Pastor Tom Buck of First Baptist Church Lindale, Texas "takes issue with how Shaw explains navigating same-sex attraction and has called on Sam Allberry and The Gospel Coalition (TGC) not to support Shaw any longer." - C.Leaders
Debate over whether there can be such a thing as a “gay Christian” has raged for a while now, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Much of the conflict is over deeply incompatible views on the authority of Scripture, and the right basic approach to interpreting it. Some of the conflict, though, might not be necessary at all—because it arises from a combination of unclear language and slightly (but consequentially) faulty interpretation.
If we could clear some of this up, we’ll relate the Bible better to the times we live in and—as much as possible—avoid sending the wrong message. Three principles may help.
The currently popular idea of sexual orientation as a person’s unalterable sexual wiring has no equivalent in Scripture. Many of us doubt that orientation, in this sense, is even a thing. That aside, what’s clear is that the Bible nowhere judges anyone for unbidden feelings of attraction toward those of their own sex rather than (or in addition to) those of the opposite sex.
Some passages may seem to do that.
"Why, then, should we use—much less build ministries around—identities imposed by a fallen culture that detract from the transformative power of the gospel that gives every believer new life in Christ?'“Same-sex attracted Christian?' 'Gay Christian?' I fail to see how such designations can survive a proper appreciation of our union with Christ." - Tom Ascol
