This video link was sent to me by a friend and reader of this blog. He knew I should see it. I watched it and wept. My heart goes out to this dear man of God. I listened to and appreciate his story, but don’t agree with his lifestyle. Take a look and listen to this man’s story.
Randy McCain’s Story from Neal Campbell on Vimeo.
I reached out to Randy and emailed him twice – asking him to start a conversation with me and invited him to be interviewed on this blog. As of now, I haven’t heard back from him. As I’ve said many times before on this blog, I love homosexuals and have a special place in my heart for them. Where the tension comes in is over whether or not gay Christians should live a life of celibacy like my friend, Justin Lee of The Gay Christian Network. There are “Side B” Christians that are homosexual, but don’t date and live a life of celibacy.
Recently, I was asked to review a new book by Zondervan and found that not only Justin feels this way, but many others. The book I was asked to review is called Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality and is part theology, part memoir. Wesley Hill writes as a gay celibate Christian, someone who believes in the Bible’s prohibition against homosexual practice, but struggles with same-sex attraction.
If you are a part of church ministry you likely know someone who struggles with same-sex attraction. This book will help you understand their feelings of loneliness and isolation better, and also provides encouragement for them by waiting on the Lord.
I’m curious, IF you took the time to watch the entire video above and hear Randy’s story, what are your thoughts? Do you think his moving story of love and romance trumps what Scripture teaches? Is Scripture out of date, out of touch, wrong, misinterpreted? Do you celebrate Randy’s story and his ministry as a senior pastor of a church or do you grieve and wish he would live a life of purity and faithfulness to his tremendous calling in Christ? You know where I stand. Where do you stand?
Apparently, my blog decided to act up today and people's comments are not going through. I'm trying to add comments as people email them to me. If you have one and yours doesn' t go through, just email me your comment and I'll post it. Thanks for your understanding! I do want us to have a healthy discussion on here.
The following is a comment from: Rev TJ Conwell, Pastor, County Line Baptist Church, https://www.countylineforchrist.org
Greg, my first impression is that the bible used to ordain this man and
that he preaches from is obviously skewed from the version I have.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, I do not think God could could
be any clearer about the subject of homosexuality. I will be the FIRST to
say that it is VERY important to demonstrate the love of Christ in all
things, but Jesus never said that we should bend the Word of the Lord to
ensure we make everyone feel good, else we would never have a verse like:
Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven." Jesus was teaching His disciples that just because someone
professes to be a Christian doesn't mean they are (anymore than going to
McDonald's makes you a hamburger). Very important here, he was teaching
his Disciples this lesson, and wasn't Judas in that crowd? Consider it for
a moment, this lesson was being taught to the ones who call themselves
believers … and we must check ourselves!
Else, if one could live contrary to the Word of God, why did Christ need to
die? Could we not just give lip service and then live like we want and
still go to Heaven? That is the view the world PRAYS that we adopt, and
the church must NOT waiver. We love the sinner, but must (stress MUST)
stand firm on the Word of the Lord, It is complete (2 Tim 3:16-17), and
must not be bent to make ourselves feel better.
The following is a comment from: Catherine Mitchell
We ALL are tempted in one way or another. God grows us by allowing temptation to touch our lives. Trial too, this is how we grow in faith and grace.
We cannot judge and condemn "Christians that are homosexual, but don’t date and live a life of celibacy." To do so is unmerciful and hypocritical. That they, or any of us in our own struggles with differing sins, are honest about their struggle with temptation and willing to be held accountable—the transparency is refreshing. When someone honestly acknowledges we should hold them up in prayer. Should they lead a congregation? That should be up to the congregation.
Those who deny something is sinful….no way. We are called to be overcomers, we are made overcomers when we submit to His will…otherwise we are just playing church—and there is no power in the blood.
I believe in the power of the blood.
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." 1 John 1:8-9
God is just. He does not change. If He allows this now He would have to apologize for His wrath poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah. The Word of God is clear, it is our culture that has changed.