So what about LGBTQ in the church? I need to address this issue honestly, and I can only hope my readers, both LGBTQ and others, will receive what I say with the same amount of grace with which I say it. For that matter, I hope that all who read these words will reflect on what I say, understanding that what has become a flash point issue in our churches, demands from God’s people, patience, wisdom, and grace.
Patience because we are not all in the same place, having the same convictions.
Wisdom because Scripture teaches that God’s wisdom is peaceable, gentle, and open to reason. (Js. 3:17, ESV)
Grace because we’re all lost without it.
Let me begin with what may be the most controversial question of all — can same-sex persons have a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ?
Since I’m a Baptist, and since Baptists, for the most part, hold to the belief that once a person has truly trusted Christ and received the Holy Spirit, they are secure for eternity, I think it’s safe to say that all those young people who grew up in church and experienced what we often refer to as saving faith are saved.
Divorce, adultery, alcohol and drug abuse, a lifestyle and lifetime of critical, judgmental, and downright meanness, a habit of cursing regularly and often, pornography addiction; these are just a few of the sinful ways and habits found among church-going, professing Christians, including, I might add, pastors.
But even for those who don’t believe in “once saved, always saved” (a phrase that is not found anywhere in Scripture), there is a whole lot of leeway given to these people in the church.
Of course, there are those churches that actively discipline and remove people from their church roles. I think there are times when this is the right thing to do, but I’ve also seen this kind of thing abused horribly.
Kind of reminds me of what my Methodist Aunt, Aunt Caroline, used to say. “Danny,” she would ask, “do you know what the difference is between Methodists and Baptists?” Long pause. “Methodists speak to each other in the liquor store.” I could share some more of Aunt Caroline’s Methodist-Baptist jokes, but you get the idea.
Do you remember what I said in an earlier post this week? Almost every Sunday, I tell our people at Embrace that Jesus meets us where we are and leads us to where he is calling us to be. Personally, I think the most important quality found in a follower of Jesus is that they are indeed moving closer to where Jesus is calling them to be. With all our struggles, some of which seem insurmountable at times, we can still become more like the people Jesus is calling us to be.
And make no mistake about it, Jesus was quite clear that loving God and loving others is the mark of maturity, the fulfillment of Scripture.
So yes, I believe same-sex persons can have a saving, personal relationship with Jesus. I’ve settled that issue in my heart. But the next question is the one that could become a barrier for some, and I must ask for heart-to-heart understanding in Christ.
Can same-sex persons serve as leaders, pastors, etc. in churches?
I’m going to be honest. My integrity as a Christian and leader demands nothing less.
I can’t go there.
But let me tell you where I can go, and go confidently. And this is especially true at Embrace Church, where, if you recall, we don’t have official membership.
I can welcome same-sex people to our church. I can do that without questioning their salvation and without having to make their lifestyle an issue. I can do this for several reasons. For one, anyone who wants to worship Christ, learn more about the Bible, and enjoy fellowship with others of like mind in these matters is and will always be welcome in any church I serve as pastor.
The problem with “membership” is that it forces church fellowships to deal with these issues. And think about it. Our goal as followers of Jesus is to bring people to a place where they can learn more about the Lord, receive his teaching, and grow in his grace.
And oh yeah, I almost forgot, they can also learn more about each other. When we say Embrace is a multicultural church, we don’t just mean national backgrounds. Boy, are there ever a lot of subcultures in our nation. I thank God for our diversity, and I long for the day we can find unity in the midst of that diversity to the glory of Christ.
That’s why I love the fact that Embrace does not have membership. Yes, I can think of many good arguments against this approach. And I’m certainly not advocating this kind of thing for all, even most churches.
But for Embrace, it opens the door to people that simply could never set foot comfortably in many other churches.
Jesus was accused of being a friend of sinners. The fact that he dined with them, enjoying good food, wine, and dinner table conversation, was a sign culturally in that day that he accepted them where they were. And many, though I’m sure not all, followed him on a lifetime journey to where he was calling them to be.
Since we’re all sinners, let’s just refer to people not in church as unchurched. After all, it was the religious “sinners” who referred to Jesus as a friend of sinners. The fact is many of these sinners were barred from synagogue in the first place. So, Jesus went to them. Don’t you think, at the very least, we can accept unchurched people who find the courage to enter our church buildings, meeting them, accepting them where they are?
I think we can. I think we should. And at Embrace, our church is designed for just that.
Yes, there are still some barriers same-sex people will have to cross to accept me where I am. There are some things that could potentially make them feel like second-class citizens in our church. But until we can walk in God’s peaceable, gentle, and open-to-reason wisdom, we will fall short of God’s grace in our lives, and - are you ready for this? - some wonderful relationships with people whom we might have never imagined.
Humbly,
Dan
Check out my podcasts from Church on the Edge and my books on Kindle.
You can listen to my weekly messages at Embrace Church, High Point.