Showing Kindness to the LGBT+ Person with Ty Wyss | GOF48
How can the church do a better job in showing kindness to the LGBT+ community? That question is answered in my interview with Ty Wyss, founding director of Walls Down Ministry. In today’s episode, I talk with Ty to learn how to move from debate to friendship. Find out how to go beyond defensive posturing to genuine love for your friends, relatives, or neighbors without feeling the pressure to defend your beliefs.
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This Episode’s Topic: Showing Kindness to the LGBT+ Community
To better understand why this issue matters, Ty and I discuss his personal story with same gender attraction beginning in early adolescents to his young adult years to where he is today. He is married to his lovely wife, and together they have one child. Even though Ty is married, he gives an honest assessment of where his life stands today.
Topics Covered:
- Approaching sexuality from a human standpoint
- The problem with interpreting one’s behavior’s, talents, and interest through the grid of sexuality
- Why narrow definitions of masculinity harm some males during adolescents
- Practical ways to show kindness and generosity to the LGBT+ Community/li>
- Why safety and kindness are essential to individuals working through sexual identity
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“More kindness?” Recent surveys show 9 of 10 people say the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions the word “evangelical” is they are the people who hate gays. 8 of 10 Christians said something similar albeit with milder terms. Conservative Christians have used LGBT people as scapegoats in political arenas, dehumanizing and demonizing them. And when the leaders of the national and international ex-gay ministries admitted after decades of ‘change’ claims that nobody became heterosexual, evangelicals simply ignored the shocking revelation. Meanwhile, stats show horrific divorce rates for gays who wed women no matter what religion they practice. Ty Wyss is misleading the public and most likely himself. At the very least, admit that every major, decades-old ex-gay ministry closed forever, including Evergreen International, the major Mormon ex-gay ministry.
Love in Action, the oldest ex-gay ministry, Exodus International, the only worldwide one, Courage UK, New Directions Canada and Living Waters Australia were the largest of the many ex-gay ministries which closed. The Catholic church has long ago admitted sexual orientation does not change. They have a LGBT affirming ministry called Dignity and a non-affirming one calling itself “Courage” (to not be honest?).
Rusty, I really appreciate your comments. I agree with you partially — particularly in some of the claims made by former ministries in the past. However, most “evangelicals” that I know “do not hate gays.” That flies in the face with reality. To the contrary, most are discouraged and dismayed by the rhetoric and trying to overcome the very stereotypes you mentioned in your comments. So long as divisive polarizing language continues to be deployed, how can we ever move forward? Ty Wyss and others are seeking to tone down the rhetoric while remaining committed to their faith.
I guess my question is why can’t I be committed to my faith and be in a same sex relationship? I grew up a believer and still am one, but find engaging in organized religion, particularly in the evangelical church world, difficult because it is often assumed that I cannot both love God and live a Christian life while also being in love with my partner. It is a huge sadness for me. And while I tried to hear Mr. Wyss’ message it appeared to be one based on cultivating a relationship to work to change the person ultimately over time. That does not feel like loving me,
Hi HM. Thank you for your comment. While I won’t speak to Mr Wyss comments, let me encourage you to continue exploring this question. Jesus words in John 14 are helpful “16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you.” As the church continues to wrestle with the question you are raising, my prayer for you is the Advocate — the Holy Spirit — will continue to lead you.