Tough Topic Tuesday- slightly late :)
By jenny | April 28, 2010
I am at an amazing five star resort and spa outside Phoenix, Arizona ala my husband who insisted I take a break. I am surrounded by views of Camelback Mountain and from my private back yard I can watch the sun rise, the moon set, and read for hours in the chase lounge chair surrounded by my own personal exotic, rare bird choir. Oh, and the occasional lizard.
Who knew the desert attracted so many birds and critters? They are everywhere. And the flowers here are intoxicating. You can smell them before you even turn a corner and see them. And if you’ve never been to Arizona you might have a hard time imaging how a very tall pile of boulders sandwiched between brown deserts brimming with cactus could be beautiful, but trust me, its beauty rivals the ocean waves and snow covered mountains. There is something rugged and ancient here that puts the modern world to shame.
So I am here, taking it all in. Sleeping. Reading. And yes, thanks in part to you Rebecca and Keith and so many others, I am endeavoring to write a book. I’ve always wanted to. Always. And now is the time.
I’ve been doing a lot of people watching as I work here and I cannot help but overhear their conversations. They talk about mergers and marriage. Fortunes and family. Sales and sports. Business and babies. Risks and religion.
Yep, they talk about religion. Everyday people talk about religion, the church, and spirituality.
I hear it all the time so I should not have been surprised to hear two guys talking about it today at the pool or the three girls in the sauna who were talking about their religious upbringing. But I was. I forget that people are genuinely seeking direction and answers. Hoping to be overwhelmed with truth that sets them free.
I hear it in airplanes and airports. In restaurants and at Starbucks. I even hear it in churches. God comes up. Is he real? What about scripture? Can it be trusted? Is it accurate? What about the church and their mistakes? What about my own freedom, why would I give that to someone else? Why do Christians say Jesus is the only way? My Islamic friends love God too. The conversations echo around me ALL the time and I am more aware than ever that it is arrogant and ignorant to assume that because someone is not a Christian they are not concerned with spirituality. They are.
At the end of the day, everyone is seeking some form of spirituality because life and death are all around us, and we as humans long to make sense of that.
Heavy matters cover the earth like a blanket, and for the most part, human beings seek answers. Some people find the answer within themselves or Buddha or a tree or a volunteer activity or in Jesus Christ.
The search for something to put your faith in, my friends, is alive and active.
So then my question on Tough Topic Tuesday is this…
Are we doing a good job exposing people to our form of faith?
After watching Larry King Live this past Friday, my answer for this week is: no.
If you caught Larry King on Friday night, Pastor Bob Botsford exposed people to Christ by condemning fellow Christian, Jennifer Knapp, and other homosexuals for their same sex lifestyle. He ended with a plea that she come back to her senses and repent.
The blog world went crazy. Depending on whom you listen to, Botsford came off as a martyr for the faith and Jennifer Knapp came off as the prideful, parading lesbian who was blatantly forsaking her faith. Or, Botsford came off as an ignorant civil rights abuser who used his position as loving Pastor to exploit a hateful agenda while Jennifer Knapp bravely took a stand for those in the gay and lesbian community who find themselves in a loving relationship with their partners and with God.
(You can read JK’s ‘coming out’ article on Christianity Today; Pastor Bob’s blog regarding her admission; and the final culmination that happened on Larry King Live by clicking here.)
Comments began to pour in from both sides and they were not pretty. Before I knew it, I was hooked. It was like watching a bloody reality show. How will the church respond to the issue of homosexuality? As author Phyllis Tickle said in a recent seminar at my church, “Homosexuality is the last great moral battle the church will have to face.”
If the battle had not already begun, I believe Jennifer gave it a good kick in the pants. A jump-start if you will. And now the armies are out, swords are drawn, and people are taking to the battlefield.
How was Christ exposed this week?
By making appearances on Larry King live, addressing millions of people from millions of different, complex lives, the voice representing Jesus said that to be gay is to be separated from Christ, end of discussion. And while the question “can you know and love God while being a practicing homosexual” remains on the table for God alone to answer, the issue that truly grieves my heart here is that a spiritual world is looking for the face of spirituality and instead of seeing Christ they see battles that we wage on behalf of Christ.
When did Jesus ever stop and tell the disciples, “Look. There are a lot of sins out there. But homosexuality is at the top of that list. So attack it. Attack those people. Take up arms for me. Start the battle. Wage a war for my sake.”
I just never saw Jesus say that. Or anything similar to that. He never asked us to battle for Him, did he? And when his best friend Peter tried by taking his sword out and slicing a mans ear off, Jesus told Peter to stop and restored the mans ear.
