Paul says in Galatians 6:2 to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” He doesn’t say to “fix” or deduce the causation of one another’s burdens. Paul doesn’t even say we get to define what constitutes a burden. He simply says to share it:
Listen with acceptance
Instill a sense of self-worth
Provide unconditional love
Everyone, no matter their gender or sexuality, has burdens in their lives. And no amount of study will reveal a universal causation of gender and sexual identities for each individual. So it’s time to start walking down the highway. The car of causation is long dead—though, honestly, it was never really running to begin with. Until we can let go of it, we won’t be able to minister properly to our LGBT+ loved ones.
It might not be easier. But it will be better.
Learn more about how to pastor and care for LGBT+ people in our newly released resource, Guiding Families, 2nd edition.
*The most researchers can say is that the cause is likely a confluence of nature and nurture, the combination of which is indeterminate and is likely different from person to person.
This article about over-emphasizing the “born this way” question originally appeared here.
