Following Jesus in an LGBTQ+ World (feat. Guy Hammond)

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Today’s episode will help us navigate LGBTQ+ issues within Christianity by balancing compassionate engagement and traditional biblical teachings, encouraging hospitable conversations and deeper understanding.

The episode centers around a class led by Guy Hammond, the executive director of Strength in Weakness Ministries, which aims to help Christians navigate issues related to LGBTQ+ individuals from a perspective of traditional biblical sexual ethics. The session highlights that churches must discuss culturally relevant and controversial topics such as LGBTQ+ issues to remain pertinent. Guy begins by introducing himself and explaining the purpose and history of his ministry, which has grown to support Christians across 90 countries by running support groups for homosexually attracted Christians and parents with LGBTQ+ children.

Guy shares his personal journey, detailing his early life as a gay man, his struggles with faith, and his eventual decision to embrace Christianity while rejecting homosexual practices. He emphasizes that he did not choose his attractions but believes that living according to biblical teachings requires celibacy for homosexually attracted individuals. He also discusses his late wife Kathy's pragmatic approach to his future remarriage and his current marriage to Laura, demonstrating his perspective on love and companionship within a Christian framework.

Ellen Radcliffe, the Ministry's Chief Operating Officer, also speaks, sharing her similar background of living a lesbian lifestyle before turning to faith. Ellen underscores the importance of leading others to fall in love with God rather than merely adhering to a set of beliefs. She discusses her therapeutic work and her belief in the "messy middle space," a term describing the intersection of truth and grace where Christians can accept people without necessarily approving of their actions. Ellen asserts that understanding individuals as beloved children of God is crucial to navigating LGBTQ+ conversations within Christianity.

The session covers practical strategies for churches to engage with LGBTQ+ topics, emphasizing the difference between acceptance and approval, and the necessity of hospitality toward those who are different. Guy argues that many Christians are not homophobic but rather uneducated about LGBTQ+ issues, which leads to avoidance behaviors. He stresses that the transformation into a Christian life is not quick and that churches should be prepared to welcome LGBTQ+ individuals for extended periods while they navigate their faith journey.

Guy outlines four key messages for engaging with LGBTQ+ individuals: God’s unconditional love, the freedom to live as one chooses, the trustworthiness of the Bible, and the high but worthwhile cost of following Jesus. He underscores the need for Christians to demonstrate the superiority of a life with Jesus over a life without by being exemplary in their own faith and knowledge of Christ.

The episode concludes by offering workshops and educational materials, including a new book and a documentary that Guy hopes will aid churches in addressing LGBTQ+ topics effectively. Guy invites ministers and church leaders to engage with his ministry for further training and support, thereby equipping themselves to handle these issues with compassion, truth, and hospitality.