On Revoice, LGBT Christians, and the Samaritan woman ?>

On Revoice, LGBT Christians, and the Samaritan woman

Over the past several years I’ve looked into the issue of the relationship between sexuality and Christianity more deeply. Through my research, conversations, prayer, and study I’m convinced that the traditional, orthodox, Biblical, and historical understandings of marriage and sexuality are sound and unchanging.

The arguments of various Christians like Justin Lee and Matthew Vines do not hold up under the scrutiny of serious investigation and Biblical study.

But through my study I’ve encountered a number of incredibly courageous men and women who are same sex attracted and identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual in their attractions – but they still hold to the Biblical and historical teachings of the church throughout the years. I was profoundly moved by Wesley Hill’s book Washed and Waiting, and have appreciated the writings of Eve Tushnet and David Bennet among others. They openly share that they’ve had strong attractions for the same sex (despite intense struggle and prayer) and the dial hasn’t moved. Through it all – they are still deeply rooted in Christ and maintain the Biblical and church teachings on sexuality and marriage. In many ways these are some of my greatest heroes of the faith today. They receive intense pressure from both the LGBTQ+ community and the Christian community. But they’ve maintained their trust in Christ and their submission to the teachings of the church through the years. I fully support these brothers and sisters.

Along the way I’ve also encountered a number of friends and writers who are ex-gay, ex-lesbian, and ex-bi. I know that to our wider modern society this position seems like an impossibility – but that conviction is demonstrably false. There are people who change their sexual orientation (as there are those who find it quite immovable). Sexuality is complex. But it definitely doesn’t fall neatly into the “everyone can change” vs. “no one can change” dualism. The author Rosaria Butterfield is an example of changing. I have several close friends who also fit into this camp. And then there are several ex-gay Christians who don’t identify as gay or lesbian but still would say they have same sex attractions that remain. Sam Alberry and Christopher Yuan would fit into this camp. I fully support these brothers and sisters as well.

There are also a number of my friends who identify as LGBTQ+ who don’t fit into either of these categories above. They either reject the Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality – or have found a way to support their choices through their interpretation of scripture and theology. For those brothers and sisters – I love you all dearly – but I’ve chosen to politely disagree on the issue. You guys are still my friends though.

The main reason I’m writing this is because there is a conference this summer called Revoice. It is a gathering for LGBT Christians who desire friendship, support, and community – as they hold on to the Biblical teachings regarding marriage and sexuality. I’m so proud of this team. I really wish I could attend and support their efforts!

Sadly, there are a number of prominent Christian theologians who are speaking out against this conference. Mostly I feel that they are tripped up by the complexities of the conversations and language and are misinformed about the issues.

Kevin DeYoung
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/words-labels-sexual-minorities/

Owen Strachan
https://cpt.mbts.edu/2018/05/31/the-revoice-conference-and-the-hope-of-every-sinner/
(Supported by Al Mohler)

I understand and read these articles – but they just seem to be missing the point and talking past the issues. The Revoice team contains brothers and sisters in the faith who hold to the same doctrines as the historical church. They have gathered under a label because it is the language of our culture and it signifies a common bond. I don’t doubt that any of them would say their number one piece of identity is in Christ – they are Christians. (See the recent Revoice press release here) Taking on the LGBT label is not implying that they are acting on sin. It is implying a common story, a common struggle, and a common community. It is similar to saying – “I’m an African American Christian”, or “I’m a Pastor’s Kid who’s a Christian”, or “I’m a Christian who is a recovering alcoholic”, or “I’m a widowed Christian.” There are lots of labels to help identify a common struggle or common story. This doesn’t mean that any of those labels imply condoning sin.

In the New Testament there were similar labels. There were Zealots, Gentiles, Samaritans, Romans, God-fearers, Ethiopian Eunuchs, Scythians, men, women, and so on. In Christ all were made one! The defining characteristic was that all were one in Christ! But it was still helpful in some situations to retain those definitions. Jesus and the disciples didn’t hold up the woman at the well and say “First, let’s get rid of that ‘Samaritan’ label!” What they were interested in was heart change and a relationship to the Savior who alone provides a spring of water that wells up to eternal life.

My encouragement to the church today is to fully support these amazing brothers and sisters. Go out and read their books. Get to know them. Be inspired by their faith. We desperately need their faith and witness in the church! Let’s cheer them on in the faith! Let us together unite under the common experience and knowledge that “we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)

4 thoughts on “On Revoice, LGBT Christians, and the Samaritan woman

  1. Seems there is a great need for these celibate brothers and sisters to find community/ fellowship among married Christian couples/families.
    They also need friends who “ understand” but it seems temptation will be a magnified in such gatherings?

  2. Thanks Lin for your thoughts. I do agree that these celibate brothers and sisters need the wider church to step up and be the family that the body of Christ is supposed to be. They are choosing a courageous path and we should find ways to be a newer truer family that only Christ can animate. I’m excited to see how it all works out.

    As far as temptation in these gatherings – I think that is tied to a misconception (myth) regarding sexual desires of the LGBT community. From my friendships – our LGBT brothers and sisters struggle to the same degrees that their heterosexual brothers and sisters do. Some have strong desires and some have weak desires. But the fact that these brothers and sisters have a choice and have chosen a path of celibacy – I think that gatherings where they can share in friendship and with a common understanding of their unique stories – I think that is amazing! I don’t see the struggle or temptation being any more different (harder or easier) than myself (a heterosexual) traveling alone to a conference where there are other ladies there. I still need accountability and I need Christ to resist temptation and maintain my promises and commitments.

  3. I just read this article b/c of the Samaritan woman mentioned but the fact of the matter about the Samaritan woman hasn’t been known to the Christian world. The fact is that the Samaritan woman is a victim of her Fiancee fight against the power of the devil. In fact she was born in the creation law of God comparable to the Son of man, Jesus the Messiah. Since, he declare about the kingdom of God & attempt to establish it made the devil to target his fiancee that’s a Samaritan woman through his disciples who have trapped her sexually & destroy her life. Though she doesn’t know the extent of the deception by the disciples of the devil and had sexual relations with men at different point in time due her enslavement to sensual desires during the days of her youth, however ultimately she is not a unrighteous woman or a bad woman or a prostitute as of the Christian theologians speak but she was a scapegoat in the fight against the powers of darkness by her fiancee the Lord Jesus Christ & it gives a great mental agony to the Son of man & that’s why he choose a particular route to go to Samaria as their meeting isn’t an accident or pre determined that’s only known to the Lord.

    This’s a replica of what happened in the beginning , the devil deceived Eve so as to build his kingdom and the same way if anybody attempt to build a Godly life by applying creation law of God in search of woman even now should have to face the consequences from the devil who shall only act when somebody attempt to build a Godly life b/c that would bring his kingdom to ruin.

    Thus, God creates man & woman even now as per his law but the thing is that nobody apply creation of law of God in search of their soulmate, instead men have to the extent to have relationship with men to men & women to women is something against the creation law of God and it’s very dangerous.

    William G.Peter.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *