Life

Gay teens
Are we being compassionate in our youth ministry toward gay teens? (iStock photo)

There is a new book out that I can’t wait to read. I’ll get to that in a minute.

I have written no less than a half-dozen posts about the LGBTQ conversation. There is a world of complexities when dealing with this issue—and they are not all black and white. One of the worst things we can do to another person is make their struggle a universal black-and-white issue.

There is a black-and-white issue here that we should recognize, but it’s one that, unfortunately, few people articulate. The issue that we should be concerned about in our churches is not one of homosexuality, but one of porneia.

This is the Greek word translated in most cases as “sexual immorality.” It speaks of any sexual promiscuity outside God’s design for marriage. Homosexual behaviors can fall into this category, but the truth is that heterosexual behaviors are addressed at a much greater length in Scripture than any homosexual behaviors are. That’s black and white.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

To point out one porneia behavior over another may be done out of ignorance by some, but sadly, in many cases, it seems to be little more than bigotry. On the other hand, discipling people who are gay is not for the bigot, but for the follower of Jesus.

For those of us who want to lovingly guide people toward the ways of Jesus in any issue, we understand discipleship as being much more than walking people through a curriculum once a week. It’s every bit of the word messy. It’s anything but black and white. Everyone is different. Their fears, concerns and questions are unique ... and befriending gay people is no exception.

I recently read an article that expressed some of the growing complexities we are seeing in our context. It was written by a gay man who just found out his partner was a trans woman (a man in transition to become a woman). He was concerned about what this made him … heterosexual now? It was complex, but it was honest. It was an article that explained the emotional complexities this man was going through and the questions he was honestly wrestling with.

Now, this may be an extreme case for some of us, but make no mistake about it—every gay person is riding a number of emotional roller coasters that are unique to that individual, and especially those in the church. If we want to lovingly relate to people, whatever their struggle, we need to pay the price of time with them. That’s when we become certain that this is not black and white.

There is a new resource out through Simply Youth Ministry that I am looking forward to reading. It’s called Ministering to Gay Teenagers: Practical Help for Youth Workers and Families. I would recommend checking out the video from the author (Shawn Harrison), reading the description, and purchasing the book. I don’t personally know the author, but I am looking forward reading his book.

Chuck Bomar planted and is lead pastor of Colossae Church in Portland, Ore., and is founder of both CollegeLeader (www.CollegeLeader.org) and iampeople (www.iampeople.org). He is author of six books, with the most recent being the highly anticipated work titled Better Off Without Jesus.

For the original article, visit simplyyouthministry.com.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.


Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.

Charisma Leader — Serving and empowering church leaders