Sunday Saying – Washed and Waiting

Last week I heard Wesley Hill speak at STORY and I (and every attendee) received a copy of his book — Washed and Waiting, Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality.

Wesley was a confident well-spoken speaker, with an air of love and humility about himself. He grew up in a Christian home and as an early teen realized he was more attracted to men than to women. It isn’t a choice he made, it’s just who he is. He doesn’t know why. He hoped and prayed that his body/desires/attractions would change. They didn’t.

He believes the Bible views sex as something that should take place between one man and woman, so he lives as a celibate gay Christian. He encouraged the church to make room for all Christians, no matter what issues they struggle with.

From the back cover of Washed and Waiting — Wesley offers a theological memoir on temptation, loneliness, and the future hope of healing for gay men and women who want to be faithful to Christ.

Here are some excerpts from the intro of the book …

This book is neither about how to live faithfully as a practicing homosexual person nor about how to live faithfully as a fully healed or former homosexual man or woman … This book is about  … how, practically, a nonpracticing but still-desiring homosexual Christian can “prove, live out, and celebrate” the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in homosexual terms.

Washed and waiting. That is my life — my identity as one who is forgiven and spiritually cleansed and my struggle as one who perseveres with a frustrating thorn in the flesh, looking forward to what God has promised to do.

I have not finished reading the book yet … but look forward to doing so.