I can’t think of a time Jesus ever gave anyone the commission or authority or calling to go before the world and point out sins. Besides condemning the pastor’s themselves for turning his sacred house into a den of thieves and money changers, Jesus typically confronted sin in private, not on a national platform and not aimed at one single person. I cannot say, with complete certainty what absolute truth is or is not regarding the issue of homosexuality, nor can I predict what Jesus himself would have done if presented the opportunity to go on Larry King, but I have a hard time imaging that Jesus would take on one person’s soul in front of a viewing audience of millions.
What Do I Know of Holy?
At the end of the day, there is no human being who can know, understand, or fully speak for God. We can wage battles, have opinions, and recite scripture until we are blue in the face… still, Christ is a mystery and faith is ultimately unfathomable. It is simply faith.
I will say it and believe it until the day I die. What do I know of Holy?
Even those within the body of Christ who have the best intentions and truly believe scripture is clear on homosexuality and long to see people repent from this lifestyle… this is still, simply, a human interpretation of a sacred text that only God himself can one day shine ultimate understanding on.
Yes, scripture lists homosexuality as a sin. It does. I’ve read it with my own eyes. But there are many, many sins listed in scripture. (And I am not even going to go down the road of whether it is a sin or not, except to say again, that even among believers, Christ followers, and theologians the issue is not nearly as black and white as the mainline evangelical church would like for it to be).
Perhaps we have misunderstood sin though. The overarching theme of scripture is that sin is a condition, not necessarily an action. Jesus seems to speak directly into this concept when he addresses the faithful Jews at the beginning of Matthew, “You have heard it said do not murder… but I say do not have anger in your heart for another man.” Essentially he spends an entire afternoon telling these people, “you have heard the law and followed it, but now listen to the heart of the law, it’s a new command I give you. Love me. Love others. That is the point.”
Sin is a condition that indicates our separation from God. Jesus focuses less on the sin action and more on the person and their separation from God. Sin is simply that. Our separation from God. Our less than holy nature. Our blemished existence. An incomplete way of being. That is sin.
Many of the endorsements and praise for Pastor Bob made online by Christians have been based on defending God. As if God needs us to defend Him. Defending the Bible. Standing up for what is right. Calling a sin a sin. The idea that black and white must be established and we as Christians must bring to light right and wrong so that people repent and turn to God. It goes back to waging a battle for God. Waging a battle for the church. For morality. It is all about engaging in a battle. Sounds a bit like something called… the crusades.
My response:
Let God be God. God speaks to the hearts of all men and women. He brings to light what is right and wrong. God alone is holy and draws all people to himself. He convicts. He persuades. He delivers. He believes. He patiently works and cultivates a seed of his light into every soul. And I for one trust that my savior is big enough to draw all people to Himself- gay or not.
If you are a homosexual, I want you in my church. Not to save you or change you. I want you in my church for the same reasons I want myself to be in church; I believe in the Body of Christ, corporate worship, the study of scripture, and in the importance of growing up in faith. I want that for all people. I want you to know God deeply and intimately. I want you to study scripture. I want you to be a part of the body of Christ known as the church. I want you to draw close to Jesus because I believe as we draw close to Jesus, to the heart of God Himself; we begin to look more and more like Him. As we draw close to Jesus, Jesus himself moves in our spirit and urges us to be more like Him, urges us to turn away from that which keeps us distant from Him; our distance and unholiness are chipped away as we allow Him to change us. This is the process of being made into a completely new creature. In churchy terms, this is repentance and sanctification.
This doesn’t happen by calling sin a sin on Larry King live (this only draws people into battle). It doesn’t happen by battle lines and attacks. It doesn’t happen by ostracizing people from the church. And to assert that it does, to participate, in my opinion, means we have little faith that God is doing what He says he does. Interacting with humanity for His own glory and drawing all people to Himself. It’s a process he longs to engage us in.
That process, friends, is deeply personal. It is long and hard. It is vulnerable and raw. It is complicated and complex. (And repentance that usually lasts happens within the loving confines of a supportive community of faith that walks alongside of you… so why are we kicking people out before they can even come in?). The act of being transformed from this world, truly, is a hard process for the most seasoned Christ followers.
To simply dumb this issue down to right and wrong, to sin or not sin, robs humanity of our deep complexities and robs God himself of His ability to conform people to His likeness.
