How Would Jesus Treat the Gay Couple Next Door?

hughhalter.com
What does it look like to live out the great commandment to "Love thy neighbor as yourself"?
#HughHalter
#LoveThyNeighbor
#Grace
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Current events drive discussion around what it means to be nonjudgmental, to live as Jesus did. To nurture friendship and extend a hand to those around us, no matter their circumstance. To extend the grace Jesus gives us to our neighbors.
For a deeper dive into this important topic, check out author and speaker Hugh Halter's new book Brimstone: The Art and Act of Holy Nonjudgment. Learn more: hughhalter.com.
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Production Company: Yamo Films
Director | Cinematographer: Wade Yamaguchi
Producer: Ingrid Schneider
Screenplay: Brady Peters
1st AD: Eddie Gilbert
Boom Operator: Lorenzo Dawkins
Grip: Jerry Lanier
RC Helicopter: Michael Sasser
Artist: Max Frost
Cast: Chris Voth, Brad Allen, Bradley Gibbons, and Laila Purvis
Post Production: Yamo Films
Editor: Wade Yamaguchi
Assistant Editor: Eddie Gilbert
Colorist: Jade Ehlers
Sound Mix: Dustin Wise
Music: Celestial by Moncrief - www.musicbed.c...
Nostalgia by A. Taylor - www.musicbed.c...

[@1947Rogerio]

This clip impressed me to tears. Although I do not follow strictly any religion owing to the substantial doubts raised in my mind when I began to read (since I was a teenager) lots of books about all the great religions, the words of Jesus are just GREAT. Jesus never uttered a single line against homossexuals; that's is why I am not an atheist, just stoping in the border of being agnostic. God bless all the good neighbours! ♥♥♥

[@SantaFe19484]

Just because you don't judge someone does not mean you have to do everything they ask.

[@leonscott543]

SantaFe19484 This is true.... but if what they are asking is not sinful, then you have no spiritual reason to say no

[@LIQUID_556]

@@leonscott543 If you want to, if its something you still dont want to do you have no obligation to do so.

[@williamsvideo882]

It's sad that while Christians are discussing this issue in the comments, I see very few scripture and a whole lot of opinions "..i believe this or I feel that". It doesn't matter how we feel or think , all that matters is what HE said. Its tough and hard but we need to trust HIM and HIS word.

[@supermodelzdancerie]

yay! great message! subscribed.

[@Iridescence7770]

neighbors who invite you to dinner- already a blessing!

[@Jhorak6275]

I don't even want to read the comments. At first this video made me tense, but it ended up having a good message. Kudos. In a hate-filled Christian world right now, this was a nice video to see. There's a few things... but... thank you.

[@forgivinggrace]

Jaymie Horak It is not a hate filled Christian world and that is the problem. This world belongs to Satan for the time being. To speak truth in love is not hate. Hate is to look at someone rushing to their death knowing full well that the road they are speeding down has a washed out bridge ahead that will seal their fate eternally, while we sit by by smiling, and waving, as they pass by wishing them well and a safe journey. The journey we know is neither well nor safe and to pretend otherwise is akin to murder. We will stand before a Holy God one day and have to account for our actions and our lack of action. We will face those we have sentenced to hell by our silence and acceptance. How well will we fare when one of those asks: "Why? Did you not love me enough to tell me of His great love for me?" That thought alone causes me many a sleepless night. Please understand I am not hating on you, we all have to understand the eternal nature of our lives and the eternal impact we have on others. We can be the plow that furrows the ground, or the one who plants the good seed, or we can be the one neglect the fields allowing the weeds of the enemy to consume the very souls the Lord died to save.

[@tcinqo1]

Great message. Thank you!

[@bigptuba]

If the only thing you see is the wedding your missing the point of the whole video

[@jose_player1053]

This really touched my heart.

