what's a loving dad supposed to do?

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Controversial Christian writer and retired pastor Brian McLaren recently led a commitment ceremony for his gay son and his partner. Here are the facts. Brian is a dad, and a pastor. He loves his son and he loves Jesus. Some of his critics, and I've been one on other topics, are holding this up as an example of McLaren's apostasy, that he doesn't love Jesus and advocates for a false Christianity. Years ago, McLaren wished aloud for a long pause on the American church's dialog on homosexuality. I've been part of that conversation for that while and have certainly shifted in my approaches to the issue.

How is a dad to love his son who is gay and entering into a commitment with his partner in a state that did not legally recognize gay marriage? Protest it? Picket it? Shun the two men? Condemn them? Gather up a group of preachers, kidnap his son, and collect some rocks to throw at him? Is that what the love of Christ looks like?

I don't think so. See John 8.

I do know I want to be, in what little clouded way that I can, a reflection of a loving Jesus in a broken world. I, like McLaren, would be there for my son and the love of his life.


Comments

Luke Holzmann said…
I found "A New Kind of Christian" very refreshing back in Bible college. I hadn't kept up with Brian at all since then. Thanks for sharing this. Reminds me of one of Yancey's stories from "What's So Amazing About Grace."

~Luke
September 27, 2012
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