June 2012
1 post
5 tags
Cupcakes and beer.
You guys.
Seriously.
Seriously, you guys.
I am so excited. Next week, I get to go to my first book expo.
“What’s a book expo?” you ask? (If you didn’t ask, you should, because that would make a delightful segue into the answer I’ve already prepared.)
Great question! And I’m not exactly sure of the answer!
But here’s what I know. Book Expo America is...
May 2012
15 posts
3 tags
These people do not speak for me.
It’s no secret that the media thrives on controversy. When someone says something outrageous, it gets a lot of attention. When someone says something thoughtful and reasonable, we tend to gloss over it.
So when polarizing debates happen in our culture, it’s often the guys with the megaphones who get all the press. We let them define the debate, and then the rest of us find ourselves...
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effervescentreflections asked: Hi Justin, thank you for being open to debate in the face of controversy. I'm Side B, but I vehemently disagree with the way many churches handle those on Side A. I've pre-ordered Torn, and I hope to be another voice of reason in the debate. In addition, I have a question for you. What is your response to Jesus in Mark 10:1-12? When I've brought it up to those on Side A, I usually...
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Christian Post: How should the church love a gay... →
Some quotes from me and others in this, part of a series from a conservative Christian publication. Lots of food for thought!
michy-elle asked: Hi Justin. I've been going through some of your posts and I love them. I am a Christian and I believe with my whole heart that there is nothing wrong with being LGBT. Unfortunately nobody in my church seems to share that view. I am straight, and was brought to church originally by my friend who eventually came out about being gay. I'm wondering if you could tell me how you interpret the...
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A different perspective.
Two days ago, I posted a little piece on Amendment One, the North Carolina amendment reinforcing the existing ban on same-sex marriage. It was a little something I posted mostly to encourage my gay and gay-supportive friends to try to understand those who don’t agree with them, instead of just labeling them all “bigots” and moving on.
Then that post went viral, and I got more...
30 Confessions.
Wow, you guys. Yesterday’s post about Amendment One really struck a chord with some of you and a nerve with others; I’m completely overwhelmed by how many of you have been sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. (Probably other social networks I don’t even know about, too!)
So since a lot of new folks just started reading the blog yesterday, I thought it might be time to...
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A challenge to both sides of the Amendment One...
This is probably the most political thing I will ever post on this blog, but in spite of the fact that it was inspired by a recent political debate, this isn’t actually a political post. It’s actually about people, and how we respond to these sorts of polarizing political debates.
As you may know, I live in North Carolina, which until last night was the only state in this region of...
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Here's what happens when I speak at Christian...
Speaking to Christian groups is one of my favorite things in the world. It’s so much fun!
I just posted three different videos of presentations I gave in the last few weeks at Christian colleges, so for those of you who might be thinking about having a speaker at your school/church/group, this is what you can expect. :)
I posted a description on each one, but for those of you who...
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WatchMy friend Ron and I are two Christians with different views about what the church’s approach to homosexuality should be. Here’s a fun presentation we gave a few weeks ago at Pepperdine University (a school affiliated with the Church of Christ) about the ways we agree. (This was night 1 of two nights of presentations by Ron and me.)
Adventures in titling.
Ever wonder how James Patterson comes up with the catchy titles for his novels?
Well, guess what! …I have no idea. I’ve never met the guy. (Actually, considering how all of his books these days seem to be written with co-authors, I’m not even sure he’s a real person.)
But if you want to know where the title of my book came from, I’m happy to tell you. So sit back...
April 2012
8 posts
4 tags
Hey, that's not really a compromise!
One of the issues I frequently encounter in conversations about controversial issues is what I call the “false compromise.” (There is a related logical fallacy called “false compromise,” but here I’m using the term in a way that is slightly different.)
Stick with me on this; I’m about to get all philosophical on you.
False compromises can exist whenever one...
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The problem with "homosexuality."
As you can tell from those three video updates I posted last week for my mom, I’ve been traveling a lot lately, with very little time to blog. I’m finishing up a college speaking tour, and I’ve got three cities left before it’s all done: Lubbock, TX; Abilene, TX; and San Diego, CA.
Today, though, I have a question for all of you: Do you support or oppose homosexuality?
...
Ooooh, pretty!
Hey check it out! My publisher has a new website… and I see a familiar cover on there!
March 2012
9 posts
4 tags
Okay... but how do you justify that view with the...
Last week, one of my readers asked—very nicely, I might add—about my “Side A” biblical views.
“Side A,” you may recall, is a term sometimes used for people like me who support monogamous same-sex relationships. (“Side B” refers to those who believe such relationships are contrary to God’s design.)
It’s a question I get asked all the time....
The cover is here!
Hey guys! My book officially has a cover! Now we just have to wait until November for it to hit bookstores and e-readers everywhere!
falloutthoughts asked: Hi - first saw you on RachelHeldEvans - Go civil dialogue! I had another question. Like many Christians, I grew up with the impression that most people who have homosexual desires... a - had a difficult (or no) relationship with their same gender parent and b - were abused as children. My sibling at a conservative Xian seminary tells me that "research" backs up the "high % of...
brandoricha asked: Hi Justin. Do you have an email address where people can contact you privately?
