Dear Editor,
It was encouraging to read of conversions to Christ in the Commentary section of the December en. Thank you. Such stories prompt us to pray and share the gospel with as many as will hear.
On the same page however you carried a rather puzzling, and in my view, poorly written critique of the recently published Living Out guidelines. These have been prepared for churches who wish to reach out with the gospel to as a wide a range of people as possible, including those from a LGBTQ+ background. The two articles appear, to this reader, to stand in contradiction to one another.
The Living Out guidelines are of course not perfect; they are not Scripture. They do however, invite serious reflection on how Christian believers struggling with same-sex attraction have been, and sadly still are being treated in many conservative evangelical churches. I am choosing my words carefully here but, having listened to recent stories of brothers and sisters who have experienced painful exclusion, it seems vital for the sake of the gospel in our day, that the Living Out guidelines are not simply ignored by churches because ‘concerns’ have been raised by some unnamed people. Arguably en is itself ironically making the urgent case for the guidelines by subtly undermining them in the mind of the reader. Your writer does not say there are major errors but offers faint praise whilst implying that some serious error may lurk beneath the guidelines which could make pastoral care complicated in some situations. If en has serious concerns about Living Out, then I assume you will make contact with them and seek a comment. Alternatively, knowing some of the brethren in that ministry, they will welcome suggestions to enhance the guidelines and make them as useful as possible going forward.
This is a time for demonstrating the love of Christ to people from all manner of backgrounds. If evangelical churches and their leaders are unable to do that for their own converted members struggling with same-sex attraction, then please tell me how we will be able to effectively show that great love to those yet to be saved?
Yours in His service,
