at the recommendation of a good friend of mine, i've been reading the book Washed and Waiting. Wesley Hill does a fantastic job telling his story and sharing his reflections on Christian faithfulness and homosexuality. i'll be honest, when i started reading the book i was a little hesitant about using my time to learn more about and dig deeper into the homosexuality debate as there are a lot of books about what's right and what's not, and they are often written in a tone that lacks humility. however, Hill is far from having hubris. his humble presentation of his thoughts was gripping, and his story is a powerful testimony for all of us -- not just those who struggle with homosexuality or are struggling through their theology regarding this hotly debated topic. his honest candor about the role of sin in his life was refreshing and provided encouragement to continue on as a Christian seeking after sanctifying growth and awaiting that day when glorification will be known. i'm thankful the book landed in my hands, and i'd encourage you to check it out, too.
a few quotes to chew on until you pick up the book....
"Engaging with God and entering the transformative life of the church does not mean we get a kind of 'free pass,' an unconditional love that leaves us where we are. Instead, we get a fiercely demanding love, a divine love that will never let us escape from its purifying, renovating, and ultimately healing grip" (68).
"Though it sounds politically incorrect to modern ears, the gospel has always said that God may demand from us what he wants, since we do not belong to ourselves" (69).
"One of the hardest-to-swallow, most countercultural, counterintuitive implications of the gospel is that bearing up under a difficult burden with patient perseverance is a good thing" (71).
"I have come to realize my need to take the New Testament witness seriously that groaning and grief and feeling broken are legitimate ways for me to express my cross-bearing discipleship to Jesus. It's not as if groaning means I am somehow doing something wrong. Groaning is a sign of my fidelity" (119).
"The Bible calls the Christian struggle against sin faith (Hebrews 12:3-4; 10:37-19). It calls the Christian fight against impure cravings holiness (Romans 6:12-13, 22). So I am trying to appropriate these biblical descriptions for myself. I am learning to look at my daily wrestling with disordered desires and call it trust. I am learning to look at my battle to keep from giving in to my temptations and call it sanctification. I am learning to see that my flawed, imperfect, yet never-giving-up faithfulness is precisely the spiritual fruit that God will praise me for on the last day, to ultimate honor of Jesus Christ" (146).
As you can see, I read each of your blog posts the second they go up. ;)
ReplyDeleteI recently discovered the "Pure Passion" testimonies on Vimeo. Hidden among the snoozers are some really encouraging and honest discussions of sexual brokenness turning into sexual healing. Regarding homosexuality, one I rather liked was by Charlene Cothran.