Sexual identity and sexual orientation

Some years ago now I found myself reluctantly looking into the subject of homosexuality and doing so from my perspective as a gospel preaching, community activist that wanted to winsomely engage with LBGT folk and yet remain true to my Christian convictions, mindful it is a contentious subject that is at the heart of the culture wars, which I write about elsewhere. This culminated in my writing “The Gay Conundrum”, where I tried to provide a balanced view that took into account the perspectives of LBGT (and a whole string of letters that sometimes follow) folk, the Bible and a range of church teaching and the challenge churches faced, especially those of a more conservative ilk, when it comes to pastoral care and maintaining sound doctrine.

At the time of writing the earlier editions, gay marriage was not law but now it is firmly entrenched in the culture. While issues like LBGT discrimination and people being penalized for expressing views along the lines “gay is NOT ok” are still with us, the focus has now shifted to transgender rights and how to approach the subject of transgenderism. When I wrote my book, I knew at the time it was not going to be the last word and there were going to be developments in the way society comes to terms with LBGT matters and how the church responds. I haven’t addressed too much the issue of marriage per se and the various challenges arising when it comes to traditional (opposite sex) marriage and the vexed question of marital breakdown, divorce and re-marriage but all that is pertinent, for while for some celibacy may be the way to go (either by choice or circumstance) for most (at least from my own biblical understanding) sexual identity and sexual orientation will or at least should find fulfillment within marriage.

Going back to LBGT matters, I have for a long time been watching what goes on in the culture e.g. by reading Pink News and commentary by certain conservative Christian organisations on the subject, and much has gone on. I have as a result written several articles on the subject and here I bring these together under a single cover. And just for the record, I have a number of LBGT friends and the fact they are not heterosexuals is neither here nor there, and what matters is content of character. The reality is that we live in a fallen and complex world where the experience of most is not the ideal that certain renditions of the Bible narrative might lead some of us to conclude.

Book 5: Last updated 14/07/19