I’m currently listening to an audio book by a woman who was an English professor (Syracuse University) and lesbian activist. She lived with a partner and was very active in promoting that lifestyle to the college students who were around her. And she was not at all sympathetic to the Christians.

But through a faithful witness and friendship of a Christian, she is converted and becomes a Christian. And she talks about the awkward and harrowing experience of “coming out” as a Christian to her lesbian community who looked to her for her leadership and example!

She is very candid about how difficult this was. She was in fact turning her back to all her friends and confidantes. She was being a traitor and would disappoint and dismay so many people. Her entire world felt like coming to an end. Everything she built her identity around and found her security in was crumbling around her. “It felt like death,” she said. And yet, she sticks to her guns, or to Jesus rather…

As I am listening, I’m reminded of couple things. 1) We should never think some people are out of reach of God. If a hardened murderer like Paul could be saved and become the greatest missionary ever, then a story like this woman’s isn’t that uncommon. 2) Receiving Christ into our lives IS turning our back on everything else that gave us identity and security.

More on #2. She did not think to herself that she could continue to live her lesbian lifestyle and still be a Christian. There were “Christians” who told her that she could be both. But when she read the Bible, it was clear to her that that would not be an option for Christians. It was either one or the other. Not both. And when she chose to be a Christian, she was in fact turning her back on her previous life and all the people associated with that lifestyle.

I’m wondering if you and I have made such turn-about with our “old” lifestyle and friends. It might actually be more difficult for us to discern what that lifestyle or who that friend is since they may not be as opposed to the gospel as that woman’s. It might be the lifestyle that promotes comfort and safety of a middle-class America. It might be “harmless” drinking buddies that you get together and carouse.

“Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:38)

PH