Various blogs have been hammering me for agreeing to speak to a group called the Gay Christian Network. I get tired of writing about this issue because it stirs up such a storm of controversy and little of the dialogue seems constructive. On the other hand, the church must keep engaging, and I know of no better way to engage than to hear the stories of Christians who are struggling personally with homosexuality. Some conservatives think the very term “Gay Christian” is an oxymoron. I wish they could attend a gathering such as the one I spoke to last week and hear the stories I heard. Rather than try to defend my decision just to speak to Gay Christians, I will quote here a letter from the head of GCN:
An Open Letter about Philip Yancey
From GCN’s Executive Director, Justin Lee
Since we announced that bestselling Christian author Philip Yancey would be addressing the GCN conference in 2011, questions have been flying, online and offline. “Is Philip Yancey pro-gay?” some have asked. “What are his views on homosexuality?” “Why would he agree to speak to this conference?” “Why would GCN invite him in the first place?”
Some have criticized me for extending the invitation, thinking an evangelical author like Philip is surely far too conservative to speak to a group like ours. Others have strongly condemned him for accepting the invitation, saying he’s condoning sin. Some have even called for other Christians to disassociate with him.
So I’d like to set the record straight on exactly what this conference is about and why we invited him.
When I was a teenager, I discovered to my horror that I was attracted to guys instead of girls. I was a deeply committed Christian growing up Southern Baptist, and I was firmly opposed to homosexuality in any form. Nevertheless, when I turned to my pastor, church, and Christian friends for prayer and support, they all turned their backs on me, condemning me for my temptations even though I hadn’t acted on them.
GCN began when I met other Christians who were in the same boat. All of us were struggling to figure out how to live holy lives with our same-sex attractions, and all of us had felt the church’s rejection. Some of us ultimately decided to commit ourselves to lifelong celibacy, while others of us decided to pursue monogamous relationships. In spite of our theological disagreements with one another, we all wanted to serve Christ, and we all longed for a Christian community that would hear our stories.
The annual GCN conference is a place for Christians to hear those stories and worship and pray together—gay and straight, women and men, some believing in gay marriage and some believing that gay people are called to celibacy. Our organization does not advocate for any viewpoint on gay marriage, gay rights, or any similar issue; our goal is simply to let people know that Jesus loves them and to provide a safe and compassionate space for the church to work through some of these difficult issues.
I invited Philip Yancey because I respect him as a Christian. I’ve always been impressed at how well he balances our need to live moral, holy lives as Christians with our need to have grace toward those who do things we disapprove of. I did not invite him because of any views he might or might not hold on gays; I invited him because this is a group of people who desperately need to hear not only that God loves them, but that other Christians do, too.
I have no idea what Philip’s views are on gay relationships, same-sex marriage, or anything of the sort. He’s never told me. Honestly, it wouldn’t affect my decision either way. That’s not the point.
Last year, we had a keynote delivered by Baptist minister and author Tony Campolo. Dr. Campolo believes that gay relationships are sinful, and he said so during his keynote address. He also received a standing ovation at the end—from an audience including some people in the very relationships he had just condemned. Why? Did they think he was supporting their decisions? Not at all. They applauded him because he was one of the very few Christians who would dare to reach out to them in love and say, “Even though I don’t agree with you, I love you. I hear your stories of pain, and I want to count you as my friends.” That message was powerful. It changed lives.
I don’t know what Philip Yancey will say in a few weeks when he addresses our audience. We’ve asked him only to say whatever God puts on his heart. I do know that his audience will be diverse: gay couples in monogamous relationships; same-sex-attracted Christians wrestling with the loneliness of celibacy; Christian parents struggling with how to respond to their gay children. One woman I know will be attending with a heavy heart, carrying the memories of her gay daughter, who committed suicide years ago after feeling her mother’s rejection.
As those people, with all their theological disagreements, come together to seek God’s heart, I can think of no one better equipped to speak to them than a man who has gained a reputation both as solidly evangelical and filled with grace toward others. And even though I’m sure he knew people would misconstrue it, I am so grateful that he had the courage to reach out to us in love. It is, I believe, exactly what Jesus would do.
