The blogosphere has lit up like a Christmas tree over the last couple of weeks with the news of Alan Chambers, the President of Exodus International participating in a panel discussion at the latest Gay Christian Network (GCN) conference. Emotions have been stirred up by just about everyone and from every side imaginable. To be honest I really don't like the terminology of Side A, Side B, and Side X... it does create or can create such "us and them" terminology... this isn't just within the gay christian network but within the body of Christ. At the cross of Jesus Christ there is more that speaks to our unity in Christ than what divides us. Just for warning, this blog is lengthier then the blog posts I normally write, but for somebody who's dyslexic, it is broken up in such a way that makes it easy to digest and easy to think through. I have added a couple of videos to break up the reading and hopefully will make this an interesting and simple read for such a complex and complicated topic of theology. This has to be the most complicated writing adventure I have ever challenged myself with. It only took about a week to form my thoughts, process what I've heard and read etc.
Watch the video below...
At the cross it's no longer black or white, slave or free, gay or straight... in Christ any way of describing our present reality pales in comparison to who we are in Christ. The major reason why describing myself as gay does not accurately describe me in any shape or form is because I would much rather identify with who I am in Christ. Who wants to describe or identify themselves in their brokenness? What gay christians and gay activists have in common is the simple fact that they refuse to believe that same sex attraction points to brokenness, they don't like to hear this because then that would imply something needs to get "fixed" but what is neglected in this argument is the fundamental truth of the state of humanity and that is, we're born broken, we're born sinners, we're born in need of a savior, we're born in a state of depravity and we're all born into a state that God never originally intended. Why would I continue to describe myself in a state of my condition before Christ? I would much rather describe myself in the state of my condition the moment I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and began trusting in His work on the cross bringing about healing, restoration, reconciliation and a chance to be all who God created me to be. I am a woman created in God's Image and it is at the cross of Jesus Christ where God seeks to heal, restore, and reconcile the Image of God in us as men and women. It's only been recent where theologians have sought to bring an individualistic view and approach to the Imago Dei in humanity. For centuries the thought of how the Imago Dei in humanity is reflected on the earth has always been fully reflected and fully expressed in the marriage unity between man and woman and relationship between man and woman, that when man and woman can stand together in unity, together in gender complimentarity reflect the Imago Dei. This is one of the problems I have with gay christian's, liberal theology, and gay activists, they separate what God never intended for there to be a separation. Until this is understood there will be points that will divide and strongly suggest that there is a fundamental difference in fundamental theology... if you want to call me a fundamentalist go right ahead... I don't necessarily view the word fundamental as evil, it's only evil according to those with a more liberal stance because what is fundamental will always challenge the liberal. Am I calling the Gay Christian Network a liberal network? Ummm... maybe I am but maybe I'm not... do I believe that there are individuals within the network who hold to liberal views theologically? Yes, absolutely... are people with liberal views saved? Yes, absolutely. Is everybody with a liberal theological view saved? There is a good chance that there are folks who are in the liberal camp who are not saved but the same goes with folks who would fall into the more fundamental camp.. am I calling Exodus folks fundamental christians? No I am not but is it a possibility that you might find individuals who support Exodus to have a more fundamental views? Sure, you will. What's my point? In the body of Christ there will be in-house debates that will continue to seek to divide the body of Christ. What was the Apostle Paul's approach to in-house debate's?
Do not have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God would grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. ~ 2 Timothy 2:23-27
As I've observed and even interacted within the blogosphere in the midst of the present controversy that arose with the President of Exodus International participating in a panel discussion at the GCN and with some of his comments that stirred up the controversy... pretty much most of us are guilty at of contributing to the controversy in one way or another... I have a question for you? Are you secure enough in your own understanding of scripture to be ok with somebody else having a different view then what you have? Jesus was always for people, never against. There were absolutes, there are things that we must allow to divide but there are things we need not allow to divide us and with that in mind, trying to navigate through controversy, and adversity can make navigating through disagreements a very complex thing. As I've observed and have interacted within the blogosphere I've seen a couple of different issues come up. The first, is the wounding that some have experienced and there being a need to forgive. Unforgiveness can become toxic, we're called to forgive and we're challenged to wherever possible, when it is safe to do so, to reconcile. Here is a blog post I wanted to bring your attention to, with this regards... a side - b side = forgiveness. The second thing I've observed isn't so much a controversy being stirred up as to whether or not God affirms homosexual behavior but rather a discussion that has more to do with salvation. In the body of Christ there are two main camps with this regard, there are those who fall into the Calvinist camp and then there are those who would fall into the Arminian camp and this does not include those like myself who fall somewhere in between and those of the Augustinian camp. Our views as it relates to salvation will greatly influence our response to homosexuality, the one who struggles, and even embraces homosexual behavior. And if we fall into the camp of the Calvinist then it is possible to believe that a gay christian who continues to embrace homosexual behavior are still saved because at one point in his or her journey if they are among the elected they will have a change of heart because of God's irresistible grace that will, to no choice or will of the individual God will change their heart and mind. It is then, easy to call every person you come in contact with a fellow Christian regardless of their current stance on homosexuality... just because you call yourself a Christian that doesn't necessarily mean that you are part of the elect.... for those who may fall into the Arminian camp they would say there has to be seen fruit of a Christian life, since limited atonement is viewed as false doctrine God extends his grace and forgiveness and a chance for all man and woman to repent and there being a choice that we can make in this regard, we can, like Pharaoh choose to allow for our hearts to harden therefore making God's grace resistible. In my own introverted way I am just a tad bit too charismatic to be a Calvinist... l lean more towards the Arminian view point of salvation. I don't believe, however, that one can lose their salvation. In my opinion, the prodigal always returns home even if it's a death bed confession of all our regrets, a true believer will just not be able to rest in sin period and this restlessness and the kindness of the Lord will be what will eventually win our hearts over, if not now then it will sooner or later. The question that people need to ask with regards to the Arminian view point, people falsely believe that one can lose their salvation when really the question isn't whether or not the christian has lost their salvation but whether or not the individual was ever converted in the first place. Listen to what Greg Laurie below has to say...
