One of my favorite Christian songs (by Sara Groves) has the most interesting lyrics, “When I stand before the Lord, I’ll be standing alone…”
This song came to my mind when a good friend came to me searching for answers about his homosexuality as it relates to his spirituality. Often he comes to me seeking answers to address the doubt, pain and self-torment he is feeling. When someone comes to me with these sorts of questions or issues, I try to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit to counsel the person with love.
Sometimes providing sound counsel can be very difficult, especially when the person I am counseling has pre-conceived notions that he or she is unlovable because of their homosexuality. Many Same-Gender-Loving individuals believe that God will never love or accept them.
I try to explain the love of God, and how we have to accept and love ourselves as God loves us. My friend told me he did not want to hear this because it seemed too simple. I tried to explain, “It is just that simple. God truly loves us no matter who we are or what we have done.”
He laughed and sarcastically stated, “That sounds like a line from your book.”
I said, “It’s not a line from a book, but it’s the foundation on which my book was written—a book which you refused to read because you like most homophobic homosexuals feel that it promotes homosexuality.”
“If it is not promoting homosexuality,” he asked, “what it is promoting?”
“It is promoting the undeniable and undying love of Christ and nothing else.”
He responded in anger. “I need answers; I don’t have time for this kind of fictional love you’re talking about. I thought after talking to you I would feel better, however, I still feel like I’m standing alone!” After my friend walked out, slamming the door behind him, I sat speechless and shocked from his fury. In addition, I was disappointed that I could not help.
It appears that the love that I was offering and the wonderful love of Christ is not enough to overcome the issue of homosexuality in my friend’s heart. His pain may go far deeper than his sexuality. His pain may be in his choices. The choice he has made to push people away and the choice of accepting the feelings that he is not worthy to be loved by God or anyone else because of his sexuality. On the other hand, maybe the root of his pain is the yearning and need for another man’s touch.
My friend may not accept the fact that while he did not have had a choice regarding his sexuality. He does, however, in this journey of life, have a choice in the helping hands that can lead him to his peaceful final destination.
“When I stand before the Lord, I’ll be standing alone. This journey is my own.” How we travel through this journey is a choice.
This song came to my mind when a good friend came to me searching for answers about his homosexuality as it relates to his spirituality. Often he comes to me seeking answers to address the doubt, pain and self-torment he is feeling. When someone comes to me with these sorts of questions or issues, I try to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit to counsel the person with love.
Sometimes providing sound counsel can be very difficult, especially when the person I am counseling has pre-conceived notions that he or she is unlovable because of their homosexuality. Many Same-Gender-Loving individuals believe that God will never love or accept them.
I try to explain the love of God, and how we have to accept and love ourselves as God loves us. My friend told me he did not want to hear this because it seemed too simple. I tried to explain, “It is just that simple. God truly loves us no matter who we are or what we have done.”
He laughed and sarcastically stated, “That sounds like a line from your book.”
I said, “It’s not a line from a book, but it’s the foundation on which my book was written—a book which you refused to read because you like most homophobic homosexuals feel that it promotes homosexuality.”
“If it is not promoting homosexuality,” he asked, “what it is promoting?”
“It is promoting the undeniable and undying love of Christ and nothing else.”
He responded in anger. “I need answers; I don’t have time for this kind of fictional love you’re talking about. I thought after talking to you I would feel better, however, I still feel like I’m standing alone!” After my friend walked out, slamming the door behind him, I sat speechless and shocked from his fury. In addition, I was disappointed that I could not help.
It appears that the love that I was offering and the wonderful love of Christ is not enough to overcome the issue of homosexuality in my friend’s heart. His pain may go far deeper than his sexuality. His pain may be in his choices. The choice he has made to push people away and the choice of accepting the feelings that he is not worthy to be loved by God or anyone else because of his sexuality. On the other hand, maybe the root of his pain is the yearning and need for another man’s touch.
My friend may not accept the fact that while he did not have had a choice regarding his sexuality. He does, however, in this journey of life, have a choice in the helping hands that can lead him to his peaceful final destination.
“When I stand before the Lord, I’ll be standing alone. This journey is my own.” How we travel through this journey is a choice.
2 comments:
Great one...just what I needed!
Leave that friend alone and just pray he finds his way.
It would have been interesting if you told him to change his sexuality, he would probably be on the defensive.
I am learning that SELF acceptance and God's grace is all we truly need. When you accept YOUR self "others" see it and you draw greater experiences to you.
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