Justin Lee
Executive Director
The Gay Christian Network
————————– (Note: if you have comments to make on this blog entry, please keep them brief and polite. I do not intend to make the blog a platform from which to condemn people holding different points of view. Also, please refrain from posting any URLs to personal blogs or other websites. Thank you. — Philip)
Loving them is fine, but if you don’t mention that they need to repent, then shame on you. If this group is a group trying to get victory over their sinful desires, then that is one thing, but if they are a group that has accepted homosexuality as being compatible with Christianity then the only real starting and ending place is giving them the gospel.
To claim that you aren’t a theologian and will leave this topic to others tells me that you like to be looked at as a theologian when you write books on prayer and grace but that when it might hinder your popularity you take the easy way out.
You can still speak the truth in love.
Controversy stems from the fact that people can pull scripture from any part of the Bible to argue for or against any side. I’m pretty sure gays are well aware of the scripture that condemns their actions. As Christians, we need not beat a dead horse. Only one who is sinless may cast judgement; the rest of us are simply asked to love one another.
I have only recently heard of the GCN. I love their mission to not pass judgement one another, but to bring praise to the one who made them in His likeness.
Dialog is needed. opens is needed. Finger pointing and judging separate. Jesus was constantly seeking the out cast and the reviled to bring them in. That’s what changed lives. However, as you already know, he had harsh words for the religious leaders that sought to burden people and keep other out all together. Regardless of your feelings and beliefs about homosexuality, there needs to be understanding. I know what this is like, you see, before I came out, I was always saying negative things about gays. I said some mean things. I did not have understanding. I know Jesus loves me. He has shown me many things to change in my life, but my sexual orientation was not one of them.
Bridges, not walls.
I think there’s that usual dilemma in balancing truth and grace in terms of controversial aspects of Christianity like this. But when I look to Jesus and how He has exemplified that kind of balance, I see that something can be done. In striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ, I do exert effort to love my gay friends, and value them as individuals and human beings whom Christ has also shed His blood for. I say ‘exert’ because I have to admit it doesn’t come naturally, especially considering my fundamental church background. I genuinely listen to their concerns, and tell them I pray for them and their needs. I think that’s the least I can do, especially that they see no need of Christ in their lives (yet). But they know I don’t support their choices, especially about having a same-sex relationship. I still don’t have sufficient knowledge how to properly view this kind of relationship in terms of the Christian faith, but I’m assured that each of us will make an individual accounting to the Lord one day. I know I cannot change my friends according to my ways and convictions, but I can always point them to Jesus, and hoping that in Him, they will find the most essential thing in life: God’s love. So yeah, I agree that a true Christian needs to build bridges, not walls.
I thank the Lord for Philip Yancey, for I was greatly helped in this area through his book, What’s So Amazing About Grace?.
For over a decade I served my country as an Infantry soldier in three conflict zones overseas before marrying and deciding to leave the service for my wife’s peace of mind.
At my weding, my best man at my side was Tony, a man I have known since I was twenty and I have known all that time that he was gay (I am now fifty).
He has known he was gay since puberty and has struggled with the conflict between his desires and his faith for all his life. I know I have watched the struggle.
As a commited christian from one of the most homophobic institutuions in the world, (the Army) it seems strange to me that I never feel repulsed or even uncomfortable around Tony and I consider him my closest friend next to my wife.
Over the years, I have pored over the Bible, prayed for Tony and read everything that has come my way on the subject of homosexual tendancies suffered by christians with not even the glimmer of an answer to offer him.
Tony is now and has always been the best male friend I have in this world, I would trust him with my life and with my childrens lives without hesitation.
With all I have learned I can now only refuse to condem or condone something I can not begin to fathom and I refuse to be his judge. That task I leave to our creator while praying for my own wisdom in the matter.
To those of you who offer only judgmental retoric I urge you to pick up a stone, hold it in your hands, and consider what you would feel like on the recieving end, before you are so glib with your Biblical quotes.
Watching Tony in his daily fight with his self imposed celibacy that sometimes fails him.
I wish I had his strength.