In a conversation between Pastor Tim Keller and Professor David Eisenbach at Columbia University, they talk about an important topic—what Christians think about homosexuality. Pastor Tim Keller is a well-known Christian pastor, and in this conversation, he explains how his church and many others understand this issue from a biblical perspective. He also talks about how Christians should treat their neighbors, including people who are gay, with love and respect.
Let’s look at the key points of the conversation and break them down into simple, easy-to-understand terms.
Homosexuals Are Going To Hell – True Or False
Why Do Churches Oppose Homosexuality?
At the start of the conversation, Professor David Eisenbach asks Pastor Keller why so many churches are against homosexuality. He wonders if Keller’s church considers it a sin and if they believe that homosexuals are going to hell.
Pastor Keller begins by explaining that he can only speak for his own church, but that his beliefs are similar to many other Christian churches. He says that according to the Bible, homosexuality is not part of God’s original design for human sexuality. This means that, in the Bible, marriage and sexual relationships were meant to be between a man and a woman.
However, Keller is quick to point out that the Bible also teaches Christians to love their neighbors. He says that people should treat others with kindness and respect, no matter what their sexual orientation is. This includes gay people, as well as people from all different backgrounds and beliefs.
Christians and Loving Their Neighbors
One of the main points Keller makes is that Christians have a duty to love their neighbors. This is a core teaching of Christianity. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he said it was to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Keller explains that when Christians look at the Bible, they see this command to love their neighbors as something they must follow, even if they disagree with someone’s choices or lifestyle. For example, even if a Christian believes that homosexuality is a sin based on the Bible, they still have to love and serve gay people with the same kindness and respect as anyone else.
He says that this love should be like the love Jesus showed when he died on the cross. Jesus gave his life to help and save others, even those who didn’t believe in him or follow his teachings.
Two Wrong Reactions from Churches
Pastor Keller also talks about how some churches handle the issue of homosexuality in the wrong way. He says that there are two extremes that some churches fall into.
- Ignoring Biblical Teachings on Homosexuality: Some churches decide to ignore what the Bible says about homosexuality because they want to show love to gay people. They think that if they don’t talk about the Bible’s teachings on sexuality, it will make things easier. But Keller believes this is not the right approach because Christians should follow all of the Bible’s teachings, even if they are difficult or unpopular.
- Being Self-Righteous and Judging Homosexuals: On the other hand, Keller says that some churches go too far in the other direction. They focus too much on the fact that the Bible says homosexuality is a sin, and they use it as a way to judge and condemn gay people. Keller thinks this is also wrong because Christians are not supposed to be self-righteous or act like they are better than others.
Keller says that both of these reactions are mistakes. He believes that Christians should be honest about what the Bible teaches but should also show love and compassion to everyone, including gay people.
Is Homosexuality the Only Sin?
Another important point Pastor Keller makes is that homosexuality is not the only sin the Bible talks about. The Bible mentions many other sins, like lying, stealing, and being greedy. Keller explains that all of these things are against God’s will, and that no one is perfect. Everyone has sinned in some way, and that’s why Christians believe they need God’s forgiveness.
Keller is careful to say that Christians shouldn’t act like homosexuality is worse than other sins. In fact, he says that churches should never single out gay people or treat them differently than anyone else. The Bible teaches that everyone is in need of God’s grace and forgiveness.
What About Heaven and Hell?
Professor Eisenbach also asks Pastor Keller if his church believes that gay people will go to hell. Keller explains that Christians believe that everyone needs God’s forgiveness, no matter what sins they have committed. According to the Bible, the most important thing is having faith in Jesus and trusting in him for salvation.
Keller says that it’s not just people who are gay who need forgiveness—everyone does. He explains that Christians believe that God offers forgiveness to anyone who asks for it, and that Jesus died to make this forgiveness possible. So, the main message of Christianity is about God’s love and forgiveness for all people.
