Beach, is the reason she is so upset because she doesn't know if he is a believer or not? Even believers struggle with issues the bible states are sinful.
She cannot force him to change his behavior or "worry" it into changing. Maybe tell her to give this whole issue to God, maybe that can help her to stop worrying about it.
Stella I think her anguish is pretty complex. She believes in God, but isn't a practicing Christian. Her son had a hard time growing up. His father died when her son was very young. Her son really struggled with his sexuality. She took him to therapy and received conflicting advice. This was almost 30 years ago. She was/is hurt by how difficult it was for her son to grow up in the environment he did, never really being fully accepted by his family, society, etc. That’s the source of most of her pain. He now lives in San Francisco.
I think she really believes that her son's homosexuality is genetic. She isn't trying to change his behavior. I'm not sure wants to change it. She is actually sort of a gay rights activist because of him.
Sorry I wasn't really clear in my first post. She's not trying to change him and I'm not trying to change her opinion. My struggle was with how I discuss the Christian point of view with someone like her. Honestly, I don't want to. Didn't feel like it was my place to do so, even though she knows what I think about the lifestyle, that I'm a Christian, etc.
When I had a Christian friend talk to me about cheating on his wife, I talked to him about the Proverb that says a person who commits adultery will get a "wound" and "dishonor," and highlight how many men get caught, even if it takes years (e.g., Clinton, Cosby, Edwards, Dr. J., etc.). When I talked to my daughter the other day about some other kid trying to hit his father, we discussed what the Bible has to say about honoring your parents. When I talk to (some) kids about doing the right thing, I'll mention the Proverb that essentially says "what goes around, comes around."
But talking to a mother like this about her gay son? I just couldn't really mention what the Bible says about homosexuality. This issue is different.
Sorry to ramble . . . .