In the midst of the raging LGBT battle, Todd Rhoades has posed the question that every Church, Pastor, and Christian needs to answer, “What would you do if you found out a church member was gay?” (http://toddrhoades.com/what-would-you-do-if-you-found-out-a-church-member-was-gay/) I am thankful that Todd has asked this question, it is the question of the hour. It is a Gospel question. It is a church polity question. It is a theological/Bible question. My answer to his question begins with a few questions of my own. What do you suppose Charles Spurgeon would do? What do you suppose Jonathan Edwards would do? More to the point. What would the Apostle Paul do? What would Jesus do? What does the Bible tell the Church, Pastors, and Christians to do?

Christ is the Lord of His Church. He has not left us in the dark as to how we are to deal with homosexuality or lesbianism in the church. He has given us ample instruction in the New Testament. Because we love the Lord Jesus, the Body of Christ as a whole, and the individual bound up in sin, we must warn the LGBT sinner of the peril of their soul, call them to repent, and if they continue in their sin, put them out of the fellowship of the saints for their benefit, for the purity and protection of the Body of Christ, and for the glory of Christ.

This discipline process may take a day, it may take a week, it may take considerably longer depending upon individual circumstances (professions of repentance vs. bold unrepentant sin; open to the full counsel of God vs. open defiance of God’s Word; genuine growing sanctification vs. unforsaken habitual sin). The hope and goal of the discipline process is repentance for the blessing of the individual sinner and for the glory of God. The necessity of the discipline process is for the purity and protection of the Body of Christ as a whole and for the glory of God.

IN 1 Cor 5:11-13 THE APOSTLE PAUL COMMANDS & WARNS THE CHURCH:

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

IN 1 Cor 6:9-11 THE APOSTLE PAUL WARNS & ENCOURAGES THE CHURCH:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

IN Eph 5:3-7 THE APOSTLE PAUL COMMANDS & WARNS THE CHURCH:

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

IN Gal 5:19-21 THE APOSTLE PAUL WARNS THE CHURCH:

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

IN Col 3:5-7 THE APOSTLE PAUL COMMANDS & WARNS THE CHURCH:

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

IN Rev 2:14-16 THE LORD JESUS COMMANDS AND WARNS THE CHURCH:

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

IN Rev 2:20-23 THE LORD JESUS COMMANDS AND WARNS THE CHURCH:

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

IN Rev 21:8 THE LORD JESUS WARNS THE CHURCH:

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable (Lev. 18 says homosexuality = abomination), murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

IN Rev 22:15 THE LORD JESUS WARNS THE CHURCH: