Crossed Passion, Overlapping wires by SHALOM MISSIONARY CHURCH

Crossed Passion, Overlapping Wires “Yesterday for the first time, I engaged in lesbian sex. I was part of sex party with four other girls. I know it is wrong but I enjoyed it so much and I want to keep on doing this for now. Please do not pray for me. Some 5th form girls at my school have been making passes at me for some time now and I have always been rejecting them but now I am one of them.”

“When I was at college there were many lecturers and fellow students who somehow came to me and told me that they felt that they could confide in me that they were having homosexual struggles. I then told them that we were in the same boat. Many times they would invite me over to their office or their homes so that we could share and pray together for our struggles. It always turned out that that was their way of trying to lure me there in the hope that we would have sex. After all these years, I tried talking to my pastor about it, I have been to counselling and nothing is helping. I do not want to be this way but I feel like I cannot fight anymore, will you help me? Will you hold me accountable?”

On three different occasions I have had to listen to professing Christians, including a pastor leading a congregation, relate to me their struggles with intense attraction for a member of the same sex. Notwithstanding my seminary honours degree training which included role play in being non judgemental counselling situations it was quite an ordeal the first time around. In a sense I think I was totally unprepared to have to sit and listen to a Christian say those words.

In October 2008 my emotions were again

jolted and taken on a roller coaster ride when I opened an email from CrossWalk.com and read:

“Ministry leaders and high profile preachers of the Gospel need to know: the world is watching. And our words can surely come to haunt us: And now our time has come to count the cost. To reject this world, to embrace the cross. And one by one let us live our lives. For the One who died to give us life. Till the trumpet sounds on the final day. Let us proudly stand and boldly say "I pledge allegiance to the Lamb "With all my strength, with all I am "I will seek to honor His commands "I pledge allegiance to the Lamb" In early October 2008, the composer of this well-known song, Ray Boltz, admitted to giving himself over to the gay lifestyle after a 33-year marriage including four children. "If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I'm going to live," he told the Washington Blade recently. "I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself."

It is easy for us to sing along with the anti gay lyrics of homophobic artistes. It is easy to say ‘fire bun’, it is easy to say ‘brimstone and fyah’. It may be easy to join with an angry mob demanding that the police hand over a cross dressing male. It may be easy for us to refuse the use of our church facilities for the funeral service of an alleged homosexual. The reality however is that in the matters of homosexuality, homophobia, gay rights, discrimination, gay marriages, gay churches, gay ministers there are no easy answers. There are certainly no simple answers as to how or why someone becomes a homosexual. Likewise this issue is by no means trivial, nor is it going away anytime soon. It behooves us then to face the music and begin the process of heart searching honest dialogue as a church.

What is clear from a Biblical perspective is that the practice of homosexuality involves passion, lots of passion, albeit a passion that involves these persons having their ‘wires crossed,’ hence crossed passion. Scripture is also clear that the advocating of violence and hatred and scorn and discrimination by vehement and unrepentant anti-gay sentiments by Christians in their zeal for God’s standards, involves crossed passion as well. Hence the wires on both sides of the issue are crossed. There are crossed wires and overlapping passions.

In this discussion there are two pertinent issues that need to be taken into consideration. We first have to answer the question what are some of the implications of this homophobia for the Christian community? Then we must decipher how do Christians straddle the divide of facing the ever increasing tide of homosexual lobbyists without being maligned as insensitive, cold, malicious and evil, while at the same time being true to the high standards of Scripture on sexuality?

IMPLICATIONS OF OUR HOMOPHOBIA The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th ed. Defines homophobia as: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals

As we seek to examine the implications of Christians being steeped in homophobia it would do us well to draw caution from the example of Saul in the book of Acts, who was consumed by his zeal for the law, his zeal for God and became the self appointed guardian of the law. He ths set about personally supervising the killing of the early Christians. Having satisfied himself in Jerusalem for the time being, he set out to take his crusade further afield to Damascus. It was on his way to Damascus that the Lord, Jesus Himself stopped him in his tracks.

After his conversion Paul speaks about his zeal for God and the law and how he came to realize that in comparison to the greatness of knowing Christ it was rubbish (to use the sanitized word) Phil. 3: 6-8. It is clear then that even our zeal for God’s expectations must be subservient to knowing Christ.

Merriam-Webster, Inc: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Eleventh ed. Springfield, Mass. : MerriamWebster, Inc., 2003

Our zeal must be tempered by the knowledge of Christ, that is to say we must take our cue from the way of Jesus, not culture or our own selves.

Disciples of Jesus are followers of Jesus. Followers of Jesus examine Jesus’ teachings and practice and seek to do what Jesus would do, as well as live by the principles of His word. To be driven by homophobia and jump unthinkingly and uncritically on the bandwagon puts us in danger of presenting a distorted view of Jesus. The Jesus of Scriptures never typified the kind of passionate rejection of sinners that characterizes most of the homophobic rhetoric. In fact he made it clear that he had come to save sinners, to seek them out. This is what we see Him doing.

In St. John 4, He had to go through Samaria, not that it was the only route to his destination, but that he could meet the Samaritan woman at the well, a woman who for His intents and purposes was not well. She had a reputation in community of having had five husbands and the current one was not hers. By virtue of this she was scorned and rejected, and worse a Samaritan (racially prejudiced) yet Jesus sought her out, elevated her and transformed her life, becoming the embodiment of her hopes and dreams.

In Luke 5: 27 – 32 Jesus is walking on the streets and he passes by a tax collector’s booth- there at work was Matthew the tax collector. His was one of the most despicable occupations at the time, because as a Jew he was working for the Romans who were occupying Jerusalem and taxing the Jews… this was betrayal of the highest order and to add insult to injury tax collectors added their own mark up. In a word they were extortionist. Jesus did not just see him, he stopped and noticed him, He stopped in His tracks and stared at Matthew, then he asked Matthew to be one of His disciples.

He did the same with Zaccheus, another tax collector, He allowed Mary of Magdala, a woman who once had seven demons and had a bad reputation as a notorious sinner’ to cling to his feet, wash them with her tears and dry them with her hair. Jesus was not just abusively labeled as a friend of sinners, He was The Friend of sinners.

Our understanding of God’s love must also be examined and brought to bear on this discussion. The very well known verse John 3: 16 says it rather eloquently. God loves sinners but hates sin. God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Rom. 5: 8 ).

Another implication is that we run the risk of creating a false categorization of sins. It is true that the Rom. 1:26 – 28 speaks of homosexual acts as shameful and the dishonouring of the body. But a diligent student of the passage will reveal that the very context also lists other sins that those who reject the knowledge of God commit, sins that are deserving of death, for the wages of sin is death. The list is completed as follows: Their lives are filled with all kinds of sexual sins, wickedness, and greed. They are mean. They are filled with envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and viciousness. They are gossips, Rom 1:30 slanderers, haters of God, haughty, arrogant, and boastful. They think up new ways to be cruel. They don't obey their parents, Rom 1:31 don't have any sense, don't keep promises, and don't show love to their own families or mercy to others.

When disciples of Christ join with the homophobic crowd they send a message that this sin is the worst of sins. The reality is that it is a sin against the body in that it is a sexual sin, but it is no more of a sin than lying, covetousness or heterosexual fornication. Artistes will spew forth all kinds of lewd lyrics that promote orgies and wild expressions of fornication, but because it is heterosexual in nature it is ok because at least they lash out at homosexuals. They will promote and glorify the gun but they are ok because they are not gays and they decry homosexuality. This is hypocrisy of a different nature that must be condemned by the disciples of Christ. How many of us are blasting out against the homosexuals but we are practicing fornicators or adulterers? How many of us who do not want to

offer counselling and help the homosexuals are guilty of murder based on Jesus expansion of the law in Matthew 5 (I say to you if you hate your brother you are guilty of murder)?

The crowning implication for us to consider is that the unquestioning homophobic Christian calls into question the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice. It questions the fullness of the atonement. The real question is: Do we sincerely believe that Jesus died for the homosexual, was raised from the dead for the homosexual, and that His power is available to deliver all sinners from their sins …even homosexuals? To refuse redemption to the homosexual is to believe in a different Jesus than that of the Scripture. Scripture is clear that Christ came for sinners, all sinners, none excluded. 1Ti 1:15 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of who I am chief. Paul’s humility allowed him to refer to himself as the chief sinner. Was he a rapist, a mass murderer, a homosexual? No! The Bible says nothing specifically about the homosexual condition2 What it consistently denounces in both the OT and NT is homosexual conduct, not the homosexual. HOW DO WE BRIDGE THE GAP

Wood, D. R. W. ; Marshall, I. Howard: New Bible Dictionary. 3rd ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press, 1996, S. 478

HOW TO MAINTAIN SCRIPTURAL STANDARDS WITHOUT BEING INSENSITIVE?

Counselling psychologist, Dan Rogerson’s words are instructive here: “The Church often emphasizes the sinfulness of the homosexual lifestyle without a concerted effort to effectively reach out to struggling individuals with the transforming power of the gospel of Christ. This dilemma casts a dark shadow on the church today. In my counselling ministry, I have seen the emergence of Christian individuals who are earnestly seeking deliverance from the chains of homosexuality. They are asking, “Why must we be singled out as spiritual incurables? Why can’t the church move beyond rejection and see us as hurting people who want help just like other sinners?”

Because of a fear of being rejected by the church, they do not see the church as a safe place to find hope and help for their troubled hearts. Amazing Grace has become a vain, empty repetition on the lips of many Christians.

Grace, says C. S. Lewis, is Christianity's unique contribution

among world religions. 'Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more... and grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less,' This is Evangelical writer, Phillip Yancey's best attempt to define a marvelous but elusive concept in his thought provoking and mind jarring work from which I borrowed part of the article title, “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” (p.70). This book is a polemic against 'ungrace' particularly the North American Fundamentalist/legalistic variety.

In it we

are taken into the belly of Grace, be prepared to be disabused of many of the false notions that you have as to what grace is all about.

What's So

Amazing About Grace opens with the sad story of a prostitute who came to a counselor for help.

'At last I asked if she had ever thought of going to a

church for help. I will never forget the look of pure, naive shock that crossed her face. "Church!" she cried. "Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They'd just make me feel worse!"' President Bill Clinton's equally sad comment (said before the Starr/Lewinsky episode) : 'I've been in politics long enough to expect criticism and hostility... But I was unprepared for the _hatred_ (Yancey's emphasis) I get from Christians. Why do Christians hate so much?' (p.226).

The reality is that there are many struggling homosexual men and women who believe that they were not created to be homosexual, and would be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to try to break free from their chains of bondage. As we of say to others that we spare no effort to reach for Christ, the place to begin is to be willing to change. I offer a few guidelines that can help us to hold in tension God’s standard for sexuality and our own fears and reticence to reach out to homosexuals.

BE ABLE TO RATIONALLY RESIST THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA: In order to effectively reach homosexuals, it will be necessary for the church to evaluate the widely accepted consensus on homosexuality. This consensus is comprised of three propositions that fit the so-called “bio-psycho-social” model of mental functioning. The three propositions follow: • • •

First, as it relates to biology, homosexuality is an innate, genetically determined aspect of the human body. Second, as it relates to psychology, homosexuality is irreversible. Third, as it relates to sociology, homosexuality is normal, akin to such other social categories as sex and race (Satinover, 1996, 18).

Let me say upfront that these three positions are all refutable. This I believe has to be a part of where we begin to suggest methods of straddling the divide and deciding our individual position re homophobic pronouncements or actions.

1. Is homosexuality a genetically determined aspect of the human body? No it is not.

The studies that are appealled to which claim to have found

genetic links have all proven to be seriously flawed. Rogerson reports that the very scientist, Hamer, who reported his linkage theory after being investigated for selective reporting later wrote in The Advocate (an American gay and lesbian newsmagazine), “…sexuality is too complex to ever be

completely explained by genes. Although DNA may influence brain chemistry and thus tilt us to feel and behave in particular ways, it does not govern sexual identity… the social and cultural environment will always play a major role, as will … choice and free will” (1997). There is no evidence that shows that homosexuality is simply genetic. From a Biblical perspective the only transference theory is that in so far as it is an expression of sin, the sin nature in inherited. Look at it this way, as CrossWalk.com puts it: Turns out we're all "born this way." That is, with the sin gene. In each of us it battles for control over us with a unique set of depraved desires that may be influenced by our upbringing, personalities, or other factors. For some our innate desire may be for homosexuality, for others pornography, or gambling, or alcoholism, or overeating, or overspending, etc. But if you boil it all down, yes, it's in the genes. It's human nature to want to sin, that is the truth.

2. Is homosexuality irreversible? Homosexual activists would have us believe that homosexuality is healthy and no attempt should be made to change it, even if an individual requests it. If it is true that homosexuality is irreversible then there is no hope for the struggling individual. There have been those who have challenged this proposition and sought to reverse their homosexual orientation regardless to popular cultural belief. The following is

a quote from a client of Joseph Nicolosi, co-founder of the National Association for Research and Treatment of Homosexuality (NARTH): "I have never believed I had homosexual tendencies because I was 'born that way.' It is quite an insult to my dignity and a gross disservice to my quest for growth to be told that I have no hope for change”3

3. Is homosexuality normal, in the same way as other social categories as sex and race? The answer to this question depends totally upon what side of the political arena you stand on. Gay activists would state that their lifestyle should by no means be referred to as abnormal. While those on the other side of the spectrum would state that the homosexual lifestyle is by no means normal. As we consider reaching out to homosexuals it will be necessary for the Christian to question what approach a distinctively Christian response to homosexuality should take. At the very least the comparison to sex and race breaks down since the appeal to genetic predisposition is not worth the paper on which it is written.

PROPERLY INTERPRET AND APPLY SCRIPTURE: We should be leading the way in properly applying Scripture. Disciples are encouraged to study, apply due diligence and disciple to show themselves approved, not needing 3

(http://www.narth.com/docs/repair.html).

to be ashamed because they rightly divide the Word of Truth. Do not run headlong with those who go to Lev. 18 – 20 to support their call for the death of homosexuals. As Christians, living in a secular society rather than in Israel’s “society under God,” we can take a moral stand on what is right. But probably we will not be able to criminalize homosexuality. This is the same principle invoked by Paul in 1 Corinthians 5. This passage teaches that immorality outside the church is not to be judged, but that immoral people within the church are to be judged, and if they do not repent are to be expelled from fellowship. Let me hasten to add though that even so, among the believers we must exercise caution with the matter of expulsion.

It has been said that the church is so unlike the armies of the world in that we kill or ignore the wounded. We often get puffed up when someone falls into a sin. We so often kill the fallen brother, especially with sins of a sexual nature, as if they have gone beyond the grip of grace. How easy it is for us to sit in judgment against the fallen brother forgetting that we are just as fallible. We are just as prone to wander and leave the God we love... The fallen brother needs the community at that time more than any other. Rather than finding love and acceptance, he finds rejection and scorn as if he has become a leper. I find that we are so eager to have grace meted out to us yet so stingy with grace. It betrays a false understanding or no

understanding of grace itself to withhold it from one who needs it... Galatians 6: 1 - 2 holds the proper treatment of the fallen brother. Restore in the spirit of gentleness just as one would reset a broken bone or mend a fishing net) in the spirit of love being mindful of one’s own sinful propensity. This is the law of Christ that we should strive to fulfill. This is a supreme demonstration of love. My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don't be tempted yourself. You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand (CEV).

Since we have so much difficult

dealing with our own brothers and sisters among us in a graceful manner, is it any wonder that we are so cruel to the homosexual community?

FOCUS EVANGELISM OF HOMOSEXUALS ON THE CROSS NOT ON THEIR SIN: Especially as it relates to those outside the Christian community who practice homosexuality, their real spiritual need is for Jesus Christ. With them, we need to keep the focus not so much on this sin as on the message of forgiveness for all sins that comes with personal faith in the Saviour. The critical message here has to be the message of grace. We speak of grace but do we understand grace? Author and speaker Tony Campollo shares a story from his friend. This pastor was asked to do th funeral of a gay man, at the end of the service no one moves, the dead man’s friends ask him to read to them from Rom. 8. When he got to verse

35 they asked him to read it to them over and over.

These men

remembered from their earlier years of being in church that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Campalo’s friend asked him, “Do you know why homosexuals think that the church despises them? Because the church despises them!”

It seems to me that the reason for this is that it is largely because we are more concerned about our image. It is the very thing that the Pharisees were so guilty of, which irked Jesus so much. God didn’t care about his image because he allowed His Son to be strung out on a cross, exposed the elements, exposed to his enemies.

