Transformative Faith: Embracing Love and Identity in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Through Community

The journey to faith is often supported by a loving and accepting community. Christians are called to build genuine relationships rather than treating individuals as projects. This approach allows the transformative power of the Gospel to work through love and hospitality. When people feel genuinely loved and accepted, they are more open to exploring faith and experiencing the gradual process of sanctification. The role of a supportive community is crucial in helping individuals navigate their spiritual journey, offering encouragement and understanding as they grow in their relationship with Christ. [03:23]

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to today to build a genuine relationship, showing them the love and hospitality of Christ?

Day 2: Understanding Identity in Christ

Our identity should not be defined by our sexual desires but by our relationship with Christ. The church has a responsibility to help individuals understand that their true identity is found in being image-bearers of God, called to live in righteousness and holiness. This understanding challenges societal narratives that often reduce identity to sexual orientation or desires. Instead, Christians are invited to find their worth and purpose in their relationship with Christ, who calls them to a life of transformation and renewal. [10:42]

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself today that your true identity is found in Christ, rather than in societal labels or personal desires?

Day 3: The Slow Process of Sanctification

Conversion does not instantly remove all sinful desires. Sanctification is a gradual process that requires patience and understanding. Christians are encouraged to support one another in this journey, recognizing that everyone struggles with sin. The church community plays a vital role in providing a safe space for individuals to grow in their faith, offering grace and encouragement as they navigate their spiritual journey. This process of sanctification is a testament to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in transforming lives from within. [10:17]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to exercise patience with yourself or others as you undergo the slow process of sanctification?

Day 4: Engaging with Love and Truth

Christians must engage with the LGBT community with both love and truth, offering genuine relationships and support. The church should be a place of refuge and community, reflecting the hospitality and care that Christ extends to all. This engagement requires a balance of compassion and honesty, where individuals are welcomed and loved while being guided towards the truth of the Gospel. By embodying Christ's love and truth, Christians can create an environment where all people feel valued and supported in their spiritual journey. [35:39]

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally engage with someone from the LGBT community today, showing them both love and truth in your interactions?

Day 5: Challenging Misconceptions

The church must challenge misconceptions about the LGBT community and avoid viewing them as a separate species. Instead, Christians should recognize that all humans are distorted by original sin and in need of redemption through Christ. This perspective fosters a sense of unity and shared humanity, emphasizing the universal need for grace and transformation. By addressing these misconceptions, the church can create a more inclusive and understanding environment, where individuals are seen as fellow image-bearers of God, deserving of love and respect. [08:27]

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What misconceptions or biases do you need to challenge in your own heart to better reflect Christ's love and acceptance towards others?

Sermon Summary

In this discussion, I shared my journey from being a committed lesbian feminist to finding faith in Christ, emphasizing the transformative power of the Gospel. My conversion was not an instantaneous change of desires but a gradual process of sanctification, where the love and acceptance of a Christian community played a crucial role. Pastor Ken Smith and his congregation demonstrated genuine friendship and hospitality, which allowed me to explore the Bible and its teachings in a non-confrontational environment. This experience highlighted the importance of Christians not treating individuals as projects but as people deserving of love and respect.

I also addressed the misconceptions surrounding the LGBT community within the church, urging believers to avoid viewing them as a separate species. Instead, we should recognize that all humans are distorted by original sin and in need of redemption. The Gospel offers hope not by promising a moral makeover but by inviting us into a relationship with Christ, who transforms us from within. This transformation is a slow process, requiring patience and understanding from the church community.

Furthermore, I discussed the problematic nature of terms like "sexual orientation" and "born this way," which can mislead individuals into believing that their identity is solely defined by their sexual desires. Instead, our true identity is found in Christ, who calls us to die to ourselves and live for Him. The church must create a culture of repentance and acceptance, where individuals are encouraged to grow in their faith and understanding of God's Word.

Finally, I emphasized the need for Christians to engage with the LGBT community with love and truth, offering genuine relationships and support. The church should be a place of refuge and community, reflecting the hospitality and care that Christ extends to all.

Key Takeaways

1. bearers of God, called to live in righteousness and holiness. [10:42]
3. The Slow Process of Sanctification: Conversion does not instantly remove all sinful desires. Sanctification is a gradual process that requires patience and understanding. Christians should support one another in this journey, recognizing that we all struggle with sin.

