Let me say one more time (although I’ll undoubtedly have to say it again): there may be some who speak on this topic with the wrong motivation or the wrong attitude. Some Christians have given the impression that all Christians are nasty and negative. That is tragic and damaging. It unnecessarily hurts homosexual people and it hurts the mission of the church.
Having said that, the suggestion that Christians enjoy this is totally incorrect.
People in general tend to avoid confrontation. Christians, in particular, who are learning to exercise the compassion of Jesus, find it very difficult. Few people like upsetting others especially when they know that it is going to make them unpopular as well. Knowing that they are going to get a backlash is an incentive for Christians to remain silent – and many do.
The philosophy of our age says that truth is relative, everybody has their own truth and we cannot say that someone else’s truth is wrong. Christians are not eager to go against the prevailing culture. It would certainly be easier to “live and let live”.
It is love that motivates Christians to speak – love for God and love for others.
Love for God is demonstrated primarily through obedience. Jesus said that repeatedly during the Last Supper.
John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commands.
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. Anyone who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.
John 14:23-24
23 Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Love for God means that Christians are distressed when they see God and His ways being ridiculed and contradicted. They cannot stand by and watch God’s truth being replaced by lies. Love for God means they must speak up just as it was love for His Father and for His Father’s house that motivated Jesus to confront the traders in the Temple. Love for God means challenging what is wrong.
Love for people means not wanting to see anyone not enter the Kingdom of God. Just as God does not want to see anyone perish but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), God’s people want everyone to be saved. It is love that motivates Christians to act even when that might be rejected.
Most Christians would prefer to never have to talk about this topic. But love for God and love for people compels them.
2 Corinthians 5:11, 14-15
11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade people… 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. 15And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
There may be some “Christians” who enjoy looking superior and who think they enhance that image by condemning others but it is not the Christian way. Jesus never did that. While some let the side down, it would be wrong to conclude that condemnation is synonymous with Christianity. On the contrary, Christians will feel compassion and will long for people’s salvation.