Amen, brother! It is impossible to undo all the wrongs that have been committed in Christ's name, but is incumbent upon insiders to do as much as we can.
Thanks for writing this and for the work that you are doing from the inside to open people’s minds and help erase the unnecessary boundaries that humans erect.
Thank you for sharing your heart behind why you do what you do. I have no doubt that you sincerely desire to help people whom you believe have been mistreated.
Where I believe we fundamentally disagree is this: I do not believe that bringing people to Jesus means affirming them as they are. Throughout the New Testament, coming to Christ is a call to repentance, faith, and transformation.
Jesus welcomed sinners, but He also called them to repent. He never lowered God’s standard of holiness in order to make people feel included. Instead, He invited them to Himself, where forgiveness, cleansing, and new life are found.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he listed many sins—including homosexual practice—and then said, “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 Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). The point is not that these believers remained unchanged, but that through Christ they were washed, sanctified, justified, and - made new creations. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The gospel is not merely an invitation to belong. It is an invitation to be reconciled to God, forgiven, justified, sanctified, and made a new creation. God does not leave us where He finds us.
The same Spirit who gives us new life also empowers us to walk in obedience. Scripture says, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). That strength is not primarily about achieving our personal ambitions; it is about faithfully living the life Christ calls us to live. We can only do that by HIS POWER.
So when Jesus said, “Bring him to Me,” I believe He was inviting a needy man to receive mercy - not redefining sin or teaching that repentance is unnecessary. Every sinner, including me, should be brought to Christ. And every sinner whom Christ saves is called to deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him.
I don't think I can sign off on your statement about where we fundamentally disagree. Because I have no problem saying 'yes' to, "coming to Christ is a call to repentance, faith, and transformation." You bet it is.
Our disagreement seems to begin with this: I don't believe being gay or trans is a sin. Nor do I believe that two people of the same sex are sinning if they are in a loving, mutually consenting relationship.
Though I don't know your position exactly, I'm guessing it's different from mine. For example: do you think just BEING gay is a sin? Or only if that gay person is in a relationship with someone of teh same sex? And if it's the latter, where is the line for you? Can they... hold hands? Share secrets? Go the movies sitting side by side? At the risk of being annoying with semantics, I do sometimes feel like non-affirming Christians haven't really thought through what they actually think on this stuff. Perhaps you have, though.
So, because we fundamentally disagree on what is sinful in this case, then it doesn't make sense to say that "I am leaving people as they are" or "am not calling to repent."
That's the thing: identifying as LGBTQ isn't somethign to repent of.
You're playing tennis, Im' playing golf. You can't judge my golf playing according to your tennis rules.
Thank you for clarifying. I think you’ve identified the real issue.
You believe Scripture does not teach that homosexual practice is sinful within a loving, committed relationship. I believe it teaches otherwise.
What ultimately matters is not what either of us wants to be true, but what God has actually said.
Because we are sinners, we are all capable of allowing our own desires to influence how we understand God’s Word. That is why we must continually humble ourselves before Scripture, asking not, “What do I want this passage to mean?” but, “What has God actually revealed?” Then, by His grace, we must humbly receive His Word and walk in obedience to it.
If you’re right, then I should change my view. If I’m right, then affirming what God calls sin is not loving. No one should want to defend a position if Scripture shows it to be wrong.
That’s why I keep coming back to the text itself. My concern is simply to understand what God has actually said and to submit to it.
As for your questions, I don’t believe merely experiencing same-sex attraction is itself what Scripture explicitly condemns. Scripture calls every believer - regardless of his particular temptations - to deny himself, put to death the deeds of the flesh, and follow Christ.
Every Christian has desires that must be brought into submission to Christ.
I don’t think the tennis and golf analogy quite fits. Playing tennis or golf is morally indifferent unless God has spoken about it. Our disagreement is not over two different games or two equally valid ways of looking at life. We are both claiming to interpret the same Scriptures.
If God had said, “Do not play golf,” then every argument for why golf seems harmless or enjoyable would ultimately be beside the point. The Creator has the authority to tell His creation how to live, and our responsibility is to humbly submit to what He has revealed.
