As a Christian parent, confronting the idea that your child is homosexual can be quite the challenge. How does one approach such a circumstance with grace and love, while also knowing full well what the Bible says about same-sex attraction?
Rory Feek was confronted with precisely this circumstance two years ago when his daughter Hopie opened up to him about being a lesbian. The 27-year-old told Rory that she was in love with her girlfriend Wendy and even wanted to marry her.
Hopie had revealed the news shortly after the death of Rory’s wife, Joey, and she was petrified that her dad would reject or disown her. Worst of all, she was scared he would no longer love her.
Admittedly, Rory’s initial reaction was to “balk,” according to TODAY, who interviewed the Christian country music star on the subject this month.
“My first reaction was not the best one because it was such a challenge to my faith,” he told TODAY. “I didn’t really know how to react.”
“I really didn’t know the answer to that,” he continued. “You know, I’m afraid that I, at first thought, was ‘I don’t know,’” he said. “What happens when your daughter says, ‘I’d like to marry my friend Wendy at the farm?’ And she’s waited her whole life, her whole life for this moment.”
He raised his daughter in a Christian home and had taught her all the Biblical values of purity and marriage being between one man and one woman. How would he teach his 4-year-old daughter Indiana what this means? What would Joey do? What would Jesus do? His mind raced with questions.