Washed and Waiting
While on the surface, Washed and Waiting might look like any number of books published regarding homosexuality and the church, making that assumption would be leave one far wrong. Instead of a treatise on the evils of homosexuality or some theological gymnastics to explain away the biblical prohibition, Wesley attempts to simply explain who he is and what he believes. It is an intensely personal journey, as he shares his struggles and heart. The end result is something that speaks into far more situations than simply his.
As a straight, married, father of 5 I have little in common with Wes. However, as a man and Christian who has struggled with temptation, I can go beyond relating and almost walk with him. The specifics are different, but the conclusions drawn in the first chapters can apply to any sin issue. Whether it's dealing with same-sex attraction, lust (for any gender), compulsive lying, or anything else for that matter, we can glean much from the experience Wesley has lived. His journey highlights several specifics of note: 1. Sin is sin and we must acknowledge it as so; 2. Community is the only way to win in a sin battle (not personal resolve or chutzpah); 3. Giving up something to gain everything is the heart of the human condition coupled to Christ.
While those thoughts may not be groundbreaking (many have written similar things), the way they are presented is. We are a narrative people, which is why Jesus told stories all the time, and we relate best and learn the best from stories. Whether he meant to or not, the structure or the book being built around intensely personal stories brings home the truths in a way that mere words, no matter their eloquence, could. You find yourself relating to the struggles through the mirror of your own issues, seeing his answers and realizing (hopefully!) that the same answer can easily apply to you. As a youth pastor, I am hoping that is what happens as our senior high is going to embark on a journey through the book. Normally, something I have reviewed doesn't find its way into ministry this quickly, but the reading of this book caught me in ways that I didn't expect.
In fact, because of the experience I had reading the book, I am optimistically hopeful that it will have the same affect on my students. If it doesn't, that is also fine, as the secondary goal is to get them to struggle with something that culture says is beyond okay. In fact, even many churches go that route. If they can learn how anyone, gay or straight, male or female, weird or normal, deals with this Christian life, it is surely a good thing. If they learn that restraint, in any circumstance, is better than giving in to the temptation, it's more than worth the reading. If they learn that dealing with sexual orientation is still a choice (meaning they don't have to act on their sexuality, it merely is), it's worth far more than the price of the books.
Whether you agree with him or not, tagging along on this portion of Wesley's journey should show you someone who is authentically trying to live out faith. More than that, it ought to show what being faithful in any circumstance might look like. Get the book, read it, and engage with Wesley as he strives to be faithful to God and himself...
As a straight, married, father of 5 I have little in common with Wes. However, as a man and Christian who has struggled with temptation, I can go beyond relating and almost walk with him. The specifics are different, but the conclusions drawn in the first chapters can apply to any sin issue. Whether it's dealing with same-sex attraction, lust (for any gender), compulsive lying, or anything else for that matter, we can glean much from the experience Wesley has lived. His journey highlights several specifics of note: 1. Sin is sin and we must acknowledge it as so; 2. Community is the only way to win in a sin battle (not personal resolve or chutzpah); 3. Giving up something to gain everything is the heart of the human condition coupled to Christ.
While those thoughts may not be groundbreaking (many have written similar things), the way they are presented is. We are a narrative people, which is why Jesus told stories all the time, and we relate best and learn the best from stories. Whether he meant to or not, the structure or the book being built around intensely personal stories brings home the truths in a way that mere words, no matter their eloquence, could. You find yourself relating to the struggles through the mirror of your own issues, seeing his answers and realizing (hopefully!) that the same answer can easily apply to you. As a youth pastor, I am hoping that is what happens as our senior high is going to embark on a journey through the book. Normally, something I have reviewed doesn't find its way into ministry this quickly, but the reading of this book caught me in ways that I didn't expect.
In fact, because of the experience I had reading the book, I am optimistically hopeful that it will have the same affect on my students. If it doesn't, that is also fine, as the secondary goal is to get them to struggle with something that culture says is beyond okay. In fact, even many churches go that route. If they can learn how anyone, gay or straight, male or female, weird or normal, deals with this Christian life, it is surely a good thing. If they learn that restraint, in any circumstance, is better than giving in to the temptation, it's more than worth the reading. If they learn that dealing with sexual orientation is still a choice (meaning they don't have to act on their sexuality, it merely is), it's worth far more than the price of the books.
Whether you agree with him or not, tagging along on this portion of Wesley's journey should show you someone who is authentically trying to live out faith. More than that, it ought to show what being faithful in any circumstance might look like. Get the book, read it, and engage with Wesley as he strives to be faithful to God and himself...
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