Yep, well said, that about sums it up

There will be a difference of opinion on this subject I'm sure. As Christians and as people, we are prone to having different points of view and thoughts on any given subject. With that in mind, I hope that we pray for her to find peace - whether that peace is a peace found in correction or acceptance is entirely up to the person... Peace is a gift God gives us and from her lyrics, she might need some.

Be blessed!

Who would have thought even prominent Christians don't have a perfect understanding of themselves or the world? :)

Sadly I'm afraid that even ignoring the secular critics many people will see her as just another "failure" instead of seeing this as a chance for Grace, or even just as humbling reminder of how even our heroes struggle at times.

I love your description of Grace. It doesn't just gloss over the brokeness, but it doesn't linger on it either. Beautiful!

I was in Church last night and when we went to class it was the first time that my wife and I had attended our Church on a wednesday and we weren't sure as to what to expect. We went to a class with our minister and it was a class on Ephesians specifically Chapter 4:1-6. It was a very exciting subject for some as it was how to describe unity in the church. Well as Jim my minister put it Paul is very prescriptive in his ideas of unity rather than descriptive. He never says here are the rules and you must abide by them. He said Live a life worthy through Humility and Gentleness. I think that the subject of Jennifer Knapp needs just that, Humility and Gentleness. I am not pro-same sex relationships by any means, but I believe in the grace extended to me by God through Jesus. I think that as she finds her way through her life she will come to terms with her faith and resolve her sins. None of us are without sin and as stated by Jesus, Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I am a sinner and i will not cast a stone I am here to support those who need it. I will pray for her and I know there is probably nothing I could do to help her personally but I would if asked. I do not support her relationship now but I do support a Christian in need of grace and acceptance, if we turn our backs on her what good would that do? She would be stung by her once family and probably fall deeper into hate and sin. We need to support her and off our grace and assistance. We are imperfect humans and need to realize this. Please join me in supporting her and praying for her as she makes this journey in her life.

I read your blog on homosexuality and don't agree with you or most Christians on the subject. But that's not the point of this article, your blog or my comment. I have only read about a 1/3 of this article, but see it addresses so many issues in Jennifer's life. Things that mirror or approximate what the rest of us feel and go through to one extent or another.
I believe your comments today address this article well. She does show her brokenness and need for grace. We all are in various stages of brokenness and even on good days need all of God's grace. The last thing Jennifer, or any of us, needs is a bunch of Christians telling her they are praying for her to over come her sin. How about praying for peace. Or just thanking her for coming back to share her gifts?

We can only pray for her deliverance and hope she realizes her "coming out" is not only something to free her conscience, but it will be also fuel for those who point the finger at Christ followers about our hypocrisy.
Many times it's best to save our testimony of our valleys until we come out on the other side.
I pray for her healing and continued success.

It saddens me to hear the feelings come through Jennifer words in that article. I went back and read your previous post on homosexuality and it helped hear where you were coming from Brant. We all struggle with brokenness in one form or another. God's grace is available to those who acknowledge their brokenness. I don't believe Jennifer is there yet. I don't hate her. I love her her. She is an immense talent but I can't reconcile her beliefs with my own. I pray one day she sees that brokenness and remains open for God to speak to her in the midst of that.

I am SO glad that I am not the judge! I don't think that her lifestyle is acceptable but God does have grace. I think she may eventually be convicted in her heart that what she is doing isn't what God has planned for her which may cause her to change her outlook on same sex relationships. I think as Christians we need to accept her and love her thru the sin because we all have sin in our lives everyday. I have a few friends that have chosen this lifestyle and I try to be an example to them of how God wants me to live each day and love them like I am loved. I pray God will reveal to her heart the answer.

Interesting. I certainly believe that everyone is on a journey of some kind in their faith. Some are walking towards Christ & others away, at various degrees. We all have things that cause us to stumble. Getting up & moving forward is one option, lying there is another, & then getting up & moving the opposite way is also an option. It seems to me that Jennifer has chosen the 3rd option. Christ, of course, doesn't love her any less than the one who chooses to stand up & move forward, and neither should any of us. I can think of points in my life where I have chosen the same thing. Different sin, same action. All causes the Lord to weep. He never leaves us or forsakes us, but we can choose to walk away. Walking away may or may not take away the general "affection" we have for our Lord, but at some point, we cannot have our cake & eat it too. We have to decide...Am I willing to go the way of the cross & sacrifice myself or not. Sacrifice is painful, ugly & messy. No one wants to look at it, but it's an absolutely necessary form of worship.

