After Thoughts, Before Christmas

Well, this caused a stir. Here are a few after-thoughts on the whole situation.

First, let me say that I truly respect Mat Staver and the Liberty Counsel. I have had many good conversations with Mr. Staver as well as those that work with him over the years. Staver has always shown respect and kindness to Exodus and it bothers me that his organization has been indirectly affected by this.

Second, it is also true that I have had great discussions with both Peter LaBarbera and Matt Barber as well. I have challenged and been challenged by them.

That said, I obviously won’t tolerate stigmatizing homosexual behavior with unnecessary much less graphic, crude images or descriptions. I don’t believe that such action represents the totality of God’s heart toward those who struggle with or embrace homosexuality. When it comes to sexuality, God knows that it the most potent and powerful relational expression we have. It doesn’t surprise me that He would take it very seriously and specify with clarity healthy boundaries and the purpose for such a gift. He knows that its misuse will blind us to finding true intimacy and identity with Him and with one another.  Yet, He lovingly and boldly calls us to repentance without the need to shame us through stigmatization.
Make no mistake. God isn’t a wimpy-shy-away-from-the-truth kind of God either.  He described homosexual sex as “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. …” and “… women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another.” Reads pretty direct to me. Obviously, God’s not afraid to say what needs to be said but by His own role-modeling, He is not vulgar and remains the loving Redeemer.

We have all fallen short of the glory of God.  He came down from Glory to save us and restore us to Himself through the atonement infused with ongoing love and grace.

So in answer to the question, would I consider God “hateful?” I would have to respond with an unequivocal and resounding, “No.” Instead of condemning us to death for our sins, God commissioned His only and perfect Son to be killed in our place. I know of no higher act of love, sacrifice and mercy.

When I tell people that 17 years ago I was 100% out and proud of it gay and that today I reject a gay identity and ideology because of my faith in Christ … that’s not compromise. That’s truth and truth never comes back void. Having experienced a significant change in my sexual orientation is very important, but only a sidenote to the real success of being content in Christ regardless of circumstance.

I am not sure why Mr. LaBarbara would reference the Tiger Woods situation as a parallel to this one, but I am glad he did. It is a most excellent and appropriate comparison. I don’t believe Jesus would have started a blog to publish photos of Tiger to detail and shame the nature of his sin. Just like the woman at the well, I believe He would sit down with Tiger, engage him in a personal conversation and lovingly reveal that He already knows every single sexual act and sin and loves him anyway. And with forgiveness, He would say, “Go and sin no more.”