A Former Lesbian’s Message to the UMC & LGBTQIA+ Community

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In my last article, I mentioned my friend, Angy, who was a lesbian. I first met Angy a few years ago at a non-denominational charismatic church. We were both there for a special lecture. She was sitting behind me when she overheard someone asking me about being clergy in the United Methodist Church. The person asked me about the controversy over sexuality in our denomination. I briefly explained and also that I am conservative. That’s when Angy graciously entered into the conversation.

She said she was once a passionate member of the LGBTQIA+ community, who thought the traditional Christian view was pure hate. She said she eventually realized that it wasn’t really preachers like me who were condemning her; it was actually those who were affirming her in her sin.

Angy said she would like to share a word about the controversy in the Church. Below is her succinct and poignant message to the UMC and LGBTQIA+ people.
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By Angy Calvert

As a former member of the LGBTQIA community, I would strongly urge you to understand this one thing in light of the recent United Methodist General Conference..

Our acceptance by God is not dependant on whether the church accepts people in the doors. It almost seems like some people actually think that if a church welcomes someone in, God is then bound to accept that person into the Kingdom. Almost like a “majority rules” concept. We HAVE to understand that GOD IS HOLY and welcomes people into the Kingdom on HIS terms alone, not on any terms or standards we fallen humans deem adequate, and He has made those terms very clear.

The church can welcome people in with open arms all day long and they will still end up in hell for not believing and acknowledging His truth as perfectly expressed in His word! If we choose to suppress that truth, as Romans 1 clearly lays out, no amount of human acceptance will save us.

“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
Matthew 7:22‭-‬23 ESV

Rev. Wall’s last article very correctly states that though we are made in God’s image, we are a fallen race, slaves of sin and hostile to God. One of the ways this plays out most evidently is in same sex desires, as it goes against God’s original created order. We can kick and scream, suppress and refuse it and swear up and down that the Bible doesn’t say it’s wrong, but in the end, we alone will be responsible for our hostility to God’s truth.

If we would stop being hostile to God and accept His judgement on such things, this whole topic of practicing LGBTQIA in the church wouldn’t even exist because we would accept and respect what God said through Paul:

“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Purge the evil person from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:11‭-‬13 ESV

If you want the extended list of those we are to have nothing to do with if they are professing to be a “brother”, Paul gives it to us here:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9‭-‬10 ESV

So Paul is certainly not advocating for singing kumbaya and giving the right hand of fellowship to folks who are defiantly living for their own desires.

I say if someone is honestly searching for the truth, open doors and arms and speak God’s truth to them in love.
If someone claims to know Christ yet sees nothing wrong with practicing sexual immorality, close the doors, and as Paul says:

“Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.”
1 Corinthians 15:34 ESV

I know this is a sensitive topic for a lot of people. I have a great deal of compassion for anyone who is struggling with same sex attraction because I was once that person. But letting someone think God is pleased with the lifestyle they’re living, when God himself has stated that is NOT the case, is the most unloving thing we could possibly do…

Please hear me on this.. eternity is at stake!

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I have learned over the years that people like Angy receive no special sympathy from the radical Left. I have witnessed some of my progressive UM colleagues react with intense vitriol to Angy herself specifically when she has shared her testimony. But for anyone who is truly wrestling with these things, voices like Angy’s should also be heard.

Angy no longer struggles with same sex attraction. She has been transformed by the power of God’s grace. At the same time we are being told by some that gender has no biological basis and is an absolute choice, some of the same people are telling us that sexual orientation is absolutely fixed and people should not have the choice to try to change. Our society seems hell-bent to encourage young children to go through gender reassignment, while preventing any discussion of the possibility that sexual orientation can change. Children are being told it’s fine to question their gender and transform their bodies to confirm to their psychological state. They’re also being told that sexual orientation is absolutely fixed, and seeking change for sexual orientation is harmful. It is absurd and it is a lie. (See how APA researcher has acknowledged that sexual orientation can and does change.)

The power of God can certainly change our corrupted desires. Angy’s is a case in point. But there will also be cases where corrupted desires won’t be completely healed until the resurrection. I have some corrupt desires of my own that I still wrestle with, as do we all. There are Christians who still experience same-sex attraction, but choose, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, to take up their cross and deny themselves daily when it comes to those desires.

Of course, the Church should not make any particular class of unrepentant sinners feel hopeless. The Gospel, however, is not only about God’s acceptance and affirmation of our dignity as humans created in his image; it is also a call to repentance and transformation with regards to the way sin has distorted God’s image in us through corrupted desires. There is plenty of hope in the gospel for all people.

