There is no denying that there have been some dramatic changes in our culture in a very short period of time. I can remember when Christian values were an accepted standard of morality even by those who did not claim any religious affiliation. Practices that were once considered shameful are now things some in our society take pride in.
The LGBTQ+ crowd have made inroads into traditional views on sex, gender and morality that would have been unheard of just a generation ago. It looks like there is no turning back apart from a genuine God sent revival.
One of the issues that have arisen is how are Christian parents supposed to address the matter of children who embrace the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. Called to hate the sin, how are they to love their children caught up in LGBTQ+ relationships?
Supposedly, in an attempt to help Christian parents with LGBTQ+ children negotiate the issues and give them guidance Andy Stanley’s church, North Point, held an “Unconditional Conference.” I think trying to give guidance to Christian parents with LGBTQ+ children is admirable and is something that needs to be addressed.
My concern lies in the speakers that were chosen to address the parents at the church. Both Justin Lee and Brian Nietzel are homosexuals married to men. Another prominent speaker at the conference David Gushee, an intellectual from Mercer University, has changed his theological position on the issue of same-sex relationships and sees no conflict in the Scriptures to same-sex practices.
To be honest I have no idea what was said by these speakers at the conference. But I find it difficult that three men who hold the views they have on same-sex practices, would have any solid biblical advice to give Christian parents on how to deal with the their children involved in LGBTQ+ practices.
Andy Stanley has taken a great deal of criticism over hosting this conference. Dr. Al Mohler, Jr., has accused Stanley for departing from the Scriptures, “what we see here is a departure from historic normative biblical Christianity.” Sadly, that seems to be the case.
While we need to continue to try to reach the LGBTQ+ community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ we cannot do so at the expense of biblical truth. To forsake biblical truth is in the end of no help at all.
Stanley says that Jesus did not draw lines, He drew circles to include everyone. Jesus did draw circles to include everyone, but He also drew lines as when He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Without repentance there is no salvation in Christ. This is where we must draw the line, until those in the LGBTQ+ crowd repent of their sin there is no genuine salvation for them.
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