Transformed Lives: Something Worth Fighting For

You may have heard this quote before, "There's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for."⁽¹⁾ Family, friends, life, and liberty are surely among the most cherished aspects of life for each of us. I would recommend another to be added to that treasured list—transformed lives. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) 

I know of nothing more deeply touching in a conversation or church service than hearing the amazing way God interacts with men and women—their life stories of redemption. It is powerful and profound to hear how the mercy and love of God took a person from darkness and brought them near. They are no longer the same. That road may involve messy transformation, perhaps bumpy or side roads along the path, but the fact that Jesus draws, calls, and sets apart lives to Himself is nothing short of amazing. It is truly a glimpse of Heaven on Earth. 

Today, the idea of transformed lives is challenged in one arena. Yes, God may call people out of prostitution, drug addiction and alcoholism to Himself, but for an increasing number of Christian leaders, homosexuality is no longer one of those things. Some groups have boasted of training upwards of 50,000 church leaders in the U.S. to change the conversation about homosexuality from repentance and transformation to inclusion. Period. They jump over the low bar of calling homosexual behavior sin, but say a person is born with unchanging desire doomed to long for this sin the rest of their days.⁽²⁾ They also deny that persons can leave homosexuality.⁽³⁾ In other words, in their minds I do not exist. 

Happily, I know that is not the only option out there, either personally and professionally. I left lesbian relationships, behavior, and identity over 36 years ago. I am not the only one who left homosexuality behind and found feelings changing too.⁽⁴⁾ One recent survey of those who obtain focused discipleship (Bible study, large group meetings, small group prayer and perhaps one-on-one mentoring) for one year or more: 38% were no longer same-sex attracted, another 50% had varying degrees of freedom from homosexuality, and 10% had returned to the gay life including believing that homosexual sex is fine with God.⁽⁵⁾

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1 & 2 (NIV, emphasis mine)

A common saying among pastors was, "Come as you are and let Jesus change your life." Unfortunately, some are training pastors to say to the homosexual struggler, "Come as you are and stay as you are." Anything significant in life is worth fighting for—marriage, friendships, health, weight loss, fitness, or career. Why, then, exclude certain things from the benefits of learning, growing, and becoming more in the image of Christ? These things are precious and beloved. There is plenty of hope for people to work through issues that trip them up. The question is: Are we willing to allow God to sanctify us, wash us, and redeem us from whatever draws us away from His good design? (Genesis 2:15-25) 

Yes, there is good in this world—and a transformed life is one of those things worth fighting for. We can experience and display the Lord God's splendor here on Earth by allowing our hearts to swell with gratitude towards the One who redeems lives.