The unconditional love of God is not that God will save everyone regardless of repentance and faith. God’s love is unconditional in the sense that no one who turns away from sin and turns back to him will be turned away–no matter what we have done or left undone. All people are truly invited to repent and enter into the kingdom of God. Again, there is no special condemnation for some; neither are there special exemptions. God’s grace, which includes forgiveness and new birth, is for all people.

As it turns out, the progressive message of inclusion is really the most exclusive because it excludes the most people from the kingdom of God, even as it purports to welcome more people into the visible Church. That’s Angy’s message above in a nutshell. Let the one who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

34 thoughts on “A Former Lesbian’s Message to the UMC & LGBTQIA+ Community”

  2. Thank you, Angy! What a great testimony and message of hope about the transformative power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord that Angy is set free from the bondage of lesbianism! This is a story the deceiver does not want shared. This is a powerful message!

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  3. What an awesome testimony and exactly what I believe. How good to see my thoughts put into words. Hate the sin, but love the sinner.

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  4. Wonderful testimony! I pray that many will listen / read with open minds. This is a very sad situation for us to face! Satin in working over-time!😔😡

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  8. My belief exactly, when we do not tell sinners the truth of the gospel it is giving them the proverbial push over the spiritual cliff to death. No matter how much God loves them or we love them- God is not going to accept sin into heaven.

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  9. Angy, I am so glad you found freedom in Christ. I have mourned the lack of such good teaching to my family members and friends who have entered the gay lifestyle. Your message is much needed and I rejoice in your honest sharing.

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  12. Such a great testimony…. Thank you sis. Angy for your boldness to proclaim the truth. May God continue to bless and use you mightily in proclaiming the truth as written in the Bible

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  13. Thank you Angy for the truth you said, and only the truth can set the people free , and we do not hate them but the sin behind them . Am one of the delegates who attended the just ended conference

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  14. Thank you Angy for the truth you said, and only the truth can set the people free , and we do not hate them but the sin behind them . Am one of the delegates who attended the just ended conference

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  15. When we see the light and encountered Jesus and build relationship with Him, we will deny ourselves and follow Him. He said, sin no more and follow me. Thank you Angy for your courage to share and to also encourage… thank you for being open.

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  17. Thanks for sharing your story on line.He is using you a marvelous way to reach souls. No better way to use you. One who once was a lesbian and God delivered you. You have an awesome testimony. God is so good!! God Bless You.

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  18. I’d like to see as much attention focused on adultery…which tears families and hearts apart. I was raised in the church and feel there doesn’t need to be a “conference” of any particular denomination to interpret the Bible or give permission to who can or can not worship and study the Word. My heart and mind are still unsure of nature vs. nurture aspect of homosexuality. I know what the Bible says, but I also know gay people who love God as much as I do. I respect Angy’s courage for speaking out…i do wonder if she was really “gay” or just falling victim to peer pressure/latest trends/rebellion. I am not minimizing any part of this, but I know some “gay/bisexual-” people who go back and forth like they’re changing underwear. I am happy she has found her path.

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  19. I adree with her . Hope many will come out and give their testimony to what is right in the eyes of God

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  20. I am straight and was raised in a fundamentalist conservative church. So the sexuality issue is not personal to me and I could care less what other people do in their own bedroom. This preoccupation with sexual “sin” by Christiansto the exclusion of all the other sins mentioned by Pail in the above references scriptures, is hypocritical and abhorrent.

    More focus on your own sins and falling short of the glory of God would be far more productive than focusing on one issue. If gay Christians are committing sins, they alone will answer to God for it. Focus on the greed, the lies, the adultery, and the gossip that occurs every single day in the church.

    Paul says above you shouldn’t associate with folks who engage in those sins and yet the mental gymnastics that evangelicals do to support those behaviours in the man they supported for President is far more important to me and more consequential.

    I am not done with God or Jesus. But evangelicals? As a whole? Done with them.
    They do more damage to the kingdom of God than any lesbian person.

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    1. Thanks for the comment, Sue. One big difference I would point out with those other sins, is there is no official lobbying or activism to say those other things are not really sins. The leftist activism in the churches is much more radical than a push for accepting gay marriage. And Yes, there is still hypocrisy in the church, but that goes for churches of all types. Most preachers do not talk about sex much at all. In this case the discussion is being forced by the activism of some. And as your own post indicates, some form of judgment is inevitable and actually necessary in terms of pointing out right and wrong, as you rightly pointed out the wrong of hypocrisy. To condemn evangelicals as a whole though is to paint with too broad a brush. I know plenty of conservative evangelicals who are not thrilled at all with the personal behavior of Donald Trump.

      Anyway, again, thanks for the comment. Blessings of grace and peace to you!

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  21. Praise God! Truly, through God’s grace we will experience breakthrough! Thank you for your life Andy. It’s true that your testimony will make people blessed. Thank you Lord!