[@johnt.reagan9034]

The video made a good point, one that needs to be first in how we relate to gay couples. But where was anything depicted about not giving approval to a sinful lifestyle? To be honest, the Gary character's actions of finally being friendly, while the right thing to do, would most likely be taken as approval by the gay couple. Of course, the video was limited in length so maybe there wasn't opportunity to show that. Remember that Jesus loved the sinner -- He also said, "Go and sin no more." I tend to agree with Mary Agloro below. The video got it wrong with the wedding thing.

[@maryea671]

Loving and condoning, I agree are two different things. Everyone has to do what they feel is right between them and God, and personally I'm fine with the neighbor and friend thing, but attending the wedding for me would be condoning and I cannot do that. Guests are there agreeing to the ceremony (if anyone does not agree, please speak now, remember that part in most ceremonies?). Love means wanting the very best for someone, and because I do want God's best in their lives, I cannot agree with them that calling their relationship marriage is the best, however because it is now legal, I would respect it in every other way.

[@karlacolonnieves4430]

Mary Agloro Good thoughts, Mary. Though, what if the friend communicated to the gay couple that they believed their marriage was against God's design and that it was wrong, but that because they're their friend, they wanted to be there for them? Do you think it's possible to participate in something important to someone (who doesn't live by the same morals I may have and believe in the same God I do) without condoning it then? If I've already communicated what I believe, and continue to do so in the way that I live out my own marriage and relationship with God, my conscience is clear in not encouraging them to sin because I've kept silent. Instead, I'm acknowledging that they're getting married with or without my approval, and I'd like to be there for something that matters to them, regardless of what I believe. Also, most people are very well aware of what Christians believe about same-sex marriage. I really don't even think I need to speak up because they're already aware that many believe what they're doing is wrong-they don't need one more voice telling them that. And they're going to get married anyway. Instead, I believe a Christian's presence at their wedding is more healing and does more for building that relationship so that the truth of Christ and God's design for marriage can be displayed through my friendship with that couple. It's not like their chance at a relationship with God ends the day they get married to the same sex. Life goes on. I'd like to be there for that. Pointing them to Jesus the whole way through, through the joys and heartaches they experience in their marriage. Should they one day begin a relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit can then convict them of their marriage if He so chooses to. But even then ... there are far more worse things to convict someone about than the way they choose to love one person selflessly and wholeheartedly the rest of their life, regardless of gender. (If you couldn't tell, I'm still somewhere between same-sex marriage being completely against God's design for marriage, and same-sex monogamous relationships being another way to glorify God and grow in relationship with Him and others ... depending on how you choose to interpret Scripture, which I believe no one can know they have the "one right way" to interpret the Bible.) Just some thoughts :)

[@maryea671]

Karla Colonnieves I cannot participate in something important to someone when I know it is evil in God's eyes. As I said, I would respect their union in other ways since it is legal, I would love them as individuals and as my neighbors but I cannot attend their "wedding" because that would be agreeing with the ceremony if not approving. Turn this around, would they really want me as their friend to go against God's Word? They wouldn't if they truly realized what that really means and what it would do in my life. Again love means we want God's best in a person's life. We are saved by grace, but that doesn't mean we should use that freedom to choose to live in deliberate sin.

[@Ali_Fenne]

My mother in law didn't condone my wedding but she still attended and wasn't a dick about just because you don't agree with the wedding doesn't mean you can't attend

[@Sarah-rs1bz]

@@Ali_Fenne yes it can

[@paulmccauley8995]

Loving someone doesn't mean not confronting or disagreeing or making judgments. If the whole of Matthew 22 (never mind the whole of the Bible) is read this becomes pretty plain. Love is doing good for someone despite the cost and regardless of the response. Encouraging people in a self-destructive path is not loving. Celebrating something God condemns is not loving. That doesn't mean one has to act the way this guy did at the start of the video though. Perhaps if he'd been more courageous and better informed he could have actually explained what his issues were and presented the reasonableness of a Biblical worldview. But hey, maybe in the minds of the video-makers, being loving is just smiling at people and patting them on the back as they go to hell.

