Retreat | Following Jesus With Same Sex Attraction @retreatliving | Uploaded April 2022 | Updated October 2024, 49 minutes ago.
For most of my life I kept a secret. I had a dark place in my heart that I didn't let anyone else into. I would soon realize that I was walking with Same-Sex Attraction. Every person walking through this has a story with different experiences. We're all here, but we got here differently.
In this season of life I thought, "I'm sure i'm not actually attracted to guys." I truthfully just got to a place in my life of doubting God. "If he really is God, and He is good, then why am I attracted to the same sex?"
As Christians, we're often obsessed with behavior modification. It's easy for us to look at others and judge the issues that we don't personally deal with. As I stand at times between the LGBTQ+ community and the church, I know that although the Church is holy, it's people don't always stand blameless. Terrible things have happened to LGBTQ+ people in the name of God, and I don't condone any of things.
With Politics, Laws, Stances and News Stories, we often miss the heart of the issue. They at times leave love somewhere far in the background.
1 Timothy 1:5-6 Says, The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.
When I first reached the place of doubting God, I started to ask some tough questions.
Do you really love me?
Are you really a holy and trustworthy God?
Can I Trust the scriptures to direct my life?
All of this doubting caused me to push away my Christian community and even God himself. My distance from God caused more problems than my actions did.
I don't believe in the heterosexual gospel. Everyone doesn't just turn straight as soon as they return to Jesus.
People aren't gay just because they had dad issues, and trans women don't exist just because they played dress up with their sisters. This is a complex topic and it's time that we finally admit that. I believe that one way we can all move forward is with open and honest conversation.
Attending church in America Is easy. Discipleship, Hospitality and Christ like love will take some intentionality and dependence on God. The church is the bride of Christ, therefore our doors have to be open to all who are weary.
Our number one focus, for people dealing with this or any other issue, is that they meet Jesus. Jesus has now become the foundation of everything I do. God is satisfied with all of His fullness resting in Christ. If God is content with that, then why are we not? Why is Jesus not the focus of everything we do?
The hope for all that walk with a story like mine isn't heterosexuality, it's Jesus.
🎙The NEW Retreat Podcast: (Extended Conversations & Stories)
Apple: apple.co/3UFVt64
Spotify: spoti.fi/3O8tYiS
Retreat:
To retreat is to refuse the fight and resist the rhythms of culture. As we slow and simplify the faith journey, we realize how complicated it has become. We are to engage with culture and build a life of our own, but as followers of Jesus, we should do it differently.
God isn’t just doing a new thing, he’s returning us back to the old, the things that still matter most. We accept His invitation into the simplicity of stillness and the rhythms of grace. We are a platform that intersects the beauty of art and the traditions of faith. Artists, writers, designers, leaders and lovers come together under one name. We rest in this finished work, the very best we can bring.
Click the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj
💌 Sign up for my free community! jordanhawkins.com/join
Receive videos, blogs and challenges from me in your inbox! 😊
Timecodes:
00:00-2:47 My Journey
2:48-4:43 Do I actually like guys?
4:44-6:10 Missing The Heart Of The Issue
6:11-7:57 Going My Own Way
7:58-9:06 Answering Some Questions
9:07-11:18 The Heterosexual Gospel
11:19-13:46 Why Are You Talking About Jesus?
13:47-15:15 Behavior Modification Vs. Meeting Jesus
15:16-20:04 Where I'm At Now
20:05-23:37 Engaging In Conversation
For most of my life I kept a secret. I had a dark place in my heart that I didn't let anyone else into. I would soon realize that I was walking with Same-Sex Attraction. Every person walking through this has a story with different experiences. We're all here, but we got here differently.
In this season of life I thought, "I'm sure i'm not actually attracted to guys." I truthfully just got to a place in my life of doubting God. "If he really is God, and He is good, then why am I attracted to the same sex?"
As Christians, we're often obsessed with behavior modification. It's easy for us to look at others and judge the issues that we don't personally deal with. As I stand at times between the LGBTQ+ community and the church, I know that although the Church is holy, it's people don't always stand blameless. Terrible things have happened to LGBTQ+ people in the name of God, and I don't condone any of things.
With Politics, Laws, Stances and News Stories, we often miss the heart of the issue. They at times leave love somewhere far in the background.
1 Timothy 1:5-6 Says, The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.
When I first reached the place of doubting God, I started to ask some tough questions.
Do you really love me?
Are you really a holy and trustworthy God?
Can I Trust the scriptures to direct my life?
All of this doubting caused me to push away my Christian community and even God himself. My distance from God caused more problems than my actions did.
I don't believe in the heterosexual gospel. Everyone doesn't just turn straight as soon as they return to Jesus.
People aren't gay just because they had dad issues, and trans women don't exist just because they played dress up with their sisters. This is a complex topic and it's time that we finally admit that. I believe that one way we can all move forward is with open and honest conversation.
Attending church in America Is easy. Discipleship, Hospitality and Christ like love will take some intentionality and dependence on God. The church is the bride of Christ, therefore our doors have to be open to all who are weary.
Our number one focus, for people dealing with this or any other issue, is that they meet Jesus. Jesus has now become the foundation of everything I do. God is satisfied with all of His fullness resting in Christ. If God is content with that, then why are we not? Why is Jesus not the focus of everything we do?
The hope for all that walk with a story like mine isn't heterosexuality, it's Jesus.
🎙The NEW Retreat Podcast: (Extended Conversations & Stories)
Apple: apple.co/3UFVt64
Spotify: spoti.fi/3O8tYiS
Retreat:
To retreat is to refuse the fight and resist the rhythms of culture. As we slow and simplify the faith journey, we realize how complicated it has become. We are to engage with culture and build a life of our own, but as followers of Jesus, we should do it differently.
God isn’t just doing a new thing, he’s returning us back to the old, the things that still matter most. We accept His invitation into the simplicity of stillness and the rhythms of grace. We are a platform that intersects the beauty of art and the traditions of faith. Artists, writers, designers, leaders and lovers come together under one name. We rest in this finished work, the very best we can bring.
Click the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj
💌 Sign up for my free community! jordanhawkins.com/join
Receive videos, blogs and challenges from me in your inbox! 😊
Timecodes:
00:00-2:47 My Journey
2:48-4:43 Do I actually like guys?
4:44-6:10 Missing The Heart Of The Issue
6:11-7:57 Going My Own Way
7:58-9:06 Answering Some Questions
9:07-11:18 The Heterosexual Gospel
11:19-13:46 Why Are You Talking About Jesus?
13:47-15:15 Behavior Modification Vs. Meeting Jesus
15:16-20:04 Where I'm At Now
20:05-23:37 Engaging In Conversation