That is why, the central question remains: What has God said? If Scripture teaches that homosexual practice is sin, then neither of us has the authority to redefine it. God’s Word - not our preferences, experiences, or reasoning - must be the final authority.
Peter reminds us that God “has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Because He is our Creator and we are His creatures, He has given us everything we need to know to live in a way that pleases Him. Our desire should simply be to understand His Word rightly, receive it humbly, and submit to it wherever it leads.
When God grants us new life through the new birth, He does far more than forgive our sins - He gives us a new heart! There is a real change.
He writes His law upon our hearts, causes us to desire Him above all else, and begins conforming us to the image of His Son (Ezekiel 36:26–27; Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 8:29).
He works in us “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), so that our greatest desire becomes not the gratification of the flesh but the glory of God.
Though we continue to battle sin in this life, the direction of our lives has changed. We now seek to “walk by the Spirit” rather than “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16), presenting our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). Our desire is that “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
None of this is about singling out one particular sin. Every one of us comes to Christ as sinners in need of His mercy, and every one of us is called to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The question is whether we will allow Christ to define both our identity and our obedience.
This brings us back to the original question. The issue is not whether homosexual relationships may appear loving, committed, or sincere. The issue is whether God has revealed them to be consistent with His design for human sexuality.
Scripture teaches that sex is God’s gift, created to be enjoyed exclusively within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; Hebrews 13:4). Every sexual relationship outside of that design - including heterosexual and homosexual immorality alike - is called sin, not because God is withholding something good from us, but because He knows what is for our good and His glory (1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18–20; Romans 1:24–27).
Through the new birth, God changes not only what we believe but what we desire. He teaches us to love what He loves, hate what He hates, and joyfully submit every area of our lives - including our sexuality - to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Our identity is no longer found in our desires but in Christ, and our greatest aim is no longer self-expression but loving obedience to the One who created us and gave Himself for us! Hallelujah! (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:13).
Thank you for the conversation. More than anything, I want both of us to know what God has revealed, humbly receive it, and walk in obedience to Christ. That’s my prayer for both of us.
Thank you for clarifying. I think you’ve identified the real issue.
You believe Scripture does not teach that homosexual practice is sinful within a loving, committed relationship. I believe it teaches otherwise.
What ultimately matters is not what either of us wants to be true, but what God has actually said.
Because we are sinners, we are all capable of allowing our own desires to influence how we understand God’s Word. That is why we must continually humble ourselves before Scripture, asking not, “What do I want this passage to mean?” but, “What has God actually revealed?” Then, by His grace, we must humbly receive His Word and walk in obedience to it.
If you’re right, then I should change my view. If I’m right, then affirming what God calls sin is not loving.
That’s why I keep coming back to the text itself. My concern isn’t what either of us finds persuasive or compassionate, but what God has actually said.
As for your questions, I don’t believe merely experiencing same-sex attraction is itself what Scripture explicitly condemns. Scripture calls every believer - regardless of his particular temptations - to deny himself, put to death the deeds of the flesh, and follow Christ.
Therefore every Christian has desires that must be submitted to Christ. The issue is not whether we experience sinful desires, but whether we submit those desires to God’s revealed will.
I also don’t think the tennis and golf analogy quite fits. Playing tennis or golf is morally indifferent unless God has spoken about it. Our disagreement is not over two different games or two equally valid ways of looking at life. We are both claiming to interpret the same Scriptures.
If God had said, “Do not play golf,” then every argument for why golf seems harmless or enjoyable would ultimately be beside the point. The Creator has the authority to tell His creation how to live, and our responsibility is to humbly submit to what He has revealed.
That is why, for me, the central question remains: What has God said? If Scripture teaches that homosexual practice is sin, then neither of us has the authority to redefine it. If Scripture does not teach that, then I should abandon my position. Either way, God’s Word - not our preferences, experiences, or reasoning - must be the final authority.
Peter reminds us that God “has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Because He is our Creator and we are His creatures, He has given us everything we need to know to live in a way that pleases Him.
Our desire should simply be to understand His Word correctly and then submit to it, wherever it leads.
When God grants us new life through the new birth, He does far more than forgive our sins - He gives us a new heart! There’s a real change!
