All the participants of the panel on homosexuality at The Gospel Coalition Council meetings agreed that we have entered one of the most difficult challenges to a gospel-centered approach to evangelism. The reason is not that the center of the Christian gospel has changed, but the center of the cultural gospel has changed. That center for many is the freedom to be GLBT and to be approved.

Which means that whether we want to make this a frontline issue or not, increasingly it is. As one of the panelists said, “There is no demilitarized zone in the homosexual debate.” Pastors must address it. In fact, virtually everyone who communicates with mainstream cultural folk must address it.

The a…

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The Star-Tribune article about my sermon this past weekend got it partly right and partly wrong.

The part that they got right was that I did not give a public endorsement for any legislation or candidate.

But they got two parts wrong.

First they say, “Key Minnesota pastors opt out of marriage fight.” I didn’t opt out. I opted in. What is at stake more than anything else is the meaning of marriage and how important it is for the common good and for the glory of Christ. That was the main burden of the message. Marriage is the sexual and covenantal union of a man and a woman pledging life-long allegiance to each other as husband and wife. There is no such thing as so-called same-sex “marr…

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Is there hope for a relationship with a family member who is not a believer and is in a same-sex relationship, and who knows your Christian position?

Yes. One story went like this. An adult sister-in-law was in a lesbian relationship and would bring her partner to all the wider family functions when she was invited. She knew her brother-in-law’s position. Not only was she sinning to be involved sexually this way, but her very soul was in danger of eternal judgment if she did not repent. She knew that’s what he thought.

At first she was very angry and, no matter how kind or gracious or caring the Christian couple tried to be, this sister-in-law saw them as homophobic and bigoted. She ass…

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We should beware of overly-simple generalizations in dealing with people with same-sex attraction, and we should deepen our analysis of what is really going on in a person’s soul.

For example, a woman may be a predatory lesbian and a man may be merely experimenting because he longs for male friendship. To deal with these two cases in the same way would be a serious mistake. The spectrum of bondage — from addictive control to casual curiosity — is so great we must not make assumptions until we have serious and candid conversations.

Similarly, we should deepen our analysis of what is really going on in a person’s soul before we conclude that a person is fixed in a same-sex orientation. For…

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One panelist at The Gospel Coalition discussions of homosexuality said he knew a dozen joyfully married Christian couples with children, in which one of each couple was formerly gay or lesbian. He said that this does not mean there are no more homosexual desires or fantasies.

The reason these marriages work is because love and marriage and life are now seen in a much larger scope. The relationship is seen as much more than an occasion for erotic expression.

It’s this bigness of life and love and relationships that Christ brings.

He attaches the soul to grand realities. Everything is seen in relation to God and his larger purposes. He reminds us that there will be no marrying or givi…

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Several weeks ago the Leadership Council of The Gospel Coalition met for its annual discussions of current issues and the state of gospel-centered ministry among evangelicals. Of the many panel discussions, the most illuminating to me was the one on homosexuality.

The four forthcoming blog posts I have written were triggered by insightful comments made by the panel participants, but I have developed the thoughts, and I take responsibility for everything in the posts.

These four posts are to be read as the completion of the message I gave at Bethlehem on Sunday, June 17, 2012 titled “Let Marriage Be Held in Honor” — Thinking Biblically About So-Called Same-Sex Marriage. I mentioned at th…

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Today is Father’s Day. I was thinking about my father as I walked to morning prayer on Friday. I remembered one scene most vividly and joyfully. The moment of his death. I was alone with him in his hospital room. It was March 6, 2007. He was 88. He was ready.

The breaths were coming rhythmically, but the pace was slowing. I have told the story in detail. But this past Friday one picture was in my mind. When the awaited breath never came again, I looked at the clock on the wall and thought: Both hands straight up. Midnight. Both hands lifted straight up.

As I walked to church I lifted my hands and sang the refrain of the song I can hear him singing more clearly than any other — “At Calva…

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Update 6/30
We have received $329,258 of the $300,000 that we needed in order for us to close-out our fiscal year in the black and balance the budget. Thank you for your generous support! The Lord is good, and all of his paths are "steadfast love and faithfulness" (Psalm 25:10).

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Dear Friends,

At Desiring God, we have a vision for ministry that is global. With the Lord's help, we aim to see people everywhere understand and embrace the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

This is our message and the world is our parish — as John Wesley once said! The internet is our megaphone. Translations and technology are the delivery systems. And the ultima…

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Put two texts together, and see what you see.

“God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (eis epignōsin alētheias)” (1 Timothy 2:4).

“God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth (eis epignōsin alētheias)” (2 Timothy 2:25).

Here’s what I see:

1. Though God desires all people to be saved, he “may perhaps grant repentance.” Which I think means that God’s desire for all to be saved does not lead him to save all. God has desires that do not reach the level of volition. They are restrained by other considerations — like his wisdom, which guides him to display his glory in the fullest way. He has his reasons for why he “may perh…

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Dear [Samantha],

I got your note about going deeper with your Bible reading. Thanks for asking.

First, let me say that I am really encouraged that you take the Bible so seriously. Sometimes I hold it in my hand and feel the wonder that it is the very word of the Maker of the universe. Amazing. 

You are right to read it every day and seek to let it permeate all your thoughts and feelings. When Paul says it is all inspired by God and that it is profitable so that you will be equipped for every good work, I believe he means that even the parts that are hard to read, or even sometimes confusing, will in the long run have an effect on your mind and your soul that will shape you into the kind of …

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