INSIST ON HOLINESS AMONG DISCIPLES OF CHRIST: There can be no middle ground on the matter of obedience to the Word. Those who claim to be Christians and still demand a right to be homosexual must be challenged with a vision of our Holy God, who insists that all who have a relationship with Him depart from their iniquity, to live a holy and godly life. Upon the premise that God will not call the believer to a task that is impossible to perform, the Christian may conclude that the homosexual can be equipped by the Holy Spirit to live the life that God has called every believer to – a life

of holiness. The Apostle Peter wrote: “…prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” [The Holy Bible (NIV), I Peter 1:13-16]. There is liberation for homosexuals who “prepare their minds for action”.

Andrew Comisky, a former homosexual, who is founder and director of Desert Stream Ministries – a multifaceted outreach to the sexually and relationally broken writes: “We alone are graced by God to bear His likeness…As bearers of the divine image, we’re in a spiritual relationship with the Creator. We’re not mere animals left to our own instincts or desires. And we need to know the Author of the image we have been chosen to bear, for without that connection we are unable to become truly alive to the inspired aspects of ourselves” (Comisky, 1989, 39).

BE READY TO LISTEN: The willingness to listen is equally therapeutic whether the homosexual is talking to a Christian sister, or the Pastor. The significant healing relationship that the homosexual needs begins with the

willingness to listen. The kind of listening being intimated here is one that is active, listening with the entire being. Listening without judgmental glares and evasiveness.

KNOW YOUR LIMITS: It is the task of the Christian counselor, as an agent of God’s healing grace, to lead the homosexual client into a journey of reparation. This task however is not intended for all Christian counselors as it will not be within the realm of their competency. It is imperative that Christian pastors and counselors avoid the assumption that because they have a moral evaluative framework they therefore have the professional capacity to work with homosexuals.

THE CARE OF SOULS: Struggling homosexuals need Christian counselors, pastors and friends who are able to see beyond their sin and into the bright future that God has planned for them. Is it possible that the church needs the struggling person as well? Comisky writes: The church needs the struggler!4 Out of the profound work of restoration that Jesus has wrought in each life will flow healing authority. Jesus dwells there, full of grace and truth. But He’s not content to stay. He insists on bursting out of each struggler to proclaim His faithfulness in resurrecting the dead. He will heal 4

[Eph. 4: 15-16]

wounds incurred by homosexuality; He will be glorified in the honest testimony of His healing authority. Through the struggler’s restoration and resulting ministry, the church and the world will be awakened to His powerful love (1989, 201). To the homosexual I believe we must sound this message loud and clear: Jesus invites you to come to the foot of His cross. The cross is the place you can come when you have exhausted all the simple answers. (Indeed, does anyone come to the cross any other time?) Christ is there for you. He will not turn you away. That is what Jesus will do with you. I don't know what the rest of us gathered there on Calvary are going to do with you. I really don't. But I hope we will choose to welcome you. Should gays have all the civil rights and protections as other people. Yes, most definitely. I would also say that for the sake of those whose sexual orientation is still being formed (a process of which we are still largely ignorant), society needs to somehow express its clear preference for heterosexuality without denying the dignity of anyone. I do not pretend to believe this will be easy.

AVOID FALSE SECURITY: It's easy to shake our heads in disbelief and disgust. But truly, the frailty of human nature should never surprise us. We have been warned that the human heart in all of us is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We must be careful not to

judge the Ray Boltz' and the Ted Haggards of our world, but pray for repentance and restoration of their lives and their families. Any one of us is very capable, and really never more than one step away from the same lifealtering, devastating sins except by the grace of God. Our pride in our good behavior will surely be our downfall. I think a valid question that we each need to ask ourselves and be very brutally honest about is whether our homophobia stems from our own insecurity in our sexuality.

CONCLUSION The evangelical church has, far too long, ignored the gay dilemma. With the issue of same-sex marriage, we are being encouraged to let our voices be heard and take a stand against another threat to the moral fiber of our society. In the midst of our campaign to let our voices be heard, may we be mindful that there are individuals in our congregations and communities who are aching to be understood, to be healed and freed. We need to experience that move from revulsion to compassion, a compassion that allows us to reject the sin without rejecting the sinner. Again the question is asked Do we sincerely believe that Jesus died for the homosexual, was raised from the dead for the homosexual, and that His power is available to deliver all sinners from their sins…even homosexuals? If so, it’s time to prepare

ourselves and put forth the effort to let people know that our churches are, indeed, places of refuge and healing…even for the homosexual.