Real Life
By now some of you are seething at the opinions I have expressed. Some of you may be disappointed in me. Some of you agree with my thoughts. Some of you think I have played politician, not giving a clear enough answer (as if I am close enough to God to deliver the verdict). And some of you are offended that I have not gone far enough in denying that homosexuality is not a sin.
To all of the above: I am not engaging in a battle. I do not have the ultimate answer.
Look, my parents both have doctorates in Theology and Pastoral Care. My sister just graduated Magna Cum Laude with a master’s degree in Theology. My little sister is in her second year of seminary and her husband speaks, reads, and writes Greek fluently, which was part of his master’s degree in Christian theology. I am the lowly one of the bunch. I merely have a bachelor’s degree in religion and church history. And I say that to tell you that while other families shoot the breeze over the holidays, my weird family sits around the table and argues baptism, Lord’s supper, the use of birth control, the Vatican’s role in sex abuse scandals, the Baptist Faith and Message, homosexuals in church, women preachers… you name it, we go there. All eight of us. I come from a family of learners. Avid readers. Brilliant researchers. And well-versed students of the Bible. Relying heavily on the cumulative shared knowledge of the whole gang, it would be very easy for me to sit here and dogmatically argue a position and back it up with translations of this and that, commentaries, social history and context, etc.
But what good does that do? At the end of the day, all the knowledge in the world cannot answers our biggest questions. Sometimes the most we can do is have faith that God is doing what He says he does. Drawing all people to himself. Somehow. Someway.
I understand sin within the church has to be addressed. My friends hold me accountable. My husband and I encourage each other as we grow up in Christ together. Our community at church addresses different forms of sin and often gives us chances to go before the Lord asking for forgiveness for the ways in which we have separated ourselves from Him. But we do it at church within the body of Christ, the community that is walking alongside of us. Not on a blog aimed at one church member for thousands to read. Not on national tv, aimed at one church member for millions to hear. We do it with one another in the confines of our faith community.
A stranger can’t just walk up to me and tell me I need to repent. And if they did, I would not listen.
It’s just not as simple as that.
And I’ll end with this.
I have often said that I am not a proponent of the death penalty. However, I follow that up by saying that I have never had my little girl kidnapped, violently raped, and murdered by a sadistic man. I can say that I do not believe in the death penalty until I am blue in the face… but when it happens to my little girl… get back to me. I can only tell you then, when I come face to face with this complex issue, what I really believe and how I will really respond.
This could be said of many hot topic social issues. You can spout off information, scripture verses, and dogmatic views but everything changes when you actually come face to face with the issue.
Do you know a homosexual? Have you ever loved someone deeply who has later turned out to be a homosexual? Because I guarantee you, it’s not so easy to look someone in the eyes who you have seen love Jesus and tell them that their faith is invalid. Until you have gone there with someone, you cannot possibly understand what it is like to juggle these questions, these battlefields, these deep matters of faith with someone you love. Because it is no longer “a gay person,” it is your brother, sister, dad, or the best pastor you’ve ever had the privilege to work with. They are people. Family. The ones you love. The ones God loves.
My aunt was a lesbian before she passed away. Coming from a rural town in Mississippi of faithful Southern Baptists, you can imagine the shock waves this sent through my family. But my Aunt Debbie knew God and I know it. Was she living in sin? Did she die in sin? So many questions plagued our family and yet, most of the family showed up for her and her partners commitment ceremony. Why? Because Debbie was loved. She was a light. A beautiful little light. And it’s not so easy to draw battle lines when you are hugging your sister. She is still your sister. And somehow when it becomes personal you realize that you firmly believe what you believe, they firmly believe what they believe and you can walk closer to Christ together, trusting that He will call us to Himself, or you can draw a sword and engage in battle.
But when you love people… battles aren’t the preferred method of operation.
And to me, that’s a good thing. Because I am convinced more than ever that people don’t need battle lines… they need Jesus.
Draw them to Jesus and let him do what he does best.
Transform.
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39 Comments
Stacey on April 28, 2010 at 6:06 pm.
I have been waiting for this, it was worth the wait!!! You are a true woman of God Jenny Simmons!!! I am honored to walk with you!!! In the words of one of my favorite CeCe Winans, "always sisters always friends."
Erin on April 28, 2010 at 6:34 pm.
Wow. I thought that I was the only Christian in the world with this perspective (and I attend a Southern Baptist Church in the Bible Belt). We will NEVER win anyone to Christ by throwing rocks. And anyhow, when did God make me watchdog of the universe? Only God can see the heart and it is not my place to guess what's inside someone's heart.