[@karlacolonnieves4430]

Paul McCauley I think those are good thoughts. I think it's a tough line to walk. I gave this response to Mary's comment above. I'd be curious to hear what you think: Good thoughts, Mary. Though, what if the friend communicated to the gay couple that they believed their marriage was against God's design and that it was wrong, but that because they're their friend, they wanted to be there for them? Do you think it's possible to participate in something important to someone (who doesn't live by the same morals I may have and believe in the same God I do) without condoning it then? If I've already communicated what I believe, and continue to do so in the way that I live out my own marriage and relationship with God, my conscience is clear in not encouraging them to sin because I've kept silent. Instead, I'm acknowledging that they're getting married with or without my approval, and I'd like to be there for something that matters to them, regardless of what I believe. Also, most people are very well aware of what Christians believe about same-sex marriage. I really don't even think I need to speak up because they're already aware that many believe what they're doing is wrong-they don't need one more voice telling them that. And they're going to get married anyway. Instead, I believe a Christian's presence at their wedding is more healing and does more for building that relationship so that the truth of Christ and God's design for marriage can be displayed through my friendship with that couple. It's not like their chance at a relationship with God ends the day they get married to the same sex. Life goes on. I'd like to be there for that. Pointing them to Jesus the whole way through, through the joys and heartaches they experience in their marriage. Should they one day begin a relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit can then convict them of their marriage if He so chooses to. But even then ... there are far more worse things to convict someone about than the way they choose to love one person selflessly and wholeheartedly the rest of their life, regardless of gender. (If you couldn't tell, I'm still somewhere between same-sex marriage being completely against God's design for marriage, and same-sex monogamous relationships being another way to glorify God and grow in relationship with Him and others ... depending on how you choose to interpret Scripture, which I believe no one can know they have the "one right way" to interpret the Bible.) Just some thoughts. Also, I've walked this with someone very dear to me who came out to me a few years back. At first, I didn't say anything. I assumed that person already knew my thoughts (that homosexuality was a sin). For a year, I just continued my friendship as usual with that person, asking questions, being curious about their life [including relationships], but never giving approval, just engaging. But that person took it as approval. And the day they found out I actually thought it was a sin, they felt betrayed. Through tears, that person said, "You don't encourage someone to keep doing something if you think it's wrong." Those words have haunted me. But another set of words that haunted me are this: "So you think I'm wrong." Emphasis on the "I'M." What I learned that day was it didn't matter that I didn't think a person is more than their sexuality. It didn't matter what I believed was right or wrong about that person's sexuality. Because for that person, they closely related their identity with their sexuality. And it broke their heart to hear that, in their eyes, I thought THEY were wrong. That WHO they were was wrong. That night we said Bible verses back and forth to each other, that person asked why God would make someone gay if He was going to condemn them in the end, and I responded that God didn't make anyone gay-I didn't believe it was a choice. I'd only ever seen that person cry once, (and I'd known that person 19 years) but that night that person cried and cried, and it broke my heart. And at the time I felt helpless, like I couldn't help but break that person's heart, because those were my