A Christian Response to Homosexuality

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A  Christian  Response  to  Homosexuality   Jill  Rennick  –  The  Grace  Place  Director       What  was  once  simply  an  issue  with  a  simple  answer  “homosexuality  is  sin”  is  now  much  more  complex  as  we   realize  that  people  we  know-­‐-­‐friends,  children,  spouses,  co-­‐workers  and  fellow  Christians  are  impacted   personally.  At  this  workshop,  I  will  share  my  journey  of  walking  with  Jesus  including  my  experience  of  same-­‐sex   attractions.  Our  hope  as  followers  of  Christ  is  to  work  through  our  fear,  anger  and  confusion  and  be  set  free  to   build  relationships  that  reflect  His  love  and  allow  us  to  relate  well  with  those  behind  the  word  “homosexual”.   Real  lives…real  stories.         Recent  History:   •

Cultural  

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Evangelical/Christian  church  

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Organizations  offering  help  

 

 

      Current  theological  perspectives  and  approaches:           The  importance  of  context:   •    

The  gospel  truth  

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Our  human  commonalities    

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Identity  in  Christ    

 

  The  generational  divide:   •

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Semantics  matter         Stories  matter    

  Reaching  out,  responding  and  relating  well  in  ways  that  demonstrate  and  draw  others  to  the  hope,  grace  and   love  of  Christ.   •

Cultural  responses:  

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Reaching  out  and  relating  to  individuals:      

       

        Recommended  blogs  and  websites: julierodgers.wordpress.com; spiritualfriendship.org; wespeaklove.org   Recommended  books:  Unchristian  (David  Kinnaman  &  Gabe  Lyons);  Homosexuality  and  the  Christian  (Mark   Yarhouse);  Understanding  Sexual  Identity  (Mark  Yarhouse)