What keeps you towards repentance? Is it the fear of losing your salvation? If it is I'd strongly suggest you begin to question your theology and understanding of the character of God and His word.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out all fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.
~ 1 John 4:8-19
Can a gay christian be saved? Yes, absolutely. Can somebody who continues to embrace homosexual behavior be saved? Whether I label this person or that person a Christian or not what should be the posture we have towards that individual? I think to label brings about comfort for us. It tells us who is in and who is out and it sets up certain boundaries that make us feel safe but like it or not we must allow for the messy and the dirty in our church. As previously mentioned there are reasons why I don't particularly believe that calling myself a gay christian is accurate and true for my journey. I believe that as a Christian it is vitally important to repent of and completely and totally renounce homosexuality. If I have renounced homosexuality then why would I continue to identify with it? If I do then I hadn't completely renounced homosexuality and continue to align myself up with my brokenness and with sin and with sexual sin as well and I would continue to align myself up with even if deeds and actions may suggest otherwise, there becomes, in my opinion, and unholy alliance with what I should in truth reject. Now, do I reject the people? No, but do I reject the theology and everything to do with the behavior? Yes, absolutely. How do I convey this truth to those who obviously differ in theology? If there cannot be a civil discussion in the places we differ in our belief then there really is no point in discussing anything, especially if it will produce fruitless arguments. Listen below to what Greg Laurie has to say concern salvation....
One major criticism with the Gay Christian Network I have is the fact that there seems to be no acknowledgement of those who have honestly experienced change in their life and who no longer experience same sex attraction. There is on one hand this demand that some make for people to believe that change is not possible but that push comes with a complete disregard for those who have experienced change. Many want for their own negative and hurtful experience with ex-gay ministries to be acknowledged but they refuse to acknowledge others with an absolute positive and healthy experience within ex-gay ministries. Personally, I wish that the ex-gay terminology had never even have been developed because at best, this brings about confusion, it implies that the one who journey's out of homosexuality will for sure, one day come out as straight when that has never been a guarantee. Change has always been a guarantee but what change looks like to each individual will look different... while some will journey out of homosexuality to never experience same sex attraction there are many who have experienced to different degrees a shift within their orientation... my argument will always be, that if there has been some change then some change is in fact change and if some change is possible then that means change is possible. Gay christian's and gay activists would like to silence my testimony or will seek to minimize or disregard it and they will seek to do whatever they can to silence to testimony of those who have experienced complete changes in their sexuality even if it means to manipulate and twist the words of Alan Chambers and other folks within Exodus, that is, if their words can be twisted and manipulated just enough to fit their agenda.
As I've observed and have participated in this recent discussion what has come to mind is the parable of the weeds. The story of this parable is found in Matthew 13:24-30. You can't really tell the difference between the wheat and the weeds until the time is right. All too often the church wants to begin uprooting the weeds but in the process of uprooting the weeds when done prematurely the good wheat is uprooted and the whole crop is destroyed. My question is this, is it our responsibility to separate or is it the responsibility of Jesus? Is it our responsibility to label who's the weed and who's the wheat? Or is it our responsibility to make sure in our own heart of hearts that we are yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit and making sure we don't allow for our own hearts to harden but always be a heart that is able to be soft and malleable in response to the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts and in our lives. The parable of the weeds is explained in Matthew 13:36-43. Some would argue that our conversion to Christ can be as much a process as is sanctification. I would argue that this is true. And if this is true then I need to allow for many gay christian's to be legitimately my brother and sister in Christ but at the same time, as mentioned above a couple times over, there are some very good reasons that describing myself as a gay christian does not fit with my reality, experience, and biblical perspective. I would rather be for somebody then against somebody and I honestly believe that Jesus was never against anybody but always for everybody... well, everybody with exception to the self righteous hypocrite and the Pharisee. As somebody who has a leaning towards the prophetic things can quickly become black and white and I neglect relationship and discipleship when in my passion and conviction is towards holiness, righteousness, purity, and truth. When it comes to truth there are certain things that are non-negotiable. What the bible teaches concerning homosexuality is non-negotiable. The bible is very clear that God does not affirm homosexual behavior. The sanctity of marriage and the sanctity of life, these things are non-negotiable but in the reality of the body of Christ being broken and in light of broken people making up the broken body of Christ there needs to be this allowance for the grey and for this allowance for individuals to be in process both within conversion and within sanctification. If you know me then you will know there are certain convictions that I have and convictions I will never stray from and convictions I strive towards strengthening in my life so that the life I live becomes aligned with what I believe. Looking back in my own journey I can see my own process towards conversion and the process I went through to when I eventually became convicted about homosexual behavior and my need for repentance and renouncing of homosexuality. It took me years from the point I encountered Jesus and believed in Jesus before my life actually began to show any fruit of my salvation in Christ and it is Christ who continues to hold me and to work in me His salvation in me.
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