beliefs. There was nothing I could do to change them. I thought I was being loving in communicating the truth. There was no yelling. Just speaking what I believed. And it wrecked our relationship for a while. After a month of not speaking, I was forgiven, but told that that person would not apologize if they one day got married to someone of the same gender. That I would need to be OK with that. For two years after that night, my relationship with God was shaken. My trust in His word was shaken. I read stories and books from Christians on all different sides of the debate-gay Christians who remain celibate, gay Christians who believe same-sex monogamous relationships are OK. I've read all the Scripture all sides use to defend their arguments, and I can see where each side comes from. But I couldn't find peace about taking one side completely. I begged God, "What are you telling others that you aren't telling me? Why is everyone so comfortable taking one position, but not me? What are you holding back from me?" My biggest fear is that one day I will stand before God and find out I was the oppressor all along-much like those who used the Bible to defend slavery and racism. But more recently, I've had another fear-that one day I would stand before God and find out I had encouraged someone to keep sinning, like those words my friend say that night. "You don't encourage someone to keep doing something if you think it's wrong." I'm thankful for God's grace through Jesus. I'm thankful that if I mess this up, His grace is big enough to cover that. There are many Christians out there who affirm same-sex marriage, and I don't want to argue the Holy Spirit in them. Much like I wouldn't want Christians who believe that me owning more than one pair of shoes means I don't care for the poor who have no shoes to argue the convictions the Spirit has or hasn't given me. But I believe the posture of the heart matters. And I believe Jesus sees that. The other day I was 70 percent sure same-sex marriage was a sin. Today I'm at 30 percent. More than ever, I believe the most important thing I can do is point people to Jesus. And from there, leave it to Him. Two years after that night, I wrote a letter to my friend and apologized for how I had hurt them. For not listening to them. For not asking for their story and instead assuming things about them and throwing Bible verses at them. I said that I've questioned and questioned God about this, and have done my best at listening to Him. And my thoughts and beliefs have changed in many ways as I wrestle with God on this. I said that if that person ever wanted to know what I believed now, I would share. But I wouldn't bring it up otherwise-I'd already dealt that person a fair amount of pain they didn't ask for. Then I said that first and foremost, that person was my friend. I communicated that I didn't love that person because of or in spite of their sexuality, but because of so many other things (I listed all the qualities I loved about that person). Then I said that because they were my friend, I would be there for them. That I am FOR them. I would protect them. Defend them. And if that person one day got married to the person of the same sex, I would be up there with them. I told them that Jesus loves them so very much, and I do too. All that to say, I'm not saying the way I handled things in the end is the right way to do things. I'm not saying it's the only way to handle this kind of situation. But it's where God has led me. And it's where I feel most at peace right now in that relationship with that person. Maybe God will convict me in another way if the day does come for that person to marry someone of the same sex. But right now it's where I'm at. I ask him for more answers, and right now I'm not getting any. And I have to trust Him with that. I ask him for one set right or wrong answer on this issue, and I'm not getting that. I'm just getting a whole lot more questions. I just have to believe that he'll lead me one situation at a time, one relationship at a time, one day at a time. I don't want to put God in a box, because I know he's so much bigger than that.

