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AUSTIN—Southern Baptist churches must be careful not to confuse clarity with coldness, stated one of three panelists fielding questions during the Ministry Café segment of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Bible Conference Nov. 14.
Asked how to change the characterization of Christians as being hateful to the LGBT community, Steven Smith called on pastors to be disciplined in how they present biblical truth, avoiding remarks that harm individuals and families who are dealing with same-sex attraction.
“Scripture is clear, but don’t confuse clarity with coldness,” Smith said. “These are people, and we must be disciplined in our understanding and how we present the message. Do it in a gracious way.”
Jim Henry, emeritus pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando, said God was teaching him to love people whose lifestyle he hates. “They are broken people who need to know God loves them and that I’m not out to hurt them but to walk with them.”
Rhys Stenner, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga., agreed. “When you know someone, that makes a difference,” he stated, referring to a friendship he’d developed with a local gay rights leader. “When church members say ‘pray for our son,’ it always softens my heart to not say stuff that’s going to be completely unhelpful.”
Moderating the discussion as president of the Bible Conference, host pastor Danny Forshee of Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin advised pastors to realize they are preaching to people who struggle with same-sex attraction. “It is real, and you don’t realize this is in your church,” he said, distinguishing between those who are attracted and those who give in to the temptation.
“If there’s a parent in your church with a son or daughter who is struggling with this, they’re so tempted to change their theology at that point. They read about it, pray about it, but refuse to cross the line of saying it’s not a sin,” he stated. “There’s a blessing and honoring on their lives.”
Several questions from the audience related to the conference theme with one person asking how to open the door for the Holy Spirit’s work in spite of an obstinate atmosphere.
“You have to be patient. You have to pray. You have to be filled with the Spirit yourself and not get angry when others aren’t responding,” counseled Stenner.
Asked how to balance preparation with spontaneity attributed to the Holy Spirit, Stenner said, “I want to make sure I don’t underestimate what the Spirit can do in preparation.”
Henry encouraged prioritizing study time along with calendar planning. “I found that 90 to 95 percent of the time if I prayed and planned it worked out, and anything else I considered a divine interruption.”
Smith acknowledged that Southern Baptists often consider the Holy Spirit an aberration who ought to be feared. “We need a higher love and appreciation for the Holy Spirit.”
Forshee concluded, “I want to operate in the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. Empty me of me, and fill me with him.”
