Before the issue is directly addressed, we need to lay a little bit of groundwork.
First, LGBTQIA+ Affirmation simply means that more than loved and welcomed, those identities and practices are accepted and celebrated. Their lifestyle choices are affirmed.
Second, there are a diversity of beliefs and practices among Christians throughout time and place. Not all actions, opinions, or theological perspectives must be uniform in order for one to be a Christian.
Let me break this down a little bit more. There are four levels of issues to which we can disagree.
1. Issues of Preference. Sincere and authentic Christians disagree on many things that are nowhere near essential to their salvation. Some things have to do with styles of worship or aesthetic design and decor in the church or home. These are opinions without Scriptural foundations that do not contradict the teachings of the Bible in anyway, but neither are they supported by it in any definitive way. These would be issues of someone's favorite song, color, etc. These are preferences and are not essential items (though some people try to spiritualize their preference to elevate their importance).
2. Issues of Conscience. Sincere followers of Jesus disagree on matters settled by their conscious. These issues may be informed from a biblical principle, but not necessarily. They may have to do with the individual believers' desire to honor Christ in every way in their life or to avoid temptation that may not be an issue for other believers. These items are not universally essential as they are a matter of individual conscience (though they can be corporate among local congregations). Often Christians come to a conclusion on these matters after prayerfully seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit for their personal walk with Him. These issues of conscience can be equated at times with secondary or even primary issues for some people.
3. Secondary Issues. These are important theological beliefs and/or practices with a basis in interpretation of the Bible. Often denominations are formed by like-minded individuals and churches coming together to result in a network or association of churches and denominations. While these issues are considered non-essential to an individual's salvation, they are important issues to address and understand especially when churches from different cultures and world areas might be working together to fulfill the Great Commission. While the ramifications of these secondary issues can impact an individual's salvation, they are not considered essential to be Christian. They would be issues like modes of baptism, Calvinism vs Arminianism, definitions of spiritual gifts, church polity, etc. Certainly Scripture speaks to these issues, but many genuine believers end up with different conclusions as they seek to interpret those passages. It should be assumed that God does not bring the clarity we might like on these issues because they are not essential to our salvation. Important to discuss and understand: definitely. Essential to salvation: no.
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4. Primary (or Essential) Issues. These are primary theological beliefs and practices which means that they are fundamental dogma (essential doctrine) and practice. To deny these truths or practices precludes you from the Christian faith. The divinity of Jesus, nature of God, problem of sin, and the literal death and resurrection of Jesus would be among these essentials. There are those who say that these essential beliefs from Scripture are summarized, at least in part, by the Apostle's Creed. But these primary issues also involve practices that shape our lifestyle. In other words, essential is defined not only by a set of beliefs that one cognitively affirms, but also a lifestyle they embrace that God has called us to. You can find some places in Scripture that clearly denote behaviors essential to walking in righteousness (right relationship with God). There are also certain behaviors or actions that would exclude one from being a Christian that are definitely prohibited.
For example, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. The claim is clear: "neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." This is preceded by the phrase: "Do not be deceived." Idolatry, adultery, sexual immorality, etc are not compatible with relational holiness or Christian ethic. Those who continue to live in those patterns and refuse to repent (change their mind about these actions) will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul is warning the church at Corinth that there will be some false teachers who will attempt to convince them (through deception) that the actions he listed would not interfere with their salvation or relationship with a holy God.
Some false teachers would conflate primary issues that are clearly articulated in Scripture with secondary issues in order to confuse or even deceive sincere seekers. Our desire as Christians should always be to embrace God's revealed truths about the spiritual realm and the lifestyle of holiness that God has called us to.
"In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity." This is a common expression that encourages us to not allow preferences or other non-essential issues to divide us. Christianity cannot be divided upon essential beliefs and lifestyles, but sometimes people want to move things from the essential category to the non-essential category. This is a serious problem because theologically it makes one a heretic and pragmatically because it can prevent one from inheriting the kingdom of God. Those who advocate for disregarding holy living (orthopraxy) and biblical truth (orthodoxy) reveal the motive of their heart as well. The truth is that some people want to create a god in their own image that approves of every sinful desire they have. This is a historic reality that plagued even the early church. Paul warns the church in Ephesus that there should not even be a hint of sexual immorality and covetousness among them. He goes on to exhort them to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
So can one be an LGBTQIA+ affirming Christian? Simply put, a Christian will not knowingly support or affirm behavior that is clearly prohibited by God. Rather, they will seek to discern what is pleasing to the Lord!
In fact, advocating for sinful behaviors places you outside of biblical and historic Christianity. By every historic and biblical definition, except contemporary definitions that twist the meaning of love to exclude any concept of truth, one should struggle with how an individual could claim to follow Christ and yet reject His will and ways. You can disagree about architectural designs, passivism, song selection, definitions of modesty, and even a person's definition of speaking in tongues... but you cannot disagree with God on the practice of homosexuality and still claim to be His follower.
Let us commit to being faithful witnesses to the call of God to live distinctly different in our obedience to Him borne of a love with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And may our witness, influence, teaching, and preaching always advocate for the ways of the Kingdom of God.
Check out these other articles:
How to Obtain the Blessing of Entire Sanctification
Artificial Intelligence and Relationships
Why I Am Part of a Denomination