[@paulmccauley8995]

Karla Colonnieves Hello Karla. That's a pretty big comment, and I'm glad you take this issue so seriously. There are a few different things you've brought up. First of all you ask about whether attending a ceremony would be ok if you have stated your disagreement with the relationship. I would say first of all, stating such an objection would likely get you off the guest list, but second, it's your conscience. My conscience wouldn't be very supportive of me if I attended a celebration of an event I believed was an affront to God, a twisting of something sacred, and a union of people in a self-destructive relationship. If your friend was wanting to get an abortion and asked you to take her to it and support her through it, would you say, "Look, I believe abortion takes the life of an innocent human being, and thus is an act of murder, but because you are my friend and I have stated my objection, I am prepared to take you to the clinic and hold your hand through the procedure as the baby is torn asunder"? Or if your friend wanted to purchase a slave for sex, and wanted you to come and help pick her. Would you say you disagree with this, but because you're friends you are going to help him? I imagine you would recognise if there is something sinful going on here then you ought not to participate. Instead you could assure them that while you strongly disagree, you still love them, and God still loves them and will forgive if / when they repent. But you cannot be part of this event. In regard to the actual morality of same sex unions, there seems to be a lot of confusion here. First of all, it is just a plain matter of fact that Scripture has nothing positive to say about homosexuality, any time it speaks to the issue it is to condemn it. Now some people want to say that the writers of Scripture didn't know about things like orientation and committed same sex relationships, and all they were dealing with was abusive relationships. This is shot through with problems on several levels. It has been shown to be false that there was no knowledge of orientation or committed relationships at the time of the New Testament. Also, a reading of the relevant texts will show that the writers were dealing with the biological, anatomical issues - there is a natural teleology to male / female monogamy that ought not to be changed, this applies to any kind of same sex relationship. Furthermore, to say the writers of Scripture were ignorant of these things is to effectively deny the inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture. You say you believe no one can have the one right way of interpreting Scripture - really? You believe there is nothing the Bible teaches that we can know? Is there no issue on which you could say, "The Bible teaches this to be the case"? If that is your view then what do you use the Bible for? How do you know that God is gracious, that Jesus Christ is His Son, etc. There are some things in the Bible that perhaps are a bit less than black and white, but sexual morality isn't one of them. Jesus Christ said that sex outside of marriage is defiling (Mt.15.18-20) and He defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman (Mt.19.4-6). There is nothing in the Bible that challenges that, it is only our culture that does so, and claiming to have the Holy Spirit on one's side as the challenge is made doesn't make the challenge more weighty, it only makes it more sinful. Claiming to be lead, or to have a peace about things is a subjective, post-modern and (just to put it bluntly) useless way of going about the debate, because others "feel led" and have peace about totally contradictory views, so maybe that's not the way to ascertain God's mind on these issues, maybe God has spoken in His word and we have to submit to that. No one wants to put God in a box, but what does that mean? You have spoken about God's grace - is that putting God in a box to say He is gracious? If we say God is love are we putting Him in a box? Of course not! It is not putting God in a box when we say that He is what He says He is, and He says what He says He says! Don't box Him into a liberal, western 21st century box! Anyway, there's lots more you've said, but that will have to do me for now. God has spoken, and it is our responsibility to take His side, no matter the pressure or cost, but it has to be done with sensitivity and compassion, which I see you want to show. Every blessing to you.

[@Lili-Benovent]

You have to admit that young men who reach the age of thirty without ever having a girlfriend or who haven't been in any relationships with women will always be subject to the scandalous whisperings about their sexuality by people who know them, especially if the person in question spends a good deal of their time traveling around with twelve young men, sometimes it's fair comment and at other times it's just gossip. Now how old was Jesus at the time they hung him up on a crucifixion cross?

[@leejandsue]

I know we are to "love the sinner and hate the sin", and I know Jesus ate with sinners, but when someone is saved, do things change? If one of the homosexual men became saved and continued to live in that manner, are we not supposed to do what 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 says "I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-not even to eat with such a person." So it sounds like it is ok to mingle with them until they accept Christ, then they must flee from immorality or be shunned.

[@donnacole6501]

leejandsue The first process, after someone becomes a Christian is discipleship. Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). As people come to Christ, we have bible studies and talks, and help them to grow. Then the Lord brings conviction and growth and this helps people to let go of things that are sinful. I had a friend come to Christ that was straight. She smoked pot and had a lot of new age beliefs, etc. as I was in her life, we would talk about things. I gave her books to read that lovingly showed her her wrong belief system and she let go as God worked and filled her heart. This process of letting go took about a year. There is a difference between a mature Christian and a new Christian that is learning and growing and may even stumble in his or her growth. What if I just walked away and said, "Hey you are a Christian now and you are still doing wrong things and until you get it right I can't be in your life."? She may have walked away from Christianity. It is now 12 years later and she is still serving God and influencing others. I am ex-gay and sometimes people leave the lifestyle right away and sometimes (just like a straight couple living together and may have a kid they are attached to), it may take a bit longer. God is patient as people grow, sometimes we are the impatient ones that want people to change in a day. I left the lifestyle in a moment because God was able to fill the void in my heart that I thought could be filled in another woman's arms but my struggle, after coming to Christ was rage for all the abuse I withstood as a child, this took me years to overcome and get over. My husband, who also is ex-gay, took about 6 years to overcome fully his same-sex struggle. We have now been married 25 years. It is just like any other sin. Sometimes you hear of someone delivered as soon as they come to God and we all rejoice and some take more time. We all have those areas that 'easily beset us' (Hebrews 12). We must be willing to stay in people's lives, even when it gets messy and as they mature and grow, they are able to walk away from sinful behaviors that hurt them.