4. Engaging with Love and Truth: Christians must engage with the LGBT community with both love and truth, offering genuine relationships and support. The church should be a place of refuge and community, reflecting the hospitality and care that Christ extends to all.

5. Challenging Misconceptions: The church must challenge misconceptions about the LGBT community and avoid viewing them as a separate species. Instead, we should recognize that all humans are distorted by original sin and in need of redemption through Christ.

** [10:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction of Dr. Rosaria Butterfield
[01:08] - Rosaria's Journey to Faith
[02:44] - The Role of Pastor Ken Smith
[04:33] - The Church's Approach to the LGBT Community
[06:10] - Ministering to the Sexually Broken
[08:12] - Conversion and Ongoing Struggles
[10:42] - Identity in Christ vs. Sexual Orientation
[13:21] - The Hope of the Gospel
[16:52] - Theological Foundations of Identity
[20:02] - Engaging with Cultural Narratives
[24:21] - Addressing "Born This Way"
[29:28] - The Christian Understanding of Peace
[33:18] - Overcoming Fear and Misunderstanding
[38:11] - Building Genuine Community in the Church
[42:20] - The Role of Hospitality and Truth
[49:59] - Practical Advice for Parents and Churches

Sermon Clips

One of the things they did really well is they did not treat me like a project I wasn't a project um nor did they presume that I was a blank slate they really did not presume that my life was falling apart um they were not trying to manipulate me with the Bible. [00:04:35]

Sanctification is a slow process it's somewhat of a frustrating process and that's why we hang on to the fact that we stand in an alien righteousness, but one of the things that that has always struck me when people ask me about that you know and I have to tell people all the time I was not converted out of homosexuality no one is I was converted out of unbelief. [00:10:19]

We are asking that people die to themselves and we're called to reflect that ourselves and a good question is if you're trying to minister uh to folks in the LGBT community is this am I reflecting a life of repentance you know I don't think creating churches where you've got little ghettos of people who struggle in the same way is is hopeful. [00:11:41]

One of the things that we're offering is a hope that doesn't minimize how powerful the struggle is there is nothing more hopeless than a gospel that is pedling a kind of moral makeover I I don't I mean quite frankly when I first met Ken Smith my partner and I were good citizens and good caregivers. [00:13:14]

Romans one tells us that the sin of homosexuality is like pretty much any other kind of sin of idolatry that um the sin of homosexuality really comes out of original sin and it's the ethical outworking of a state of mind that says my body is my own my sexuality is my own and it is it is really only um under the authority of of of my lover. [00:14:22]

We are all born in Adam which means that every single human being in the world on the planet and who will be on the planet or who has ever been on the planet was born in Adam and that means that we are all born with a sense of distortion we are distorted by original sin and in addition to that we took our first breath and then we started adding to that sin. [00:24:13]

We need to stop the US them we need to really stop buying into the whole freedan idea that that that that people who identify as lesbian or gay or bisexual or transgendered are a separate species of humanity we need to stop that that is not god-honoring to that fact that these are souls that will last forever. [00:34:38]

If you are really going to call people to die to themselves and to give up everything are you going to be there I mean it's just a question but the when I was in uh the lesbian Community every home was open every night not every know each each night someone's home was open for the entire Community to come if you were struggling with anything at all sadness depression a breakup um job stuff your community was open. [00:36:14]

Our hope is not that God is going to bless you just as you are that's not true for any guess what everybody has to give up everything all the time for the gospel so our hope is not in a hope of the flesh you know and that's also ultimately what's what's wrong with the category of sexual orientation as an identity moniker. [00:45:49]

The Bible tells us to make our calling and election sure to test our Salvation so if if you think that your salvation is dependent upon you accepting Christ this is that is a big red flag biblically biblically that is a bit you can't you know those that video is that video of singing This Little Light of Mine uh at 4 in your church could send you straighter to Hell than anything else. [00:46:40]

To the church I want to say this own this issue is don't make uh homosexuality somebody else's issue don't don't act as though good Doctrine is going to protect you from anything we are all born this way whatever this way means because original sin is powerful so Own It own it make good friendships in your neighborhood. [00:58:52]

Please know that there is all meaning and purpose and Grace in the Lord and that anything that you are called to give up on this side of Heaven the Lord will replenish in multiple ways in powerful ways that the Lord knows his people from before the foundations of the world that precedes any Born This Way feeling. [01:00:05]

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