LGBT+ and Christian: The 101 Series
LGBT+ and Christian: The 101 Series
Two: Coming Out as an LGBT+ Christian: A Journey of Faith, Love, and Acceptance
Coming out is a deeply personal journey. For many LGBT+ people, it’s a process filled with vulnerability, courage, and sometimes, fear. But for Christians navigating this journey, coming out can also be a profound act of faith – an act of living authentically in the light of God’s unconditional love. OneBodyOneFaith encourages people to be true to themselves as an essential part of their relationship with God and their spiritual journey. So how do you come out as an LGBT+ Christian? Here are some thoughts on how to approach this delicate, yet empowering, process.
1. Know That You Are Loved by God
The first and most important truth to hold onto when coming out is that you are loved by God. Your sexuality or gender identity does not change this love. In fact, God created you as you are, and your identity is a gift that reveals something beautiful about God’s creativity and grace. The Bible is clear that God loves you deeply, unconditionally, and without reservation.
In 1 John 4:16, we are reminded that "God is love, and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them." This love is not conditional on how well we fit into certain boxes of social expectations or religious norms; it’s an all-encompassing, affirming love.
2. Take Your Time
Coming out isn’t something you need to rush. It’s a personal process that can take time, and that’s OK. You may not feel ready to share this with everyone right away, and that’s perfectly valid. In fact, the journey towards self-acceptance often begins in the quiet space between you and God.
We encourage you to create space for prayer, reflection, and spiritual discernment as you approach coming out. Seek guidance from those you trust who can offer support and wisdom – whether that’s a spiritual mentor, a therapist, or friends who understand and affirm you. Listen to your heart, and trust that God is walking with you through each step. If you need someone to talk to, why not reach out to us or join us for our Thursday evening Rhythm prayer meetings?
3. Cultivate Supportive Communities
As you prepare to come out, it’s important be amongst a supportive community – people who will love you and affirm you for who you are, not despite your identity, but because of it. The Church, in its truest sense, is meant to be a place where all people are affirmed, loved, and nurtured in their faith journey.
If you don’t feel that your immediate church community will offer this kind of support, look for spaces where LGBT+ Christians are celebrated. OneBodyOneFaith offers a network of resources and communities that can provide the affirmation, encouragement, and belonging you need as you navigate this process. Whether through online groups, local gatherings, or church spaces that embrace LGBT+ Christians, you don’t have to journey alone.
4. Prepare for Various Responses
Sadly, we live in a world where not everyone will understand or accept you and your journey. Some of the people you come out to may react with confusion, concern, or even rejection. While this can be painful, it’s important to remember that their reactions often reflect their own struggles and fears, not your worth or identity.
Remember, your worth is rooted in God’s love for you, not in anyone’s approval or acceptance. Jesus reminds us that “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32), and this truth is that you are made in God’s image, perfectly and wonderfully, just as you are. The journey of coming out is not about seeking the approval of others, but about embracing that truth before God and the world.
5. Live Authentically, with Grace and Courage
Coming out as an LGBT+ Christian is not about fitting into a prescribed mould of what it means to be “Christian” or even what it means to be “LGBT+”. It’s about living fully, allowing your identity and your faith to intertwine in a way that glorifies God’s love and grace. Your journey of faith is unique, and it’s meant to be lived in fullness.
Living this way as an LGBT+ Christian is an act of courage, but it is also a beautiful act of grace. In embracing who you are, you reflect God’s love and creativity. And by doing so, you contribute to a Church that is more inclusive, more compassionate, and truer to the love of Christ.
6. Embrace the Journey of Faith
Coming out is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process. It’s a journey that weaves together your identity, your faith, and your relationship with God. Embrace this journey with grace, knowing that God is with you in every step – loving you, guiding you, and revealing more infinite love as you walk it out.
We believe that when LGBT+ people live in this fullness, they are able to show the world the richness and depth of God’s love. Coming out is an opportunity to not only claim your truth but to invite others into a deeper understanding of God’s radical love and inclusion. You don’t have to choose between being LGBT+ and being Christian – you already are both fully, boldly, and beautifully.
One: Can you be LGBT+ and Christian?
The question of whether it is possible to be both LGBT+ and Christian is one that many face, often with conflicting emotions and voices around them. In a world where many parts of the Church have historically been hostile or dismissive of LGBT+ people, it is essential to address this issue with clarity, compassion, and a commitment to understanding. OneBodyOneFaith believes that being LGBT+ is not only compatible with Christianity, but that it can also be a profound expression of God’s love and diversity of creation.
A Theology of Love and Inclusion
At the heart of Christian faith lies a fundamental truth: God is love. This truth isn’t just a theological concept, but a lived reality that embraces every human being, irrespective of their sexuality or gender identity. In 1 John 4:7-8, we are told that "everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." God's love isn’t conditional on sexuality or gender identity; rather, it is an unconditional embrace that calls all people into relationship with God and one another.
The Bible speaks often of love, justice, and inclusion, and these principles guide our understanding of what it means to be fully human in the image of God. For LGBT+ Christians, these foundational teachings of love should be the starting point for any theological exploration. Love welcomes, it heals, and it unites.
Reinterpreting Scripture
The Bible has been used at times to argue that being LGBT+ is incompatible with Christianity. However, many scholars, theologians, and clergy who are committed to the authority of Scripture have come to a different understanding. Passages, such as those from Leviticus or Paul’s letters, have often been interpreted in ways that do not always align with contemporary understandings of sexuality and gender. What is crucial here is that we approach these texts with humility and an awareness of the cultural and historical contexts in which they were written.
For example, when Jesus speaks about love and relationships, he focuses on the nature of commitment and mutual respect—values that can apply to any loving partnership, regardless of the partners' gender. The most important commandment, according to Jesus, is to love God and love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). This commandment transcends any human categories and challenges us to see each other as beloved children of God.
The Gift of Diversity
One of our core beliefs, as members, staff and volunteers of OneBodyOneFaith, is that diversity within the Body of Christ is a beautiful reflection of God. The Church is meant to be a place where all people can find belonging, a place where our differences are not a source of division but a source of celebration. LGBT+ people, like everyone else, are created in God’s image, and their identities are a part of the vast tapestry of human diversity that reveals God’s infinite creativity.
To be LGBT+ and Christian is not a contradiction. It is, rather, an affirmation of the truth that God’s love is wide enough to include all people, all experiences, and all identities. When LGBT+ people are able to embrace all that makes them unique, they are engaging in the same journey of faith that every Christian is called to: seeking a deeper relationship with God, living out love, and offering service to the world.
The Call to Belong
Being LGBT+ and Christian is also about belonging. It’s about recognising that God created us all, each with our unique gifts, identities, and experiences. It’s about being part of a community that values the person, not the label. As Christians, we are called to love one another, to bear witness to the power of God’s grace, and to walk alongside each other in our shared humanity. When we recognise the inherent worth of all people, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity, we embody the very gospel message of inclusivity, grace, and unconditional love.
Being LGBT+ and Christian isn’t just OK – it is a beautiful, life-giving expression of God’s love for all people. We are not called to conform to human-made expectations but to live out the fullness of our identities as beloved children of God. And in doing so, we reflect the truth of God’s inclusive and unconditional love for the world.
