The Gospel Demands

I recently read a very useful book by Sam Allberry titled, Is God anti-gay?  He is a Christian pastor who with clarity and grace systematically holds forth a solid biblical perspective concerning those who struggle with same-sex attraction.  He speaks from a place of personal experience and victory through Jesus.  For much of my life homosexuality was seldom discussed in secular or church circles, and it is good to see that changing.  People have questions and these can be engaged graciously with biblical truth.  Besides the relevance and scriptural accuracy, what I like most about this book is the compassionate tone.  There is a balance Allberry expertly maintains to answer pertinent questions about sexuality with the message of hope Christians have through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Often at youth camps I am faced with loaded questions by skeptics like:  "Do you agree with homosexuality?" or "Is being gay a sin?"  Though many questions I am asked could be answered with a "yes" or "no," to answer them so simplistically does not convey the whole truth.  Truth is not complicated, but people are!  Answering the question and not the questioner can shut down all hope of future engagement.  This is something Allberry does very well in that he does not immediately answer the question, nor does he dodge them.  He begins with our great and good God, His designs in creation, and His purposes for people.  After this all-important foundation is carefully laid, the discussion constructively continues.  He brings up very good points about how the church needs to stop marginalising single people, that we ought to recognise the gift of singleness, and cautions pressuring men into cultural norms of masculinity.

After reading the book, one paragraph kept coming back to mind.  The truth contained in it is relevant for all people.  Sam Allberry writes,

Ever since I have been open about my own experiences of homosexuality, a number of Christian have said something like this:  "The gospel must be harder for your than it is for me," as though I have more to give up than they do.  But the fact is that the gospel demands everything of all of us.  If someone thinks the gospel has somehow slotted into their life quite easily, without causing any major adjustments to their lifestyle or aspirations, it is likely that they have not really started following Jesus at all. Allberry, Sam. Is God Anti-gay?: And Other Questions about Homosexuality, the Bible and Same-sex Attraction. N.p.: Good Book, 2015. 12. Print.

This hits at the heart of every person who claims to follow Jesus.  We receive the Gospel freely, but it will always come at a personal cost.  Praise the LORD we can rejoice in the hope of Jesus Christ who has washed us from sin and made us pure and holy by His grace.  No longer do we need to be defined by sins which ensnared us and can walk in liberty.  No matter our struggle or sin, we can have a new beginning with Jesus Christ today.  1 Corinthians 6:11 says about those once defined by various sin:  "And such were some of you. but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."  God loves us no matter our struggles.  When we humble ourselves before Him in faith and obedience, God makes in us the major adjustments required for us to follow Jesus in truth.

Check out a video of Sam sharing here.