There have been several headlines in the news recently concerning gender and racial identity. The latest one has come from Spokane, Washington where Rachel Dolezal, the former head of the local NAACP, has come under fire for presenting herself as being African American, when she is fact Caucasian. When asked in an interview as to whether or not she is an African American woman, Dolezal replied, “I identify as black”.
The truth is that until someone struggling with these issues recognizes and embraces their identity in Jesus Christ, they will continue to be enslaved to these identity issues. It is going to take a realization on their part of who they are in Jesus Christ and an embracing of His purpose and expectations for all of humanity before they can reconcile the identification struggle within themselves. In Colossians 2:8-10, the apostle Paul makes this point very clear:
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (NIV)
Paul is saying that through deceptive practices, the world will tell you that identity issues are a natural struggle, and that gender and racial differences are “socially constructed forms of oppression.” The truth of the matter is that once we realize and accept our fullness through the sacrificial and atoning work of Jesus Christ, then we are able to discern the truth of Christ from the hollow talk that the world tries to spin as truth.
But the question still remains: how do we get people to embrace their fullness in Christ? Well, we all know that you can’t force anyone to do anything. Like the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. However, it seems to me that if we just get back to basics, that would be a good start. How about we start inviting these people to church? How about when they actually show up, we welcome them with love and with the right hand of Christian fellowship as opposed to treating them like they have leprosy? This is not to say that we in any way accept or affirm their lifestyle choices. We certainly do not, nor will we, because we as Christians must stand on the Word. However, we can do that without being judgmental and intolerant. David Prince, pastor of preaching and vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, has provided the best example of how to do this that I have seen thus far. He responded to someone who wrote him asking if, as a gay man, he would be fully accepted and welcomes at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church. While his response is lengthy, we would all be wise read it and to follow Prince’s lead. I have included the link to the letter below.
http://erlc.com/article/will-i-be-fully-accepted-at-your-church-as-a-gay-man
So, here’s the thing friends. If we are going to try to get folks of alternative lifestyles to embrace their fullness and identity in Jesus Christ, then we have to start engaging them in a real way. Are you doing that? When people see you, do they someone that, while standing upon the unchanging principles of God’s Word, they also see someone that loves them enough to invite them to church and share with them the hope that can break even the strongest shackles? Remember, enough people know what the church is against. I think it’s high time that we start showing them what the church is for.
Until Next Week,
Pastor JP
