Spread the Fire - March 2008 - (Page 19)

The outcome of all this is remarkable. Not only did I find my identity in my relationship with God, the outcome of that revelation was a desire for a relationship that reflected that new identity. I found myself particularly attracted to a beautiful young woman who had become my friend. Jane is now my wife, and we have a daughter, Emily, who is the fruit of our love. The day we became one together I cried and cried. We stood side by side on our wedding day, and I knew that something amazing was happening. To many of the guests, the highlights of the day would have been the singing or the service, but for us it was so much more. It was the true reflection of a son and a daughter who had been restored by love to such a place of beauty. We had begun our journey together in trying to discover all it means to be a reflection of God to each other first, then eventually to our child and now to the world. overuse the slogan, “Hate the sin and love the sinner.” Homosexuals know that slogan well and despise it because they do not yet see it as a sin, cannot yet separate themselves from it and have identified themselves with it. They cannot understand how Jesus Christ can give someone the ability to love a person and hate sin at the same time. The people we are trying to reach must be convinced that the way of Jesus is the way of the “wounded healer,” not the way of “holy terror.” 3 . mINISTER WITh GRACE AND TRUTh Churches face an awkward dilemma today. Excluding practicing homosexuals from worship and ministry may push them away from Christianity; but including them in church life may send a message that we approve of homosexual practice. The morally ambiguous “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy does not work in a church setting, either. It satisfies neither side and is a cowardly response. It is better for church leaders to clarify from the pulpit that the church is there to minister forgiveness and healing to sexual sins including homosexuality. The Christian who cannot yet deal with the issues of homosexuality compassionately with grace and truth should stay silent and away from the front lines of ministry and public debate, including the media. The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God; instead, it only fuels prejudice. Christians should be known for the kind of help that characterized the ministry of our Lord. People need to see that you care before you share, that you are a living example of the good news. 4 . EDUCATE ThE ChURCh. pEOpLE NEED TO KNOW hOW TO LIvE GODLY LIvES They need to know what the Bible has to say about these issues. Churches should make information readily available about local counseling resources and support groups for healing the sexually broken. This information should be as readily available as condoms are outside the church. The body of Christ is not just a mouth. There are a variety of ways we can express His grace to others offering practical help and support in times of need. Take an interest in others by spending time and money to meet their needs. These expressions of love are not optional for those who seek to live a truly godly lifestyle. More (continued on page 21) S TF - 1 9

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Spread the Fire - March 2008

Spread the Fire - March 2008 Contents In the River Save Sex? Simon’s Story The Key To Overcoming Lust It’s Time for the Double Blessing International Itinerary Resource Center Catalogue Upcoming Events Visitor Information

Spread the Fire - March 2008

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