So how do know that this man did not repent in his final moments? Are you God?
I was heavily involved in the art and music scene during my teens and twenties. During that time, I encountered a lot of gays and became friends with them. I remember chatting with a friend once and made a remark in jest that so many gays have such good looks that they could have any woman they wanted. He turned to me and said, "Yes, they look good now and they looked good as children." I felt awful at that moment.
My personal experience is that a large percentage of gay men were molested as children. I've also found out that almost 100% of gay men (I can't vouch for lesbians) were rejected or felt rejected by their fathers when they were growing up. The friend that I spoke about in an earlier post fell into that last category -- he was an artistic, un-athletic guy whose father would have nothing to do with him because he wasn't macho and athletic. I know this is true because I know his family very well. He came to know Christ and repent because his oldest sister and a few friends chose to love him instead of rejecting them.
How would you like to go to heaven and find out that someone you rejected is in hell because you felt that you were too good to witness to them?
The point is that you see a gay man as someone that you should not associate with. God sees them as sinners but also wants them to repent and come to him. Churches need to reach out to the gay community (note that I did not say compromise God's word) and invite them in. The vast majority of gays are desperately unhappy people who would respond to God's call if more Christians would offer it. Jesus did not reject prostitutes, tax collectors, and other sinners -- he met them where they were and invited them into his kingdom. We should do the same.
“Churches need to reach out to the gay community”
Unfortunately, that beginning is almost always distorted to become, “churches need to accept homosexuality as good in God’s eyes.”
I know that’s not what you meant, but that’s what the Father of Lies brings about when ordinary people “reach out.”
I didn't say that I knew (and I certainly don't claim to be God!), but he apparently didn't tell the church, his family or his lover and prevent embarrassment all around. The church, who knew he was a homosexual and welcomed him into their congregation, didn't decline to host the service until they discovered via the obituary that the man was apparently an active homosexual. God will judge them accordingly.
My personal experience is that a large percentage of gay men were molested as children. I've also found out that almost 100% of gay men (I can't vouch for lesbians) were rejected or felt rejected by their fathers when they were growing up.
I have heard and read similar information. It's painful to me to know what some have gone through and how it has destroyed what their lives should have been. God will be judging the particulars in those instances. Repentance is key, which is the point of my original statement.
How would you like to go to heaven and find out that someone you rejected is in hell because you felt that you were too good to witness to them?
I'm certainly not "too good" to witness to any other sinner, as I'm at least as guilty of sin as they are, if not more so.
The point is that you see a gay man as someone that you should not associate with. God sees them as sinners but also wants them to repent and come to him. Churches need to reach out to the gay community (note that I did not say compromise God's word) and invite them in.
From "Sinners who don't repent are not accorded the same rewards as sinners who do", you assume quite a lot about my views of homosexuality. Not that you asked, but I see extremely confused, unhappy and, in some cases, deceived people who are as in danger of losing eternal life as any other person who allows something, anything, to get between him and God. There are possibly a rare few who are chemically unbalanced at birth, just as hermaphrodites are physically flawed.
I will admit I have far more sympathy towards anyone who is ashamed of whatever sin they commit and that I have a harder time loving those who parade their unrighteousness, particularly when they deliberately mock God. But that goes for any kind of unrighteousness, not just homosexuality.
Finally, if I am guilty of immorality at my time of death, I do not expect any church to conduct my memorial service.