I could go on and on and on because I get so frustrated when people when they bully in the name of Jesus. Jesus was known as a friend to sinners and NOT a basher of sinners. We should be more like our Savior.
Starfish on April 28, 2010 at 6:39 pm.
Thank you Jenny. May God forever have the power and the glory. Let us merely trust and obey. Life's too complex and short to engage in battles over the ever-changing 'black and white' issues.
Brett on April 28, 2010 at 7:03 pm.
Jenny, I think you are a wonderfully gifted woman of God, but I have to disagree with you on this. Good and evil are black and white, there are no gray areas. If the Word says something is a sin, then it is a sin. As for Christians attacking homosexuals…I feel that the issue should be handled with the love of Jesus Christ. I want homosexuals in my church, I want them to have a radical experience with Jesus. I want them to know that I love them, but that their choice of lifestyle is wrong in God's eyes. Even if it is someone I love; in fact, it would make my arguments towards them infinitely more important! Yes, Christians should tackle these hot topic issues, we are called to. Just as Jonah was called to cry out to Nineveh about how they had turned from God and sinned against Him. Christians must take a stand in this world, to show God's love, to be the example to a lost and dying world.
kara on April 28, 2010 at 7:10 pm.
I need to read your posts when I dont have to rush through them so I'm waiting to finish. I stopped a the part where you said "I'm writing a book" I know you know how happy that makes me!!! I look forward to finishing this post but mainly I cant wait to read your book!!
Joe Mama on April 28, 2010 at 7:47 pm.
Wow is right. Great post. Maybe it is because I'm a still growing in spiritual maturity but I'm still on the fence with regard to this issue. I have a cousin who I am close to and admire that lives this lifestyle. I believe that I need to let my light shine before him so that he can maybe see God and praise our father in heaven like the word says. Not just him for that matter. Everyone around me. This will be a very difficult topic because his lifestyle and my walk with the Lord are very well known within our extended family. I pray that if it every does come up that God gives me the words that will show his love and glory.
On the other hand, I do see the point in identifying sin and dealing with it. When I say dealing with it, it does not mean the "hard sell" on behalf of the Lord (ie thumping bibles, brimstone, etc). I don't believe that it is the only way. Our God is great and can convict a heart in the way that is most effective for that person. We should all pray that we are open to be used. Whether it is this hard sell or we are used to finesse them to him. It all comes back to aligning our wills with God's great, perfect plan.
I could go in circles all day about this because of it's complexity. So I'll spare the bandwidth.
I enjoy reading your blog. This one made me think. Enjoy your vacation.
momofgirls on April 28, 2010 at 8:30 pm.
Thank you so much for your eloquence and candor with this post! I wholeheartedly agree! (And by the way, What do I know about Holy is my FAVORITE song!!!!!!) What DO we really know anyway? Probably as much as our toddlers know about the infinite universe, right? Sometimes I have to remind myself that my little brain, in all of its humanness can never truly have a grasp on the glory and holiness of our Creator God!
RaVae Erickson on April 28, 2010 at 11:05 pm.
Amen and Amen sister! I whole-heartedly agree. Let God be God.
Breana on April 28, 2010 at 11:05 pm.
This is hard topic.
And it's hard to find answers- Biblical, non-apologetic answers.
And I think this is one fo the best ones I have heard so far.
Thank you.
Lisa on April 28, 2010 at 11:17 pm.
I am SO not smart enough to call you my friend. I believe you said that very well.
When I first heard about all this hoopla, I really didn't care to look into it more, and still don't. It's not my job to judge anyone.
Does that mean I'm complacent? I don't know. I guess that's exactly the point "I" don't know…so why would I act like I do.
Kaitlyn Luce on April 29, 2010 at 2:01 am.
I'm speechless. All I can say is "Amen!"
Austin on April 29, 2010 at 2:05 am.
A lot of people turn from Jesus and God because of this sort of thing. When people use the Lord's name and declare something that is offensive to some, people immediately jump to conclusions about it, and turn from God.
And this is just like the Crusades. And like back then, tensions were high between Christians and Muslims, just as they are now between pro-Gay and anti-Gay(are those the right terms? lol)and they erupted into Holy Wars, which, while in few ways helpful(ending feudalism, spurring the Renaissance), ended up just killing a bunch innocent Jews, Muslims and Christians (both European and Arab) and making everyone all around mad since no one REALLY won. And thats the way its going to be in the 21st century with Gay issues. No one will probably ever trully win, since the divison in Chritianity is so big on this issue, and it will leave everyone pissing and moaning because no one will have gotten the upper hand and many will be lost since by now every non-Christian will have been dissuaded by our "throwing rocks" at people. Its a lose-lose scenario.
