Still others believe that there is not anything about Christianity that specifically condemns or prohibits it. Here are some ideas that will help you in your quest to reconcile your orientation with your beliefs.

PLEASE NOTE:  The opinions and commentary stated in this article and all articles on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of RainbowChristians.com.  The objective of these articles is to promote discussion and understanding, not to convince you that a given viewpoint is "right".

1. As the Bible states, God desires a relationship with each and every one of us. God wants you back, even if you have turned away, even if you don't believe God is there.

2. Be aware that there is a range of beliefs to be found among Christians about all kinds of things. The Bible and homosexuality are just two of them. One case in point is the fact that there are Christians who believe that every single word in the Bible came straight from God and there is no room for interpretation. Other Christians believe that the Bible has been passed down through human beings, and errors and alternate interpretations are possible.

3. If you try to find out what Jesus had to say about gays and lesbians, you won't find anything. Either He never mentioned it, or it was never written down.

4. Look to Ezekiel 16:48-50 to find another interpretation of the tale of Sodom. In this passage, we learn that the "sin of Sodom" was the fact that the citizens were filled with pride. Additionally, they had more food than they needed; however, they did not assist the poor.

5. Read the Bible carefully, and take note of the verses that clearly condemn homosexuality. You are sure to find that they are few and far between. One viewpoint believes that the Bible would clearly show its condemnation of gays and lesbians if that was the intent of God.

6. There are some verses that say specific sex acts are wrong; however, they do not explicitly say that being homosexual is wrong. There are those who think that these verses are intended to condemn people who are in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing.

7. Remember that in Leviticus 18, we are given a list of forbidden things. It is forbidden to "lie with men", "eat shellfish", and "handle pigskin". So should people who play football and enjoy all-you-can-eat shrimp night also be considered an abomination and guilty of a sin punishable by death?

8. Take heed of what Jesus said in John 3:16.

In this passage, He tells us that "whosoever" believes in Him will find life everlasting. There are many other Bible stories that strongly imply that He did not intend "whosoever" to be an exclusive group. Go to a church that is gay-led or gay-friendly to find out more about Christianity. Explore the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches: mccchurch.org. You will find that over three hundred independent gay churches worldwide are affiliated with this organization. These churches can assist you in working out what it means to be a gay Christian.

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Be sure to study the topic thoroughly. Remember that many people have a hidden agenda. That is, they may have ideas (conscious or subconscious) that they are attempting to further. Regardless of whether the person speaking is supportive of you or not, take what you can use and leave the rest.

If a person believes that homosexuality is wrong, there is no point attempting to debate about the Bible with him or her. It is very hard (if not impossible) to change deep-seated beliefs. To attempt to do so will simply be frustrating and fruitless for all concerned.

If discussions about the Bible do occur, you will find it helpful to be familiar with the following verses: Genesis 18:16-19:29 (the story of Sodom); Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 (Levitical laws); Romans 1:18-32 (abandoning natural relations); I Corinthians 6:9-10 (those who will inherit the dominion<