For many LGBTIQ Christians, a long held myth is that faith is a choice between belonging and belief, between love and obedience, between God and self. Over time, a set of repeated claims have hardened into “truths” that are rarely questioned, even when they cause deep harm.
This post gently but clearly contrasts ten common myths with the Gospel as revealed through scripture and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
- Not tradition.
- Not fear.
- Not control.
- But the heart of Christian faith.
Myth 1: “You can be LGBTIQ, but you must remain celibate to be faithful.”
Gospel:
Celibacy is a calling for some, not a command for an entire group of people.
Scripture never imposes lifelong celibacy as a condition of faithfulness. Paul is explicit that celibacy is a gift, given to some and not to others.
“I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.”
1 Corinthians 7:7
Requiring celibacy only of LGBTIQ Christians goes beyond biblical teaching and places a burden Jesus never placed.
Myth 2: “Same-sex attraction isn’t sinful, but acting on it is.”
Gospel:
Jesus teaches that actions are discerned by their fruit, not by abstract rules disconnected from lived reality.
“You will know them by their fruits.”
Matthew 7:16
Throughout scripture, sexual harm is condemned when it involves exploitation, coercion, abuse, or betrayal. Mutual, loving, faithful relationships that bear fruits of love, joy, and faithfulness are never named as sinful by Christ.
Myth 3: “The Bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin.”
Gospel:
The Bible never uses the concept of sexual orientation. The category of “homosexuality” as an identity did not exist when scripture was written.
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
2 Timothy 3:16
Scripture requires interpretation, context, and humility. Claiming clarity where the text itself is silent imports modern assumptions into ancient writings.
Myth 4: “Following Jesus means denying core parts of yourself.”
Gospel:
Jesus calls people into fullness of life, not self-erasure.
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10
Transformation in the Gospel is about becoming more whole, more loving, and more alive, not suppressing identity in order to be acceptable to God.
Myth 5: “LGBTIQ Christians are welcome, but only under strict conditions.”
Gospel:
Belonging in Christ is rooted in grace, not compliance.
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Jesus welcomes people before they change, before they understand, and before religious authorities approve. Conditional welcome is not the model of the Gospel.
Myth 6: “Suffering proves obedience.”
Gospel:
Jesus explicitly condemns teachings that burden people and confuse suffering with holiness.
“They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others.”
Matthew 23:4
While suffering exists in life, God does not require unnecessary suffering as evidence of faithfulness. Harm is never a spiritual requirement.
Myth 7: “Non-affirming teaching is loving, even if it hurts.”
Gospel:
Love is measured not only by intention, but by fruit.
“Love is patient; love is kind… It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.”
1 Corinthians 13:4–6
Teachings that repeatedly produce shame, despair, isolation, and mental health harm must be honestly evaluated against the biblical definition of love.
Myth 8: “The Church has always taught this, so it must be right.”
Gospel:
Jesus warns against confusing human tradition with divine command.
“You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
Mark 7:8
The Church has changed its understanding on many issues once defended with scripture. Faithfulness includes reform when tradition fails to reflect love and justice.
Myth 9: “LGBTIQ Christians should submit quietly and not question.”
Gospel:
Discernment is a biblical practice, not rebellion.
“Test everything; hold fast to what is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Jesus consistently challenges religious authority and affirms the voices of those most affected by religious rules. Questioning harmful teaching is part of faithful discipleship.
Myth 10: “You must choose between your faith and who you are.”
Gospel:
The Gospel never asks people to choose between love and belonging, between faith and self.
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
New creation does not mean erasure. It means becoming fully alive in love, truth, and relationship.
The Heart Of The Gospel
At the centre of Christianity is not fear, exclusion, or enforced loneliness.
It is Christ, who measures faith by love.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
If love, joy, peace, faithfulness, and wholeness are present, then God is already at work. The Gospel is not about making yourself smaller to be acceptable. It is about discovering that you were never excluded to begin with.