Thread by @RevClaireJones

Dear Christian-friends-who-are-more-conservative-on-matters-of-sexuality: I want to offer you an account of a painful experience, and share how you might consider supporting your LGBT+ Christian friends. A personal thread🧵:

I sometimes try to share snapshots of my experience as an LGBT+ evangelical Christian, on a one-to-one basis, with those who are more conservative on sexuality, especially my leaders. I try to explain what it feels like to read particular statements or hear certain messages.

I’m thankful for relationships of mutual respect that allow me to do so, and the deeper understanding built as we share painful experiences. For this reason, I don’t often do it on Twitter.

But this particular painful experience happened as I scrolled Twitter, so here I am sharing with whoever is scrolling now.

I read this Tweet yesterday:

https://twitter.com/_JohnStevens/status/1555665140808310789

It happened to be this one, but it could have been any similar Tweet which claims that those in same-sex relationships cannot be Christians – we are not brothers and sisters in Christ’s family; we are not in Christ.

Here’s what it’s like to hear another Christian tell me, not just that my relationship is sinful, or that I shouldn’t be a minister in the Church, but actually tell me that I am not in Christ: I feel sick to the very pit of my stomach as I imagine the implications.

I hear them tell me that my whole identity as a beloved child of God, as a forgiven sinner, as a servant of my Saviour, is a lie. I don’t know who I am without Christ, but I’m told that I am not in him.

I hear them tell me that the precious blood of Jesus, on which I completely depend to wash all my guilt and shame away, has not cleansed me; I am still stained by every sin.

I hear them tell me that the everlasting arms into which I have thrown myself for mercy and salvation, will not hold me. My hope is false, they will not catch me; I am not safe now or into eternity.

I hear them tell me that the only name under heaven by which we must be saved, will not save me. The name of Jesus, to whom I cry out and in whom I have put all my trust, will have no effect for me.

I hear them tell me that the surpassing joy of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, sharing in his suffering and becoming like him in his death, cannot be mine. And the mighty resurrection power which lifted Jesus from the grave, will not raise me.

I hear them tell me that I have no heavenly home, no room to look forward to in my Father’s house, no place around the family table, no promised inheritance, and no share in the Kingdom of my King.

I can’t tell you how horrific these things would be, were they true. If you know and love Jesus, you can imagine for yourself what it would mean for you, if you were told you could not be included in Christ.

I know that there are those who believe all this about those in same-sex relationships, because I read it and I hear it, and when I do I feel the pain of that scenario in every cell of my body.

But I know there are many Christians with a conservative position on sexuality, who also believe that all those who confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised him from the dead will be saved.

I know there are many Christians with a conservative position on sexuality who trust, as I do, that LGBT+ Christians are included in Christ by the same grace that any of us is.

So I share this only to tell you that if you fall into that latter group, your welcome of me as a Christian sister and your affirmation of my place in God’s family, not because of my righteousness but because of God's grace, is so important for me to hear.

In the end, it doesn’t matter to me if I can’t lead a Church, or can’t marry my partner, or even if I can’t bless holy, loving, Christ-centred relationships. I consider it all loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and being found in him.

My assurance is rooted in Scripture. I trust Jesus when he says, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand”.

It’s just a real encouragement when more conservative Christians can affirm that assurance with me. So, if there’s any way you can, please affirm your #faithfullyLGBT sisters and brothers, even and especially if you don’t agree with their theology of sexuality. Thank you.