Loving People Without Agreeing With Them
Pastor Keller also talks about how Christians can love and respect people, even if they don’t agree with their choices. He says that just because someone disagrees with another person’s lifestyle or beliefs, it doesn’t mean they can’t be kind and supportive.
For example, a Christian may believe that homosexuality is a sin, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be friends with someone who is gay. Keller says that Christians should serve and care for all people, no matter what their sexual orientation is. This is a way of showing God’s love in action.
Keller also points out that this kind of love is not about being fake or pretending to agree with everything someone does. Instead, it’s about being honest while still treating others with kindness and respect. He says that Jesus often spent time with people who didn’t follow God’s laws, but he always treated them with love and compassion.
Balancing Truth and Love
One of the big ideas in Keller’s talk is the balance between truth and love. He says that Christians need to be honest about what the Bible teaches, but they also need to show love and grace to others. This balance is sometimes hard to achieve, but Keller believes it’s important.
Keller says that some churches focus too much on the truth and forget about love, while others focus too much on love and ignore the truth. He thinks that both are important, and Christians need to find a way to hold onto both at the same time.
He also says that this balance is a challenge, but it’s what Jesus taught his followers to do. Jesus always spoke the truth, but he also showed incredible love to everyone he met, even people who were considered sinners.
The Role of Grace in Christianity
Another key point Pastor Keller makes is about the role of grace in Christianity. Grace is a big part of the Christian faith, and it means that God offers forgiveness and love to people, even though they don’t deserve it. Keller explains that no one can earn God’s love or forgiveness by being perfect. Instead, it’s a free gift that God offers to everyone.
Keller says that Christians believe that Jesus’ death on the cross made it possible for people to be forgiven for their sins. This includes all kinds of sins, whether it’s lying, stealing, or engaging in sexual practices that go against the Bible’s teachings. The message of Christianity is that anyone can receive God’s grace by believing in Jesus.
He also emphasizes that this grace is available to everyone, no matter their past or current struggles. This includes people who are gay. Keller says that Christians should never forget that they are all in need of God’s grace, just like anyone else.
Why Is the Christian View on Homosexuality So Controversial?
In today’s world, the topic of homosexuality is a hotly debated issue, both inside and outside the church. Many people wonder why Christian views on homosexuality can seem so different from modern cultural values, where there is more acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Pastor Tim Keller explains that the controversy often arises because Christianity is rooted in the teachings of the Bible. For Christians, the Bible is the ultimate authority on matters of faith and behavior. Since the Bible describes God’s design for marriage as being between a man and a woman, many Christians hold to this view. However, society today is more focused on individual freedom and the belief that people should be able to express their identities however they choose.
This clash of values—between biblical teachings and modern cultural beliefs—is why there’s so much tension. Christians are often criticized for being “behind the times” or for being unloving toward LGBTQ+ people, while others defend Christian beliefs as staying true to their faith. Keller encourages Christians to navigate these tensions with love and humility, always seeking to serve and care for others while holding on to their beliefs.
Does Keller’s Church Reject LGBTQ+ People?
One important question people ask is whether Keller’s church, or other churches with similar beliefs, rejects LGBTQ+ individuals. Pastor Keller is very clear on this point: no, his church does not reject LGBTQ+ people. He says that everyone is welcome in his church, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Keller believes that Christians are called to welcome all people into their communities. This includes people with different beliefs, different backgrounds, and different lifestyles. At the same time, he stresses that welcoming someone doesn’t mean agreeing with everything they do. Keller says it’s possible to love and care for someone without necessarily approving of all their choices.
This idea is at the heart of Christian love. Christians are called to love their neighbors, which includes supporting and befriending people from all walks of life, even when they disagree on moral or ethical issues. For Keller, this is part of living out the teachings of Jesus, who spent time with people who were often seen as outcasts in society, yet he treated them with great compassion.
How Should Christians Respond to LGBTQ+ Friends and Family?