He writes His law upon our hearts, causes us to desire Him above all else, and begins conforming us to the image of His Son (Ezekiel 36:26–27; Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 8:29).
He works in us “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), so that our greatest desire becomes not the gratification of the flesh but the glory of God.
Though we continue to battle sin in this life, the direction of our lives has changed. We now will seek to “walk by the Spirit” rather than “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16), presenting our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). Our desire is that “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
This brings us back to the original question. The issue is not whether homosexual relationships may appear loving, committed, or sincere. The issue is whether God has revealed them to be consistent with His design for human sexuality.
Scripture teaches that sex is God’s gift, created to be enjoyed exclusively within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; Hebrews 13:4). Every sexual relationship outside of that design - including heterosexual and homosexual immorality alike - is called sin, not because God is withholding something good from us, but because He knows what is for our good and His glory (1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18–20; Romans 1:24–27).
Through the new birth, God changes not only what we believe but what we desire. He teaches us to love what He loves, hate what He hates, and joyfully submit every area of our lives - including our sexuality - to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Our identity is no longer found in our desires but in Christ, and our greatest aim is no longer self-expression but loving obedience to the One who created us and gave Himself for us (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:13).
Thank you for the conversation. More than anything, I want both of us to know what God has revealed, humbly receive it, and walk in obedience to Christ. That’s my prayer for both of us.
You're doing a great work, my brother! Like any other of our works, it may have some flaws, but God knows the heart and is able to turn it all into some good for His glory. I can and do very much appreciate your thoughts on this passage, but find it hard to accept some conclusions as they SEEM to imply. Of course we are ONE BODY, as humanity, but it looks like there are some cancerous parts that need be taken away... We are ALL... children of God? The Word of God speaks of two familes in the world, God's and the Devil; to some Jesus said they were children of the Devil, their father, to those who believe (trust, surrender, follow) Him He gave the right to BECOME children of God... I think the part we need to change in the LGBTQ is not their full acceptance as they are, but the idea and meaning of SEXUAL UNDERSTANDING which is beyond the 'marriage idea' as traditionally understood. Keep up the work, it makes us all think, which seems to be a lost art in many circles! Bless you, my dear brother!
Thanks for the thoughtful reflection here, Guiseppe! I imagine some of this comes down to the limitations of language and metaphor. What, for example, is meant by "Child of God?" I suppose on one hand that could mean, "belonging to," as a child belongs to the family. (This is how I use it when I say that "all are children of God," meaning, we all belong to teh Family of God). And then you could also use "child of God/devil" to mean something like "how someone orients their life." Do they live in a way that reflects the values of God (as a child might live to reflect the values of their parents?). Or do they live to reflect the values of the Satan? So in one sense, the "child of" metaphor can be about identity (WHO you are), and also the metaphor can be about behavior (HOW you live).
Thanks for the work you do, Colby. I grew up on the toxicity of church that insisted I was an outsider. Now, even with a growing (slow) acceptance/ tolerance of LGBTQ+ people within some churches, I want nothing to do with church. Still too much discrimination and homophobia.
I say burn the church down, and see of something else emerges from the ashes. Or not. Isn't that what Jesus said about the temple?
Thanks for sharing, David. And I completely believe you and trust your experience and feelings about the church. You no doubt came by those feelings honestly. And while I appreciate your perspective (to burn down the church), it's not one I share myself. But I imagine we'd both agree on many if not all of our criticisms of the church--we just might disagree on what then to DO about said criticisms. (And I actually don't think jesus' condemnation of the money-changers should be understood as a burn-the-temple-down demonstration. I think it was probably more like, "stop ripping people off, and return this place back into a House of Prayer."
Thanks for this. I got into a frustrating back and forth with a couple folks recently, one of whom is a gay man himself, who looked upon aspects of this work as "virtue signaling"... and, who long for a church where one's gayness is "unremarked upon." And I guess I'd like that as well, but unless and until aspects of our broader culture cease their attacks on LGBT personhood, it's disingenuous to cast blame on those of us who are fighting against those attacks.
Amen, brother! It is impossible to undo all the wrongs that have been committed in Christ's name, but is incumbent upon insiders to do as much as we can.