Anonymous on April 29, 2010 at 2:41 am.
I am so busy, I had not heard about this until I read your blog. I was lead to believe that Mr. Botsford was hateful, pointing fingers, and completely not acting out of love. After reading his blog that you linked, I see the opposite is true.
He has known about her sin for over a decade and did not tell anyone about it. He just prayed for her the entire time. She chose to talk about her same-sex relationship; he did not choose to attack her, he is merely defending God's Word. I am shocked at how the Bible is being played off as something we cannot truly ever understand or interpret. Do we not receive the Holy Spirit when we first believe, and does that Holy Spirit not give us the wisdom and understanding and POWER to live for Him?
Yes, we are to love others. It is the second most important commandment, Jesus said. Remember the first? "Love ME with all your heart, soul, and mind." When you are more in love with Him than any bondage the enemy has wrapped you in, chains are loosed and people are set free. So to claim to be a Christ-follower, but pick and choose which sins you will hold on to or be freed from… is that following Christ or tailor-making a Christ that fits the life you want to live?
The Crusades was a political movement born of bloodshed. Defending God's Word is not the same as the slaughtering of a people that are not "Christian."
Anonymous on April 29, 2010 at 2:48 am.
Woah! Yes, God loves the sinner but not the sin. We must all strive and acknowledge that whatever sin we struggle with, we must give over to Christ! We cannot continue to walk in sin when we know that Christlikeness is what we must strive for.
Keith Chilton on April 29, 2010 at 3:23 am.
I'm happy to hear you are pursuing writing. We all know you are very talented at it. I encourage you to not just write to the safe Christian book audience as well. It would be great to see you impact the world at large with your talent. Be the salt for this saltless world. Get the world's attention, not just your fans and other Christians.
I definitely think it's possible to portray your values in the form of book without explicitly being categorized as a Christian writer. There are so many non-Christian book readers out there. The world needs your talent and ambition! Stay strong friend and remember our single most important thing is not "knowledge". It's a life-long pursuit of how to love. Everything else is unimportant. Love will open up doors that knowledge can't!
alisha on April 29, 2010 at 3:45 am.
Well, I am obeying and not being blurker =]
All I know about this issue is I do believe it is a sin. And I know the Bible says that basically one sin isn't greater than other. So if you are a liar, it is the same as being homosexual. The only difference is one is more common, and more socially acceptable. People are more shocked at homosexuality than lieing. And I do think it's ridiculous to be discussing the issue on Larry King. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
Anonymous on April 29, 2010 at 5:20 am.
Oh Jenny. I really hope you feel that it was a good decision to post your views on this topic. I was really looking forward to your new album. After reading your comments I am terribly disappointed. I most certainly will not be purchasing your music.
Suzanne on April 29, 2010 at 11:13 am.
Jenny, as usual you pull through for me on your thoughts on religion and perceptions of other Christians.
I don't think you watered down Truth at all, but once again, how are we loving the world when all people seem to see is arrogance, hypocrisy and self-righteousness from the Christian community!
This is a tough topic and I would love to be in your family and sit in on those conversations…
In the end, will they recognize us by how we are loving them through Him?
misskerri on April 29, 2010 at 1:58 pm.
Dear Jenny –
thank you for your honesty. "judge not lest ye be judged" is a lesson hard learned. I appreciate your willingness to be skewered yourself by those on both sides of the issue, acknowledging that there will be those who agree and disagree with where you stand on this issue.
Gray areas used to bother me. Growing up in a Christian family and in the church, I insisted on seeing the world in black and white, until it nearly drove me to suicide because all I could see was my failure to measure up. I forgot to apply His love and grace to my own life while preaching it to others.
These moral issues are hard when you have to face them "up close and personal."
God alone judges hearts, we can only see the fruit of the work of the Spirit in their lives. And we all know that most of us have bruised fruit.
May you continue to touch on the "tough topics" along with all the fun "life" stuff too. Not only is it great reading, but it makes for a good mirror to self-check in…
Blessings my friend.
Emily on April 29, 2010 at 2:30 pm.
I have been searching and searching for answers about the question of homosexuality. Thank you for your insight! It really has helped me understand that we we need is to love everyone, no matter what.
baylormum on April 29, 2010 at 4:34 pm.
I am full of envy for where you are! So does my sin of being envious equal condoning homosexuality? If there is no gray area, then I guess the answer is yes, envy is evil. I can feel the stones already.
I mean really? "those who live in glass houses throw stones" or something like that!! You get my drift.