A big question for many Christians is how to respond to LGBTQ+ friends or family members, especially if they hold traditional views on marriage and sexuality. Keller’s advice is consistent: Christians should show the same love and grace to LGBTQ+ individuals as they do to anyone else.
He explains that it’s important to maintain relationships, be kind, and never let disagreements over sexual orientation or lifestyle get in the way of genuine friendship or love. Keller warns against judging or isolating people because of their sexual orientation. Instead, he encourages Christians to serve their friends and family members with love and respect, just as Jesus served others.
For Keller, the key is to hold on to biblical truths while also living out the command to love. He believes that Christians should be a positive example by treating all people with dignity, no matter their background or beliefs. This approach helps to build bridges rather than create more division.
What Does This Mean for LGBTQ+ Christians?
For people who identify as LGBTQ+ and also consider themselves Christians, these conversations can be even more difficult. Some may feel like they don’t fit in with their church or are unsure of how to reconcile their faith with their identity. Keller suggests that churches need to be places where everyone can feel welcome and supported, no matter what struggles they face.
While many churches hold to the belief that marriage is meant for a man and a woman, Keller emphasizes that this should not stop LGBTQ+ individuals from being part of a church community. He believes that every Christian—no matter their background or experiences—is on a journey of faith, and that churches should be places where people are encouraged to grow, learn, and receive God’s grace.
Keller also encourages LGBTQ+ Christians to explore the Bible and seek guidance in their faith. He says that no one is perfect and that everyone, regardless of their struggles, is in need of God’s love and forgiveness. This message of grace is at the heart of Christianity, and it is something Keller hopes churches will share with all people, including LGBTQ+ individuals.
Scriptural References
- Leviticus 18:22
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”
This verse speaks about the prohibition of homosexual acts in the Old Testament. - Romans 1:26-27
“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another.”
This passage is often cited regarding the Christian view of homosexuality. - Genesis 2:24
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
This verse describes God’s original design for marriage. - Matthew 22:37-39
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Jesus teaches the importance of loving God and others. - John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
This speaks to the Christian duty to love others. - Luke 6:31
“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”
The Golden Rule, emphasizing treating others with love and respect. - Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
A reminder that everyone has sinned and needs God’s grace. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality…”
This passage mentions homosexuality in the list of sins but also stresses the need for repentance. - Ephesians 4:15
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
Balancing truth with love is key in Christian life. - John 8:7
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
A call to avoid self-righteous judgment. - Romans 12:9
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
Christians are encouraged to love genuinely while clinging to biblical truth. - Galatians 6:1
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.”
This verse advises Christians on how to respond to others’ sins with gentleness. - 1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
Love is emphasized as a way to overcome sin. - Matthew 7:1-2
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
A reminder not to judge others harshly. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way…”
A description of what Christian love looks like. - 1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
A call to love one another as a reflection of knowing God. - Titus 2:11-12
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”
This verse highlights the importance of grace in Christian life. - Colossians 3:12-14
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another… And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
A call to live with love and compassion. - Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Emphasizing that salvation is through grace, not earned by works. - James 2:8
“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.”
A reaffirmation of the call to love your neighbor.
Conclusion
In his talk at Columbia University, Pastor Tim Keller explains the Christian view of homosexuality in a thoughtful and compassionate way. He says that while the Bible teaches that homosexuality is not part of God’s original design for human sexuality, it also commands Christians to love and serve their neighbors, no matter their sexual orientation.
Keller believes that Christians need to find a balance between holding onto biblical teachings and showing love and kindness to everyone. He warns against the dangers of either ignoring the Bible’s teachings or becoming self-righteous and judgmental.
Overall, Keller’s message is one of grace, love, and truth. He says that Christians are called to love their neighbors with the same kind of love that Jesus showed on the cross, and that this love should be extended to all people, including those who are gay. By focusing on both truth and love, Keller believes that Christians can reflect the heart of the Christian faith in their interactions with others.
