What's it like for Christians who experience same sex attraction to surrender their sexuality to God's design and pursue His plan for them? It's much the same as for anyone; we all struggle with brokenness and temptation. We all must surrender our sexuality in order to follow Christ. In this episode, Brian and Sheldon share a little of their stories, and talk about how God has been faithful through it all.

All of Jesus' disciples are called to deny self and take up their cross, but those who experience same-sex attraction face some unique battles. Not that their temptations are any greater, but the messages of our culture and attitudes of the church in the past have made the struggle of SSA particularly difficult for many believers with that experience. In this episode, Brian and Sheldon talk about how Christian men and women can navigate these challenges and how their spiritual family can help.   

So how do we as believers reinforce true identity in others? Can we help each other realize our identity as sons and daughters of God? In this episode, Brian and Sheldon explore the different ways that the body of Christ facilitates and encourages true identity through discipleship and other expressions of spiritual family.

How should our identity in Christ influence the way we live?  In this episode, Brian and Sheldon wrap up our conversation about identity with a few practical insights about what it means to be a new creation and how to live like it.

In this episode, Sheldon and Brian continue the conversation about identity as they explore the Biblical perspective. How are we made "in the image of God"? How did sin affect creation and specifically mankind? And how does the gospel offer hope for those struggling with their identity, meaning and purpose in this life?

A few resources we have found helpful for this topic:
Holy Sexuality, Christopher Yuan
Finding Your Best Identity, Andrew Bunt

In this episode, Brian welcomes a new co-host, Sheldon Farrington, to introduce a new season and series: The Conversation about Identity. Why is everyone talking about identity? What are they saying? Why is it such a hot topic? Does it really matter what we believe or how we "identify"? Brian and Sheldon explore different viewpoints and arrive at a definition of identity that brings it into a biblical perspective. If you've been wondering about this subject and following the debate in Christian circles, you'll want to join the True Union Podcast for this important conversation.

Join Brian and his wife Kim as they sit down with authors Matt & Laurie Krieg to discuss mixed orientation marriage. Co-founders of Hole In My Heart Ministries and authors of the book "An Impossible Marriage" Matt & Laurie bring unparalleled wisdom and grace to this conversation as they discuss the meaning of marriage, when to tell your kids about your unique sin struggles, and how to be on mission with your marriage. Check out their resources below! 

Hole In My Heart Ministries | https://lauriekrieg.com/
Hole In My Heart Podcast | https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/


trueunion.org 

#ssa #lgbtq #christianity #marriage #christianmarriage

Join Melody, Ben, and Sheldon as they talk about singleness--the common lies, struggles, and beauty in learning to steward singleness faithfully. Visit our website to learn more about how you can be involved with True Union! 
www.trueunion.org

In this episode, Brian, Ben, and Melody dive deeper into the Big Six of parenting, and share some personal experiences related to this topic. Join us for this conversation that is so needed in today's climate.

References: Attachments by Dr. Tim Clinton

#ssa #childdevelopment #lgbtq #gospelcenteredcommunity #emotionalhealth #secureattachment #trueunionpodcast #conversations

Why does True Union exist?  Why do we need ministries like this?  In this episode, Brian and Ben share the heart of True Union Ministries and why it’s important to address same-sex attraction from an honest, biblical perspective and to love those who struggle against it.  

Our language as disciples of Jesus matters.  How we speak about ourselves, about each other, and to each other,  has a bearing on the message we preach. And there is a time and place and a biblical way to handle disagreements and mistakes within spiritual family. On the topic of same-sex attraction in the church, language has become a particularly challenging topic. In this episode, Brian and Ben talk about some cases where spiritual family has been tested and failed to reflect the love that Jesus desired His followers to have for each other.

References:
PCA Ad Interim Report on Human Sexuality
Theology in the Raw: Same-sex Attracted, Sexually Pure, and...Unfit for Ministry? (Preston Sprinkle)
The PCA is Quietly Corrupting Reformed Theology.  Here's How (Bridget Eileen Rivera)
Conversations that Matter: Examining a Sam Allberry Podcast (John Harris)

This week Brian and Ben welcome Ed Shaw, Pastor of Immanuel City Centre church in Bristol and author of Same-sex Attraction and the Church and Purposeful Sexuality.   As a christian minister who experiences ssa, Ed brings insight and perspective to questions about the need for more understanding and compassion in the church, the challenge of standing for biblical truth against the tide of public opinion on same-sex marriage, and the blessings of spiritual family.
 
Same-Sex Attraction and the Church
Purposeful Sexuality

Brian and Ben introduce their newest team member, Melody, and continue their discussion of spiritual family with her as she shares her story and how she found healing in the body of Christ.   

Brian and Ben explore the topic of spiritual family and the opportunity we have to help each other discover and meet core needs in healthy ways.   

Join Ben and Brian as they kick off their third season with a conversation about what Jesus means to them and why following Him is worth any suffering we may endure.  

This week Ben and Brian wrap up the series with thoughts on how believers who experience SSA can thrive in the church, and how the church can demonstrate the love of God well in its response to this need.   

References:
Same-sex Attraction and the Church: The Surprising Plausibility of the Celibate Life
by Ed Shaw
LivingOut.org

This week Brian and Ben welcome a guest to the True Union podcast!   Samuel Perez, former gay stripper now Jesus follower, disciple maker, and bible teacher joins our conversation on same-sex attraction and the church with his own personal story.  Samuel has a podcast, "Christian in Progress", and you can also find him on YouTube, Instagram, Discord, and TikTok.  Listen in and learn how Jesus met Samuel at his lowest point and renewed his faith and hope in the gospel.

Find Samuel here!
Instagram
Youtube
TikTok

Before Christians can learn how to better respond to same-sex attraction within the church and to the LGBTQ+ community, they need to better understand the issues surrounding it.  For example, what do gay men and women of faith  feel, fear, and fight on a daily basis?   In this episode, Brian and Ben discuss the experience of same-sex attraction with the goal of providing insight to Christians who want to respond in love.   

Ben and Brian continue their conversation about how churches have responded to those who experience same-sex attraction over the years and share how they might better communicate the gospel going forward through a spirit of compassion and understanding.   Is your church a safe, loving space where ssa believers feel invited into the process of sanctification?     

Resources:
Church Audit by LivingOut.org

The conversation about ssa and the church continues with a look at how most churches have responded to this issue over the years: ignoring, condemning, or "affirming."  How do these unbiblical responses affect the body of Christ and those within it who experience same-sex attraction? How do they color the way the world sees the church and even the gospel?