How can you respond to convincing arguments for revisionist sexual ethics?
Christians need to be able to make a winsome, positive case for a historic sexual ethic. But sometimes you get an email or someone knocks on your door, and the conversation goes something like, ”Yeah, I understand your arguments for a historic sexual ethic, but what about…” and they go on to list one of the convincing arguments for a revisionist sexual ethic. How can you respond?
Disagreement About Sex Ethics is Rarely About Sex Ethics
I went on the Good Christian Co. Podcast with Robby Ortiz and Joshua Delp to talk about faith and sexuality. At one point, they asked me how to navigate conversations where people disagree about the morality of gay marriage and gay sex. My solution: Don't talk about sexual ethics.
How can Christians offer God’s love and wisdom to transgender people?
Over the past year, Equip has partnered with Jesse White, a seminary-trained Christian leader who has been faithfully stewarding his own gender incongruence. Together, we’ve developed a brand-new resource to help pastors and Christians navigate this conversation in their communities: Equip's new Gender Incongruence Course is a 4-session resource that (1) helps Christian leaders and parents think empathetically and theologically about gender incongruence and (2) equips Christian leaders and parents to offer God’s love and wisdom to trans* people.
Gay people aren't inherently more likely to be sex addicts
Unfortunately, many straight Christians assume that every gay person is a sex addict. When gay Christians ask pastors for help, they're automatically referred to a sex addiction support group.
You gotta start w/ straight sex ethics
At a recent campus minister training, I urged them not to bring up gay sex ethics with students until they first covered God's wisdom for everyone's sexual stewardship (and addressed ways straight Christians often fall short). Why? Consistency and effectiveness.
Gay sin isn't worse than straight sin
For nearly a decade I was burdened by crushing shame, in large part because I was told gay sexual sin was worse than straight sexual sin. Sometimes explicitly (but often indirectly) I was led to believe that whatever sins I committed, they were even more despicable in God's eyes because I was gay.
Does God make people gay?
Did God make me gay? I went on the Things You Don't Hear In Church Podcast to talk about faith and sexuality. One of the questions we explored was whether God intends for people to experience same-sex attraction.
Do Christians Have ‘Respect for Marriage’?
As the Respect for Marriage Act is set to pass, some Christians will mourn the further entrenching of secular values. Others will cheer the loosening grip of the Religious Right. To those of us holding tightly to God’s Word and praying that godly marriage would bless our country, can I ask an honest question:
Do we have respect for Christian marriage?
Welcome to my closet
Being the safe place for questions and conversations with same-sex attracted people is an overwhelming honor.
Christians have made God's wisdom unconvincing
How can we make a historic sexual ethic convincing for non-Christians and marginally-Christian gay people?
My answer: You can't.
At least not anytime soon.
Do historic sexual ethics cause suicide?
Does historic sexual ethics cause suicide? The short answer: No, and there's scientific evidence to prove it. Scientific studies have found that…
Christians, "coming out" doesn't mean this...
Many choose to share on National Coming Out Day about parts of their story they've been afraid to share. If you're a Christian, know that when someone "comes out", it doesn't have to mean any of the following…
Should Christians attend gay weddings?
Should Christians attend gay weddings? I recently joined Pastor David Hannah for a conversation with parents at the Church at West Franklin, a campus of Brentwood Baptist Church. We fielded lots of questions, including the perennial question about whether Christians should attend gay weddings.
If I don't condemn, am I condoning?
If I don't condemn, am I condoning? Here's a better question: why do some Christians feel the need to condemn? I think they're afraid. We recently discussed this and more on the Authentically Us Podcast.
Should you treat your gay friend like someone of the opposite sex?
Should you treat your gay friend like someone of the opposite sex? Naomi Vacaro and I recently discussed this and other questions in a conversation about faith and sexuality. I get this question a lot.
Naming & Caring for Gay Male Body Shame
Why is body shame more common among gay men? What lies is body shame telling? How can gay men defang those lies with self-awareness and healthy connection?
Gay Christian Victim Mentality (on the Rick Lee James Podcast)
Help protect gay Christians from victim mentality. I went on the Voices in My Head Podcast with Rick Lee James to talk about faith and sexuality, including the barriers to gay Christian face to thriving according to God's wisdom.
“Coming out” during Pride Month
Many choose to "come out"—to share with others about their sexual orientation for the first time—during pride month. What does it mean for someone to come out? Why do they come out? And how can Christian respond with God's love and wisdom?
LGBT+ Mental Health on the Oh No Not Another Live Show
Tim Lewis and Christelle Lerryn had me on the Oh No Not Another Live Show to talk about the intersection of faith and sexuality, mental health among LGBT+ people, and modern monasticism.
Schitt's Creek idolizes romance
I went on the Pop Culture Catechism Podcast with Mike Tenney to talk about the romance idolatry in the tv show Schitt's Creek and what Christians can learn from the show.