Limiting Prospects Based Upon Lifestyle
Question
I am a financial advisor and I recently met two "men" at the airport who turned out to be living together in a gay lifestyle. I started a conversation with them and we ended up talking for several hours both in the terminal and on the flight. The topic of our conversation was primarily centered around the Christian view of homosexuality and why Scripture spoke so strongly against this sin. I do not feel that I pulled any punches and laid out the gospel to them. At the end of the conversation, they were interested in finding out more about the investment opportunities through my firm. From a business standpoint, they are prime prospects with many friends and business contacts in my market area. My question is how to navigate the issue of working with -- and seeking to further -- the financial interests of those with a worldview with which you do not agree, in this instance a homosexual "couple".Answer
In terms of your question, I tend to think about it this way: you are providing a service and whether that service is cleaning pools or providing financial advice, you should be willing to serve anyone in order to provide a witness to the lost, reform our world and take dominion of our world. If we retreat and decide to only serve like-minded believers, our sphere of influence is severely limited (as well as our ability to provide financially due to the much smaller potential client base.) And because we are all sinners, your services could potentially enable or further the sins of believers, as well as the lost. I'm not sure it would be feasible for us as believers -- yet sinful service providers -- to try to ascertain the hearts and intentions of all of our clients to figure out if our services will be used for good or for ill. Who knows, but that your continued service to this particular "couple" might be the means by which the Holy Spirit convicts them and calls them out of their sinful lifestyle? On the other hand, if you find that you just cannot bring yourself to serve them because of their sinful and potentially disgusting demeanor and actions during your meetings, then you have no obligation to continue to serve them and you should flee their sinful presence. I just wouldn't recommend limiting your potential witness (and your potential client base) before the fact.- December 30, 2008
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Brian Mick January 6, 2009
Being interested in your services could very well be "saying" that they, or at least one of these two, is interested in hearing more about a way out of their life style and into a saving knowledge of the Christ they see in you!
Sam Stearns January 7, 2009
If furthering the financial interests of a homosexual "couple" bothers your conscience (I completely understand), try to compare their sinfulness to that of other unsaved clients you may have. While homosexuality is obviously abominable to God, Scripture is clear that no unbeliever, no matter how sanctified he might appear to be, is able to do anything to please God. Even the best act he can dream of still falls short of God's standard; everything he does is sinful in the eyes of God. Therefore, you can see that you have already been furthering the financial interests of people who will only use your service to continue in sin, whether it be a homosexual lifestyle or a selfish pursuit of happiness and security. If you can see your situation this way, do you thing you're able to restrain the sins of unbelievers around you? Is that a task God has given you? For whatever it's worth, I would counsel you to go ahead with the business deal, also keeping in mind what Brian Mick posted yesterday. If I were in your shoes, though I would have to stop and think about the situation, I believe I could proceed with a clear conscience.
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