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Coming soon to a college/city near you!
Hey guys! Here’s my speaking schedule for the next few weeks; come by and see me if you’re in the area!
Mar 14-15 Newberg, Oregon (with Jennifer Knapp) Mar 26-27 Lynchburg College (Lynchburg, Virginia) Mar 28-29 Canton, Ohio (at New Vision UCC) Apr 10 Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, California) Apr 11-12 Pepperdine University (Malibu, California) Apr...
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Actually, how is that even possible?
A few weeks ago I wrote about how “we’re all normal, and none of us are,” and how frustrating it is when people try to pigeonhole you (because you’re a woman, or gay, or a Christian, or whatever). I got some great responses to that post, and I promised I had more to say next time.
Sooooo… I kinda lied.
Well, no, it wasn’t actually a lie. I really do have more to say...
February 2012
3 posts
“There is this myth of the conservative Christian. There is no monolithic...”
– My friend Marty, with some interesting food for thought about the dangers of letting our theological passion turn into tyranny.
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What every woman wants. Or not.
Today I received an email from a well-known Christian organization, promoting a new book about biblical (“kingdom”) manhood. In this book, the email tells me, “men will be empowered to exercise the God-given leadership they were created for by giving them a kingdom understanding, vision and perspective on their identity. It also covers a biblical worldview of a man’s...
From Internet Monk: "Why Gays, Republicans, and... →
An interesting take. I think it glosses over a few important questions, but I love the grace here, and I wish we as a Body of Christ had more of a reputation for this kind of grace!
What do you think?
January 2012
1 post
If you know any web developers...
The last couple of weeks have been a rough time for me, and I’d like to write about that, but I’m not quite ready. In the meantime, I’ve also been making final edits to the manuscript for my upcoming book, Torn, so I haven’t had a lot of time for blogging. Don’t worry, though; the edits will be done shortly and then I’ll be back to blogging as usual!
In the...
December 2011
7 posts
“The trouble with quotes on the internet is that people pass them around without...”
– -Abraham Lincoln (I’ve seen multiple versions of this one floating around the internet for several months now, so like any good netizen, I tweaked it to make it my own before making it Lincoln’s again.)
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The made-up war.
Okay, let’s get this straight, once and for all.
Christians are always going to be at odds with “the world” in certain ways. The Bible calls us to humility, sacrifice, and generosity, and there will always be people who will take advantage of that. There will always be forms of persecution and ridicule aimed at us, and we need to be prepared for it.
But, my fellow Christians,...
danafachner asked: Hi Justin. I'm new to your blog, but I read through some of the more recent stuff you've posted. It's refreshing how open you are to discussion with people who have convictions across the board. Theologically, our interpretations of scripture don't line up 100%, but I love how respectfully and clearly you share your perspective. Can't wait to read more! :)
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On Tuesday…
…I’m going to be a guest speaker at an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship group on Grove City College campus.
I’m kinda freaking out. In a good way.
Grove City College is a conservative Christian institution. Their LGBT student group, Rainbow Bridge, has been denied official recognition and is not allowed to even put up fliers advertising off-campus get-togethers. The Princeton Review...
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November 2011
9 posts
2 tags
5 secrets I didn't know about the publishing...
My first book is coming out next year, and I’m very excited. But when I started writing this thing, I had absolutely no idea what the publishing industry was like, or what to expect when trying to get my book published. To me, it felt like this was a world full of secrets.
Okay, to be honest, these aren’t really “secrets” in the usual sense. To anyone who works in...
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Two roads diverged in a wood. Of... publishers. Or...
Last time, I shared some very emotional stuff, so today I’m going to switch gears.
A lot of my friends have been asking for more details about the publishing process for my book, so I thought I’d write a bit about the things I’m learning about the wonderful world of publishing. And boy, is it “wonderful.” Kind of like the Wizard of Oz was wonderful. (Pay no attention...
Dealing with death as Christians.
This week, a very close friend of mine passed away.
His name was Brian. For the better part of seven years, he co-hosted a podcast with me called GCN Radio. (You can listen to our old episodes online if you want.) He was a gentle soul and a committed Christian.
Brian had dealt with serious health problems his entire life, but his death was unexpected, and it left his friends and family shocked...
effervescentreflections asked: In your last post you mentioned Leviticus, and 1st Corinthians, but what about Romans or Genesis for example? I'm curious to understand your position. For context, I've been doing an exhaustive study on human sexuality in the secular sense, while supplementing it with exegetical study from the Bible.
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"But I believe sexual immorality is wrong!" "Um......
As the executive director of The Gay Christian Network, I get to talk to a lot of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) Christians every day. I get to hear about their faith, their joys, and also their biggest frustrations.
Today, I’d like to talk about one of the most common frustrations I hear from them over and over again.
When someone comes out to their friends or family as...