Yes and amen.
Thanks for writing this and for the work that you are doing from the inside to open people’s minds and help erase the unnecessary boundaries that humans erect.
Thank you, Pixie :)
Thank you for sharing your heart behind why you do what you do. I have no doubt that you sincerely desire to help people whom you believe have been mistreated.
Where I believe we fundamentally disagree is this: I do not believe that bringing people to Jesus means affirming them as they are. Throughout the New Testament, coming to Christ is a call to repentance, faith, and transformation.
Jesus welcomed sinners, but He also called them to repent. He never lowered God’s standard of holiness in order to make people feel included. Instead, He invited them to Himself, where forgiveness, cleansing, and new life are found.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he listed many sins—including homosexual practice—and then said, “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 Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). The point is not that these believers remained unchanged, but that through Christ they were washed, sanctified, justified, and - made new creations. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The gospel is not merely an invitation to belong. It is an invitation to be reconciled to God, forgiven, justified, sanctified, and made a new creation. God does not leave us where He finds us.
The same Spirit who gives us new life also empowers us to walk in obedience. Scripture says, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). That strength is not primarily about achieving our personal ambitions; it is about faithfully living the life Christ calls us to live. We can only do that by HIS POWER.
So when Jesus said, “Bring him to Me,” I believe He was inviting a needy man to receive mercy - not redefining sin or teaching that repentance is unnecessary. Every sinner, including me, should be brought to Christ. And every sinner whom Christ saves is called to deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him.
I don't think I can sign off on your statement about where we fundamentally disagree. Because I have no problem saying 'yes' to, "coming to Christ is a call to repentance, faith, and transformation." You bet it is.
Our disagreement seems to begin with this: I don't believe being gay or trans is a sin. Nor do I believe that two people of the same sex are sinning if they are in a loving, mutually consenting relationship.
Though I don't know your position exactly, I'm guessing it's different from mine. For example: do you think just BEING gay is a sin? Or only if that gay person is in a relationship with someone of teh same sex? And if it's the latter, where is the line for you? Can they... hold hands? Share secrets? Go the movies sitting side by side? At the risk of being annoying with semantics, I do sometimes feel like non-affirming Christians haven't really thought through what they actually think on this stuff. Perhaps you have, though.
So, because we fundamentally disagree on what is sinful in this case, then it doesn't make sense to say that "I am leaving people as they are" or "am not calling to repent."
That's the thing: identifying as LGBTQ isn't somethign to repent of.
You're playing tennis, Im' playing golf. You can't judge my golf playing according to your tennis rules.
Thank you for clarifying. I think you’ve identified the real issue.
You believe Scripture does not teach that homosexual practice is sinful within a loving, committed relationship. I believe it teaches otherwise.
What ultimately matters is not what either of us wants to be true, but what God has actually said.
Because we are sinners, we are all capable of allowing our own desires to influence how we understand God’s Word. That is why we must continually humble ourselves before Scripture, asking not, “What do I want this passage to mean?” but, “What has God actually revealed?” Then, by His grace, we must humbly receive His Word and walk in obedience to it.
If you’re right, then I should change my view. If I’m right, then affirming what God calls sin is not loving. No one should want to defend a position if Scripture shows it to be wrong.
That’s why I keep coming back to the text itself. My concern is simply to understand what God has actually said and to submit to it.
As for your questions, I don’t believe merely experiencing same-sex attraction is itself what Scripture explicitly condemns. Scripture calls every believer - regardless of his particular temptations - to deny himself, put to death the deeds of the flesh, and follow Christ.
Every Christian has desires that must be brought into submission to Christ.
I don’t think the tennis and golf analogy quite fits. Playing tennis or golf is morally indifferent unless God has spoken about it. Our disagreement is not over two different games or two equally valid ways of looking at life. We are both claiming to interpret the same Scriptures.
If God had said, “Do not play golf,” then every argument for why golf seems harmless or enjoyable would ultimately be beside the point. The Creator has the authority to tell His creation how to live, and our responsibility is to humbly submit to what He has revealed.