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  22. My first point deals with your last statement that the progressive plan excludes more by being inclusive. This is a completely misplaced conclusion. The progressive plan excluded no one. It allowed all to decide in their hearts what God would want. The radical right are the ones who are playing God by judging people and telling others what God wants them to do and believe. It did not take Paul’s words of interpretation of Gods will for Jesus to show us what actions to take around sinners. He walked in and sat down to eat with them, he did not throw the first stone, he did not judge. He only loved. UMC—-leave the judging to God, your not that holy yet.
    The second point is directed toward your statement that our children are being told to change their bodies. As a doctor I know you are completely wrong in this. Transgender children go through an extensive series of psychological and medical test before being accepted into the program which has strict regulations. NO parent, doctor, preacher or friend would ever push this long and painful experience on a child.
    Studies of children raised by gay parents show their children have a lower rate of homosexuality than the general public.
    Finally for dear Angy, I am happy that you are glad you changed back. You are in the great minority. It is hard to admit you made such a huge mistake but that does not in anyway mean that those who do not feel they are mistaken are also wrong

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    1. Tom, thank you for you comment. The point about exclusion was directed at the progressive inclusion ideology in general, not the one church plan in particular. And it’s not that conservatives judge and progressives don’t, we just judge according to different standards. The idea of an absolutely non-judging Jesus is not Biblical. Jesus did make judgments and it wasn’t exclusive of his love. Look at the beginning of Luke 13. Look at all of Matt 7 and Matt 18. Look at what he said to the Pharisees in John 8. Yes his harshest judgment was directed to the Pharisees, but not because they took the law too seriously. They exalted their traditions above the law; that was the problem ( Mark 7; Matt 15). They rejected God’s commands for their traditions. It is progressives doing that today.

      Regarding the gender confusion issue, I wasn’t really talking about the typical case of gender dysphoria. But even with that there are certainly medical professionals who say surgery is not the best solution. I just talked at length with a medical doctor about this very thing. And the former head of psychiatry at John’s Hopkins, Paul McHugh, says that. But what I’m talking about is the movement to “allow” kids to decide gender for themselves. Duke our out a video of a gender -fluid person who said identifying a child as male or female at birth is wrong. My daughter was at governor’s school in Raleigh were there were lectures and serious discussions about how it ougt to be illegal to identify a child’s sex at birth. To intentionally confuse children in this way is what ought to be illegal because it is insane. It’s a radical gender ideology that was at work at the 2016 GC, where the delegate information packet advised that no one should assume anyone gender identity even if they meet them before. I’m just saying it’s interesting that radical leftists can push people to question their gender identity, which they say can be fluid, but not want people to question whether their sexual desires can change. It is absurd. A medical school professor told Dr. Jordan Peterson point blank that there is no such thing as biological male and female. But that same person would go nuts if someone said there is no biological basis for sexual orientation. Again, this is the kind of insanity I’m talking about.

      I’m not saying everyone’s sexual attractions will change. I’m just saying they can, and sometimes do. Regardless, all of us have corrupted desires because of sin. We have no choice in the matter apart from grace. But by grace through faith we can take up our cross, deny ourselves the fulfillment of sinful desires that may not go away until the resurrection, in order to follow Jesus in a new way of life. The journey is not easy, but the destination is worth it. Jesus says to all of us, repent and believe the gospel, for the kingdom of God is at hand.

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      1. Amen Cliff – you are very thoughtful and intelligent in your process of rhetoric. Thank you for your insightful pastorship!

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  25. Such truth from this woman! It is so similar to what David Bennett is saying in his book, A War of Loves. He gave up his gay lifestyle for love of Christ and now lives as a celibate gay Christian. So hard.. prayers for both of these Christians.

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  26. Many years ago ago, my pastor from another Denomination, asked me to work with a group of ladies who recently joined the church seeking a healing, redeeming God. These women didn’t previously know one another and all were coming out of the LGBTQIA+ Community. They were seeking an authentic, powerful and loving relationship with God. A few years later I moved away, but stayed in touch with one who became a dear friend. She would agree with Angy and was grateful for a church who told her the truth. She remains a powerful witness for God. Eternity IS at stake.

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  27. Pingback: A Former Lesbian’s Message to the UMC & LGBTQIA+ Community - Juicy Ecumenism

  28. I am grateful for this message, I shared Christ with all people in bondage to sin and death, and I have gratefully seen God transform homosexuals from their sins, even as he forgave them. I celebrate their marriages to the opposite gender, and the children who are now grown. I have seen forgive all kinds of people and transform them by the power of the gospel just as he did me.

    God bless you for sharing this story. http://www.rock-solid-living.com and http://www.achristfollower.blogspot.com I would love to post this on my site and my facebook web page, if you would kindly give me the permission to do so.

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