I am NOT judge & jury. God so loved the WORLD He sent His son to die for the sins of all! ALL. Not just me & you. ALL. Just because I love the person (aka sinner) doesn't mean I condone that sin. I look at the conflicts in my life as learning lessons. What can I learn & take away from this? It's not hating the sinner! Look in the mirror.
And to say you're not going to buy AR's new CD is just dumb. They have worked so hard on new songs of praise & worship. For ALL to hear. And maybe learn from.
KB24 on April 29, 2010 at 4:56 pm.
I'm gonna buy the new cd. We don't have to agree with everyone. People are allowed to have their own opinions and such. She has a point churches kick people out before allowing them in. We are no better when we do not reach out and love them. We act like we're better when we do this and it pushes them away. Leaves a sour taste in their mouth.
Jessica on April 29, 2010 at 10:09 pm.
Jenny,
Thanks for this blog. I emailed you my thoughts on the subject. Blessing. and you are so right. Let God be God. God still loves Jenifer even though she lives this certain lifestyle. we may not agree. but we should still respect and treat her as a human being. my friend was telling me last night that we should love the person but hate the sin.
Keith Chilton on April 30, 2010 at 1:59 am.
I am not sure how God views sin and consequences of it. But I would think that God sees sin as disobeying Him. Nothing more nothing less when classifying it. I would think if your sin causes others to sin and disobey Him (where they wouldnt have otherwise due to your sin) than it would be better for a millstone to be tied around your neck and you thrown into the bottom of the ocean. God will judge us, accordingly and justly for sin according to His wisdom. Luckily in Christ, our sins will not be held against us. For me it is hard to see and understand how practicing homosexuality is on the same level as being a gossiper or slanderer. Our hearts are what will be judged and there is something very deep within the mind of a homosexual that I believe is rebellious toward God. And I feel rebellion comes in all different forms. And so does judging others, even though we shouldn't. It's up to God alone because He can see the entire picture of that individual. To Him be all the praise for His all-knowing mind.
Rebecca on April 30, 2010 at 5:13 am.
wow. so many thoughts come rushing in.
i mean, seriously?!? 
way to be bold and real! i love how the underlying theme was just respecting God enough by letting him be HIM. so many of us try to play God in our own lives as well as in others' and it. never. works!
first, for the, ahem, "brave" person who says they will not be buying the new album…it literally made me laugh out loud! (then i threw up a little in my mouth.)
secondly, wow. just wow. very beautifully written jenny. i'm so proud of you!
i personally believe that we ALL have our own individual sin struggles. we absolutely, 100% do not have authority over one another and are in no place to judge or assess a "sin points value system", if you will. these issues are way too big and complex for our pea-brains to comprehend. God is sovereign. His ways are not to be understood. He's got this!
lastly, ohmygoshiamsoexcited for you taking this time to start your book! sounds like a wonderful spot to relax and be inspired!
much love and many prayers for you and your family!
love you!
Anonymous on April 30, 2010 at 4:00 pm.
This whole blog made me uncomfortable. And, I think that is a good thing! The American church has become so complacent. We have our "pet" sins…but don't talk about the ones that we do…gossiping, lying etc. As one poster commented…sin is sin. Now…I do believe that the bible is very clear that homosexuality is a sin. It's pretty "black and white". But, the church is hurting the cause of Christ by making this the cause celebre!!! The church is not to be making anything the litmus test for accepting God's creation as "worthy" of being in our church. We should welcome everyone into our churches as we ALL struggle with one sin or another. I agree with Jenny…it's God's job to convict of sin…not ours. Let the Holy Spirit work in all our lives to make us more like Christ.
Thanks Jenny for making me very uncomfortable and causing me to THINK!! God gave all of us brains. We need to devour God's word for ourselves and not just spout the evangelical talking points! And…I WILL be buying your new CD!! (what a ridiculous comment to make over a blog post..oh my! ) God bless you and Addison Road as you impact the world for Christ!!!
Deborah on April 30, 2010 at 4:26 pm.
This is incredible. I love your honesty, and the way you see things from both angles. Well done.
Ashley on April 30, 2010 at 10:03 pm.
Thank you very very much. I found out over a year ago that my mom is gay. She is in a loving relationship with another woman. We have always been a family who accepted homosexuality. My parents taught me to love everyone and to view everyone the same, and I learned that love between two people is never wrong. I am so proud of Jennifer Knapp for being honest about who she is and who she loves and what that means for her relationship with God.