Homosexuality is not an illness and God does not make anyone gay or else He would be contradicting Himself. It is a choice...a choice just as any person can make to give in to the flesh and have premarital sex, commit adultery, cheat, steal, etc. What is sad is that she has strayed so far that she doesn't even think it's a sin and I agree with the... See More person who said once you start questioning the validity of the Bible, you are going to justify sinful actions. The heart is wicked and we need to stay close to God. What Jennifer needs is our prayers to come back to God as the prodigal did.

Yes, people will always have differences of opinion. God, on the other hand, does not have an "opinion". What He says goes. If we truly define ourselves as Christians then logically we must follow the teachings of Christ. Do we think it is ok to disagree about murder or any other sin? What makes us think we can do the same with homosexuality?

Some behaviors can be considered "gray" areas and we can have a difference of opinion, but homosexuality is not one of them. The Bible is clear on this subject and anyone who claims it isn't either hasn't truly read the full context of homosexuality in the Bible or chooses not to take it as authoritative in the life.

So do we love her still? Of course we do! That is our responsibility as Christians. However, ignoring sin in a person’s life is not love. Jesus confronted sin head on while still loving the sinner. The examples in the Bible of sinners welcomed back have always been after the sinner repented of their sin and depended on the grace of God. Jennifer sounds like she should be accepted by other Christians simply because she has “come out” by being honest without acknowledging the sins she clearly reveals by her words.



Yes,

the most important thing you addressed is the issue of Grace.

Grace doesn't excuse things that aren't true.

What is true? God calls homosexuality a sin.

Granted, homosexuality has received much hatred from the christian right, which is wrong (excuse the pun.) But I can't agree with the way Jennifer expresses her demand for Grace. If she's demanding grace, forgiveness, (and perhaps celebration? ) of her sexual identity, then she does not understand what grace is.

I love Jenn Knapp, and I'm glad she's back doing her stuff no matter what platform she's on. God's used her music to take my soul to full exposure and worship. Only a sinner can write about the depths of our depravity and our yearning for the grace of God. "Christians" cannot presume upon those "in sin" as if they are not. What a surprise heaven will be for many. If God used Balaam's ass to further His kingdom, then Jenn and I are in good company.

Micah 7:19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. God's grace is unfathomable really. I mean, we mess up time after time, but his grace is there to forgive us of our sin. How do we accept God's grace? By asking for forgiveness and repenting (turning from our sin). When we do that, that sin is covered in Jesus blood and it's cast to the depths of the sea. When we choose to live in sin, whether the homosexual lifestyle, a life of porn, a life of lying, whatever, then we choose that sin over God. His Word tells us what sin is. We all will mess up from time to time and give in to sin. However, I think there is a difference between that and choosing to live a lifestyle where you continually sin according to God's Word. Will God's grace ever run out? We have opportunity before we die to accept God's grace. Once we die an earthly death, there is no more grace for the things we did on earth. If they haven't been covered by Jesus' blood then they will be remembered by God. Just my thoughts.

Here is what I KNOW. God created man in his image and loves everyone of us equally despite our flaws. I know that God sent his son Jesus Christ to earth and he died for everyone of us. Jesus, as the son of and direct representative of God commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. I know that it is for me to not judge the sin of others and to embrace them just as I suspect Christ would.

With that said, I will not turn my back on a person because they are gay, or because they do something else that is not Godly. All sins may be equal in the eyes of God, but how do you think he feels when he sees his children turning their backs on their brothers and sisters, especially in their time of need.

You have a gift with words, for me, especially in print. I love your explanation of grace, and don't believe I have ever heard it expressed so clearly, and to me, so perfectly. Thank you.

That's interesting that different people read anger or defensiveness into her words. I heard fear. Fear of criticisms over her decision to take a break. Fear that if she quits doing Christian music then she's not a Christian anymore. Fear that someone will make her choose between her lifestyle and her Christianity.

