What Would You Do?

Here's a purely hypothetical situation, but one that is nonetheless important. I'm finding these interactive topics to be more stimulating; I would encourage anyone who reads this to give some input.

So picture this: You volunteer at your church's youth group (or local United Way, if church isn't your thing). You show up regularly for an after-school program, intended to provide them somplace where they can avoid negative pressures and interact with positive role models. Not exacltly being the life of the party, you do still end up developing good rapport with a few of the kids, especially one in particular.

He tends to hang back from his peers. When they go out and play basketball or do other "macho" things, he just sits and watches, half wishing they would include him, half despising them for their activity of choice (Author's note: If it helps you, visualize a female watching high school girls doing whatever the heck high school girls like to do when they meet in large groups. I simply chose this example because of my own gender, and because I do not have the time to do all the research that would allow me to take the journey into the psyche of an adolescent female). He walks around mainly with his head hung, never making eye contact with you when you talk. All this makes you the more intrigued by his presence, perhaps because he reminds you of the way you used to be.

One day, he comes up to you, though tentatively, as if scared of the consequences of taking up anyone's time with his own needs. He starts speaking...no, stuttering, "I...I was wondering...if I could talk to you about something." Though you anticipate that he could be a mess, you feel a sense of flattery that this guarded soul trusts YOU. "Sure, no problem," you respond, trying to ease his tension.

"Well...I...I'm not sure what you'll think of me when I say this..."
"Look, I'm here for you. It's just you and me, nobody else."
He sighs, and now his eyes are starting to water up. Immediately he realizes he is caught, vulnerable, with nowhere to hide from your inquisitive stare; so he blurts it out.
"I think I'm gay."
You knew something was coming, but not this. It hits you between the eyes, leaving you disoriented for just a second, but long enough for him to notice your reaction.
"I can't help that I'm gay! I tried to be like everyone else, but it's just too hard! Is something wrong with me? What does God think about gay people?"

How would you answer this troubled individual?

And before you do, keep in mind:

-Beware of thumping the Bible. For although some find confidence in their resolve on this issue, hitting him with "truth" while he (or she) is vulnerable simply will not go over well. In fact, he will probably perceive that God is rejecting him, and will turn away from the church, finding his only source of hope in a different community.
-Don't say, "Love the sinner, hate the sin." That is cliche.
-Keep in mind the type of crowd that Jesus identified with.
-Do not forget that "being gay" might not be the core issue in this scenario.