Loving homosexuals as Jesus would

How would Jesus love a homosexual? Joe Fairclough, a British man jailed after he refused help from a homosexual librarian, and Chad Thompson, author of Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would, give two different answers.

Manchester Evening News said that when a homosexual librarian offered to assist Fairclough, he asked for another employee. "He asked why," Fairclough said. "I pointed towards a ring on his finger and said I didn't approve of two men being married. He then told me I was barred."

When Fairclough went to the police station to complain, they jailed him for violating public order and released him eight hours later. In the past year, Fairclough has posted anti-homosexual comments on the library notice board and has protested outside the library against homosexual adoption. Fairclough, described as a "devout Christian," defended himself: "I am against homosexuality but I don't wish anyone any harm."

Thompson responds to the incident, saying "It is not my job as a Christian to criticize those who are in the wrong unless God is specifically leading me to do it. Many people are so wounded that they cannot receive criticism without taking it personally. … My default position should be encouragement and love and grace."

Thompson said when Christians discriminate against homosexuals, "It just adds to their shame, the preexisting litany of voices in their head telling them they're not good enough." Christians should not refuse help from a homosexual employee, and they should not refuse to hire, rent to, or serve homosexuals, Thompson said. He gave the example of a North Carolina ski resort that fired an employee because she was lesbian: "I don't believe Jesus would have done that."

"The Christian church needs a change of heart on this issue," Thompson said. "Our emphasis needs to be not on what they aren't, but on what they are. And they are deeply, madly loved by their Creator."