The Dangerous Lie That Christians Are Homophobic

Christians believe that homosexual behavior and gay marriage are sinful.  Does that make us homophobic?  First of all, what do people mean when they label Christians homophobic?  They mean that we dislike gays, or even that we hate gays.  So Christians are constantly on the defensive, reassuring themselves and their cultural opponents that they are not haters.  And that is true -- we do not dislike, or hate homosexuals.  Disapproving of someone's behavior is not the equivalent of disliking a person.  Condemning the behavior is not the same as hating the person.  Any parent knows this.  When you disapprove of your child's choices, that doesn't mean you dislike them as a person.  And when you condemn their misbehavior as inappropriate and evil sinful, that doesn't mean you hate them as a person.  It is possible to hate the sin and at the same time love the sinner.  In fact, it is that very love that moves parents to discipline and correct their children for bad behavior.  We want what is best for them.

To say that Christians are homophobic is a lie and it is illogical.  And it is dangerous, because it leads to the view that any speech against homosexuality is hate speech and should be criminalized.  But again, it is not true, and it doesn't make sense.