Gay Pride and Church?

What a statement. I am not a 'gay-basher' anymore than I am a 'pothead-basher.' I am just interested in what our society ascribes to and what that looks like against the shadow of the Cross. Many people put the cross 'outside' the context of the Word of God - the very place from which we have learned of it. Our God is a God that is not outside the realm of understanding and being known. His Word does tell us about His character; what He loves, what He hates (and yes there are things that He hates), what he offers, and what He expects. The entire book is a biography of Jesus Christ. It tells HIS story from start to finish. It is filled with love AND war. It is filled with forgiveness AND consequences. Understanding God's love means understanding God, and not what we expect out of a god.

The whole ‘Gay church’ is based on the belief that ‘God is Love’ and the Bible is ALL about love…and "homosexuality is love" so therefore God must endorse or accept it. HOWEVER, that type of thinking is so flawed. For instance, what about the man who beats his wife without mercy….and then lifts her bleeding and bruised head up and says “baby, you know that I love you.” Or what about the sex addict that says he loves women and shows it by raping them. I used to 'love' marijuana and the F-word.

The question is not about God’s definition of Love, the question is if our definition matches His….and it does not. His expression of love is beyond our ability to grasp….and it IS exclusive and has boundaries. By that I mean that, though 'He has compassion on all He has made (Psalm 145:9)' and though He 'so loved the world (John 3:16),' to participate in a relationship where you experience this kind of love is exclusive….and it will convict you of sin because you are hurting Him. If you are not in this exclusive relationship, then you are defining 'love' and trying to say that God is with you on whatever definition you’ve chosen. Because of our love, I know that there are things I can do (behavior-wise) that will hurt my wife Mollie. Just because I may like those things, or even ‘love’ them, doesn’t mean that it will be embraced by Mollie. And, most importantly, because I am in a TRUE loving relationship with Mollie, I know when something is hurting her. Homosexuality is so clearly repulsive to God, just as my drug abuse and sexuality outside of marriage (regardless of homo/hetero) was. It hurts Him, even as my rebelliousness hurts Him.

Homosexuals can be saved (praise God). They deserve love just as much as our fallen souls do. They deserve a church to be a part of just as much as the drunk that walks in every week. Those doors are supposed to be open to them, just like anyone and EVERYONE else that struggles with sin in a fallen world. But, just like all sin, it should be something that we become convicted of and begin to turn from. If a church begins to embrace sin, then it suggests that Jesus Christ has died for nothing.

Homosexuals can have 'gay church.' But Salvation (Jesus Christ) is not found in church; it’s found in the body of Christ. When they find Him, and fall in His love, it WILL bring conviction and change. If not, then it's just a building and a group of people that celebrate a MANufactured love.

Jocks, Emo's, Thugs, Hippies, Nerds...still kickin

There are few things in my life that bring me more opportunity at personal growth than the one afforded me by Prison Prevention Ministries. Not so much because of the prison side, but because of the 'prevention' side. I am given the opportunity to speak in Middle, Jr High, and High Schools all over the area. I have spoken at assemblies and in classrooms. Sometimes I have only about fifteen minutes; sometimes I have an hour and a half....literally. Fortunately I love to talk so I can be flexible. The topic: my story, my life, and most importantly Jesus Christ...and YES in public schools.

But....the chance to walk back into High School after so many years...a place that I seriously swore I was never looking back to...a place where I aimed the path of my life into a fast coming train. I have been in so many high schools now....the students are all the same....the cliques are all there. The thugs in one section, the emo's in another, the nerds in one section, the jocks and cheerleaders in another. I suppose that we are all still a bit separated. My personal favorite moment is when I am informed by some senior that he or she was born the year I graduated.

I was recently at Ooltewah High School (where I graduated, barely) and what a T-R-I-P that was...whew! It was something to walk those halls again...this time to preach against the very beast that I promoted when last I walked them. I love getting the opportunity though. It is a blessing and a curse. The chance to change lives (and it does happen) is also tightly bound to the curse of facing students, like me at their age, that would rather be 'high' than just about anything. It's tough, but I love it. To God be ALL the glory...it is such a PROOF of His ability to deliver. I look back at my life every time I speak in these situations and am reminded that Christ not only forgives and restores...but He also blows the doors off of your life. I am not just a sinner that was saved by grace...I am a saint with a purpose...and nothing is more incredible.

I think my favorite moment is when I tell them that I could, but I won't, go around the room and tell, with about 70% accuracy, who is doing what - as far as drugs/alcohol/partying. They always go crazy and demand I do it, which of course I won't. But after I settle them back down, I ask them if they could do it....and the answer is always yes. Then comes the hush...and I ask them what makes them think I couldn't. I inform them that they are their own biggest snitch.

God help us

Let us, Your servants, see You work again; let our children see Your glory. And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!

Psalm 90:16-17 (NLT)