I find it hopeful that despite her fear, and despite her apparent misunderstanding about the assurance of salvation, she still clings to God. It appears to me that she tends to identify the culture of the church too much with Christ's work of salvation. My "fear" is that the people of the church will push her away, push her into making a choice, and that she would read that as a testimony that she has to give up the fragile bond she has with Christ, now.

Well ... I'm not sure what to say except, I think we all need to remember Jesus when the "church" leaders of His day brought the woman caught in adultry to Him. First, which one of us can cast a stone? Not me. Second, isn't all sexual immorality wrong? That includes lusting after a person we're not married to ... Homosexuality vs Heterosexuality. When a man and woman are having relations outside of marriage or when in a marriage a spouse steps out and has a girlfriend/boyfriend or when we lust (married or single), these three things are on the level of sin that takes place within a homosexual relationship. ALL sexual immorality is wrong and is found detestable, not just one type. And we forget that. If it wasn't for Jesus Christ, we'd all be in trouble. We should keep this in the very front of our mind. Third, Jesus died on that cross to save us from all sin. No one on earth was found to be a perfect sacrifice, only Jesus. He didn't come to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:16-17). The time for judging the world hasn't come and when it does come God is the Judge, not us. We are commanded to go and make disciples of all nations and to love each other ... not to judge. Are there times when we have to confront a brother or sister, yes. Is that judging? Well ... that gets into a whole new debate. I believe each situation is special and we should leave all speech and actions into the hand of God and allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide. Pray over each and every detail before speeking one word.

As for Ms Knapp ... She has a beautiful voice. She's on a journey that we can help her on by praying. I hope she sees our comments and realizes there are many, many Christians who will listen to the whole story and who will love her as Christ loves her.

Yeah, I will have to agree with Paul. All sins are equal in God's eyes. Having a same-sex relationship is just the same in God's eyes as lying, envy or any other sin. We have all come short of the glory of God. Her sin is no worse than any of ours. I don't see why Christians or anyone else should ever judge her. To judge her would be hypocritical since we've all sinned.

While I am certain that grace covers a multitude of sins, I am terribly disappointed that someone with such a high profile career in the Christian music industry would advocate continual sin to the masses. Yes, all who are "Christians" are sinners saved by grace. However, we are held to a higher standard than others. Should we forgive and love her? Absolutely. Should we spend our money to buy her albums when she so clearly justifies living in sin? No way! As a mother of 3 children I look for new, teacheable moments every day to show my children how amazing God's love and grace is. How, then, do I tell my children that we are to be obedient, and live a life that reflects the truth of God's word, when someone so popular has a career they desire and is obviously in direct opposition to the teachings of God's
word? I think it is sad. Talk about the blind leading the blind! If our pastor came "out", he would be removed from his post as an authority on God's word, as he would be living in direct contradiction to it. If he repented, and turned from his
ways, he would be lovingly restored to fellowship, but not neccesarily to leadership. I think we should lovingly accept her back into the fold if she is repentant, but I am sorry to say she has no place in moral authority, not with so many young eyes and ears out there. It is a "slow fade" indeed....

we will all be judged when we go to Haven for all are sins. Christians are not perfect and sill sin we need to repent from our sin - Jennifer Knapp

Jennifer Knapp has long been one of my all-time favorite artists. Her songs do come from a deep place, even if it's dark sometimes. I too have struggled with loving people who might hate everything about me (I am a female seminarian who grew up in very conservative churches). I have also done some running from my faith, as I'm sure we all have. But for Jenniger, being away gave her strength to find peace with herself and with God, and I hope she is able to find it with the church as well. I've found that unfortunately the church is often the last place to find acceptance and grace. I look forward to hearing this new album, "angry," honest lyrics and all. It sounds exactly like what most of us think when we're in that dark place. It gives voice to what life is really like. I love that Jennifer Knapp is back - I have missed her these past seven years. And no, I'm not bothered at all by who she loves (though I find it unfortunate that we call it "sex outside of marriage" when we don't even offer her the option of marriage). God bless her and her new place of "ministry" - working with those Jesus would work with: the downtrodden, the faithless, and the strugglers on this road we call life.