SMiLE ~ JESUS LOVES YOU on April 30, 2010 at 10:37 pm.
I agree!! This post has convicted me at points and made me think all the way through. God bless you!!
Laura on April 30, 2010 at 11:18 pm.
Jenny,
Truth be told, I am a little disappointed too. I often feel like my generation will be left with no real leaders once all the "greats" are gone – Billy Graham, James Dobson, Charles Stanley, etc. Where are the younger leaders rising up? We are watering down Christianity to meet our desires and not holding strong to what the Bible really teaches. The Bible is for US. It is our guide and the teachings of the Bible are the same yesterday as tomorrow, they don't adapt to the 'progression' of society.
You mention holding a certain belief until you are face to face with a situation that could change it. Is that not a test of faith? I 100% belive abortion is wrong. But what if one day I am raped and become pregant with a child who I find out will be born with severe disabilities? Does that change my view of abortion? I may want to, for my own sake. But that doesn't mean my circumstances have made abortion right. It means I'm tested on my beliefs and my response shows my conviction. But my behaviour doesn't change the right- or wrong- ness of any action. It is hard to take a stand when the stakes are high. It's hard when it becomes personal. But that doesn't change sin. Sin is sin.
Sin separates us from God. Whether it is a lie or a murder, sin separates us. Take a crisp, clean piece of white fabric and hand it over to a designer. They will create a masterpiece. Drop a small amount of spagetti sauce on in, or smother it with red wine, either action, big or small, and the designer will toss it out. They do not create or sell anything other than the best. However, a great designer can take a blemished fabric and weave it into an amazing ensemble. They don't leave it as it was, they use the uniqueness and create something amazing. God is the designer. He created us as pure white clothes. We have smothered ourselves with sin, whether it's a small spaghetti stain or an entire bottle of wine. But he takes our flaws, when we submit ourselves to him, and he creates the most amazing ensemble.
If we never rebuked sinners, we'd all get no where. I agree – tv isn't exactly the route I believe God would have taken but that doesn't mean we lay passively against sin. Remember the adulterous women? Jesus first responded to those who wanted to judge her but he still also turned to the women and told her to sin no more.
We can welcome all to church – and we should! – and we should all be willing to meet each other where we are at. But that doesn't mean the walk stops there. We also need to be willing to push each other in the right direction.
SavedByGrace on May 1, 2010 at 1:29 am.
Interesting take on it. I say definitely let God be God in all cases… but (like Brett said in one of the first few comments)sins are sins no matter what.
Definitely a Tough Topic Tuesday! Not sure I agree with all of what you've written, but it definitely got me thinking.
p.s. that's so awesome that you're writing a book! and when does your bands new cd come out???
Anonymous on May 1, 2010 at 3:43 pm.
Laura, thank you for your comment. You said exactly what I think is truth.
If my child takes on the sin of lying or stealing….would I not discipline him/her and continue to direct them in the way of truth? Of course, so if my child chose the path of homosexuality….would I not also discipline and do everything possible to turn them to the Truth? After all, those sins are mentioned all together.
It was God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. And "in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God" Jesus being the Word…therefore was the one also who judged the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Discipline is very misunderstood I believe, discipline of our children and discipline in our church. (Hebrews 12)
As Christians, we MUST love as Christ loves. Just as He said to the disciples…"let him without sin cast the first stone"…then to the woman He said…"go and sin no more"
I can't cast a stone, because I have sins I struggle with…but am STRIVING to over come them through the Blood of Christ.
Jenny, as you said, liars, murderers,…are all listed in the same scripture….but it seems a double standard then, not to want te murders to murder and robbers to rob, if we then want homosexuals to continue being homosexuals.
I hope what you really are saying is "yes we want them in our lives, churches, homes, so we can show them Christ…who has already judged those sins…so we do not have to…we can stand on the Word about Truth."
I know there are young girls who read your blog and I pray they do not misunderstand. I know you know you are held in a much higher accountability, because of your calling.(James 3)
Since your Blog is attached to the Addison Road website…do the other band members share your view?
Amy on May 3, 2010 at 4:42 am.
I read your blog today (I have had a few spare moments to catch up on my past blogs from ppl) and I loved it! I had to go and read what the articles were saying about JK and then watched the videos. Boy…that Pastor Bob guy was making me mad!!!
Thank you so much for posting your feelings on what you think about all of this. For the longest time I really struggled on where gay and lesbians sit for right and wrong in Christianity, and I felt wrong for thinking that it was ok for people to be homosexual and Christian. But the older I get, the more I read, the more I know that our walk with Christ is very personal, just like our sexual preference.
