Statement Regarding Homosexuality, Who Said it?

Who made this statement regarding homosexuality? Was it Andy Stanley, Brian McLaren or Rob Bell?

The couple approached me immediately after the service. This was their first time visiting, and they really enjoyed the service, they said, but they had one question. You can guess what the question was about: not transubstantiation, not speaking in tongues, not inerrancy or eschatology, but where our church stood on homosexuality. That "still, small voice" told me not to answer. Instead I asked, "Can you tell me why that question is important to you?" "It's a long story," he said with a laugh. Usually when I'm asked about this subject, it's by conservative Christians wanting to be sure that we conform to what I call "radio-orthodoxy," i.e. the religio-political priorities mandated by many big-name religious broadcasters. Sometimes it's asked by ex-gays who want to be sure they'll be supported in their ongoing re-orientation process, or parents whose children have recently "come out."

But the young woman explained, "This is the first time my fiancé and I have ever actually attended a Christian service, since we were both raised agnostic." So I supposed they were like most unchurched young adults I meet, who wouldn't want to be part of an anti-homosexual organization any more than they'd want to be part of a racist or terrorist organization.

I hesitate in answering "the homosexual question" not because I'm a cowardly flip-flopper who wants to tickle ears, but because I am a pastor, and pastors have learned from Jesus that there is more to answering a question than being right or even honest: we must also be . . . pastoral. That means understanding the question beneath the question, the need or fear or hope or assumption that motivates the question. The Answer is Here

Here's the sad fact, based on Andy Stanley's refusal to give a clear answer affirming the sinfulness of homosexuality it's not difficult to believe that he's the one who said this rather than Brian McLaren. The tactic is the same and the result will be the same as well unless Andy Stanley repents.

Comments

[Patrickclough]

First off, how an you be a "pastor" to someone not of your flock. These were first time visitors.

For argument's sake, let's say these people qualified as being a part of Stanley's flock. If being "pastoral" was his goal, he failed in that as well. Being a pastor means being a shepherd. Shepherds need to both guide the sheep away from danger and correct rebellion. The sin of homosexuality is both dangerous and rebellious. By not answering this person's question, he did quite the opposite of "pastoring."