking righteousness, and its not my place to judge their efforts at obtaining.
It IS my job as a Christian to always direct people to the Word of God. On this, we can not and must not compromise. But its never our job to Convict. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job, and he does it well. Its my job to say Brother, Sister, there is a “more excellent way”. I may be the only Jesus some people ever see, as the song says. Its my job to uplift, encourage, love and support those who are weak and not be a stumbling block, believing that God who knows that persons heart will deal with them as he sees fit.
Paul, the man that wrote a quarter of the New Testament referred to himself as the “Chief of Sinners” and lamented that he did those things he did not wish to do, and did not do the things he did wish to do. Through God’s grace, Paul fought the good fight (note that he referred to it as a fight). Heaven requires perfection, which to sinners like Paul and me is like asking for the moon...and by that Amazing Grace, we can attain it.