So after reading all of your stuff…I went and blogged as well on this same very topic. I linked your blog, Addison Road's site, and all the other sites to my blog as well. I hope that our blogs get people thinking about this matter as it is very real in today's society, where in the past it was very hush hush.
Lastly, I love your mom!! She commented on my blog and I am feeling a bit star-struck right now.
And I know the beauty that you were describing about the Arizona Desert. I lived in Tucson for a year and God may be calling my husband and I back there, which I will not protest. I will be back in the land of good mexican food.
~Amy
(below is the link to my own blog that was inspired from your blog.)
http://amy-schumaker.blogspot.com/2010/05/christianity-homosexualitydo-they-go.html
Anonymous on May 7, 2010 at 5:58 am.
God Bless you Jenny for this commentary and asking these tough questions. My wife and I discuss issues like these. Our wonderful Godly pastor weighs 380 pounds – should he be exiled from the church for gluttony? Of course not! There are so many questions facing the Church – one so obvious, but untouched is WAR and the inevitable death of innocents…women and children…who just want to live and be left alone. I so respect your boldness in writing this. Thank you for your example!
Sara on May 15, 2010 at 5:56 pm.
Hey Jenny! It was so wonderful to get to see you for a bit the other night. I am re-reading one of my favorite books, Madeleine L'Engle's Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art, and I just read something that made me think of you and of this post:
Generally, what is more important than getting water-tight answers is learning to ask the right questions.
You, my friend, ask the right questions and that is what makes this blog (and this post) so good.
Confused on May 16, 2010 at 6:40 am.
Jenny, I don't understand. Is anything a sin? I'm seriously asking. If we can't say that homosexuality is for sure a sin, how can we say anything else is? Is anything a sin unless it causes us to be separated from God? How do we know we are separated? If we feel like we aren’t, then can we continue doing what we please until we feel differently? I mean isn't that what homosexuality comes down to? Everyone knows the bible says it is a sin, but there are homosexuals that feel like they have a close intimate relationship with God. Are they wrong? Am I? Who am I to decide? Since I can't decide though, how can I decide about my own life? Because God is beyond our understanding, and because the bible teaches things that are no longer applicable, is none of it true? Is all of it? Any of it? Is it just a moral guidebook that we can pick and choose from? All roads lead to the same God kind of thing?
Your post has left me doubting my faith and confused about a lot of things. Of course I agree with you on the folly of militant Christians fighting against homosexuality. Love is the answer when it comes to showing people who Christ is. But people that don't believe in God can show people love. People that don't believe in God can lead moral lives, and they can feel connected to a higher power. So what is even the point of Christianity?
It seems there is one group that flat out says homosexuality is wrong, and then it seems there is this other group that doesn't just say it may not be wrong, but that seems to hold homosexuals in even greater esteem than the heterosexual folk. Having a homosexual friend is like a badge of honor. It says, "i am accepting of all people". Honestly, my gut feeling is that homosexuality is a sin. Not even based on anything in the bible really. It just feels…wrong. I believe in evolution as well. And I also know that in an evolutionary sense, if one member of a species refused to procreate with a member of the opposite sex, then that member's genetic line would end. Humans have found a way to bypass that in recent years. Any connection to the surge of homosexuality to the mainstream? But to say that in the context of human homosexuality would be considered cruel and bigoted. But if I were to say I don't believe in evolution, I would be considered ignorant, backwards. In any case, so what if homosexuality is a sin. Our whole lives are wrapped up in sin. Does it even matter? As long as we don't feel like we are separated from God, is it a sin? And this begs the question: is God just something in our minds? There is no black or white, faith is different for each person, some things that used to be sins in the bible aren't anymore, we can't ever fully know God, we can't tell for ourselves what sin is, and if we can, it only applies to our own life, and if we do apply it to someone's life, we are only to do it to people in our close church group? You say let God be God, and that God speaks to the hearts of all men and women and brings to light what is right and wrong. But by that logic, wouldn’t the world just keep getting better and better? More and more homosexual people are taking leadership positions in churches. Does that mean that their lifestyle is in fact not sinful, since God is not changing their hearts? In fact, it seems just the opposite is happening. You closed out your post saying that we can either walk closer to Christ together with those we may not agree with, trusting that He will call us to Himself, or that we can draw a sword and engage in battle. So does it even matter what we do or what other people do? As long as we are both trying to grow closer to God, we’ll both get there? What is the answer???
Confused on June 4, 2010 at 1:50 am.
Guess no one has an answer for me. Oh well.
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