That is why, the central question remains: What has God said? If Scripture teaches that homosexual practice is sin, then neither of us has the authority to redefine it. God’s Word - not our preferences, experiences, or reasoning - must be the final authority.
Peter reminds us that God “has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Because He is our Creator and we are His creatures, He has given us everything we need to know to live in a way that pleases Him. Our desire should simply be to understand His Word rightly, receive it humbly, and submit to it wherever it leads.
When God grants us new life through the new birth, He does far more than forgive our sins - He gives us a new heart! There is a real change.
He writes His law upon our hearts, causes us to desire Him above all else, and begins conforming us to the image of His Son (Ezekiel 36:26–27; Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 8:29).
He works in us “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), so that our greatest desire becomes not the gratification of the flesh but the glory of God.
Though we continue to battle sin in this life, the direction of our lives has changed. We now seek to “walk by the Spirit” rather than “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16), presenting our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). Our desire is that “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
None of this is about singling out one particular sin. Every one of us comes to Christ as sinners in need of His mercy, and every one of us is called to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The question is whether we will allow Christ to define both our identity and our obedience.
This brings us back to the original question. The issue is not whether homosexual relationships may appear loving, committed, or sincere. The issue is whether God has revealed them to be consistent with His design for human sexuality.
Scripture teaches that sex is God’s gift, created to be enjoyed exclusively within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; Hebrews 13:4). Every sexual relationship outside of that design - including heterosexual and homosexual immorality alike - is called sin, not because God is withholding something good from us, but because He knows what is for our good and His glory (1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18–20; Romans 1:24–27).
Through the new birth, God changes not only what we believe but what we desire. He teaches us to love what He loves, hate what He hates, and joyfully submit every area of our lives - including our sexuality - to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Our identity is no longer found in our desires but in Christ, and our greatest aim is no longer self-expression but loving obedience to the One who created us and gave Himself for us! Hallelujah! (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:13).
Thank you for the conversation. More than anything, I want both of us to know what God has revealed, humbly receive it, and walk in obedience to Christ. That’s my prayer for both of us.
Thank you for clarifying. I think you’ve identified the real issue.
You believe Scripture does not teach that homosexual practice is sinful within a loving, committed relationship. I believe it teaches otherwise.
What ultimately matters is not what either of us wants to be true, but what God has actually said.
Because we are sinners, we are all capable of allowing our own desires to influence how we understand God’s Word. That is why we must continually humble ourselves before Scripture, asking not, “What do I want this passage to mean?” but, “What has God actually revealed?” Then, by His grace, we must humbly receive His Word and walk in obedience to it.
If you’re right, then I should change my view. If I’m right, then affirming what God calls sin is not loving.
That’s why I keep coming back to the text itself. My concern isn’t what either of us finds persuasive or compassionate, but what God has actually said.
As for your questions, I don’t believe merely experiencing same-sex attraction is itself what Scripture explicitly condemns. Scripture calls every believer - regardless of his particular temptations - to deny himself, put to death the deeds of the flesh, and follow Christ.
Therefore every Christian has desires that must be submitted to Christ. The issue is not whether we experience sinful desires, but whether we submit those desires to God’s revealed will.
I also don’t think the tennis and golf analogy quite fits. Playing tennis or golf is morally indifferent unless God has spoken about it. Our disagreement is not over two different games or two equally valid ways of looking at life. We are both claiming to interpret the same Scriptures.
If God had said, “Do not play golf,” then every argument for why golf seems harmless or enjoyable would ultimately be beside the point. The Creator has the authority to tell His creation how to live, and our responsibility is to humbly submit to what He has revealed.
That is why, for me, the central question remains: What has God said? If Scripture teaches that homosexual practice is sin, then neither of us has the authority to redefine it. If Scripture does not teach that, then I should abandon my position. Either way, God’s Word - not our preferences, experiences, or reasoning - must be the final authority.
Peter reminds us that God “has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Because He is our Creator and we are His creatures, He has given us everything we need to know to live in a way that pleases Him.
Our desire should simply be to understand His Word correctly and then submit to it, wherever it leads.
When God grants us new life through the new birth, He does far more than forgive our sins - He gives us a new heart! There’s a real change!
He writes His law upon our hearts, causes us to desire Him above all else, and begins conforming us to the image of His Son (Ezekiel 36:26–27; Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 8:29).
He works in us “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), so that our greatest desire becomes not the gratification of the flesh but the glory of God.
Though we continue to battle sin in this life, the direction of our lives has changed. We now will seek to “walk by the Spirit” rather than “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16), presenting our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). Our desire is that “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
This brings us back to the original question. The issue is not whether homosexual relationships may appear loving, committed, or sincere. The issue is whether God has revealed them to be consistent with His design for human sexuality.
Scripture teaches that sex is God’s gift, created to be enjoyed exclusively within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; Hebrews 13:4). Every sexual relationship outside of that design - including heterosexual and homosexual immorality alike - is called sin, not because God is withholding something good from us, but because He knows what is for our good and His glory (1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18–20; Romans 1:24–27).
Through the new birth, God changes not only what we believe but what we desire. He teaches us to love what He loves, hate what He hates, and joyfully submit every area of our lives - including our sexuality - to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Our identity is no longer found in our desires but in Christ, and our greatest aim is no longer self-expression but loving obedience to the One who created us and gave Himself for us (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:13).
Thank you for the conversation. More than anything, I want both of us to know what God has revealed, humbly receive it, and walk in obedience to Christ. That’s my prayer for both of us.
You're doing a great work, my brother! Like any other of our works, it may have some flaws, but God knows the heart and is able to turn it all into some good for His glory. I can and do very much appreciate your thoughts on this passage, but find it hard to accept some conclusions as they SEEM to imply. Of course we are ONE BODY, as humanity, but it looks like there are some cancerous parts that need be taken away... We are ALL... children of God? The Word of God speaks of two familes in the world, God's and the Devil; to some Jesus said they were children of the Devil, their father, to those who believe (trust, surrender, follow) Him He gave the right to BECOME children of God... I think the part we need to change in the LGBTQ is not their full acceptance as they are, but the idea and meaning of SEXUAL UNDERSTANDING which is beyond the 'marriage idea' as traditionally understood. Keep up the work, it makes us all think, which seems to be a lost art in many circles! Bless you, my dear brother!
Thanks for the thoughtful reflection here, Guiseppe! I imagine some of this comes down to the limitations of language and metaphor. What, for example, is meant by "Child of God?" I suppose on one hand that could mean, "belonging to," as a child belongs to the family. (This is how I use it when I say that "all are children of God," meaning, we all belong to teh Family of God). And then you could also use "child of God/devil" to mean something like "how someone orients their life." Do they live in a way that reflects the values of God (as a child might live to reflect the values of their parents?). Or do they live to reflect the values of the Satan? So in one sense, the "child of" metaphor can be about identity (WHO you are), and also the metaphor can be about behavior (HOW you live).
Thanks for the work you do, Colby. I grew up on the toxicity of church that insisted I was an outsider. Now, even with a growing (slow) acceptance/ tolerance of LGBTQ+ people within some churches, I want nothing to do with church. Still too much discrimination and homophobia.
I say burn the church down, and see of something else emerges from the ashes. Or not. Isn't that what Jesus said about the temple?
Thanks for sharing, David. And I completely believe you and trust your experience and feelings about the church. You no doubt came by those feelings honestly. And while I appreciate your perspective (to burn down the church), it's not one I share myself. But I imagine we'd both agree on many if not all of our criticisms of the church--we just might disagree on what then to DO about said criticisms. (And I actually don't think jesus' condemnation of the money-changers should be understood as a burn-the-temple-down demonstration. I think it was probably more like, "stop ripping people off, and return this place back into a House of Prayer."
Just excellent, Colby! I've shared the link with Lynne as I know she'll appreciate what you have to say too. :-)
Awww, thanks friend!
Thanks for this. I got into a frustrating back and forth with a couple folks recently, one of whom is a gay man himself, who looked upon aspects of this work as "virtue signaling"... and, who long for a church where one's gayness is "unremarked upon." And I guess I'd like that as well, but unless and until aspects of our broader culture cease their attacks on LGBT personhood, it's disingenuous to cast blame on those of us who are fighting against those attacks.