Having examined the biblical perspective on homosexuality, we may draw some conclusions on how the church should respond to this issue.

1. The Church must reject the claim that sexual sin of any kind represents acceptable behavior.
   God’s Word, not changing cultural norms, must be the foundation for our faith and actions. This means that all sexual sin, including homosexual behavior, must be rejected. Too often, evangelicals have sought to highlight the sinful nature of homosexual behavior, while overlooking the rampant adultery and fornication that pervade society and even the church.
   
   
2. The Church must love and embrace its homosexually oriented members.
   We must reject homophobia (hatred or fear toward homosexuals), and we must love and support those struggling with homosexual desires. We must create an environment where people can openly discuss their feelings without shame or fear of rejection.
   
   
3. The Church must seek to meet the emotional needs of its homosexually oriented members.
   Perhaps the greatest need for homosexuals – and for all of us – is for supportive and caring interpersonal relationships in the context of true Christian fellowship. The church must intentionally work toward creating authentic Christian community, both in small group ministries and in larger church gatherings, where those wrestling with homosexuality can experience Christ’s love and forgiveness in a nurturing environment with a goal toward spiritual growth and maturity.
   
   
4. The Church must be a channel for God’s love to a lost world.
   Christians who have adopted a gay lifestyle frequently speak of the rejection and hostility they feel from other Christians. One homosexual writes: “The church’s record regarding homosexuals is an atrocity from beginning to end: it is not for us to seek forgiveness but for the church to make atonement” (Rictor Norton). We may disagree with the content of this statement, but we must not fail to hear the pain that lies behind it. Ultimately we need to ask, “How would Jesus have responded to practicing homosexuals?” The answer, of course, is the same way He responded to all sinners. He would love them and offer them the free grace of God. He would call them to repent and to live lives of holiness and faith. Like the father of the prodigal son, Jesus waits by the road longing for His wayward children to return to Him, because “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).