4. I Begged God to Make Me Straight & He Never Answered. Here’s Why.
Matt Moore’s experience with homosexuality as a Christian is different in its own right from Emily’s in that, rather than justifying who he felt God had made him to be, Matt prayed for God to make him someone different.
Growing up around Bible-believing Christians who acknowledged homosexuality as an abominable thing, Matt believed HE was abominable.
Desperate, he prayed for God to make him straight and relieve him of the seemingly abominable temptations that had taken over his life. But God never answered.
To most, this would sound like a God that’s not worth following. But through his experience, Matt came to learn that in pleading with God to make him straight, he was never all that interested in God himself.
“I wasn’t praying for God to do this because I loved Him or wanted to live my life for Him,” he writes. “I was actually pretty unconcerned about Him, to be honest. I wanted God to take away my same-sex desires for my own benefit—so that I could fit in, be normal, be one of the guys, and even so that I could just have sex with girls like all of my friends were. So I obviously wasn’t worried about being sexually moral. I just wanted to be sexually normal.”
What he learned had nothing to do with homosexuality at all, but instead, it was about worship.
Homosexual desire—and all other sinful desire—exists in the hearts of people because worship of God doesn’t.
5. If I Have Gay Children: 4 Promises From a Christian Pastor/Parent
Based on the title of John Pavlovitz’s piece, most people would be quick to assume that a pastor would have strong words about parenting gay children. After all, a teacher of the Word must know a thing or two about homosexuals and what Jesus would think of the matter.
And in all honesty, all of those preconceived notions are probably right. However, probably not in the way you’d think at first glance. You see, John, like many others (whether they’re a pastor or not) has toyed with the thought (for some maybe even a fear) that he may, in fact, be trusted by God to raise children who have homosexual desires.
It’s one you’ll have to read for yourself if you want to know what this pastor would do if he had gay kids, but let’s just say we could all learn a thing or two from John about Jesus on homosexuality.
6. 4 Promises for Same-Sex-Attracted Christians (From a Husband & Pastor Attracted to Men)
Christopher Asmus’ story isn’t one we hear too often for a number of reasons, but the main one being, as much as the church preaches truth and honesty, we produce shame and condemnation.
As a pastor, a husband and a father, Christopher shares openly about the same-sex attraction he’s lived with for as long as he can remember.
“Many in our culture would like to label people like me ‘bisexual,’ but I believe Jesus has spoken a better word.”
Pulling from Biblical truths and knowledge of the character of God, Christopher divulges into four freedoms that the Lord promises to those who are fighting same-sex attraction.
“In short, being human in a fallen world means being attracted to things that are contrary to human flourishing in God, things that oppose God’s good plan for us and lead to death. I feel these attractions to sin, and therefore I need a Savior.”
7. Is It Ok to Attend a Gay Friend’s Wedding?
It’s a common question this day and age for SO many believers who find themselves in a conflicting situation. Similar to the bakery owner who is being sued for deferring a wedding cake for a gay couple’s wedding, many Christians find themselves in a battle of love versus belief.
Todd Wagner, a Pastor at Watermark Community Church, breaks it down into a simpler way of thinking that IS answered by scripture.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
When a gay friend invites you to celebrate the day they’re getting married, it’s not so much that they’re inviting your approval of their decision, but an invitation to share in their joy.
However, the Word makes it clear that LOVE does not rejoice in unrighteousness. Because when it all comes down to it, going to your gay friend’s wedding isn’t about approval or belief. It’s about whether or not you choose to rejoice with them at the celebration of a relationship which Jesus says is not good.
Homosexuality is not new. It’s not a trend or a growing problem. It’s a sin just like every other. As Christians and followers of Christ, we must learn how to effectively love homosexuals with grace and understanding, while standing firm in the Truth of what God says is righteous. We are held to a higher standard as believers than those who do not know Christ. May we not take that lightly in our pursuit of changing hearts and eternities for Christ.