[@leejandsue]

I like your comments. I feel like God has opened my eyes to some other scripture as well. Romans 7:15-25 "For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" We all fall short. Christians need to be witnesses, not judges.

[@elmontro]

Good thing the two people who moved in were not porn producers. What if that was the case? What if the neighbor here was invited to a porn studio, and he had to go because we are to "love" like Jesus call us, without judging? I am not sure what point of the video is. Hopefully David C Cook is not caving in....Let me wait and see before I have to unsubscribe.

[@LIQUID_556]

Noone said anything about porn? It's a nice video about how you should treat everyone equally and you had to make it seem like it was about something dirty. Even if they were porn producers what if they were straight? Would you have a problem? Also who the hell invites a stranger to their porn studio? Even if they were, you still need to treat them as if they were another individual because what they do behind closed doors is none of your damn business.

[@ChrisMeece]

Tough situation to be in. You want to be loving and have a loving answer to that invite. I don't think Jesus would have attended the ceremony. I agree with others that it would be a condoning of the marriage. In my flawed human existence I would have to rely on the Holy Spirit for the answer to give the two men because I have no idea how to answer. I would definitely befriend them but also would want to share the gospel with them. One part of that will be the identification of their obvious sin. It is easier to tell a drunk that he will have to stop drinking. In this situation you have to tell the two of them that they can't be together. But if I truly love them it is something that would have to be said. Thank you for this video ... really opens some thought provoking questions.

[@rebeccal8940]

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, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV) This being said, I respect all people and treat them as I would want to be treated. There are family member who I believe are gay and I love them. People make their own choices in life.We all need Jesus. There are plenty of Christians who have fallen into sin also. Believe in God and that Jesus died for your sins and be saved. I would rather inherit the kingdom of God because it is eternal and with God than anything in this world. Food for thought.

[@lynnmolnar9319]

Yes we're supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves, and reaching out to them and helping them as needed is wonderful and necessary as a Believer. But as others have already said, to attend a same-sex marriage is condoning and celebrating an abomination. It's like driving someone to get an abortion...that would make me an accomplice to murder. We love and support people, just not in their harmful sin, right? Instead we build relationship with them, and speak/live the Truth to them in God's authentic Love.

[@karimgirgis9599]

simply, I do not have hatred towards homosexuel individuals but I totally reject homosexuality that's regarded as a part of normal human nature. for example, there is no biological basis for homosexuality, there are speculations but no concrete genetic evidence, that's just part of the argument.

[@tarahjicheatham]

I’m a Christian pansexual and I love this

[@lars008]

How Would Jesus Treat the Gay Couple Next Door? Jesus would heal the gay couple.

[@justeundonut-moi.7979]

I can't tell if That's sarcasm 😂😂

[@mousespouse1003]

While this video does demonstrate the need that we are to love one another, including those we disagree with and our enemies, nowhere in Scripture are we called to nor is it demonstrated (ultimately by Christ) that we are to give support to those things that God, throughout His Word, has clearly called sin. While Christ certainly loved the sinner (Pharisees, adulterers, etc.) He never condone, supported, or loved the sin, but lovingly and firmly stood for truth even though He already knew how they would react to Him, which was many times negative. Our culture is changing! However, God's Truth does not and never will change. As Christians, we are to Christ-like. That means we demonstrate His character and nature to others. That means loving the sinner - not the sin. While we are not to be intentionally offensive to such, we also have to remember that standing for the Truth will offend - and that's okay. Christ never shied away from the Truth because it offended. He shared the truth because they NEEDED it!

[@danuta.]

The wedding ceremony is created by God, between a man and a woman. Anything else is rebellion against God. God does not bless rebellion. 1 Samuel 15:23 KJV [23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord , he hath also rejected thee from being king.