I am saddened at the wish-washy, "feel-good" Christian, American culture. Sin ("to miss the mark" in Greek) is frankly disgusting in God's eyes. ALL of it. All of it in me; all of it in Jennifer. Everyone. On top of that, "All our righteousness is like filthy rags" (Isa 64:4-9). Coming to Christ first starts with acknowledging how dirty we ALL are without His salvation. It starts with the cross.
Should we condemn a homosexual? No. But if we cared, truly cared, about someone so truly loved and valued in God's eyes, we should admonish in love. If we don't address the seriousness of sin with boldness, love, AND grace, it discredits all of the shame, pain, and humiliation Christ bore at Calvary.

Hope you'll check out this video. I caution that it is explicit, but it beautifully hits the issue of Homosexuality and the cross.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7oeWvF_hj0

Grace was given to us through Jesus's death. A death we deserved.

The church has been plagued by sexual sin as long as it has been a body of believers. Jennifer's journey is one among many today's church is facing. We all too easily sort this particular struggle out in our hearts and minds as different or worse than say divorce for extra-biblical reasons. Sexual sin is sexual sin -- and it is plaguing the modern day church much as it did the first century church in Corinth or Ephesus.

We would do well to extend grace, allow for believers to struggle, while holding a line that sin is sin. And we all struggle with sin -- there are just some versions Christians are more comfortable with than others. Fellow strugglers are always welcome at our church. We just appreciate an honest struggle.

I think that we are living in the end times and in these times God's decrees are getting "watered down" so to speak. While my heart goes out to Jennifer, she is living in sin. Why are we afraid to say it? She is living in sin. And I simply dont see how we can reconcile that in our minds. We can say grace and peace as many times as we have breath but she is living in sin. And how many people is she gonna take down with her? Our Savior is mighty to save! I pray she turns from her sin right into Jesus arms!

Brant, I concur with your description of Grace.

I was a new believer when 'Kansas' was released and the Lord used Jennifer Knapp's talents profoundly in start of my walk and I still listen to that album today. Some of the comments posted on the CT article shows a lack of grace and agape love written in almost an amnestic state. Forgetting that before coming to a saving knowledge of Christ our life choices could be considered not worthy of being saved. Jesus came for the lost and hurting and still seeks that lost and hurting. While we are on this side of heaven we may continue to make life choices that will not please the Lord.

Grace is God's Riches At Christ's Expense. We are given grace by the Lord and in turn, following the call of the Lord to be salt and light we are to show grace to all.

There is long listing of publicized accounts of actors, directors, performance artist, pastors, and leaders whom the Lord used to present a dynamic work that ministers to thousands of people and then make life choices that seem to take them in a direction contrary to the work done. We are to show grace and pray. If we are in a circle of influence to those individuals continue to show the love of Jesus.

oh man... I just read some of the comments on the CT article. I guess what breaks my heart is that everyone feels that somehow they have been given this place to pass judgement. I know what the Bible says about homosexuality... and I also know that Jesus died so that "none should perish". He longs for His Bride... He is the Great Romance... He is the one who pursues us when we cannot possibly deserve His love (Hosea). Jennifer's music touched me so deeply at a time when I was too the figurative "*****" at Jesus feet. I know what that judgement feels like... I have seen it people's eyes when they look at you as though you are somehow worthless and unworthy. BUT Jesus loves ALL... redeems ALL... gave His sweet sweet life for ALL. And all I know is that standing on this side of His unrelenting grace and ruthless love makes me know inside my soul that all I can do is love others and show the same grace and mercy that I have been given. Jesus is the only perfect one... I pray that His love, goodness, KINDNESS and grace pervade us all in those places of brokenness. I agree with Brant... God bless Jennifer... and all of us who everyday need a Savior.

I really agree with you Brant. This is such a difficult subject to approach, but God never commanded that we solve the problems of others (thankfully). I hope that we can all take this time to examine our own lives, rather than attempt to pick apart the lives of others. Can we honestly hope for absolute love and blessings on those who have perhaps failed to live up to our expectations or disappointed us in some way? This is not a Grace we can find within ourselves; it is the Grace we can only find in Jesus. So, I will echo you in saying, may God bless Jennifer Knapp, and may her journey lead her to a place of rest in Christ. And for all of us, may we experience this same rest; may we discover and communicate the breadth and width and height of the love of Christ that passes all understanding.

I am praying for Jennifer to be strong in the faith, but that doesn't mean I agree with her on certain issues (like homosexuality). Paul may have promoted unity among believers, but he also speaks out against homosexuality:

" 9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or *practice homosexuality*, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT)

So, in other words, I believe that homosexuality is wrong, but I also believe that if the participant sees the wrong in it and asks God to forgive them and if they repent from their sins, they will be shown grace. :)

In Him,

Regan >

For all of those who are saying we are passing judgement, i say HA! Is there such a fine line between calling sin what it is, telling someone that you love that what they are doing is wrong in GOD's eyes, and judging them? I am just as guilty as anyone else of being angry, mad, foaming at the mouth, because someone showed me what i was doing was wrong. But thank GOD that I was corrected. I may not have seen it a day later, a month later or even a year later, but at some point i know that i appreciated the correction. Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. I have hated reproof, and i was, and still am at times, STUPID! How else do we show each other love than by showing them Gods love and correcting each others sins? Prayer for Gods intervention and, this is the one that is hard for me, loving the sinner but hating the sin. The two are separate. Brant you are amazing at being able to separate this. Thank you for sharing about your meeting you had with the gentleman at the coffee shop who was a chrisitian struggling with homosexuality. I continue to strive to be Christ-like and you are a great example of this.

God is love and God does give grace and mercy but God's word never changes. It's sad that people are deceived into thinking God is only a God of love and forgets that what His words tells us is a sin, is still a sin no matter what WE believe. God does love her but His word still is true. Sin will not enter into heaven. That's not judging, just stating the Word. Christians need to love and forgive and pray and not tear down. Jennifer needs prayer and love and only God can show her in His word the truth. I like where it says do not judge because the way you judged will be judged back to you - judge me by the word because God is a JUST God and only God knows the heart. There's a hurting world that needs the love of God and we are His hands and feet. We have to stand by what the Word says, but it never says to tear people down and hurt them especially with words. We all have a long way to go, or at least I do. I wish Jennifer the best but above all, I pray that she finds the truth in the Word that never changes and warns us not to twist or change it to suit our life style.

So the cat's outta the bag...the sun has risen...the door has opened...the flair is up...the light is green...the target is up...the car is runnin...the kick-off has begun...ok, i'm done

Shame...Good news is 14 alleged members of the Gambino crime family have been arrested.

I also agree with this and your thoughts. Homosexuality is wrong, a sin, and is definitely not honoring the image God gave us. however, I do also agree that none of us are perfect, and homosexuality is also a forgivable sin. However, I also agree with the above comment that she needs to hold a higher standard.

The media is having a Christian bashing field day with this. Since she was in such a position as sort of a representitave of our faith, her sin has had more of an effect on the image of Christianity of a whole. CS Lewis in Mere Christianity talks about that all sins are the same, and any sin will make us deserving of hell, however some may have different gravity then others. Homosexuality even though we know is like any other sin, the world doesn't, and somehow we find it especially depraved. She is also a prominent figure in the public sector, and once a face of our beliefs, whether we like it or not. Therein lies the gravity. However, I sincerely pray that she would in the same way turn back to God and recount this sin publicly! What a message that would send!

My brother is a homosexual. He was born with brokeness, and maybe was born with an inclination toward homosexuality. But I was also born with brokeness, and an inclination of lying, stealing, and coveting. The difference is, we must supress and not act on this sin. Homosexuality is both a choice and not. It is a choice to act on it, even though we're born with it. We're all born with it. But we must supress it, and get help from God.

Anyway, I sincerely hope she will realize the higher standard she must live to and turn back to God's way! God is continually forgiving and loving! However He still calls this sin. We must take the same attitude. We must love and forgive, yet we must say this is sin. We can't say otherwise or ride the fence. We must take a stand for truth, but in the right way.

Ms. Knapp is asking something I can't give, and neither can any of you... Grace is, by definition, available only from the Sovereign. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that I can't even offer mercy, as Ms. Knapp hasn't sinned against me or offended me in any way. So it's not my place to offer mercy. Dan said it the best, in asking for grace, she does not understand what grace is.

All I can do is love.