A Sticky Wicket

Watermark Church in Dallas has been in the news lately.  It is not the first time.  The Dallas Morning News annually does a feature on the best places to work in DFW.  The mega church, which boasts over ten thousand members, annually makes the list.  They have a prominent location on the LBJ freeway and their campus features a high-rise office building.  Now the church is being cast in a negative light.  One of their former members has shared his experience of being in effect being kicked out of the church. 

Jason Thomas had been a member of the church for years and was even a small group leader.  Jason Thomas is also gay, but for years that was not a problem.  Then out of the blue Jason got a letter informing him that the church was revoking his membership.  They state the church would continue to pray for him and he was always welcome to attend, but he was no longer considered a member.  Jason has since found a new church where he is welcome but his experience at Watermark has in his word left him, “deeply wounded.” Jason’s story tells me that it is not just traditional churches that struggle with the gay/lesbian issue. 

Watermark was aware of Jason’s sexual orientation.  Members of Watermark are required to sign a form indicating they will submit to the churches elders regarding their behavior.  Watermark’s response was for him to repent and undergo “conversion therapy” design to change a person’s sexual orientation.  Psychologist and counselors have long maintained that such therapy is pointless and even harmful.  The reality is that some folks were created gay. 

I am sure there are two-sides to this story.  I know a good number of people who attend Watermark Church and all of them are happy.  They always talk about the sense of community and the way they feel spiritually fed.  They also all are happily married to a member of the opposite sex, living a traditional lifestyle.  Therein lies the dilemma; how do we minister to those whose lifestyle runs counter to the way we feel the Bible commands?   It is a “sticky wicket.”

I truly believe it is always best to love and keep the door open.  I sincerely believe that is what Jesus calls us to do.  We continue to minister to those who struggle with addiction, or those who gossip and even slander others.  Why do we single out those who are gay or lesbians?  I believe we need to join them in exploring the scriptures seeking God’s will and desire for each of us.  Only then can we both celebrate the grace which we have in Christ.