Our team supports every Posture Shift teaching point with a thoughtful biblical apologetic. Over 20 years of work, however, we have learned\u2014often the hard way\u2014that believers will still debate uncomfortable teachings, even when those teachings are clearly grounded in Scripture.<\/p>\n
Ironically, perhaps predictably, opposition often takes the form of pitting one set of Scriptures against another\u2014their verses versus ours. This is not a criticism – as any of us can fall into using Scripture to argue against Scripture.<\/p>\n
To be clear, all of Scripture matters – so we honor fellow believers when they raise passages that challenge an established apologetic or a teaching point. At the same time, it is essential to remember that truth is never opposed to grace (and vice versa).<\/p>\n
By God\u2019s very nature, He is not at odds with Himself. Therefore, we must \u201cfind a measure\u201d\u2014a way of considering the whole counsel of Scripture\u2014that allows us to faithfully honor God\u2019s truth while radically loving people with His grace. (And yes, Scripture speaks directly to this.)<\/p>\n
For this reason, our team does more than aim for strong biblical apologetics. We also strive to establish teaching points that are inarguable. In a deeply divided world, that is a high bar, but we embrace the challenge. When we honor that challenge, we earn trust\u2014trust that allows leaders to embrace a shift in posture that can more effectively reach LGBT+ people.<\/p>\n
A helpful parallel comes from the world of marketing. Invisibility rarely sells much. It contradicts the goal of sales. Hiding what you offer will not grow a business\u2014it simply will not. While there may be strategies that create artificial scarcity, the general rule remains: visibility is required to succeed.<\/p>\n
Regarding gospel engagement with LGBT+ people, the parallel is similar. Exclusion has no power to reach people who have already experienced rejection. Through best-practice missiology\u2014studying LGBT+ history, culture, and language\u2014we can see this in a few ways.<\/p>\n
Exclusion has no power to reach…<\/p>\n
\u2022 marginalized people who carry trauma<\/p>\n
\u2022 fearful people who worry about further harm<\/p>\n
\u2022 rejected people who have already been pushed away<\/p>\n
\u2022 triggered people who cautiously evaluate every word for safety<\/p>\n
This is not an opinion\u2014it is an inarguable reality. It is not even a gay or straight thing. It is simply how people work. This realization serves as a powerful insight with spiritual weight, capable of loosening strongholds and removing blind spots. It can soften or even dismantle entrenched objections to the opposite of exclusion – which is,\u00a0inclusion<\/em>.<\/p>\n When viewed through a missional lens, inclusion no longer means DEI. It is no longer a political slogan or an affirming theological position. Once inclusion is disentangled from these misperceptions, churches can pursue greater inclusion without feeling that their core beliefs are under threat.<\/p>\n This reality is universally understood by missionaries: marginalized people require a secure sense of belonging. They need to feel seen and heard. They need to be protected from harm. They need to experience being part of the family. They need to sense that there is a purpose in their presence.<\/p>\n God can\u2014and does\u2014reach people despite rejecting postures. We see Jesus routinely bypass teachers of the law to reach marginalized people in His day. But like you, I want to work with Jesus rather than become an obstacle He must work around.\u00a0May it never be!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Inclusion, then, is not a bad word. It is not a heresy. It is not about politics, nor is it about watering down or compromising deeply held biblical convictions. It is about fostering safety\u2014creating spaces within faith communities (and families) where LGBT+ people can belong, participate, and grow.<\/p>\n People will still resist ideas that make us feel unsettled. That is understandable. We all do it! This month\u2019s Posture Shift Insight does not guarantee success. But for the missionary, it is always worth\u00a0seeking the inarguable.<\/em><\/p>\n Heard abou<\/strong>t Posture Shift Intensive? <\/strong>Our training offers a comprehensive strategic missional curriculum and implementation plan for church leadership teams. We will equip your team to better share Christ with LGBT+ people and guide their families.<\/p>\n
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